Jakey-pooh Becomes a Graduate!

Last Tuesday we had winds of 35-60mph. What is wind good for? Kites, of course. As the strongest of the winds were dying down, Tadd and the kids went out for a little kite flying. It was freezing. You would never guess that a few days later (today) I would be sitting here sweating in 90 degrees watching Ezra play in the kiddie pool while I type.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to get good kite flying shots. I can either get the kid chasing the kite, the man flying the kite, or the kite. To get all three in the frame makes them each minuscule (reference the first shot in this post).

Thursday morning we made the loooooong and winding drive from home to Moscow, ID. My brother Jacob was graduating from the University of Idaho! They will surely miss his tuition payment as he's been there for 6 years. My parents and other two brothers were also there. Jacob's in-laws drove over as well. We all squashed into Jake and Emily's apartment and my brother Brett's condo. Thank you to all three of you for all your hospitality!

Prepping potato salad for the bbq to take place after the graduation.

Adults make food--kids eat food.

A taste of Emily's cute decorating.

And my very own guitar heroes.

We loaded up into a couple of cars Friday night and drove into Clarkston for Jacob's favorite pizza. My brother, the formerly picky eater, now loves pizza with a mustard sauce covered in sauerkraut, onions and bratwurst. Oh my. It was called the "shotsi", although I'm pretty sure I spelled that incorrectly. I made sure to taste some since both my brothers insisted it was the best. It was good.

First I catch them off guard...then I ask them to pose : )

Both Ezra and Caroline love Mitchell. And Caroline is head over heels in love with Mitchell and Emily's brother Trevor. She showed her love by calling him over and then hitting him again and again. He took her affection quite well. I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of her with him.

Uncle Brettski with Kine.

I think they actually got full.
After pizza we noticed that there was a 31 flavors conveniently next door. Pizza and ice cream--nothing says Friday night better!

Gotta love a Grandpa who is willing to sit at the kiddie table!

Now, because I'm me, I had to go and forget the camera at home for the actual graduation. I know. I had even packed the zoom lens in order to get a shot of him crossing the stage. I'll never learn. I can tell you that the ceremony was long. He was one of the first to walk since he received a graduate degree. But, we followed the instructions and stayed to see all the students walk out of respect, yadda, yadda, yadda. That evening we enjoyed a bbq at a park just outside of Moscow. I did get a few shots there.

Hmmm...will he ever notice the camera? Nope. Never did.

Jake's two moms. I don't remember what was being said during the taking of this photo, but appearantly it was funny : )

How many guys does it take to load a bbq anyway?

The graduate and his new bbq. A gift from his loving in-laws.

Big sticks.

Every party has to have someone to hold up the post!

Oops. Don't worry, the balloon was recovered. However, the two that Ezra attempted to bring home made a successful escape from the back of the van Sunday morning as we were loading up for the long drive home. His scream made me think he had been stung by a bee. I think losing his balloons hurt worse than had he actually been stung. He survived. And we made it safely home. Now we do laundry, rest, unpack some more and then load up for Carlsbad and Uncle Nathan and Aunt Megan's house this coming Friday. Woo hoo!