First Babysitting Job

Papa Grande, Ian and I got to babysit Olivia last Friday night while Troy and Lindsay attended a banquet at the Indiana Roof Ballroom to honor the 2010 IU school of Medicine graduates. She was perfect and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Ian loved playing with the dogs and Papa Grande and I tried to share Olivia.

Happy Mother's Day

These flowers were delivered with a card that said,

"Thanks for being my forever Mom!

Love, Ian"

(which was followed by many tears.)

Happy Birthday, Drew!!

May 7, 1985 - God blessed our little family with Drew Thomas and we haven't been the same since! From his "dutchy" declarations of "I wuv you" to enduring tea parties and dressing up with his sister to his crazy antics on the back of a horse to his challenging and humbling theological discussions and now, on his way to being a daddy himself........all of it has been a joy and we are so thankful for him!!!
Happy 25th Birthday, Drew!!! We love you!!!!

2 months

pre-school graduation

senior picture

Fall, 2009 with beautiful wife, Elizabeth

On your mark, Get set...............

GO!!!!!!!!!!!! Ian and I are running/walking/riding in the COACH Kids Friendship Run on May 15 and we need sponsors!!!! COACH (stands for Christ Offers All Children Hope) Kids is the ministry that I had the priviledge of working with for 3 years before I "retired" to be Ian's mom. It is a youth mentoring ministry that matches children with Christian mentors in a variety of programs and God is using those mentors to change the lives of children. Obviously, I believe in it and have a soft spot for it. Check out their website at coachkids.org. (If you'd like to sponsor us, your donation will be tax deductible.)

It might not be quite as exciting as being presented a first place medal by Usain Bolt, but I'll do my best to make it fun for him!

Love that Christmas Gift!

Tom got a power washer for Christmas and boy, am I glad! He fired it up today and washed off the front porch and back patio. What do you think? Can you tell a difference?

Back patio

Front porch

On Friday evening, we headed to Indy to congratulate our favorite son-in-law for completing medical school (and to see his precious daughter!) I didn't take a picture of Troy but managed to snap a couple of Olivia.

Papa Grande (as he is calling himself) hadn't seen Olivia since Sunday and was in need of a fix!

Fun weekend!

This past weekend we got to see Drew and Elizabeth (they came to meet their newest niece - they have 4 now!), Olivia twice and Ian got to see Gus, Phoebe and Lucy (who he loves almost as much as Olivia)

This picture is actually from today when Olivia was in her carseat, ready for the trip to the doctor (who pronounced her "perfect" more than once!)

Drew and Elizabeth with Olivia - they will be such great parents themselves and we will get to do this all over again!!!! Woohooooooo!!!!!!!!1

Olivia seems to like having her hands up by her face most of the time and it's so cute!

Ian loving on Gus, who is very tolerant.

Gus getting a wet hug from Ian

Uncle Ian gets to hold Miss Olivia

Ian and I went (guess where?) to the hospital again today so he could take Olivia some balloons and a pink teddy bear that he picked out. He was most excited about giving her the balloons and especially excited to get to hold her. The new little family made it home just fine tonight, although Lindsay said that Olivia didn't care for her first car ride. If she's her mother's daughter she will get used to it quickly and go to sleep as soon as the car engine starts.

Proud Uncle Ian

The beautiful new mommy and the beautiful Olivia Grace

She was trying to wake up and look at us but it was so hard to keep those eyes open.