• I was supposed to tell you about our time with Dinia, Ron, and their family...as well as Becky, Keith, and their 2 boys. Several months ago, Dinia emailed me and asked me if I would be interested in coming to their family reunion to shoot some photographs - it was a rare occasion for the entire family to be in one spot at one time - so we made tentative plans for me to come to their home (which, as it turns out, is not all that far from us) and shoot photographs of their immediate family, as well as Ron's entire family. As the date drew nearer, we firmed up those plans and we ended up having a great time! Here is the link to their post on my photo blog.

• Also, the same day, we got to hang with the Mixon family...our 2 boys were incredibly tired, so we didn't get to "hang" for terribly long, but we had a fantastic time! Andrew is hilarious - and it was great meeting Alex for the first time. Ron & Dinia have a pool (that Andrew loved & Iliya didn't have enough time to warm up to) and horses on the property next to them. They also had a golf cart that was a HUGE hit for the boys! It was great to be able to sit with Becky and talk preschool and other "mom" things! :) Here's proof that we did actually see each other! Since we now have a "halfway point," we're now working on plans to get back together sometime this summer.

• We met Adrienne, Jim, and Owen for dinner last week as they were on their way to the beach and we happen to live right on the way! The boys had a good time, reading books and playing with trains while we waited for the food...and then had a good time eating (of course!). The adults enjoyed each other's company - Adrienne and I could've spent hours talking while all of our boys played, but we had to settle for much shorter than "hours" with the promise to get together sometime very soon! With our hectic schedules, we know that soon is a relative term, but hopefully we will see each other sooner rather than later!

• This past weekend was graduation. I graduated with my M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies...finally! I can't believe that it is finally over! My sister-in-law (Aunt Kristy, to Iliya) also graduated with her M.A. in Education. It has been a long, intensive road for both of us...and we are both so glad it is over!

At the family dinner, following the afternoon ceremony, Iliya put on my cap and ran around, saying, "Happpy Graduaaaaation! I'm graduating! Happy Graduuuuaaatioon!" And come to think of it, since he has been in our family, Iliya has attended at least 4 graduations...so he gets that it is a big deal...and maybe it will make an impression on him for the future!!

• Also, this past weekend, we received an offer on our house we've had on the market since September. The offer was not quite what we wanted, so we countered...and on Monday, they accepted! We have an official contract on the house, now, and will close the first of next month...and we are so thankful that this financial burden is being lifted off our shoulders! To those of you who have been specifically praying about this, thank you.