Mother's Day 2023

May 14, 2023

We gathered at Julie's house after church for a Mother's Day celebration.  Mav came up the steps carrying this present and saying, "Happy Mother's Day!!"  Definitely melts my heart.  :)  

Mav was so happy to see Declan - who came up with Anna and Matthew.  

love seeing these fellas, too!

Mav was playing at the piano and Anna started asking him to play different kinds of things... like notes that sound like a thunderstorm.  He played the low keys.  Then she asked him something that directed him to the high notes and he played them.  Then 'pay two black keys' and so on.  He loved this game so much!  He kept asking her "what's next?"  He is so musical... how could he not be with Brianna as his Mom?  :) 

Anna holding Carlile 

Matthew's turn

Lookin' like a pro, Matthew! 

Maverick saying 'cheese' for a photo  :) 

Marvin was teasing about how intent Mav was on that phone (watching a video)

Brenda and Matt getting to meet Carlile

Mav and Hannah were coloring and wanted to share with us.  
Mav was especially excited that Hannah had written his name on his work.  

while he was showing me the page, he told Hannah to 'show the parents'.  :)  
So she did!

and so did Mav!

Look Matthew!  It’s Batman!  Then he did the nana nana nana nana Batman (complete with body wiggle.)  :)   Matthew is a good one to show the Batman stuff too - he is a huge Batman fan himself!  :) 

Mav greeting Matthew at the door with his coloring...
he had been told that Matthew was a huge Batman fan, too.  :) 

Daddy and Carlile

Whoops!  Losing his pants - Hannah to the rescue!  :D

Mav was too busy dancing to talk to me about the puzzle he gave me for Mother's Day.  :) 

But here he is showing me his favorite part (the typewriter) 

Matthew was Mav's favorite on this day!  :) 

Mav is telling Matthew to 'climb on his back' now.  :D 

So this is Mav 'carrying' Matthew.  :D
Funny how Matthew is still doing all the work!  

Matthew was probably best able to keep up with the level of activity coming from Maverick on this day.  :) 

This was part of 'shaking your sillies out' but
began to look a lot like TKD warm ups!  :)

they were playing hide and seek -
but Mav kept telling where he was going to hide!  :) 

Julie and Candace had been looking at a video of Aasha Lee playing with a farm see and say - the animal noises... Maverick watched with them then went over to Matthew and played that 'game' with him.  I don't have photos but it is in the video embedded below.  Mav would 'push the button on Matthew's back' and then Matthew would make a farm animal noise.  Mav thought it was the funniest thing ever!  :)  Matthew is such a good one.  

Dr. Maverick was helping this bunny.  He did a fine job.  
(Mav likes the show Doc McStuffins)  :D 

Daddy was heading out - saying goodbyes

When Maverick and his family were leaving he went around hollering BYE! and
waving to everyone... a bit maniacally.  But adorably!  :D  ha!  What a kid! 

You can see all the photos at this link...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/williscreekranch/albums/72177720308296462

Truman Hooding and Graduation

May 2023

May 12

Matthew drove up to attend, and give the speech for, the education department hooding ceremony for all the graduating MAE's (Masters of Arts in Education).  This ceremony takes place on Friday night before the full commencement on Saturday, but it is always my favorite part.  

Matthew and Julie

Matthew and Anna

Brenda, Matthew and Matt

May 13

This was day of commencement - graduation for all departments and degrees at Truman.  Dear Namuna graduated on this day.  We were so sorry to have to miss it (we were at Mav's family celebration at Jeremy and Shonda's) but were so glad to get these photos from Namuna.  Oh, how we are going to miss her when she moves away!  

Beautiful, kind, smart and sweet - we love you, Namuna!