Jeff's High School Graduation

After our AWESOME trip to Kansas, Jeremy and I (and Isaac, of course) were able to head back to Snowflake, AZ to sneak in a few more days with family before his summer internship started. While we were there we were able to attend Jeremy's brother Jeff's high school graduation. Here are Jeremy and I at the graduation...

oh... and Jeremy's dad. :)
Jeremy is strangely proud of his unique tradition for cheering for his siblings at their graduations. He lovingly refers to it as the "pre-yell". You know - MOST of us hear the full name of the person we are supporting and then we yell and holler and cheer loudly. Not Jeremy. He has to jump the gun. The first syllable of the first name is announced and Jeremy scares the entire crowd by pre-emptively jumping up out of his seat and screaming at the top of his lungs. Awesome babe. We're proud of you too. Anyway... here's a small part of Jeremy's enthusiasm for his brother.
And here are Troy, Jeff, and Jeremy.
And the two of us with the graduate himself! Way to go Jeffrey!!!

All Good Things Must Come to an End

Monday was filled with a trip to Liberty, Missouri to see Brent & Michelle's fabulous new home.

It was also filled with miniature golf, food, McDonalds, chatting, packing, and playing at the playground.
And then, alas, it was Tuesday. The infamous Topeka vacation had to come to an end. We were forced to pack our belongings and head off with Brent to the airport in Kansas City. Luckily, we had some extra time to kill - so we had some fun on the way to the airport. In fact, we went to Steak'n'Shake and got yummy happy hour shakes (very nostalgic for me since they don't have that chain out here in the western USA) and went bowling. We won't talk about our bowling scores. Let's just say that we are definitely better bowlers on Wii than in real life.
Brent and Isaac
Watching the bowling action. Isaac LOVED the bowling balls. That's all that we heard about the whole time.. "ball" ... "ball" ... "ball".

Happy Isaac and mom checking out the bright, colorful bowling balls.

Brent and Jeremy

After bowling our final "good-byes" were said and we headed off on the airplane. Isaac is such a great traveler. Our flight was pretty late in the evening this time (WAY past Isaac's bedtime) and when Isaac gets tired he often gets a little slap happy. He was hysterical on the flight! He had lots of passengers laughing at him. And more than one of them commented on how "slap happy" or "drunk" he seemed. It was pretty funny. But at least he didn't cry!! Here's the best in flight photo that we were able to manage.

Anyway... it was obviously a fun and memorable 8 days in Kansas! Thanks for hosting us Brent & Michelle and Julie & Hunter! We miss you all already!!

Just hanging out

After church on Sunday we just hung out. SO relaxing - and hilarious. Good times.

Isaac loves watching Ally - because she is almost ALWAYS moving!
Our pretty girls.

Isaac chillin' with his favorite toy.

Hunter and Jeremy with their double chins.

Hunter and Jeremy without their double chins. :)

Julie hiding under a blanket - as usual (aka nursing Sterling).

Brent making Julie feel comfortable by hiding under a blanket too.

Isaac trying out his new flip flops. (I got them for 50 cents when I was shopping with my awesome sister-in-laws in Kansas!)

And, after the kiddos go to bed - the real party starts. Usually we played normal games until the wee hours of the morning - games like Wii, Nertz, Hand & Foot, Malarky, Scrabble, Rook, and throwing balls at each other's heads to try to knock off balancing plastic cups.

Exhibit A.

Exhibit B.

Exhibit C.

Yes, we played with this simple green ball and these 5 plastic red cups for at LEAST 2 hours straight. We made up all sorts of games and had a blast! For any of you who know the Johnstons... this was just a typical night at home. :) I love this family!!

A Sunday Blessing

On Sunday we were all able to attend Sterling's baby blessing at church.

After the beautiful blessing, Granny Jo REALLY wanted a picture with ALL of her grandkids. So, here's the best of the best from "grandkid photo shoot: attemp #2".
I love this picture! It cracks me up. Isaac was asleep, Blake was bugged, Cody's expression is priceless. I love these kids!!

And here's the two little boys on the drive home. They are only 9 months apart - so someday these two are going to be buds.

Washburn Graduation Photos

What's a graduation without some graduation photos?

The lovely couple.
The cutest kiddo.
Handsome.
The 3 law school couples. So - 3 lawyers in one family?? Yep - with Hunter and Brent finishing their third year of law school at Washburn and Jeremy having just completed his second year of law school at BYU - we have all been going through this legal adventure together! It is so fun for the guys to get together and chat about their classes and assignments and professional aspirations - because they can really understand each other. And it is so fun for us wives to chat - because we understand the different phases that we are all going through. We have especially been so grateful to be able to follow their lead and learn so much from them. Thanks for the amazing example and all of the helpful tips!!

The Johnston Family

Brent, Michelle, Michayla, Blake, and Allyson

The Moore Family

Hunter, Julie, Mariah, Amber, Cody, and Sterling

EVERYONE!

This was the whole party group for the weekend. We had a blast!

Brent & Hunter's Law School Graduation

On Saturday evening, May 16th, the whole family was together at Washburn University to watch Brent & Hunter graduate from LAW SCHOOL!!!!!!! What a celebration!!

Jeremy, Kendra, Isaac, Troy, and Blake
Our little family waiting for the ceremony to begin.
And then it began! At Washburn the tradition is to have the processional (led by bagpipes) travel across campus before entering the arena where the Commencement exercises were held. It was fun - like attending a parade - to watch for them, then hear them approaching, and then to find Brent & Hunter.
Hunter

Brent

Then we all took our seats inside. It was so fun to be there to support them and to cheer for their successes. We are SO proud of them! Anyway, it was all very pre-nostalgic for Jeremy and I. I mean, we so clearly remember when they were entering law school - they've gone through this all one year ahead of us. And now they are graduated... which means that NEXT YEAR... that's going to be JEREMY graduating! CRAZY.

The joyful reunion immediately after the graduation ceremony.

We are so proud of them. AND way to go Michelle and Julie for supporting them and helping them all the way through it!!!

Amber goose.

Blakester.

What do you think? Is there room for a few more future attorneys in this family???

The story of Isaac and the swing

Look at that face! Too precious.

Isaac had his FIRST experience swinging in a swing while we were in Kansas. He was a little nervous at first - he had to get used to steadying his body as he went up and then down.
But then... he LOVED it!