4th of July Weekend . . .

Bear walked in the Annual Apple Valley 4th of July parade with me bright and early while the rest of the family was still sleeping . . . 

We've got spirit!

We made it to Union Station to check out FIFA World Cup Fan Fest on the 3rd!  

So impressive!

So proud of our city, being the best host to travelers from all around the world!

It was a HOT day - but we tried to stay cool!

Kate, Mike and I went to the K for bobbleheads and fireworks on the night of the 4th - and of course to cheer on our belove Royals!

Parachuters coming down before the game with the US Flag! There is something so Americana about going to a baseball game ON the 4th of July! I love it!

I bought my favorite ballpark treat in my purse - tootsie pops!

A "Kate" Sandwich!

At sunset, Kate and I snuck away from our seats to catch the view!

The BEST Fireworks show and music followed the game!

SO grateful to be an American!

Molly celebrated with friends at the park - and we missed her!

Snapshots from the Week . . .

 

I love the early morning Summer sunlight coming in . . .

 my FAVORITE part of the day!

Bear is STILL obsessed with his red ball. 

Kate and Lucy packed a picnic lunch to have together at Meadowbrook . . . this was Kate's cooler I found in the spot staying cold until she left on her scooter . . . 

Hydrangeas from the backyard . . .

Cece's 13th birthday party!  Look at ALL the candy!

{Vivian, Lottie, Ruby, Isabel, Reece, Cece, Sadie, Kate, Victoria, Harper, Della}

Bear and I are loving our walks to Meadowbrook this month - often getting to see the England soccer players in town for the World Cup! They are staying at the Meadowbrook Inn - so sometimes they are doing yoga or riding bikes through the park! And Jude Bellingham, my FAV player, always stops to sign kids jerseys or take pix!  I have LOVED having them as our neighbors this summer and I am now totally TEAM ENGLAND!

HEY JUDE!

I made my Mom's homemade Peanut Butter Fudge Bars - hoping they would bring back the tastes, and smells and feelings that Mom is here - all is well - feeling!  But sadly they didn't taste as good as hers did back in 1984 and just made me miss her more! 

My garden is growing!

Bear always waiting for me - to see where I'm going next . . . 

my loyal sweet pup.

A backyard party for our good friend, Greg Doring, turning 50!

Father's Day Weekend in Mac Town!

 

We drove to McPherson to spend Father's Day weekend with Dad/Grandpa Don!  We arrived Friday afternoon and had a wonderful weekend playing cards, going for walks, teaching Kate how to drive, and shopping and having lunch on Main Street!  We even got Grandpa to go see Toy Story 5 with us at the theatre Saturday night!

Father's Day 2026

Molly, 16 - Mike, 52 - Kate, 13

Brian - 50, Dad - 74, Jenny - 52

Grandpa and his McGinnis Grands!

A storm was coming! LOVE the sky in Kansas when spring thunderstorms are blowing in!

Dad showed us all his new hiking gear for his big Camino hike this September!  It was so fun to see all his gear and how prepared he is. I'm SO PROUD of him for doing this!  What an adventure he will have!

Mike gave Kate her very first driving lesson at the McPherson cemetery - where both I and Molly also learned.  They sent me this photo with the caption, "It's not going well", from Kate. Luckily I could tell they were kidding.

Meanwhile back in KC, Bear was being watched by my bestie, Kelly Wells, for the first time! She is a dog lover, but we were a little nervous since their dog is still a puppy and a little timid around other dogs still. 

Bear stayed close by her for the first 24 hours - 

But then he warmed up a bit around Larry, Kelly's puppy.

And by the end of the weekend, Bear & Larry were also BFF's!

Our Backyard Summer Dinner Party with Friends!

 

Mike and I wanted to kick off summer with a fun outdoor pasta night with friends! So, we invited 5 couples over to join us the first Saturday night of June - it was so much fun!

The girls both had plans with friends so it was nice 

timing to have the house to ourselves to host!

Our menu for the night! I made over 100 meatballs the day before 

and then just warmed them up the next day!

I had fun setting the table - using a vintage set of dishes I found at a garage sale in McPherson one time!  Didn't have a full set for 12 of us - but we made do!

Three of the couples came with Limoncello to share! (And Mike had bought some as well!) We were SET for the night!  Eat. Drink. Be Merry!

So grateful for our friendships - 

Love summer nights like THIS in our backyard! 

Way more fun than going to a crowded restaurant!

May Happenings . . .

 

It was a BEAUTIFUL month of May filled with lots of tennis playing, our yard turning GREEN from Spring rain and the garden sprouting, studying for end of year tests and finals, Mother's Day and graduations celebrating, and Royals games and grilling out with friends! 

Once again, our front door was the perfect place

 (their mom told me) for these babies to be born!

Molly was one of the St. James soccer team managers this Spring  - 

she had a lot of fun as she has several friends on the team. 

She is in the white sweatshirt on the bench in this pix.

My herb and flower garden is sprouting!

I LOVE my garden!

We had our new priest, Fr. Riley over for dinner - it was wonderful to get to know him more!

Love decorating the table - just like my Mom!

I went to a fun event with several friends! One of my favorite follows/authors - TheDailyTay came to our little area of KC for a book signing/party!  She was a BLAST, as expected!

I'm such a fan - trying not to embarrass myself!!!

Very hard not to do!  ;)

From one fellow Dog lover to another . . . 

Mother's Day brunch downtown after mass . . .

So so grateful to get to be their Mom. 

After brunch, we walked over to the City Farmer's Market - 

Madden turned 2! Madden lives across the street from us and Kate 

has babysat him since he moved in as a baby! She typically babysits him 2-3x a month.

They love each other!

Silly photos I get from school . . . 

Graduation parties - this one had an ice-cream truck so it was our favorite!

Molly celebrated Finals being over by going to the K with SJA friends!

{Tatum, Molly, Anna Rosa, Mary}

Kate still plays the guitar every day - and is getting really good. 

I LOVE listening to her play . . . 

 

Kate and Lucy spent the night in a tent in Lucy's backyard the last day of school -they said they slept about 3 hours but they had a LOT of fun - so "worth it!"

Lucy and Cece joined us for a Memorial Day grill out -

Followed by Sprinklers and water guns in the front yard!

The Parrishes invited us to a Royals game in our old season seats we used to share with them - it was a gorgeous night, despite the Royals getting killed by the Yankees . . . 

Can't wait for June!It's officially SUMMER!