Andrew – The Lieslands

Picking Andrew Up From College

April 28, 2023

I drove to Denver yesterday to pick Andrew up from college. I left at 6am CT, was in Denver by 2 MT, and we made it home around 1am CT.

Colorado Visit

October 10, 2022

This past weekend we went to Colorado to spend the weekend with Andrew. He is on Fall Break at school, which lined up nicely with his birthday. We left Des Moines on Friday, picked up Andrew, and then went to Woodland Park, which is up the hill from Colorado Springs. We spent Saturday and Sunday exploring the area and then on Monday we drove Andrew back to school and headed home.

It was great to see Andrew again and get the gang back together. We all miss having him around.

We didn’t take the cog railway, but it was cool.

Family pic, with Pikes Peak in the background

Andrew’s birthday dessert at Casa Grande

Taking Andrew to College

August 18, 2022

Today we (just Susan and I!) took Andrew to college! He will be attending Regis University in Denver. We left Des Moines yesterday around lunch time. It was a rough, emotional departure because the Reagen kids and our kids were all present to say goodbye. There were many tears and rumor has it that after we left everyone just sat in the living room for a while. We have had a great run here in Des Moines, raising our kids with the Reagens, and with Andrew and Ian headed to college it feels like a seismic shift.

Yesterday we drove to Denver and today we were up early for a hike and then took Andrew to get moved in. We got him settled into his room, met his roommate, and then said our goodbyes. He was really excited to start getting settled in on his own. That is about right.

Before move-in we went for a hike at Red Rocks Amphitheater

When Andrew was little if Susan and I were ever sitting next to each other Andrew would always come in between us.

Late Summer Happenings

August 16, 2022

Lucia’s first time going off the diving board.

Susan and Shelly in Shelly’s classic car.

We went to a Des Moines Menace playoff game. They lost on PKs.

We went for a walk along the Des Moines river while Mari was at soccer tryouts.

Making bracelets was a popular activity this summer.

I was a referee at Keeper Wars, a goalie competition.

The kids made our foam float into a slide for the pool.

The girls played in the creek on a walk with Susan.

We got a cool volleyball net for the pool.

Rose, Lucia, and I went to the state fair.

Andrew and Susan went to Eatery A for a final meal. College departure is close.

Boy Cousins. They had a final weekend together, spending the night and doing some fun activities.

Mari’s soccer season started, with a new club. She is in the white.

8/16 – We had the Liesses and Reagens over for one last dinner before Andrew and Ian head off to college.

The Boys

June 29, 2022

Grad Photo Shoot

June 2, 2022

Andrew and his friends had a photo shoot. Here is a picture.

Andrew’s Graduation

May 29, 2022

Pre-graduation festivities – playing in the pool with Jill’s girls.

Waiting for the ~~game~~ graduation to start. During the pandemic they moved graduation to the stadium and it is a hit.

Andrew’s Grad Party

May 28, 2022

Today we celebrated Andrew’s graduation party. Jill, her girls, and Mar-Mar and Be-Bob came from Cincinnati and Mary and Casey came from Kansas City. The party was at Main Frame studios, an artist co-op near downtown. Andrew’s friend Oscar’s family had reserved the space and invited us to join.