June 2025

Happy Birthday Rose! (10)
Lucia’s dance intensive
Lucia and GG go to Riverside Bible Camp
Lucia’s cabin group
Lucia loves carpet ball.
Now Rose goes to camp!
Rose’s cabin group
The boys and I went to SJU for Elliot’s summer orientation
Whether they like it or not, the boys can’t help but laugh at each other.
Happy Birthday, Mari! (20)
Rose at camp.
. . . and we’re at the lake.
spikeball
pad life
Gary and Kathie
Me and Susan
Liess Clan
Family Pic
Susan went to her college reunion.
I took the girls camping in Decorah
Ruben came, too.

May 2025

Elliot decided to attend St. John’s for college.
Rose had an orchestra concert.
Lucia got braces.
I picked up Mari from school. Here we are having dinner at Holly’s with a couple of her friends.
Playing in the pool. It’s probably not too warm yet. I can see the ladder isn’t even in.
Family pic on Mother’s Day. Everyone is home from college.
Susan on Mother’s Day.
Lucia did a great job in her dance recital.
Lucia singing in 6th grade honor chorus.
Susan went to Chicago with Jen for a training
Elliot’s last day of high school!
Elliot’s graduation.
Elliot graduated!
Elliot with Mar-Mar and Be-Bob.
Susan
Elliot’s graduation board.
Rose’s friends at track day.
Last day of school for the girls.
6th grade class.
Lucia and Stella in the obstacle course.
Lucia and friends.

End of break

Andrew went back to college today. We were out late last night for Ian Reagen’s birthday celebration, and he left early this morning to beat the snow that is coming in later today.

  1. He beat most of the snow, but still had to drive through light snow for much of Iowa.
  2. I thought he was in the clear, but Nebraska was a mess of freezing drizzle and mist.

I monitored his drive on Life360 and I was glad to see when he was clear in Colorado.

Susan’s First Day of School

19 years(?) after she finished her Master’s degree at Xavier, Susan is headed back to school! She is going to take a few additional classes at Drake to tag on to her existing Master’s so she can become a license mental health counselor. It should take a little longer than a year for the school portion. Go Susan!

Andrew Leaves for College

Andrew left for college this morning. It was his first time driving himself. His goal is to make it to school mid-afternoon so he and his friends can head into the mountains for a couple of days.

Taking Mari to College

Over the past few days we moved Mari into college. She moved in Wednesday, we said goodbye on Thursday, then we stayed in Cincinnati for a couple of days sans kids.

Mari and her roommate.
All set.
Susan and Mari
Opening Mass, with Fr. Eric (my friend and college housemate)
Pre-goodbye
Susan and I went kayaking
Susan wanted her picture take with Mr. Redlegs. She is a big Reds fan.
After dinner at Dewey’s we went to Jim and Jack’s for some country music.

CSB/SJU Visit

This weekend Susan and Erin took Mari, Cameron, Elliot and Hope up to St. Bens/St. Johns for a college visit.

Riding in the minivan.
Lucia, Rose and I went to the Valley football game.
Susan and Erin were glad to be back.

Thursday – Jacksonville University

Candy Cane Lake at the University of Northern Florida. I was disappointed not to see an alligator during our trip.
Golf cart tour at Jacksonville University. I guess there was a lot of ground to cover.
Pool Time
Susan got in the freezing pool.
We made a sandcastle, just before the tide came in.
Shopping at a cool outdoor mall.