After graduation

So, there was no time wasted after graduation. Wyatt will be attending Texas State University to get a degree in athletic training. He will be living at home since the school is local. His orientation was the first week in June! They didn't give me any time at all to adjust to him graduation before I'm forced to deal with the fact that he's starting college. Come. On. People. Work with me here.......this stuff is hard.

Anyway, parents also had a two day slap of reality to attend. It was good to see, though, that the school is ready and excited for Wyatt to be attending. Look at what they did.....

Isn't that nice of them?

Addison cracked us up over it. There was a story in the news of a family in the Houston area that has quads that will also be heading off to college. One of the girls will be attending Texas State University also. Addison was telling Wyatt about it and that he needed to look her up. We asked her for more info about the girl and her response was that she had long dark hair. HA! That should make her easy to find. Only about 75% of the girls we saw on campus at orientation had long dark hair.

Abigail left at the beginning of July for an extended stay in Canada. She left with a one-way ticket, so I'm not sure when she'll be back home. At the moment, we're hoping for September.

Addison got a job at a local assisted living/memory care facility. She's working the 2nd shift, so we don't get to see much of her at all. But, so far, she seems to like it.

With Abigail gone and Addison working, the rest of us headed to the coast to relax a bit. It was much needed......trust me.

Kirsten's boyfriend (Wesley) has now left for basic training in the Coast Guard. We took this picture and sent to him to let him know we were thinking of him, even while we were out having fun. We're thoughtful like that.

Ok, I'll try to be back sooner rather than later with more updates. The summer is rushing right past us.

Playing Catch Up.....Again

I know!!!

I'm behind yet again. It's amazing how quickly time passes.

The kids all got to graduate from high school. Family was able to make it to the ceremony and we were all quite proud of them.

Fast Forward.......Prom

OK. I have no idea what all has happened that I'm leaving out. Maybe I can add it as I remember, but don't anyone hold your breath on that.

So this year was senior prom. After the cost and stress of the dresses, make up, nails, etc., I've told the girls that they need to just head to the court house when they decide to get married. Oh My Word is it crazy!

Abigail and Avery

Addison and Jacob

Kirsten and Wesley

Wyatt's date was running late so she missed getting to take pictures at our house before everyone headed to dinner.

Here's a group shout of our crew.

They clean up pretty good.

This year has just seemed like a whirlwind of activity. It's all gone by too fast.

It's a New Year!

I can't believe it's already 2017. I still remember all the Y2K hysteria like it was yesterday. Slow down!

We made our way to Dave and Busters again. But now Dax has found something new for his wish list.

They have larger than life Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots!!

And we celebrated the new year in typical Verleye fashion. Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows around a fire.

As you can see, the kids could barely contain their excitement.........

We were really looking forward to getting the year off to a great start, both at home and at the office. However, the powers that be had a different idea all together. Dax got the flu, and he got it good. He wasn't even able to make it into the office for the first two and a half weeks of January. Then three of the others of us passed around a stomach bug. That just starts the year off with us already being behind.

Holidays

We celebrated Thanksgiving in the usual way, good company and too much food.

As is our custom, Dax and I headed to our conference in Las Vegas the weekend after Thanksgiving. Our flight was uneventful, but our luggage suffered greatly.

That is two different pieces of luggage, too. We had to replace it while we were out there.

The check in at the hotel wasn't any better, but thankfully the rest of the trip improved from there. We had class all day, but enjoyed our evenings.

I almost forgot! Somewhere in the middle of all of this Dax and Wyatt joined the Texas State Guard. I'm so proud of my guys!

 

We got home in time for the crazy that is the holidays and year end. 

Avery came to stay with us again this year. We did our best to keep him looking festive and in the holiday spirit.

He's a good sport to indulge us this way.

OK......that's really all I can remember at this point. :0)

It was a big one.....

The kids celebrated their birthday in November.


And, it was a big one.


They turned EIGHTEEN!!!


I still don't think I've come to terms with it. I still feel like they're about 8 or 10.


Because they've been telling me that they weren't birthed, they were removed (because I had a c-section) for years, I ordered this cake for them.

I still can't believe that they're 18!!

We went and did what they like to do most on their birthday.........shopping. And had dinner. They like that, too.

And, I figured it would be my last opportunity, so I made them do this.

 

 

And I do mean MADE them do it. They weren't interest at all. But after suffering through labor for months, it's the least they could do, right?

Fall Happenings

In September, Dax and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary. My how the time does fly.

Even though it's an incredibly busy time at the office, we snuck away for the day and celebrated us. He was a big winner, and I was hoping for something really special for our anniversay.

And look what he got me!

We went the Texas Renaissance Festival. There's no telling what you'll see there, but we always have a good time.

Addison and Abigail decided on a theme for Halloween. 

They're pretty funny. Their Aunt 'Manda said that it figures that Addison would be the one in charge. Ha! She's not wrong.........

And then back to school.....

We had a great time at Disney and with the other things we did. But, as usual, it's always good to get back home.

The kids headed off for their first day of school. This is what I got when I asked them to let me take a picture.

 

Always the comedians. I can't believe it's their senior year!!! Where did the time go?

 

Homecoming came around quickly, it seemed. Kirsten and Wyatt were the only ones that chose to go.

They had a good time.

Meanwhile, this is what our house is looking more and more like.

 

Who could have imagined that a piece of ice could be so interesting?

Fun at Disney

We spent a week in Florida and 5 days at Disney for our vacation. It was Kirsten's turn to choose the vacation destination, and nobody was surprised that she picked Disney.

We spent pretty much all day everyday at the parks. I think we hit them all. Although, when we were at Epcot it rained quite a bit which shut down many of the attractions.

This poor girl got so sick while we were there. She felt terrible on this day. I think the next day we went to Animal Kingdom and she felt too bad to even make it. It really sucks to be on the vacation of a life time and not be able to enjoy it.

 

Someone was very excited to get his very own Chewbacca mug at lunch.

We even had dinner with the princesses. Kirsten was so excited to get to go inside of Cinderella's castle.

But this was on the day that Abigail was so sick, so Avery went in her place. Who can blame him? He got to hang out with princesses and have a great meal.

It was really a good time. It was exhausting and seemed to fly by all at the same time.

I took this quick video on the drive home. As you can see, everyone was pretty tired.