Graduation Weekend

We were lucky enough to head up to Columbia, MO (my old stomping grounds) to celebrate my little brother's college graduation.  "We" meaning the kids and I.  Poor John had to stay behind and work.  Someone has to fund our adventures right?  ;)  Luckily, we picked up my Mom in Springfield and then picked up my little sister at her house an hour later so I had PLENTY of help in the kiddo department.  It's especially helpful because I have the type of mother that doesn't let me do a THING when I'm pregnant.  Most of the time I like it.  ;)

It was a busy weekend with a lot of rushing around but it was definitely fun and definitely worth it.  We headed up Thursday and made it to my sister's house that night.  Just in time to play and have fun with cousins.  Addison is probably convinced their house is Disney World....or better.  She could have stayed their all weekend but I was a meanie and took her a long on the rest of our wild and crazy trip.  The next day, we loaded up and headed up to Columbia and got there in plenty of time to eat lunch and play with Quentin (the man of the weekend) and his cute family.  We rushed back for naps and then rushed on to the main event - Quentin walking across the stage!  He did amazingly well...never tripped, never faltered.  Just kept looking straight and success!  He got his degree (or at least the cardboard folder that will hold his degree soon) and we celebrated by taking LOTS of pictures.  The kiddos did soooo great being patient with the long boring process of waiting for Uncle Quentin's name to be called amongst the thousands of students.  We won't go into detail about how Aunt Michelle gave me fits and left for the bathroom RIGHT when it was Quentin's turn to walk.  ;)

Grandpa getting some manly bonding in during the ceremony.  These boys love their Grandpa Bell.

Quentin's in there somewhere.  It didn't take us long to spot him.  It's one of the benefits of being freakishly tall.

After the graduation we got to enjoy a lovely dinner out with Quentin's in-laws/family.  We thought we'd all be sitting at the same table but considering the busy weekend of graduations in a HUGE college town....we were lucky enough to even GET a table.  Well three of them, all spread around the restaurant.  We visited each other's tables mid-meal so it was all good.  Well, except that somewhere along the way my group drew the short straw and ended up with a 8:4 children to adult ratio.  It was crazy chaos.  Luckily we laughed about it instead of crying.  We were happy to provide the lunch entertainment to the surrounding tables as well.  Take a look.....Cassie and Grandpa got the luxury of having most of the kids.  Cousins like to sit by cousins ya know! 

Poor Aunt Cassie didn't even have her kids that day but she got to deal with ALL the cousins instead.  So much for having a break!

That evening was nice and low-key and involved all of us sitting in the backyard at Quent & Nat's house watching the kiddos play.  Our family really enjoys sitting and we are pretty good at it.  

The next day was Saturday and we were off early morning to go do some serious garage-saleing.  Luckily, Natalie's family is just as obsessed with garage sales as we are so we all hit it hard.  We dropped the kids off at her parent's house and trucked around the neighborhood looking for some bargains.  It was hot but was sooo worth it when we found what we didn't even know we needed....for super cheap!  ;)

Afterwards, my crew (including Grandma & Aunt Cassie) were off to the park to set up for Quentin's family/friend picnic celebration.  It was ohhh so hot that day but the picnic was a success.  Especially after the kids found the water spout and decided to have an impromptu splash party.  Once again, it was fun to sit back and watch them play and eat some yummy lunch.  

Enjoying ourselves at the picnic in the heat.  This little guy was getting some serious Grandpa Bell cuddles in ALL weekend.  It was sooo adorable to watch.  Especially since he doesn't get to see Grandpa Bell all that often.

Aunt Cassie did such a great job putting together a fun picnic to celebrate Quentin and all of his hard work throughout the years.  He is now happy to join the workforce and leave all those tests and homework behind.  Who would have thought ALL the Bell children would end up with college degrees?  Especially when most of them came from the same college?  Happy and blessed we are.  Congratulations Uncle Quentin!!