Yes there really is a Kalamazoo.

So, I've returned to the electronic world, to once again try to catch up on posts. This will be the first of at least four, maybe more.

Its not very often I get to celebrate my Kalamazoo roots! I used to have a shirt that said "Yes there really is a kalamazoo" that looked a lot like this button. I spent about 5 years in Kzoo, and loved every minute of it. While I was there I made some wonderful friends in the Ross girls, who I still miss terribly. It turns out that they are my Kalamazoo Gals (which is also a song, I've got a gal in Kalamazoo by Glenn Miller, click on the link if you want to see the lyrics) So, to catch up, at least for an afternoon, we stopped at Melanie and Brent's house to see Juniper who is about 3 months older than Collin and revisit Kalamazoo.
Melanie is uber tall, so Juniper is already looking like a toddler, but really she's just 9 months or so. Her latest and greatest trick is the "side tounge" featured here:
Juniper is also cruising along furniture, preparing to walk very soon, so we were able to see her in action. Once she decided to stay for awhile and sit near us we gobbled up the opportunity to get the kids together for a photo.
Then Melanie and I were able to pair up with our respective babies, making for some cute photos to watch the kids grow.
As usual, Melanie and I (and Heather briefly) spent the afternoon chatting about where life has taken us and how things in Kalamazoo have been since I've been gone. When I lived in Kzoo I worked for Calico Corners, the Ross' girls family preschool, now owned by Heather Clay(Ross) and her husband Kevin. It was so fantastic to work in an environment where I felt proud of how we improved children's education and daily lives. I really think it was during my time as a teacher at the preschool that I solidified my commitment to children in my career, and without Mel, Heather and Gretchen I wouldn't likely be where I am today, so in long-overdue fashion. Thank You.

I loved hearing all of Melanie's updates, from going back to school to thinking about babies in the future, she always so easy to talk to and so caring and compassionate about the world around her. Thanks Mel, for being such a fantastic friend. Even though we don't get to see each other often, it always feels like no time has passed when we are able to catch up and then I go on wondering how I went so long without seeing the Kalamazoo Gals.