*OVERDUE* SUMMER 2012 PT2

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19 , 2012

Thanksgiving is JUST a few days awaaaay!
We spend it with hubby's LARGE family in L.A.
and Christmas here with mine :)

So, we're pretty excited for this 2nd trip to L.A.
as the last one was speedy and short
 (1st was a few weeks back).
We'll see all the in laws, nephews, nieces,
eat great food and have lots of fun.

Praying you all have a great holiday,
 give thanks for your blessings,
enjoy each others company,
savor the long awaited food,
and
pass the calories on to the less "cushioned"
hahaha
HAPPY early THANKSGIVING!

If you've just stopped by welcome!

This is PART 2 of 3 Summer 2012 photo posts.
PART 1  PART 3

YES, summer is long gone.

This post and the one to come
are late but with reason.
I don't want to delay anymore, so here goes.

Back in June I took a much needed break from blogging & clothing redo's for my kiddo's.
Their summer break was too important.

And as expected,
you probably relished your summer moments,
posted photos of your adorable kiddos/fur babies,
shared your adventures
and
documented another great season.

I hoped for the same.


One of our fireworks

July held great memories

and heartbreaking ones.



 July 4th 2012

Independence day!



My baby girl being silly!
 This was an OLD fourth of July shirt.
It said "FADED GLORY 2OO4" and I didn't want that showing.
I covered it up with lace, buttons and added lace around the collar.

It was a super hot day!

We worked our fireworks shift on the fourth,

cooled down with ice cream and watermelon

and

had fun with crew.



 The kids helping with the sign,

our almost empty church booth

(we had 2 church booths not too far from each other,

&  some healthy competition spurring the booths to outsell each other!)

and  fireworks at my mom's in the evening.

  

 July 7th 2012

Thousand Trails





This was our lake day!

We all played UNO,  kids played in the lake with Grama, big Sis MS,

& Tia E (Aunt E)

while Hubby and I walked the grounds.

At the end of the day we got vanilla cones from the

trading post.

A childhood fave!

The lovely ladies at the trading post totally agreed to my photo taking :)

They probably thought I was a freak haha



  

It was great to take my hubby & kids to the campsite

we'd visit each summer with Grama B.



July 12-14 2012

Eureka/Arcata #2

MS's birthday trip

This is M.S. in her typical pose.
Jesus, teens & photography are her passion.

 She's our current discipleship student

and has been with us since last September (A little over a year now).

She's our "Bigfoot" daughter, big sis to the kids and blessing to all of us.

Her 19th birthday was coming up on the 15th of July so we brought her along

as her birthday activity/gift.

  

1st stop, Chandelier Tree in Leggett, Ca

The pond is behind the gift shop

Look at us, my mini me :)
Its like we have a fan blowing lol
There was a nice breeze.

 MS photography

Going through the tree
N.B.'s balancing act
Daddy time
M.S.'s favorite flower

On the way up to Eureka/Arcata:
Sis's
Family order
Ogre
Monster bus



 Tree house

Siblings
2nd drive through tree

 World's Largest Totem Pole

McKinleyville, ca

 TRINIDAD, CA!
Its gorgeous here and our very 1st time exploring it.
It was a LONG way down a gazillion steps.


T/B right MS photography

Memorial Lighthouse
Daddy's boy
Walking the beach
Makeshift home & fire pit
Kids
Family

MS photography

 Sequoia park zoo & Sequoia Trails


 Big boys & their walking sticks 

Ferndale Cemetery



MS photography



 We packed in as much as possible in those few days,

trying to share all of our previous experiences & adventures with MS.

I seriously think we wore her out

BUT she's young so we told her to "suck it up" lol

While hubby worked in the mornings,

(he had to have 2x the energy)

we rested

and

after work

 enjoyed the best family time together.

  

JULY 19TH 

This day we had to do one of the hardest things ever.

We said goodbye to our best fur friend/family member Matilda.

I've delayed posting because it means I have to talk about it.

Only a few know.

Not talking is easier,

at least in this case.

Talking about how it still hurts is a downer,

and seems to cheapen her existence

 with those who don't understand the love of a pet.

 I have felt pathetic at times for crying over this dog,

but she was family.

She'd been our baby before ours came,

was what we talked most about to family

and

photographed like crazy.

I felt guilty not spending time with her during my pregnancies.

 I worried her playful jumps might put unnecessary pressure on my belly.

But then our babies came and

she was wonderful with them :)

She was their big "sis", "grama" & then "great grama"

Matilda was exactly what this family needed.

 We miss her so much

but are thankful God gave us the 13 &1/2 years together.

 Eventually I'll share the details of her passing

and of her doggy life.

  

It has been 4months today

officially- 17weeks & 4 days

Its getting easier to deal with

Unfortunately and as expected

Matilda's passing sombered everything after that,

including Hubby's 39th birthday July 22nd.
Family entertained the kids so hubby & I could just deal.

July seemed to drag on

and

we both wished it would just be over.

 Part 3 coming soon.