Reason #1 Why Raif is Starting Preschool

He needs to play with some other little dudes!

His sister was the designer and he was her make-over project.

Loss

Death is not an easy thing to come to terms with, but it's reality. As you grow older more people die. It sucks, plain and simple. This past year and half has not been an easy one. It started with a close friend of Colby losing his wife, then I lost a member of our bowling team, then I lost my grandma and Colby lost his grandma, then I lost another member of my bowling team, and now I have lost my aunt. It has been a lot. I've been to more memorials and funerals in the past year and a half that in the first 34 years of my existence. I'm not one to talk about it much, I normally just keep it inside, it's my Mo. This blog has been a bit therapeutic for me. I get to say what's on my mind, through my words.

My aunt's death was not much of a shock, she has been battling cancer for a while now, and seeing her struggle was hard to swallow. In the back of our minds we all knew it was coming. What has been shocking is seeing one of my dad's siblings gone, knowing that my cousins are going to have to bury one of their parents. Watching my grandma have to say good-bye to one of her children, knowing that she should have gone first, and not her first born. It's sad, really. No other words can describe the feeling, I'm just sad.

Tears start forming when you think of it all. And then, you are in the car with your 5 year old. Driving along, she's quiet. She's looking out the window, then we start talking about her going to ballet class. More quiet. I have not told her yet that Aunt Roxanne has died. It hadn't come up in conversation with her alone yet, so I wasn't going to worry her. She had, however, been around us grown-ups talking about it. Then, out of the blue, she asks if Aunt Roxanne died. I tell her yes. Not much gets by her. She asks why I hadn't told her. I really had no answer, other than, it hadn't come up yet. She was okay with that. More quiet. Then she says, the most healing words of all. "Well, Mommy. Aunt Roxanne is in heaven, now, with God." I tell her yes. And that was the end of the conversation.

Words of healing from a 5 year old. The only words that will really help you get through the death of a loved one, knowing they are in heaven with God.

I took this picture off of my cousin's facebook page. I'd never seen it before, but it is how I will always remember my Aunt Roxanne. Beautiful, vibrant and full of life. We will miss you dearly.

Lexy is 13!

Last night we celebrated Lexy's 13th birthday. I can't believe both of my nieces are now teenagers! We dined on flank steak and pasta with butter, per the request of the birthday girl. I also got a cake from the delicious Great Dane Bakery. If you haven't been there it's a must.

The delicious cake
The new teenager!

Boomer wanted his picture taken, I think he was waiting under the table for some cake droppings

Too much birthday fun, they both fell asleep on the couch, which never happens.

Sun Valley, Idaho Summer Trip

Colby couldn't quite find the time to go to Sun Valley this summer, so I decided to take the kids by myself this year. We met Colby's parents up there for 5 days of some nature fun.

One of the bunnies that loves to eat the grass on the property
This was the river we went tubing in last year on the property. The water was so high from the snow this year, the river was moving a bit to quickly for tubing this summer.

Charley was cutting down some trees to try and build a dam for the river.

Raif's contribution to the dam

Bailey and Raif picking some wild flowers with Grammy and Papa

On our walk to the beaver dam

Picking wild flowers

Beavers can do some serious damage to the trees

Showing us the beaver cuts in the tree

More beaver damage

Bailey swimming at the club pool

Ready for her swim

Raif in the awesome kiddy pool

Papa and Bailey goofing around

Raif's turn

I love how much grass there is, just to run around and be a kid

Wiener Dog Races

Last week, we went to the Wiener Dog Races at Los Alamitos Race Track. These are horrible pictures, but you get the idea. Our neighbors Anne and Darrel, their kids, my sister and Eli, Lexy, Rhea and Jerry all got together for a fun evening at the races. My sister and I used to go to that race track a lot with my mom and dad. We used to run around picking up every ones losing tickets. That was way back when no one actually threw them away. I think it was somehow therapeutic to throw your ticket up in the air to show you lost.

We sat right in front of where the horses first come out for their warm-ups
The daschund races

A little shoulder ride to see better

Ring-around-the rosy

Summer Day of Fun

The newspaper is a dying breed, but I'm still an avid reader of it. It's sad though. I know the Internet provides you with tons of information. But, your local newspaper provides you with so many fun activities and happenings in your community. I read about a story time at Rancho Los Alamitos, just minutes from our house. Our neighbors joined the kids and me for a really fun morning.

Our day started out at Rancho Los Alamitos for 2 hours of fun and outdoor activities. The theme was spring and they had stories, interactive plays, and crafts.Bailey making her flower crown.

Showing off her artistic ability
Love this picture. Hand-in-hand walking to the next activity. Next year, Samuel, Annabelle and Vicki's 15 month old brother will be walking along side them.

Raif is definitely ready for preschool, he sat there the entire time listening to the stories.

The next craft.

Our day ended at the bay for dinner on the beach. Bailey and Raif had fun jumping off the hill.

Go Raif!

Flying like an airplane!

I love summer!!!

Sea World Adventure

My mom and I packed up the kids and headed down to San Diego for the day to Sea World. We were there for eight hours and although Raif was a bit whiny at times, we still had a great day there. We caught 3 of the shows and got to see a penguin feeding and some guests in the water with the dolphins. We also got to see the new exhibit, Turtle Reef. Raif LOVES sea turtles so he was so beyond excited to see so many of them.

Shamu show, you forget how powerful these creatures are
A small little lagoon for the sea turtles

Raif was focused on those sea turtles

Raif was not so game to see Elmo and Grover, I can already see how Santa will go this year. Bailey thought they were hysterical messing with her hair!

During the hot afternoon, we headed over to the arctic

Grandma and Bailey cooling down

I love these guys!

Bailey and Grandma near the penguins

A little snack for the kids

Watching the penguin feeding, the birds wait for a dropping...he got two while we were there

Excitement for Raif at Turtle Reef

They watched the sea turtles for quite a while

The new exhibit is really beautiful

Some of the sea turtles are massive

Focusing on more sea turtles