A Sad Day, A Happy Day

Today is sad because we are burying a wonderful man, Daddy's great-uncle Evo who passed away from cancer on the 18th.  We are thankful his body is now whole and pain-free with the angels, but sad that we will no longer see him this side of heaven. 

Here celebrating his 87th birthday this past July:

A day spent with Evo and Zia in August 2009

Playing peek-a-boo with Miss Em

I loved how his eyes lit up with such joy

We love you Evo and will miss you!

On a happier note, today is my dad's birthday and we will get to spend it with him!

Family Campout

**Another catch-up post from the summer**

Our family used to have an annual campout every summer.  When I say family I don't just mean my parents and siblings, no I mean everyone, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandma...you get the idea.  I think it may have actually started for my birthday as I usually wanted to go camping for my birthday - so we ended up celebrating all of the July birthdays camping (there were 3-4 of us).

This year we celebrated my two baby cousins' birthday with a campout the first weekend in August.  Our camping used to consist of tents, but now my brother and my cousin Joel have upgraded to nice trailers which seems to make things so much easier.  The kids and I still slept in our tent and they did really well.

Campfires are the best!  Uncle Mike put McGee and Hannah to work collecting stick and taught them how to make a proper fire.  Grandma got some snuggles in with baby Skye.

Smores...the ultimate campfire tradition.  This top left photo is Em's taste of her first smore.  Mmm.... I love campfires!

The days were spent with wiffle ball games, fun in the dirt, and all the joys of camping.

Time with family was the best part!

Miss Hannah and Miss Ashlee celebrated their 4th and 1st birthdays!

Grandma and Grandpa bought McGee his first fishing pole - a Lightning McQueen one with a great rubber tire weight which was perfect for practicing his casting.  Uncle Mike took him out to try casting and fishing in the water.

Daddy ended up not being able to join us since he found out he had a job the day before we were to leave and he only had the weekend to set his new class up.  We were disappointed he would have to miss out on our first camping trip with the kids, but were thankful he had a job.  

Saturday night while we were out fishing my cousin Joel said, "Hey!" to someone and I expected it was another friend of his he knew.  When McGee and I turned around we were happily surprised to see Daddy who drove a couple of hours to come see us for an hour or two and then turn around to drive home as he was playing for worship the next morning at church.  I just love surprises - don't you?

It really meant a lot to have Daddy be there for McGee's first "fishing" experience (no fish were actually caught).

Had to sneak in a family shot before Daddy headed home.

Sunday morning we were blessed to enjoy a church service in the quaint little chapel on the lake.  The pastor who married Daddy and I gave the message and although I enjoyed what I could, it was hard to hear it all since Miss Em had me running around outside with her.

Camping = Dirt.  Plain and simple, and I love it!  I love cousins too.

Forty-Eight

They met as high schoolers and began dating, were engaged on the beach in Santa Cruz on the 4th of July and were married...48 years ago today!

Happy 48th Anniversary to two of the greatest people I know - my parents!

Little Orphan Ann-E

As the rest of the summer has been, last week was another busy one for us.  So many fun things to do, to document...too little time!  Don't be surprised if you see a rush of posts from me this the week as I try to document all of our summer memories.

To start off this week I need to record something very special our family has been enjoying the last couple of nights...meeting Anne, Matthew and Marilla and the ever-nosy Rachel Lynn.  That's right, Daddy surprised us one night and set-up a dinner picnic and put on "Anne of Green Gables".  This was a story and movie his mother shared with he and his brother when they were young and Mommy was introduced to it by my friend Bekah in college.  I love it!  Daddy and I try to watch it (and the preceding sequels) every Fall, but I'm glad he pulled it out now and we could share it with our children.

Miss Em is a typical 2-yr. old and doesn't really sit for too long, but she watched a good amount of it.  McGee on the other hand was enthralled, his eyes rarely left the screen.  Last night we took a break to go outside and have popsicles and he said, "When we're all done we get to go back and finish that movie because I love it!  I really, really love it!"

The first night (forgive the poor photo) - Matthew bringing Anne home the first time

Miss Em paying close attention (I just have to note her poor, poor knees, another new "boo-boo" from a fall outside)

Last night - just before Anne blurts out she found a dead mouse in the plum pudding sauce!  This sure made McGee giggle!

10 on Thursday

Unbelievable!  Today we celebrate 10 years of marriage.  Does it seem to anyone else like 10 years has gone by since this day when we were all dressed up and happily saying our "I Dos"?

(please excuse the poor photo, it was a photo of a wedding photo for a scavenger hunt...I'll post more on that later)

There is so much we've endured, enjoyed and triumphed over these last 10 years, the Lord has blessed us abundantly and every single day I have thanked Him for YOU my love and for our marriage and the gift that it truly is.  I love you - happy 10 year anniversary!

My last post was about sports and soccer and the athletic dreams we had for our children.

I say had because those were our dreams before having children and now that we are  parents we care much more about our children finding their interests, their strengths and their place in this world more than having them live up to our expectations of them.

In fact, it's quite fun seeing their personalities emerging, growing and changing and making guesses at what their possible professions will be.  They both are very musical - will they become musicians, dancers or singers?  McGee is very mechanical and analytical - will he become an engineer or inventor?  Miss Em loves to be goofy and make people laugh - is their life as a stand-up comedian or entertainer in her future?  McGee is extremely caring and nurturing and loves to take care of people - will he be a doctor or nurse?  Miss Em is drawn to animals and mothering - will she become a veterinarian?

We have no idea what their futures hold (and it's probably better that way), but here are some of the expectations and hopes we DO wish for our children:

- accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, loving and serving Him with their whole hearts

- loving others and living by the Golden Rule (you know, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."?)

- finding a career they enjoy and can work hard at while glorifying God

- marrying a Bible-believing husband/wife that will cherish and adore them, with a marriage that will weather the ups and downs of life as a testament to their faith and love

- having respect for authority and honesty in their words and deeds

- respecting and obeying their parents (us!) and building us a lovely retirement home in their backyard (just kidding....sort of). :)

I'm sure there are other more, but those are just the few that are tumbling out of my mind at the moment.  What hopes or expectations do you have for your children?  Were there expectations your parents had for you?  Do you think they were good or bad and did you live up to them?  I'm interested and would love to hear about it in the comments.

Parading Through Town

I love that I grew up in a very small town.  I loved knowing everybody and have always taken pride in my little town.  I was so excited when the kids and I went up to my parents for the weekend and were able to partake of an annual tradition of our little town, the Italian Picnic Parade.  I marched in this parade many times as a child - with my Girl Scout troop, dance group and then for the last time as a entrant for the Miss Amador Pageant, that was nearly 13 years ago!  Crazy how time flies so fast!

McGee didn't want to go to the parade at first.  That morning I heard lots of "I don't want to go.  I want to stay home", but in the end he went and had a blast (as I knew he would)!  

You can find some pictures in my Not Me! Monday post from earlier in the week.  Here are some more:

An hour before the parade began (we got the time wrong and arrived WAY early)

Miss Em, My mom, My Sister & McGee

My 'lil sweetie got a pretty ribbon tiara

McGee was SO excited Grandma bought him a trumpet!

In awe and wonder...

My niece Skye woke up to enjoy the festivities...

The kids had a blast collecting all the candy that was thrown...

McGee was so into the candy that he started following the trucks down the street in search of more sweet treats (that's him below the blue arrow)...

Finding his way back to us...

The many faces of Miss Em...

Parade joy...

Toot-toot...

I liked this.  These were all of the cheerleaders from BOTH high schools in the county and their shirts say, "Spirit is what counts".  Very nice.  By the way - those with the blue shorts go to the BEST high school. :)

Man I love these people...

My girl...I have no words to explain why she was roaring and making these faces at a parade participant!  She is such a crack-up!

Gotta have Smokey the Bear!

My All-American kiddos...

Dots + A Boy = Pure JOY

As we were heading out from the parade I was taking this final shot and recognized my oldest (as in lifelong, not age) friend in the frame!

I was SO excited to see Liesl and her family.  Our moms were friends when they were pregnant with us and we've been friends ever since!  I can't tell you how many sweet cards, notes, postcards I have in my hope chest from Liesl through the years.  Her family traveled quite a bit (France, South Africa, South America) and we always kept in touch.  She was also one of my bridesmaids.  Sadly, the last time I saw Liesl and her husband Nathan (a friend of ours since jr. high) was more than TWO YEARS ago when I was 8 months pregnant with Miss Em and a very large bridesmaid in their wedding!

As my sister said, it was the highlight of our day to see Liesl and her family!  Hopefully we'll be seeing each other again soon!

Well if you've gotten this far down, thank you for looking at my many pictures, here's a sweet little wave "Bye!" from Miss Em and don't forget to go to your town's next parade!

Spring Break Family Time

One of my favorite things...a family picnic

It began with pb & j on wheat bread enjoyed by the creek behind Mommy's house.  Two teens trying to be romantic and enjoying young love.  Picnics have always been a favorite of ours.  We received a picnic backpack as an engagement gift from my parents.  I think we need to dig it out and begin using it again - just the two of us.  Oh but why go just the two of us when we can go all four?  Yes, our family picnicking together, truly what could be better?

Giddy fun in the park

Swinging together

Hiking together

Running, falling, then brushing ourselves off to do it again

Laughing

Exploring

Pouting about having to have our picture taken

Cooperating with the camera

My boys

My independent little girl

and some wildlife

Really - what could be better?