June 4th

Today on June 4th my bro in law Blake is graduating from the University of Washington dental school! This means that he and Ali and their girls will soon be on their way HERE for ortho school, which is a very exciting blessing! They arrive Monday. So this June 4th is a happy day.

Three years ago on June 4th I got the strangest call from Tyler at work, he was sitting out in his car in the parking garage horrible pain, and soon found out he had appendicitis! That night about 11pm, after spending the entire evening at the ER, he went in for surgery. We had no family in town, I sat alone in the waiting room and my kids were at a friends. We became very homesick for family support and decided a few months later to put our house on the market and try to move to Utah (never happened).

Seven years ago on June 4th my dad went in for a routine surgery to remove the bothersome mass that had been identified on x-ray in his left lung. Tyler and I happened to be in town in Mesa visiting my family (we were in Denver then) and became concerned when the one hour surgery became a three hour surgery and we hadn't heard from mom. She returned home late that night looking like she had seen a ghost and we all knew our worst fears had been confirmed. It was cancer. They'd taken the whole lung and found it also in his lyphnodes. Stage 4. They gave him 6-9 months.

In a way June 4th was the day my dad died and most certainly the day my family was changed forever. So I reflect upon him and that time every year on this day.

It's good to be celebrating something positive this year (thanks Blake!) Life has a remarkable way of rolling on... And isn't that what we're here for.


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our girl

Pinetop: Better than Disneyland

We got away to our traditional Memorial Day spot in Pinetop, AZ this weekend. The kids have concluded that they like being in Pinetop at the cabin better than being at Disneyland! That says a lot!! We took a new way there and the views were gorgeous. We swam in the warm pools, even Claire although mommy forgot her swimsuit! We ate breakfast at Darbi's; We biked/walked around the lake and trails; Ate lots of smores, watermelon, burgers and bagels; Went to the carnival and made ourselves sick; Saw Kung Fu Panda 2; And ended the trip off at the family funplex on the go-carts (not for me or Ash). The best part was being together as a family, in the woods and the cool forest air. It's heavenly up there and only 3 hrs away.































On the way back down the kids were watching Tom and Jerry in the car. Tyler and I were dying over the things they would say when they looked out the windows every once in a while: jake (looking at the sand and cactus), "Wow! We've come down out of the woods!" Ash (as we pulled into a gas station), "Are we back in Arizona?!" Jake (seeing the freeway interchange near home) "Yes! We're back in America!" They are so funny.

Grateful for another family trip on the record books.

peach picking

Maddie and her special friend Trevor were in town last week so we went peach picking with them. It was a warm day so we made it quick, but we took home a load! The orchard smelled delicious and the peaches are perfectly ripe. Now what to do with them all! ...

Last Day of School 2011

Luke first day 2nd grade
last day 2nd grade
Ash first day 1st grade
last day 1st grade
precious
I took last day pics at the front door like it do on the first year. I think because I had Claire in November time moved at warp speed and I can't believe they are out for the summer already! Both Luke and Ashley had a fantastic year. They learned a lot, enjoyed their teachers and classmates and said, "Yes!" when asked if they love their school. We feel so happy to be here in this great neighborhood and community.

After school we met friends at the bowling alley, met family for dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then I went on to Shelly's graduation! She was beaming and looked beautiful! Congrats to all!!

Buddies

Jake turns 5 this summer and therefore goes to Kindergarten in the Fall. It's hard to believe, I know! We are happy for him because he will love being more a part of his big brother and sister's school life, and will enjoy being busier during the day, but he is so precious and it is always sad to say good-bye. I've heard it said that during the preschool phase, days feel like years and years feel like days. It's hard to see them go.

So in light of all that, I am relishing my two little ones a little extra during this last week of school - and life as I know it. Here, Jake and Claire together doing playdough. I thought it was a darling moment to capture on camera.

Ice-skating with Apolo Ohno

Ty and I stepped out of the box for date night last weekend and went ice-skating. It was fun, considering the fact that neither of us had done it in a decade, we have four kids, and we're in our 30's (and it seemed everyone else there was under 18). We laughed and had a good time and neither of us fell - which was most important! By the end, Ty was dreaming of being Apolo Anton Ohno in the Olympics and I had mastered a twirl, or ungraceful turn of some sort. We'll have to go back.

Ashley bridges to brownies!

Ash enjoyed her year as a Daisy in girl scouts. Saturday she officially became a Brownie and looks forward to being with some of the older, very nice girls! I am glad she is a part of this fun group and that she gets learn and do good things.