Summer catch up

So, I haven't posted on our blog in forever, not sure really why, but I just haven't. So, as school is starting, I decided to post a few (and I mean a few, there could be so many more!) pictures of what we did this summer. It didn't seem this busy, but looking back, we did alot of fun things!

Summer started out with a quick trip to California to visit Craig's parents on their mission in Fresno. Our first night we stayed with my dearest friend Lorinda and her family and had a great time catching up with them. (Miss you Ren). Then the next day, we were off to Fresno, but not before we made a few stops.....

Obviously, this is us at the Golden Gate Bridge. (this is one of the rare pictures you will see me in because I HATE being in pictures!)

Pier 39 in San Francisco

The Beach - the water was FREEZING, but the kids and Craig didn't seem to care at all. They would have lived there if it were possible.

Rachel didn't like the water much, but was more than happy to stay up by me digging in the sand.

We thought that by keeping Meg in a small pool we could keep her out of the sand. Not so lucky...

Craig's mom Coy. They get home from their mission in Nov. They left when I was pregant with Meg, so they had never seen her.

Craig's dad, Dennis, with the kids in Yosmite. It was a great place to go. I loved it and we could have easily spent more than one day there.

The giant Redwoods were amazing to see.

Loved the water falls too. Soo beautiful there.

My girls, Rachel, Meg and Abby in grandma and grandpa's apartment. We stayed there for two nights. While it was a little cramped, it was really fun.

The next activity we did was go camping. I love camping, but it had been awhile since we had gone. The kids have so much fun and I love being up in the mountains.

While the girls and Craig sleep on the ground, I, on the other hand, slept with Meg on a giant queen size air matress. That's how I camp!

We alway enjoy going to the 4th of July parade and carnival in Centerville and this year was no different. We had a great time, eventhough dad was gone flying.

Abby and Rachel with their cousin, Nicole.

Next was Abby's 8th birthday. The kid had three parties. We had Abby's actual party in TX with my mom and dad, then had a family party and then a friend party. How spoiled is she!

Abby then got to show a goat at the Davis County Fair. She came in 3rd and she had a great time.

The girls got much braver than their mother by holding a spider at the fair.

We ended the summer with a quick trip to the zoo. This was Meg's first time and she couldn't get enough. She was enthralled by it all, but was sleep before we even left the parking lot.

So I guess we had a fun summer. I'm kind of sorry to see it end, but many things are happening soon, so maybe I will be a little bit better at keeping up with my blog.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v3d6SFcDys

This guy is amazing!

In loving memory of Bo

So today was a very sad day for our family. Our dog, Bo, has not been himself the last couple of weeks and we have noticed that he has been losing ALOT of weight over the last two months (about 20lbs!). We at first thought it was the change in dog food, but when we changed him back about a month later, he didn't improve all that much. We have been watching him close but it seemed like the last couple of days he had really gone down hill quickly. SO, we took him into the vet today where they ran a bunch of tests. They determined he had really bad diabetes brought on by what looked like a pacreatic tumor. The best thing for him was to put him down. I have to say it was one of the hardest things I have had to do in a long time. It about killed me when he looked at me with those trusting eyes knowing I had just signed his death sentence. At the same time, it was almost like he was pleading to help him to feel better. As sad it has been for our family today, we are remembering how much we loved him. He has been with our family for almost eight years (we got him when Abby was a month old). We feel very blessed to have had him in our family and are grateful for the awsome companion he was.

My birthday

So much to my dismay, my birthday was this week. Normally I get really excited to have a birthday because its a day that is all mine; I can do what I want. Not this year. I am really having a problem with turning 37. Maybe its the gray hair I have to color now, the newly diagnosed arthritis in my knee or the ever increaing wrinkles by my eyes, but I am not happy about this. I feel like time is flying away from me and I have so many more things I want to accomplish before I turn 40. By turning 37, I realize my time to get these things done is slowly drawing to a close. I don't feel like I should be in my "late 30's" but here I am. I guess I will just have to embrace that it is something I can not change and be ever so grateful I am not 19 (it was great to be young, but I really don't want to relive my 20's). Change has never been one of my strong points, so I guess I will slowly adjust to this new age just in time to turn 38! Hopefully, this will be a good year of change and that some of that list I have can get accomplished. We'll just have to see.

I can't believe how grown up my Abby is getting. (This is Abby with her cousin Carsen). I've told my mom on many occassions that it is very painful watching yourself grow up. She is my total clone and its really scary. I have a whole new appreciation for my parents, especially when Abby starts crying over the littlest things. I can remember on more than one occassion my dad telling me to suck it up when I would start crying because he was getting on to me for something. She is such a big helper though I don't know what I would do without her!

This cute little Rachel has been sick the last few days and even with her cold, she is still my little spitfire. She is going to be the biggest handful when she is a teenager. I am getting grey hairs just thinking about it. For example, the other day I asked her to pick up her toys and put them in her room to which she responded "I can't, I'm nursing the baby". When I told her I didn't think that was quite right, she said, " I really can't do it, I'm nursing the baby". I guess she's heard that a few times the last few months. She also tells us regularly that we are "ruining her life". I guess I should start saving up for her therapy now. Life without her would sure be boring! She gives the best hugs and those blue eyes melt my heart!

Craig brought up the high chair so that Meg could see what was going on more than floor level and we could actually get a few things done. She thinks she is so big and loves that she is just out of reach of Rachel's constant "loves". Can't believe she is alreay five months old!!!

As much as I have tried to get this cute baby to take a pacifier, she has much preferred her fingers. I laugh so hard when she gets quiet and all I hear is this faint sucking. I will look over and this is what I see. I hate that this will become an issue later on, but to me it is so cute right now.

My girls.

She wakes up happy and stays happy all day!

The girls were excited to both have curly hair for school!

Love this - love my girls

They love hanging out together and holding Meg.

She doesn't seem to mind either.

Dads and Donuts with Abby

Abby had a Dads and Donuts day at school where she and the class performed . This is one of her songs. She is so animated it cracks me up. She is such a ham at school, but swears she is shy. I can't imagine her being shy with me for a mom!