A quick trip to Grandpa and Grandma's house.

The storage unit...

So my mom and dad are moving...and not just to a different house or to another city...but actually moving out of state...yep...Spokane, Washington will be their new home...

They had decided that finishing their lives close to their daughters would be the most ideal...being able to watch their grand kids grow in person...the problem was that one of us lived in southern California and one in Spokane, Washington...and due to the high cost of living where I live (big bummer), it makes more sense for them to pack up their things and move near Stephanie...I understand, but still am jealous that my sister and her kids get them and we don't...

The moving date is October 31st.

With only one month to go, there is quite a bit of organization and packing that needs to be done...how do you pack up 40 plus years of stuff????...I have decided you don't...

So this last weekend Kendall and I drove up to Sacramento after work on Thursday for a couple of days of packing, sorting, cataloguing, and TRYING to toss...my super duper Aunt Shirley flew in from Connecticut to help as well...

We also got to celebrate my mom's birthday...76 years...(ummm mom you don't care that I just listed your age right? Well you shouldn't because you look fabulous!)

We "packed" much into the weekend. We spent the whole day Friday at their storage sorting, documenting and TRYING to toss...but realizing that tossing things even if you have not looked at these items in years is hard to do :)...Kendall had fun going through her grandpa and grandma's things, learning more about them (especially her grandpa) in one day then in the last 12 years of her life, Grandma even taught Kendall how to create some very cute bracelets...we had fun with Aunt Shirley, and Kendall was able to learn in person why Aunt Shirley needs to get her butt out to the west coast...of course that is so she can be around her wonderful niece more often. :)

A big hug to you mom and dad...we had such a fun time, thank you, which went way to fast...wishing we could be nearer to you this next month...we love you.

Grandpa making sure that I don't toss too much...

A trip to D.I...Kendall became an expert at creating some colorful bracelets, thanks Grandma!

Aunt Shirley got a special bracelet made just for her...

The Birthday Girl!

The Last of the bunch...

This morning Kendall began the ritual of improving her smile...two long years...she was pretty excited to get her braces on...I am wondering if she will be feeling the same way tonight when she tries to eat something...I am happy because she marks the last of the kids to get ortho treatment...Sandon is in the middle of his treatment...I and my wallet though will really be excited when there are no more monthly trips to the office for the adjustments to the braces and the withdrawals from my bank account...

Happy moments...

Elyse and Rob all smiles

Saturday Greg and I were able to see my dear friends daughter married in the Newport Beach Temple...it was truly a happy occasion...there is always something special about weddings...I could not help but look at April(mom of the bride) while sitting in the temple...which happened to be a mistake because instant tears formed immediately...I saw in her eyes contentment, satisfaction, joy...I am so happy for her...I then looked at Elyse's(the bride) face and saw happiness, hope, excitement and could not help but be thrilled for her...as I looked around this particular sealing room I was reminded of another Saturday about a year and a half ago where I was that bride in that very same sealing room and I too had felt that same happiness, hope and excitement...and as I held Greg's hand this past Saturday I still felt so happy and blessed for the marriage I have with Greg...and how grateful I am that he loves me regardless of my imperfections...I could see in Rob's eyes how much he adored Elyse...I could feel and see that April knew this as well...and then I felt more than anything that I hope that my own daughters get to experience that happy moment as well.

Enjoying a moment with the very beautiful mother of the bride...wait are we really old enough to be a mother of the bride...apparently April you are!

Photos courtesy of Shawna Johnson

1st Day of School

Loving that my kids will still humor me and let me take their photos on the first day of school...

Sophomore and Freshman year!!! Happy that the boys are at the same school again!

7th Grader...no problem...

Kendall and Skylar...looking good girls!

Labor Day Weekend and Us Time

The holiday spirit shown along the freeway by Camp Pendleton...

Taking deep breaths and enjoying the long weekend...

This is exactly what Greg and I did, us time was minimal this summer...we went to San Diego's Mission Bay for a couple of days...went to my favorite temple...enjoyed a book by the pool...relaxed with some pretty awesome weather...reconnecting before the busy school year...came back and used our day off from work by getting house and garage in order...ending the weekend with one of our favorite barbecued meals...can't believe summer is over...but feeling ready for fall...

Hiking, Camping, Fishing, Dads and Girls...

4am departure...

Last week Greg and Kendall were invited to go hiking/camping with some dad's and their daughters...Kendall was very excited to learn that Greg was taking 2 days off of work to take her...one of the first things she asked was if she got to wear one of those back packs that the boys wear when they go hiking...I was laughing as I said yes because I was not sure she understand that those packs can get pretty heavy especially if you are hiking for more than a couple of miles...but of course any opportunity to prove to herself ( and brothers) that she can do what they can do is a very exciting thing for my youngest daughter...:)

Their destination was somewhere by Shaver Lake about a 5 hour drive to the southeastern part of the High Sierras...

Did I mention how excited Kendall was to go??? She was so excited that when I woke her up at 3:45am to get ready to leave at 4am she literally popped right up...mmm...(Kendall it would be awesome if you did this during the school year, thank you very much :) )

The group before the hiking/camping began...ummm...do you think that because Kendall is only one of 2 people who already has her pack on that this means she is excited...yep!

It was fun to hear Greg and Kendall talk about the trip...they had so much fun...I did not hear any complaints except that Greg wanted to catch more fish than he did (I believe he only caught 2 but they only ate 1)...the scenery was beautiful, Kendall became good at "casting", they enjoyed the companionship of everyone there and each other, water was cold, funny stories shared, new friendships, being silly, Kendall said that food tasted extra good when she was camping...

A big thanks to Glen and Tess for inviting Greg and Kendall...they had so much fun...in fact I already heard talk about next year...a big thank you with hugs and kisses to Greg for taking the time and making it possible for giving Kendall a taste of what her brothers experience when they go on their camping trips and for loving her like your own...and Kendall a high five to you because you never complained to me about the pack, or the hike, or the dirt...instead I believe you embraced it...what a stud. :)