Welcome to our World

It was very difficult to leave Hubby's work and my new puppies behind but we knew my mom loved the dogs already and that our children would never forgive us if we missed out of one of the epic family reunions we could enjoy.  So off we set to St. George, Utah to the very same house we stayed in over Presidents' Day weekend back when N was a little girl that came down with pre-pneumonia when we stopped at the Grand Canyon on our way to that reunion.  Once again M would miss the last half day of school so that we wouldn't have to wait any longer to join cousins, aunts, uncles & S. grandparents in a large rented vacation home complete with swimming pools.  The weather was so wonderful that we spent many hours enjoying the outdoor pool but we also set out to hike and spend a day at the reservoir.  B & S's family really know how to have a blast on and round the water.  Between them and J & C's family we had a boat to take us tubing, a Razor to take ...

On Memorial Day I received a text message from my mother’s cousin saying that his mother was in the ICU and asked us to pray for her.    At the age of 92 I knew this was not good news.    I was upset all day and decided not to tell my mom until we had more information.    That night my Great Aunt (my maternal grandmother’s little sister) passed away.    Hubby and my dad took care of the children and puppies while my mother and I traveled to Northern Wisconsin to pay our respects and attend the funeral.    At such late notice we ended up taking red eye type flights and I was so grateful that airports have wheelchairs for my mom.    My mom's cousins could not have been kinder to us and it was so sad to say good bye to a place I have been going my entire life.    We were truly saddened by her passing but inspired to live the way she lived.    Aunt Hope read to her preschool class she volunteered with and sp...