It has been a few months now that I haven't been able to upload pictures to my blog. Not the pictures from our trip to CA. Not out pictures from Ang's visit. Not our pictures from St. Thomas. Not our many pictures from our trip to Lake Mac or of the pool or the first day of school or Trace riding his bike or anything!
It was kind of making me crazy so I have just had to walk away from the blog for a while. I had hoped that would fix the problem, but it STILL isn't working. I can occasionally post one picture before it stops working but even that isn't happening now. I'm not really sure what to do. I feel totally out of touch with my family and friends who are far away!
I've thought of starting a new blog, but all blogs are connected to the same account through your email, so I'm afraid the same thing will happen. I just don't know what to do. I told Andy today that I think we should just get a new computer. That would be the easiest way to fix it, right?! This blog is that important to me, I really need it to work. This is what I do! I take pictures. Lots of pictures and I share them with our family and that makes me feel close to them. And I know the only thing people want to see when they look at a blog are PICTURES, lets be honest! Words, blah. Pictures, yeah!
So I am sorry to say that this post will have no pictures. But I wanted to fill those who are still out there what has been going on with us!
California was wonderful. My dad & Karen always make us feel so welcome and comfortable and this trip was no different! I think it was my favorite trip to CA. so far actually. My kids are a little older and that makes for time at the pool so much more fun and relaxing (not to mention the 2 day drive out there by myself was really easy!). That is pretty much what we did everyday, all day. Play in the pool. The kids were all expert swimmers by the time we left and I love that. I love that their memories of summer will include learning to swim at Grandma & Grandpa's house. And jumping off the waterfall and water fights and swim races and lots of walks to the park and crafting and making jewelry.
Also, my dad & Karen took the 3 older kids camping this year. They are so brave and awesome! I was a little nervous for Sam to go, but everyone had so much fun! They explored caves and swam in ice-cold lakes. And I hung out at home with my little girls and that was heavenly. We went out to eat and shopping together (that's my heaven!). It was all wonderful.
While we were visiting, my Uncle Jo, who had been battling cancer for a few years, took a big turn for the worse and passed away. It was heart breaking and peaceful at the same time. We were all gathering for our family reunion and so we all were able to make it to the beautiful memorial. He was such a wonderful man and so loved in his community. After the memorial, we all headed down to Uncle Ed & Kathy's house at Shasta Lake for our reunion (BleCraCoh). It was so wonderful to be together. Their house is purely magical. For the adults and the kids. Oh how I wish I could post pictures. We swam and ate and laughed and talked and the kids played from sun-up to sun-down. It really was perfect.
Ang drove home with me. That made all the difference in the world. 10 days after we got home from CA., Andy and I left for St.Thomas, USVI. I was nervous to leave the kids and for Andy and I to be so far away but they did great. Ang is amazing and so wonderful to be so willing. Taking care of 5 children is no easy task!! But thanks to her, we were able to enjoy our trip. We more than enjoyed it actually. We L O V E D every single second of it. Except of coarse the time we got stuck downtown on the day that all the shops close early and walked really far looking for somewhere to shop and sweated buckets and then got on a taxi going the wrong direction and had to take the VERY long way back to our hotel. But even that was ok because we were in paradise and we were together. The whole trip was soooo relaxing and fun and beautiful and romantic and just perfect.
A week after we got home, the kids and I headed to Lake Mac in Nebraska. It's our 3rd annual trip to the Beach House with our friends. Andy had missed so much work so just the kids and I went. And it was wonderful. It seems that every year surpasses the last in how great the trip is. The kids play all day in the sand and water. We eat like kings and queens and everyone gets plenty of time on the boat and we get to hang out with the most wonderful of friends.
One week later, school started. It all went by in such a flash!! Now to have 4 children in school is a little surreal. Cali is still home in the mornings. She goes to afternoon kindergarten and that works out great for Lucy. Her and I nap in the afternoons, usually. Then the kids come home from school and we do homework and piano and play and ride bikes (a new favorite after school activity!).
Speaking of riding bikes, it can not go untold that Trace is officially a bike rider. I honestly never thought he would ride a bike. He REFUSED to do it. We tried to encourage and bribe him with everything we could think of and nothing ever worked. He was NOT going to do it! A couple weekends ago, I told him that if he learned to ride his bike then he and Rian could ride over to Torrie & Ryan's house together and have a movie night there. That was the ticket. He was willing to try, which in itself was a miracle. I suggested that we say a little prayer before we got started. He agreed. I asked Heavenly Father for patience and courage... for both of us. Within about 15 minutes, he was riding his bike. It was a miracle. I was so happy!!! And NOW, he rides his bike to and from school everyday (so it's only 3 blocks away but still!) and this last wknd, Andy took Trace and Sam on a boys bike ride. They rode the river trail all the way to 7-11, got lunch and rode back. That is probably about 4 miles round trip. That is a big deal for Trace. He is still very cautious going down hill and is always careful not to go "too fast" but he wouldn't be Trace if he wasn't cautious!
This summer has been filled with so so many wonderful things. I wish I could share pictures. Pictures tell the story so much better than words do. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I'm so open to suggestions oh how to fix this problem. I could really use some help here!
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