July in a flash: Week 4

It seemed fitting that since it's the last day of August, I finally post the last week in July. :)

So busy, busy, busy. It felt that we rushed from activity to activity. It was so much fun, but exhausting at the same time!

I took pictures for my cousin's wedding. Such a good lookin' couple.

The rest of the week was spent watching one sister get ready to move away for graduate school, and another sister move down to go to school here. I pretty followed them around and watched my mother clean like a crazy demon!

July in a flash: Part three

My Grandma

This picture was probably taken sometime in 2003 or 2004. We were having our weekly Sunday dinner at Grandma's and I took this of her. It captures her so well.

Sadly, at the beginning of the third week in July, my lovely Grandma passed away. We had been expecting it. She was diagnosed with cancer in February and gave it quite the battle. It has taken me a long time to blog about it as I am really missing her.

I didn't get to know her really well until I moved for college in 2001. We became little buddies. She was always up for a shopping trip out of town or going to some sort of function in town. I began going over every Sunday for dinner and to hang out. This has since continued, adding Dusty, and two more sisters into the mix. There were so many dinners and nights of fun conversation and game playing.

One thing I will really miss is watching her relationship with Tyson. They really bonded. Tyson loved going over because he knew Grandma would be watching him every second, and what child doesn't love constant attention? I will miss the days when we needed to get out of the house and would stop by randomly to see her. Tyson still asks if we can go up and see Grandma, even though we have talked about her dying a number of times. It is going to be hard to get used to, that's for sure.

Here's a scan of a scrapbook page taken when she popped over to see us one day.

Out and about in town.

Tyson loved to get wheeled around by Grandma. These last pictures were taken in the fall of last year as she was getting sicker and sicker and we didn't know why.

I will certainly miss my sweet, charismatic Grandmother who was such a part of my daily life. She was an example to me on many levels. Life is certainly a little different now.

Her funeral was special; such a celebration of her life, as we planned it to be held on her birthday. Her passing made July a very emotional month, but I know that she is in a better place now, seeing her husband and family, and living in a body that isn't in pain.

Love you Gram.

July in a flash: Part two

The second week of July included us vacationing up a storm with our families. There was a reunion at the lake with Dusty's family and more general relaxing and "hanging out" with my family. At the very end, we had a rather impromptu 4th birthday party for Tyson. It was going to be his actual birthday in a few days.

Bocce ball on the lake.

Little boys enjoying the sand.

Looking a wee bit tired at the Luau after a long day at the beach

yikes! Me and my pregnant belly

Birthday balloons

Candles on a birthday cheesecake

The spanking machine

Trying out the new fishing pole

Finishing off the night with stomp the balloon.

(Tyson was rather distraught at first to discover that all his balloons were being destroyed)

:)

July in a flash: Part One

I have to be honest when I say that I'm very glad July is over with. It was a very..... emotional and busy month for us. So much happened. Instead of boring you with all the minute details and gazillions of pictures, I'll take it a week at a time.

The first week of July we all spent with Dusty's parents, and my parents, visiting them at home. The trip is a long one. But we manage fine and Tyson is a good traveller.

The first weekend was the fourth of July weekend. We went to a flag ceremony at the crack of dawn, attended the parade, had delicious salmon, played games and enjoyed the festivities.

Later on, we went to Yellowstone with Dusty's parents. I've been there many times before, but each time is unique and interesting. This time was harder because being so pregnant made it hard to walk all around the park and get in and out of the car so much. But we kept it pretty low key and had fun.







The rest of the week was filled with relaxing things like grilling, soaking in the pool, going to the snow shack, making cookies, reading books and magazines, and just talking. It was very pleasant for me to have a break from the heat of home. Tyson was always well occupied and I could usually just chill. Thanks to everyone for being such great entertainment committees.