Manzanita - July 2014

It had been a few months since we had made it to the beach and so it was great to get back.  Getting to go to the same beach town often allows us to relax and enjoy the kids really enjoy their favorite beach activities.  Some days we build sand castles by the water and some days we spend hours in the dunes.  On this day Janie preferred to run from the waves and dig in the wet sand and Clara created a "house" on a large dune.  Now they are old enough and know our beach rules well, we feel comfortable giving them an opportunity to each do their own thing and what enjoyment we get our of just observing them!

More beach...

 

 

Goodbye Grandma Elaine

On July 1, 2014, my sweet Grandma Elaine at the age of 92, passed in her sleep after traveling down the rough path of Alzheimer's Disease.  It was a painful journey for those of us that adored her, but we are content now knowing that she is experiencing such well-deserved eternal peace. 

 I am grateful for all the things my Grandma Elaine shared with me, thousands of big warm embraces, too many belly laughs to count, a love of classic George Strait songs, a crazy sweet tooth, many long chats around her kitchen table, my brown eyes, stories of my Dad's childhood, a legendary Kringla recipe, my middle name, as well numerous lessons of faith and trust in family. But the very best thing that she shared with us all is her love. "It's a love without end, Amen."

 

I loved that she enjoyed Clara & Janie so much!

 

 

 

We are all so thankful for the many, many happy memories of time shared with her and are comforted by her everlasting love.

 

Summer Fun in Dahlia Park

With every new passing year the kids have more and more fun playing outside with the neighborhood kids.  Many are friends that they have known for years and then there are always new friends to be made as families move in and out of the neighborhood.  Christina and Blair are friends that the girls have loved playing with over the summer.

Last day of Kindergarten

What a magical year this past year has been!  A magical year for friendships!  At first we were not thrilled when Clara was assigned PM Kindergarten and separated from several of her already established friendships in the neighborhood.  Since she and Davis were in the same class, she wasn't phased and as the year went on she became close with Cole, Jake and Lily who were also in her class.  Even better was that the mamas all bonded through pick-ups and drop offs in the park along with the occasional playdate.  Friendships I am not sure what I would have done last year without.

 

The weather this past year was atypically nice and we logged lots of hours in Kirk Park letting the kiddos play, watching them fight over turns on the swings and run off all their abundant energy.  Clara watched her special friend Davis become close with boy pals Cole & Davis, learning some tough lessons about growing up and learning to fit in with the boys.  The younger siblings played became friends as well.  But the mama friendships were what made the year so great for me.  We helped one another out by watching kids, listened as one another navigated life changes, all became better mamas because of one another. 

 

The gang as they got on the buss for the last day in Miss Davis' PM Kindergarten class.

 

After School...

When the kids got off the bus we celebrated with snacks on the bus.  Bittersweet because our friends Cole & Davis will be moving out of the neighborhood over the summer.  But ever so thankful for the wonderful year it was!

Clara's Kindergarten year flew by but we got to see a lot of great growth in her, emotionally, in her learning and her overall maturity.  She loves school and is kind and thoughtful to her peers.  That is really what is important to her Mom & Dad!  It is also pretty cool that she is blooming into a stellar reader!  We are SO proud of our Scout!

Happy Father's Day 2014

Sisters

 

In many ways their personalities are as different as their looks, but these sweet sisters sure share a special relationship.