Oops

In all the fuss over how awful August was, I forgot that July was pretty great.  In addition to Ben's 11th birthday (Hogwarts didn't deliver any owls... bummer), girls camp, and the father/daughter campout, I took my annual girls weekend with my closest friends.  Since Emily had small babies at home we didn't want to travel to San Diego, she wanted to be close in case of an emergency, so we settled on a stay-cation.  We found a coupon for the Fort McDowell Resort and made our little getaway July 26-28.  All we did was eat, sleep, and sit by the pool.  (and a little gambling, we got free slot credits with our groupon... Emily and Toni won some money, but I lost everything!  Good thing it wasn't mine to begin with!)  It was a great stay-cation, we might do that again in the future, but I did miss the beach.  I haven't been even once this year, I need my ocean therapy!

We had hour long swedish massages, then went straight to the pool.  Can you blame me for falling asleep?

I love these girls!

Can August be over yet?

This month I've made two trips to California, once to say goodbye to Grandma and once for her funeral.  I've attended two funerals, one at the end of her life, and one whose had only just begun.  I've delivered a litter of puppies, only to bury one just six days later.  I've seen my psychiatrist, marriage counselor, and therapist, changed my medication, and worked heavily on my mental health this month, which is suffering.  I've sent my kids back to school, changed my work schedule, disrupted my sleep schedule, and taken a lot of naps.  I want August to be over already!

Grandma, Margeurite Valetta Leonard Meacham, age 93

Daniel William Malnar, age four months, twin to Holly 

and the son of my best friend, Emily, passed away

on August 10, 2013.

Our puppies were born the night before Danny's funeral, Nessa at 10:04 and Daisy at 10:34.  Daisy only stayed with us for six days before going home to be Danny's puppy in heaven.

Grace asked me to crochet a soft blanket to bury her in.

It took me 30 minutes, and I cried the whole time.

I've had enough tears.  It's time for those new meds to start kicking in.

In happier but still stressful news, the kids have gone back to school and my work schedule switched back to the day shift.  Ember is starting 8th grade, Ben is in 6th, and Grace is in 3rd.

Elphie is still looking for her missing puppy.  *sigh*

The End.

Daddy Daughter Campout July 19-20

Our ward hasn't had a daddy daughter activity in years, and this year they planned a campout which our girls were so excited about!  That same weekend Ember got invited to her best friend's slumber party for her birthday so she ended up not going, and it was just Grace and Dad.  It also rained the whole weekend but they had a blast anyways, don't let Grace's expression fool you!

Girl's Camp July 8-11, 2013

A weekend away

Since the temperatures in the valley were supposed to soar close to 120 degrees this weekend, we had the bright idea of escaping to the mountains to get out of the heat.  It was cooler... by about 20 degrees.  It was still 100 degrees above the Mogollon Rim!  But it seemed cooler because we were in the pines, and there was a nice breeze.

While we were there we decided to let Ember and Ben celebrate their birthdays early and open all their presents.  Ember's birthday is July 7th, and Ben's is the 19th.  We had a great time, but it's nice to be home, heat and all.

Ember using her new camera

Birthday Celebration time!

A day at the park