Life has been pretty hectic as of late. We got home from vacation and only had a couple weeks to recover before things went into overdrive. I went into school the week before we had our official work week to set up my room. I’m so glad I did that because on the morning August 4th, which was my official first work day back (this is the week before students show up), Tracy called to let me know that Mom had passed away. Even though I had anticipated it (there had been talk in the family chat about dropping O2 levels and other signs that she was slipping), it was still a punch to the gut. I let the kids know, called Paul and let him know, and then…well, I went to work. Then pragmatic part of me knew that work would distract me but also help me make sure that all my boxes would be ticked before having to leave for her funeral. I got through that hard week and the first week of school just fine. Mom’s funeral was on the 22nd, so I worked through the 21st and flew out to CA that night. I was anticipating getting in that night, but due to several issues with flights, I ended up spending the night IN the Phoenix Airport before flying into Ontario just a few hours before the funeral was supposed to start. I am forever grateful for Karen Ward. She is the mom of of a girl I was really close to during our junior high and high school years. We were in the same ward and she was a dear friend of Mom’s, especially in the last part of her life. She had offered to get me from the airport and let me stay at her house. This was before all the drama. She drove to the airport and spent a long time trying to figure out when I would actually get in (it kept changing with planes and delays and then cancellations and more delays)…and then came back the next morning to get me. I was able to shower and eat breakfast before heading over to the funeral. It was a comfort walking through those church doors again. It was the building I grew up attending church and holds so many memories. There is a massive wall in the chapel made up entirely of rock that my dad helped build. Walking the halls, I heard echoes of ward parties, camp meetings, early morning seminary, firesides, and so much love. It’s where we had Beth’s funeral in 1997. And Dad’s in 2017. And now Mom’s in 2025. It’s going to be hard not having a reason to go back. The funeral itself was a beautiful reminder of eternal families and how while separation during this life is painful for those left behind, the reunion after this life is going to be so, so, so sweet. I find comfort knowing that Mom is back with Dad and Beth…her siblings and parents…my oldest sister, LeAnn, who was a preemie and didn’t live for more than a day or so (what a reunion THAT must have been). There must have been soooo many hugs. My flight back was slightly less eventful (only one delay and MASSIVE gate change that had me running across the airport to try to make my connecting flight…seriously…NEVER want to fly American Airlines again), I got home, and jumped back into life. We celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary, my birthday, Joseph’s birthday, and then Paul’s. It’s hard to believe that September is almost over. I’m looking forward to the approach of the holidays (we may or may not already have Halloween decorations up, haha). Life is good, y’all.
Waiting in my car to go to a training during the summer. Yay?Paul had some Libertarian stuff that took him up to Michigan. He was able to get this fun shot. I forget that Michigan is that close to the Canadian border.She asked me to take a picture of her with her Care Bears.I was SOOOOO excited to load all this in my car. It was living in my bedroom for like, two months.I pulled out my wagon to take back to my classroom and someone wanted a ride, haha.The back of my car. Not too bad (the rest was all still in my classroom).This was the summer of tatume squash. The vines took over our backyard and we go soooo much squash. Luckily, it’s really good (especially roasted).What I walked into my first day of set-up.Tell me you’re a teacher’s kid without telling me you’re a teacher’s kid. She came a couple times not to help, exactly, but to get out of the house (and to give her brother a break from babysitting duties).She was much happier at home; especially when Paul turned on the sprinklers to test them and she got to enjoy running in them. Do you see squash vines? They were all over the perimeter of our yard. 🙂She wanted me to take her picture with Floppy.This kid loves ANY mascot. Even if it’s the mascot for our local grocery store, haha.The door to my room. I like being indoors so much. I can decorate my door, I don’t have to constantly check the weather, it’s only a 30-second trip to the bathroom, no bugs…so many benefits. One of my my sweet friends made the sign that is hanging above it.When I take it down at the end of the year, I’ll probably get it laminated.It was a long week, but I got it done! This picture is actually from right before Meet the Teacher, which was the week after I got my room done.Abigail and her teacher, Mrs. Zuniga. Abigail and our school mascot, Frankie. Like I said, she LOVES mascots.First day of 3rd grade!!This made me laugh. My dad (who this hat used to belong to) probably would have laughed, too.She loves comfy clothes and that includes church clothes. Paul calls this her Wednesday Addams outfit.One of my really close friends made this book counter for my classroom. My students have been burning through books for the last month, trying to see how high they can get this year.Abigail made me this sweet picture. I love her loving heart.Flying to California. It still trips me out travelling ABOVE the clouds.Driving up to the cemetery, Gary was already there, playing his pipes. I love hearing them, even at funerals.Mom actually had everything picked out and paid for. One last way that she and Dad took care of us. We didn’t have to worry about any of that.The flowers had all of her favorite colors.Mom and Dad are buried across the way from where Beth is buried. It was nice to be able to go see her grave.Mom and Dad next to each other (across that little road and to the left is where Beth is).Paul pulled this picture from Google. It was taken quite some time ago, since the camper was still there. The giant pine tree is gone, though, so this had to be some time after Paul and I got married.This was such a great house to grow up in and my parents provided such a wonderful childhood/young adulthood for all of us.I was only able to stay for a couple of days, but before I left, I made sure that we all got a picture in front of the house. It hasn’t been sold yet, so we were able to gather there to visit together.All the living siblings: Tracy, Alice, David, me, Aaron, Gary, and Kevin. We miss our Beth but rejoice that we will see her, our parents, and all our other family again someday.One of my sweet students brought this in for me after I got back from California. We went to Six Flags the weekend after Joseph’s birthday. I have ZERO pictures of him since he and two friends went off to ride the rides on their own. Abigail loved having me and Paul to herself. This may be the last time she gets to ride this ride…she was skating the height limit when they held the measurement ruler up to her.Riding the mini train.She loves the Bat Girl coaster.Flying on the swings.Getting ready to spin on Poison Ivy.I love that Six Flags decks itself out for September and October in Dia de Los Muertos decorations. It’s kind of my favorite part of Halloween in San Antonio. The colors are so vibrant and the idea of remembering and honoring our loved ones who have passed just…sits well with my soul. Abigail asks every year if we can make an ofrenda (an area that has pictures of our loved ones that is decorated with flowers and other decor) and every year I forget. I may try to make it happen this year.I finally bit the bullet and got progressive lenses. It took a bit to get used to the different parts of the lenses that have different strengths.Sometimes I just have to take pictures of them when they’re like this.Did I NEED a Halloween pillow with a ghost with a cowboy hat and stuff legs? No. Did I get one anyway? Yes.Celebrating Freedom Week (which is usually around the time of September 11th as well as Constitution Day which is on the 17th). For camouflage day, she had to bring my camo bear that Paul got me while he was in boot camp. I told her to be careful with him and she asked if it was because it was a “vintage” toy. I should be offended by that, haha.Proof the older one DOES exist!! He’s wearing the bass drum right in front. They had 8th grade night at a high school football game where all the 8th grade band members that are zoned for the high school got to go and play with the high school marching band. They got to do a standing performance on the field, and got to experience playing in the stands and watching the game as well. He came back STOKED. I think he’s going to want to do this for high school. It kinda makes my inner band geek want to jump for joy. I’m not stretching it by much when I say marching band pretty much was what helped me survive high school. Having a group of kids that I could hang out with and build bonds with (I still talk to several of them now…30 years later) was an integral part of my teen years. I hope he can do the same.
With June came swim lessons, sleeping in, and our big road trip up to Utah. On our way up we stopped at a really big meteor Crater in Arizona and the Grand Canyon. On the way home we hit up Arches National Park in Utah and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. We’re so blessed to have a National Parks pass! Ready for a ton of pictures?
Pretty flowers in the front yard and church clothes means……spontaneous family photos!One-on-one swim lessons have been so good for Abigail!Mosquitoes are no fun! She was determined that they would not get to her!Abigail found this bear that you can draw on and then wash…there was a similar one from the 90s. Glad to know the concept is still around!First picture from our road trip: we have always driven past this rest stop and said, “Next time we need to stop for a picture!” and…never have. Until this time!!Leave it to the kids to find video games at our hotel. 🙂 They played while we got breakfast ready.I can’t remember if this was in New Mexico or Arizona…but it was pretty!It was crazy to find a forest when I was expecting desert landscape.Giant hole in the ground in Arizona!I can’t even begin to fathom how big the meteor was.It’s really hard to get perspective unless you are there, gazing down into the crater.I’m also trying to figure out just when Joseph got as tall as us.Family photo!This is a replica of what was found in the crater. Much of the meteor had vaporized upon impact, but this was left.Abigail thought this guy was funny.“Say cheese!”She loves cut outs!A replica of the Apollo Test Capsule.Grand Canyon!It was in the 70s and felt so good!Joseph’s first real look into the canyon. He was just as thunderstruck as I was.I love this boy!Duck on a Rock outlook.Family photo! It was so nice when people would offer to take a picture!Close up of Duck on a Rock.Google Photos made it B&W which I kind of love.This crow was circling around and “mocking us” (according to Abigail).I think he (or she) was just enjoying the breeze. 🙂These two were so fun to travel with!There were tons of places to just pull off and get pictures. Way easier than hiking!The texture and layers are just stunning.I managed to get everyone!If you look right next to Joseph’s sleeve, you can see the river!I love the different colors, too.Pictures cannot do it justice!Another stunning vista.Beauty was everywhere.Love that this kid will still take pictures with me!Love this one, too!Another amazing view.It was so cool to see all the layers!Showing me her Navajo jewelry (we found some Navajo women selling jewelry they had made).After taking a break in our hotel room and getting dinner, we headed back to the canyon to get sunset shots and realized the elk crossing signs were very valid. 😉Baby elk!Baby and momma.Sunset was even better!The cliffs were completely different colors!The wind was a little crazy, though. 😉Seeing the sunlight kiss the top of the cliffs was so pretty!I love these people so much!An amazing shot.Taking pictures with her tablet.He was so impressed with the entire thing!I love this man!I love that the sunlight paints the clouds and the cliffs!Another shot of Duck on a Rock.The sun was sinking rapidly.Another shot of me and Paul.I’ve spent 23 years of my life married to this man and I am so grateful for him!I was amazed to find trees growing seemingly out of the rock.Selfie with the one who made me a mom.The textures!!Peeking over the edge.The wind was nuts!!She’s kind of obsessed with Smokey the Bear. Don’t ask me where she heard about him, though.A random pretty pull out between Arizona and Utah.While in Utah, we toured the Temple Square area in Salt Lake City. This is in the Conference Center and has always been one of my favorite paintings.A Cristus statue in the Conference Center.The Salt Lake Temple is undergoing major preservation renovation, so that’s what’s up with all the cranes and scaffolding. The domed building is the Tabernacle, which was the original building where conferences used to be held before the Conference Center was built.We were sitting in the Tabernacle (they do a presentation where they demonstrate how good the acoustics are because when it was first built, microphones didn’t exist) and imagine my surprise when I happened to turn around and see my Relief Society president from when we lived in Colton! Talk about a small world!While we were in Utah, we visited my nephew’s elk ranch.Abigail was pretty keen on the idea of feeding them.I wish you could see the big grin on her face. Afterwards she was a little grossed out by the elk slobber, haha.This is one patient teenager.Feeding the elk some of the green stuff they like.Joseph decided to get in on the fun.Abigail feeding them.Checking out the mommas and the babies.Fireworks fun with cousins on the 4th of July!Lunch followed by Swig with my bestie was awesome!My best friend and I took Abigail to Thanksgiving Point which is a huge place that has several kid friendly venues. This was at a farm area. The kids (baby goats, that is) kept sticking their heads under the fencing to try to get at stray pieces of goat food. Abigail was pushing it towards them. 🙂I love goats.Apparently goats like selfies, haha.Abigail loved getting to ride a horse.She was a little anxious, so I stayed close by.The children’s museum at Thanksgiving Point had a Daniel Tiger exhibit. Abigail was so excited!Pretending to be Katarina Kittycat.Standing next to a display with Mr Rogers’ red sweater and shoes. It’s his show that Daniel Tiger is a spin-off of.She loved getting to play with Trolley.There were other parts of the museum that were fun, too.She wasn’t too sure about this exhibit. 😉This was a light harp that would make music when you ran your hands through the beams of light.I’ve known this amazing woman since our early teenage years. It was so good to get to see her!!This was a fun illusion!Our last stop at Thanksgiving Point was the butterfly house. This was a fun place!A nice woman got a butterfly to go from her to Abigail.Abigail was trying to get it to go from her finger to the bushes but it decided to land on her shirt instead.These are my favorite butterflies. When their wings are closed, they look like this……but then they open their wings!On our way to Arches! We stopped at a random rest stop and this train engine was there. Headed into Arches.It was soooo hot.It’s crazy to see what wind and water can do.This was one of my favorites.Checking out the scenery.Daddy-daughter selfie!The Darr men.This was another cool one.It was crazy to see these pillars.They didn’t look like they were stable!Wind and water are crazy, man!Found an arch!This was a cool area behind us.We went walking a little on one of the trails to get this shot.One has to wonder how the arches get there.Dad and the kids.I was so focused on the arch and the holes that I didn’t notice that……it looks like an elephant! Now scroll back up to the previous photo to see what I mean. 🙂This goofball was OVER the heat but still trucked on.So many awesome spots for photos.Memory-making for sure!This was as we were driving. It was so cool to glance out and see such cool formations.I was fascinated by that tiny hole near the top.The different textures were so cool to look at.This one might be my favorite, though.I think this was after we left the official park, so it was cool to get a little parting gift.We drove through a tiny bit of Colorado.We stopped at the McDonald’s in Roswell on our way to Carlsbad Caverns.Abigail liked the space theme.She also got some wiggles out, which was good.The caverns were so cool!An elevator takes you down into the caverns.Once down in the caverns, it’s probably between 1-2 miles that you’re walking as you wind your way through the caverns themselves.This was a ladder that the earliest explorers used to get up and down. Um, no thank you, haha.I was mesmerized by the formations.It’s crazy that it’s all from water!A cool bat sculpture.We got Abigail a stuffed bat that she wanted to make hang from the cave.Oh look, another cut out. 🙂
Uh, I guess the end of the school year was crazier than I thought. I could have sworn that I had done a blog post between now and February, but I guess I haven’t. Whoops! So here’s a catch up post. March, April, and May hosted end of year festivities, a couple trips to Six Flags, and so much more! Strap in for a lot of pictures!
Annual Book Character Parade at school. Abigail was Leonardo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.Spring Break trip to Six Flags.She wanted to go on a bigger ride but changed her mind while we were up there.This one was much more her speed.Selfie with Dad!Best St. Patrick’s Day shirt yet!Abigail got glasses!Baby face peeking through.I love seeing birds at our feeders.Especially cardinals!Ready for battle! Don’t worry…it was just a mock battle and Joseph went plenty easy on her.Easter at the Park!Abigail was excited to find a huge sucker.This kid!Easter morning: Abigail’s big gift: a new video game.Joseph’s big gift: headphones.So much awesome in this picture!Abigail and her friend Evelyn showing me their matching stuffies.Paul did a lot of travelling for the LP. This was from his Austin trip.It wouldn’t be the end of the year without at least one stomach bug!Yoshi meets Sonic.Matching Cinco de Mayo shirts. 🙂With her stuffie Elenor that we got because it’s from one of her favorite YouTube channels.End of year band concert.I like that the directors has the percussion come up to the front so that parents can get good photos!Ready for the Math Rocks Concert at school.She HAD to wear her jeans vest. 🙂Paul went to Michigan for an LP thing and brought back a bear for Abigail.End of year awards for Abigail. Her teacher, Mrs. Hanhart, gave her the Critical Thinker Award. 🙂A quick selfie with her in the hallway. Someone was keeping an eye on my class so that I could get some quick pictures. 🙂Pretending to be Amelia Earhart.I took Abigail to see the live action Lilo & Stitch movie.It was so good!Scootering along.This might be her favorite at Six Flags.She does like this one, too.Joseph on The Joker.Carousels are always fun.She made instant friends with these two kiddos.One more selfie!
