Our August trip to California

I last reported under sad and shocking circumstances. Galen and I were fortunate enough to be able to drive to San Luis Obispo and join the family for Larry's service. It was grounding, moving and inspiring to attend his service and honor such a wonderful person. Larry was an avid gunsman and loved western heritage and his service was a tribute to this passion. We all dressed in western wear. Of course I thought Galen looked particularily adorable in his western outfit.

They look too cute together

Crashed out

Galen and I took a couple of extra days before and after to catch up with everyone around and play with Kaitlyn, Uncle Ben, Auntie Karen and Grandma and Grandpa. We even got to see Sarah, Jennie and Grandma Bev. Here are some photos and video of our wonderful time with everyone.

Experiments in hair design

The sun is too bright!!!

Wild man in the sun!!!!

Many hours of beach play make for a tired pre-schooler on the way home.

Galen has now begun a new year of pre-school and is embracing it. He seems more independent everyday. Thankfully he still needs me sometimes...

Galen's First School Performance and Other Cuteness

It's with a heavy heart that I write this entry. Since this blog is for family and friends, I felt it was an appropriate forum to express my sadness over loosing a close friend of our family. During the last 3 decades Larry had become a member of our family along with his wife and children. I always referred to Larry, Molly, Gene and Andrea as our "best friend family" because all the members were close to the point of being family. I feel blessed to have backpacked with Larry through mosquito infested forests, to have celebrated holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and marriages with Larry, to have watched Larry and my Dad play softball when I was a kid and moreover, to just have known Larry. He was a kind, funny and loving husband, father and friend. He will be very missed. What I wouldn't give to hear him sing "Ring of Fire" one more time in his wild tone-deaf style.

Galen's blog is a celebration of his accomplishments and growth. I think if Larry could see the first video, he would be smiling. Galen had his first school performance ever to celebrate the end of his summer pre-school. All summer the children in his class have been learning about camping, hiking, leave-no-trace outdoor ethics, animals and songs/poems about the great outdoors. All the kids practiced various songs and poems to share with their parents in an end-of-the-school performance. I was so excited; my first school performance! A milestone in any parent's life. The children came out and while the music started and everyone began singing, Galen proceeded to growl and make faces at the audience. I was surprised to say the least and a touched embarrassed and then I thought how funny it was and in the grand scheme of life's events, it was minor thing and humorous at that! The performance was about 30 minutes long and I narrowed the footage to about 9 1/2 minutes, so I know it seems a little long but I did cut it down to the best faces and growls.

The other video is just some cuteness on Galen's part last Friday night.




These last photos are just some random cute shots I've taken in the last couple of weeks.