MY vacation because of THEIR vacation ~ PART 2

DAY # 4 - Friday 7/13/12

The day started off with a game of Yahtzee between

 Kim, Tilly {Nat} & Lou {Lauren}

Then we HIT THE ROAD and headed up to

MT. SPOKANE

Look what we spotted on the road on our drive down the mountain...

Stopped at GREEN BLUFF on our way home...

Enjoyed beautiful scenery, bought cherries and had huckleberry milkshakes!!!

Lauren opened a beauty shop {in mom's living room} and gave
PEDICURES...

PRETTY PRETTY TOES!!!

Many hands make for light work...

EVERYBODY pitched in and helped all week and that made it so pleasant for everyone!!! Brenda made sure dishes were always done, Shelly was in charge of garbage, Melanie kept the towels & laundry going and the rest of us helped whenever & however was needed!!!

TO BE CONTINUED...

MY vacation because of THEIR vacation...PART 1

One of my favorite things about having company from out of town is I get to be a tourist in my town and have a mini vacation!!! 

It really is TOO MUCH FUN!!!

I had not seen these folks for 25 plus years {won't let that happen again} and we enjoyed reconnecting after all this time!!!

My Aunt MaryAnn {in between Jim & Lauren} is my dad's sister and 5 of her daughters {MY COUSINS} came to visit. My aunt and uncle have 9 children, 7 of which are girls and the girls go on a SISTERS TRIP every year so I felt so very blessed that chose Washington as their destination this year. 5 flew in from Iowa and 1 from California. 

I grew up seeing them usually every summer and then after some tough life circumstances had lost touch with them. I regret that however realize it's just part of life and I am thankful that we're "back together" again!!! We're already planning our vacation together next summer!!! 

Here is a RE-CAP of our wonderful week together...

I was so shocked because...

my cousin Shelly SURPRISED me!!! She originally was unable to come on the trip due to conflicting events but then found out a couple weeks ago she would be able to come out. Growing up I had always been closest to Shelly as we are the same age and her younger sister Trisha is the same age as my sister. They are the youngest 2 of the 9 children so it was only natural that Laura and I spent the most time with them. When I found out Shelly couldn't come I was so disappointed. So imagine my shock when Mom and I picked up Sheryl at the airport and I was asked my a "stranger" if we could give her a ride because she didn't have any money for a cab. I stared at her knowing we could give her a ride however there was this feeling that this woman was familiar but I couldn't place why I felt that way. Finally, after a few moments Sheryl said..."Michele...it's SHELLY"...I literally SQUEALED with delight and was so happy she was able to come on the trip!!! We certainly had alot of catching up to do!!! It had been 28 years!!! Way too long!!!

My cousin Sheryl is from California and I have been able to see her a few times over the last several years and I'm so thankful for that!!! 

The rest of the gang arrived at 11:15 p.m. {Monday 7/9} and they didn't know Shelly was coming either...so they were SURPRISED too when I brought them back to moms!

 

DAY #1 - Tuesday 7/10/12

Had a big breakfast and then everyone got ready and we went downtown to Riverfront Park and to ROOST as they wanted to see 3 Craft Chicks spaces.

Melonie, Brenda, Aunt MaryAnn, Sheryl, Kim, Shelly, Michele & JonElla

Aunt MaryAnn & my Mom ~ JonElla

Sheryl, JonElla & Kim

JonElla, Shelly & Aunt Mary

 Shelly & Sheryl "cooling off" in the dancing fountains...

Brenda & Kim

We did alot of GAME PLAYING...

Barbeque for dinner ~ YUM!

When we were all together there was 13 of us!!!

Lauren & her boyfriend Austin

PERSPECTIVE...

I don't know about some of you however I need to be reminded of this once in awhile!!! I do appreciate more than mere words could ever express all that our military & their families do for me. The sacrifices made by them on my behalf are beyond my comprehension and I am forever grateful!!!

 I love when these kind of images put things into

PERSPECTIVE!!!

Weekend Wrap Up...

Hope everyone had a wonderful summer weekend!!! Here's a snippet of what I had going on...

My fun started on Friday at 2:00 p.m. when I met my mom at The Magic Lantern Theater which is in downtown Spokane! We saw the movie "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" which is now is my ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE!!! It was my mom's 3rd time to see it and I can now understand why!!!

A favorite quote from this movie...

EVERYTHING will be okay in the end.

If it isn't okay, it ISN'T THE END!

I then went a couple doors down from the theater to ROOST to add some items to our 3 Craft Chicks spaces. 

Went home from there to be greeted by this SWEET face...

Saylah & I went on an adventure to the PARK!!!

We started off with impromptu picnic which consisted of "fresh frwies" and  her favorite "dip" (ketchup) ~  :)

Then after that it was OFF TO PLAY &

 SWING, SWING, SWING...

Absolutely LOVE seeing that sweet little {ketchup}smile and hearing her LAUGH!!!

 

Such a BIG GIRL!!!

 

ON THE RUN!!! She kept me hoppin'!!! :) We {BOTH} slept so soundly that night ~ I love that about summertime & fresh air!!!

Saturday morning Saylah and I went down the road to my friend Amy Ward's home for a Stampin' Up Open House! Amy has a little boy about the same age as Saylah so they were going to play. When we got there tho Michael was busy outside "helping" his dad mow the lawn and didn't want to come inside. Saylah kept asking "where friend?" She was so good in spite of not playing with "friend" and everyone there commented on what a sweet little girl she is! I, of course, couldn't agree more!!! Thank you to her mommy, Samantha for letting us have her for the night!!! We ALWAYS enjoy our time with little Sugar Pie!!!

Saturday evening Lauren, her boyfriend Austin and I went to a movie! 2 movies in 2 days!!! Not very common for me however it was so much fun!!! We went and saw "People Like Us".

It was phenomenal and I would recommend it. I did push for this movie as I felt the other options wouldn't be my style of movie. So that being said...it was a VERY emotionally charged movie that made me CRY & CRY. Normally I don't mind that however in this case I thought poor Austin would think I had lost it if I didn't at least contain myself somewhat! I apologized to him if it wasn't his kind of movie but he's so gracious and kind and said he liked it! 

Today, Sunday, has been a day of cleaning and getting my home ready for my Aunt & 4 Cousins that are coming in from Iowa for a week. Haven't seen all but 1 Cousin in over 24 years!!! It will be a very SWEET reunion I'm sure! I like when company comes from out of town too because then I act like a tourist in my own town!!!

Tonight Jim & Natalie return from Bothell .Precious Grandma Lorraine passed away on June 5th and her home has already sold. The estate sale was this weekend and getting everything in order at her house has been taking place over the past couple weeks. I was able to go last weekend and it felt so odd to be at Grandma's home and have her not be there and also to see the SOLD sign on the FOR SALE sign!!! It was such a blessing that the house sold so quickly because now a days that is not always the case!!!

So...that's that!!! My weekend in review ~

WHAT DID YOU ALL DO THIS WEEKEND???

 Summer has FINALLY arrived here in Spokane and I for one...

LOVE IT!!!