Celebrating BreAnne (June's Family Gathering)

 This month we had a birthday bash for BreAnne. Krista is in Guam (or on her way to Hawaii from Guam) and so we'll catch her birthday at the next gathering.  We have opted to leave our Father's Day celebration for a less emotionally volatile date. 

Oh MAN did we stink singing "Happy, Happy Birthday to You" without Bre to lead us. Note Noah's expression...turned back from the house to see what in the world he was hearing. ::snort:: 

Bre - Noah in the background 

CoRielle's boys showed up first - Cory, Arielle and Ellie had a wedding to attend....so did Allie and Stacia. 

Carrie and the girls showed up early - and they brought a kiddie pool with them! This was an immediate hit! 

📷by Carrie or Larissa 

Instant Water park!📷by Carrie or Larissa

Josi & Carrie

Benny

We are loving the nice weather which allows for summer wardrobes!

 Josi is stylin!📷by Carrie

Such a sweet smile. 📷by Carrie

Charles, Benny & Danny

It wasn't too long before the uncles, aunts, cousins and Cory and Arielle arrived. It was a gorgeous summer day in the 70's. We grilled and ate out...enjoyed various kinds of water play and the company of one another.  It was a great day!

Carrie/Josi & Arielle/Ellie

This water yard twister is the perfect splashpad for the toddler and pre-school bunch.

Noah - 17months

Fun for older kids too!

Stacia's Chick-fil-a bottle turns out to be the best water weapon in the arsenal. I had bought squirt guns and planned to give them to the kids to take home. We switched gears and I kept them, so they'd be here for fun when the kids visit...and moms don't curse me when their darlings squirt them unexpectedly. 

📷by Carrie

Pretty girls! Ellie & Josi 📷 by Carrie

Michael worked out a sweet deal with Cory. He'd hold Ellie and Cory would grill. They both were happy with the arrangement...I found it funny when THIS happened. 

Papa and Ellie 📷 by Carrie

Manning the grill for 2nd month in a row. 

Childhood game - I don't know. 

What are Charles and Annie guarding? A big blue tote.  The tote was filled with 500 water balloons. We were ready for our second annual water fight. Let the fun begin! 

I especially LOVED how the older guys and Allie and Stacia joined in the fun. This is also the moment my heart broke again. Josiah was right in the middle of this last year. I can still hear his laughter - and I miss it so much!  We avoided celebrating Father's Day at this gathering as we were worried about Liv. We planned only fun memory making activities...but right in the midst of making a great memory, past memories surfaced. I kept my thoughts to myself but later discovered I was not the only one struck with longing during the water fight...I was not the only one struck with the immensity of the loss - again. How Josiah loved being Liv's Dad. He would have been delighted to have two little gals. 

Even Noah is in on the action. 📷by Larissa 

Such fun for the kids! 📷by Larissa 

📷by Larissa 

📷by Larissa 

📷by Larissa 

LOVE Benny and Noah 📷by Larissa 

📷by Larissa 

Larissa was the champ on the ground taking photos. I took my photos from up here. AND this is how the mamas, Alex and papa kept from getting wet. LOL 

📷by Larissa 

Liv has control of the coveted Chick Fil A water weapon. 

📷by Larissa

Livie, Carrie, Josi, Arielle, Noah and Larissa 📷by Larissa

📷by Larissa

Jared and Noah📷by Larissa

📷by Larissa

📷by Larissa

📷by Larissa

Jamin flew his drone during the water fight. Danny saw it and yelled, "A bomb!"   The drone managed to escape the threat of being pelted out of the sky by water balloons. However, it met with an unfortunate accident Sunday morning, and we will not be sharing video of the epic fight after all. LOL 

Noah and GG 📷by Larissa

Jared & Annie 📷by Larissa

Danny loves this horse. Check out the banner we finally made for the yard...We've been calling it Bachan's park but that isn't fair as Papa does so much of the work to keep it nice for the kids. Bella called us Wibbly Wobbly Acres when she lived here...and so Wibbly Wobbly Park...

It was a great day to be together. It was fun to celebrate Bre's birthday. After most had gone home some of us continued talking. The comment was made all our therapists tells us we're dealing well with grief. It's HEALTHY to make space to hold joy and grief together...making new memories while mourning the old.... and then I said the thing no one says....

"If we're all doing so well, why does it hurt so stinkin bad?!" 

...this is what it looks like to move forward... with grief. 

Bachan Break

Yesterday was an emotional day.  I spent the night with Josiah's girls! A Bachan break from life is just what I need. Today I will spend the day with Livie and Josi while Carrie goes to work. The morning begins early with Carrie leaving for work around 0600. It wasn't too long before Josi woke up. We snuggled on the couch and watched a movie. 

Mornings with Livie and Josi 

This is my first day to watch Josi with Liv home from school. She's a great helper and the day was even more fun than the past weeks. After our movie Liv was ready for some alone time. Josi was ready to eat, and we tried the new crib routine. 

Bachan is a sleep training fail. Josi was happiest sleeping in my arms...and at this point I wanted her calm and settled because we had a long day ahead of us. LOL  BTW, we did figure out the crib by the afternoon. 

Precious moments

After lunch Stacia came over to visit and play. I was so glad she did. She made sure it was a really fun day for Liv. We started with a walk to Walmart. OK - doesn't sound exciting - but we lived in Eagle River when the Walmart was built and walking to Walmart for ice cream was a gherkin thing. We used to walk from Teklanika and Carrie and the girls live much closer...so off we went. What a blessing to make new memories and share the previous memory with a new generation of Gherkins. Liv was happy to go along with us...and she picked out snickers ice cream treats - Josiah's favorite. 

Stacia, grumpy Josi, Liv, Me

Beautiful day for a walk 

Josi was happy with the change into summer clothes. We had just gotten back home when Willow alerted us someone was at the door. 

Josi and Stacia

Noah and Larissa came to visit. This was perfect as they will be making a trip soon and I have been hoping to spend some time with the two of them before they leave the state for a bit.  We tried "tummy time." 

"C'mon baby I'll help you escape!"📷by Larissa

📷by Larissa

While we visited Liv and Stacia set up the slip and slide in the backyard. There was no way I was running and jumping onto wet plastic with Liv, but they had a great time. LOL 

📷by Livie

We played.  Josi now giggles and rolls over (though I didn't see this).

📷by Larissa

We ate and Josi slept.

I bought "Outfoxed" a bit ago with an eye towards inside activities for grands next winter. Liv agreed to help us try it out and decide if it would work well. It is a cooperative game and was fun for the three of us. I think the 7 and up crowd will enjoy it. 

Jared picked Liv up and took her out to Red Robin for dinner. I got Josi sleeping in her crib. Stacia and I enjoyed some quiet time together. Carrie got home at 8 p.m. and we drove back to the valley. Ironically, Carrie was stuck inside on a glorious day, and it RAINED on or drives home. 

GG was in bed when we got home. 

Michael and Cory got a boatload of work done around here today. 

Allie was busy lining up a new job; I don't know that I'll share more just yet. Now, we're praying for the applications and resumes Stacia has put out to pay out as well. 

It was a good Friday. 

Another Court Appointment

Wednesday found this part of the family in Anchorage waiting outside of a courtroom. (Darla, that's the Captain Cook Hotel over their heads).  This month Krista is in Guam and Luke is working. Stacia is at a counseling appointment. Bre and Arielle are with kiddos. 

Cory, Alex, Nolan, Allie, Mike, Jared, Carrie & Jamin 

The event felt purposeless to ones who don't totally understand the intricate workings of the system. We were originally told it was a trial setting conference, but then that it would be more of a discovery extension as we were going to trial. In the end neither were mentioned. The judge mentioned a plea deal had been offered, and they set the trial setting conference for August with the trial possibly in November. The judge says he's happy with the pace this is moving, and we can tell by listening to cases where others are STILL in discovery 3 - 5 years after a crime was committed that we ARE moving quickly. We just don't always understand what progress is being made. 

To be clear we all hoped to avoid a trial and that a plea deal would be accepted...however, we all want to see some measure of justice served and if that requires a trial - a trial it will be. 

Bella, GG, Annie, Gideon, Jojo 📷by Bre

While we were in town GG had a play date with Bre and the kids. They were playing Go Fish and Gideon caught him cheating. Sadly, a very familiar scenario. He was a bit surprised to be called out by his 7 yo great grandson. ::snort::  Stacia picked up dinner and GG after her appointment and we all met back home for a quiet evening. 

I'm blogging Thursday morning, after a night snuggled on the couch with tea and blankets. We can do hard things because our strength rests in God. I'm dealing with emotions again...and the desire that I could tell the defendant's mom all I think rather than sit silently. ::grin::   I have already allowed Holy Spirit to evaluate my heart and point out where I need to forgive - AGAIN. Bitterness will not take root in my heart. That is a victory I will win. 

Arielle sent these photos....It seems Ellie does NOT like tummy time...and her brothers are quick to jump to rescue her from tummy time torture. Such a petite package of perfection! 

📷by Arielle

📷by Arielle

Free from the blanket 📷by Arielle

But - the Garden

Tuesday found me at our lawyers at 0900.  Back at home I called to get info on federal programs for care of the elderly. NOTHING, it seems, is ever as easy as one is told it will be. 

I had about an hour until I needed to be at co-op. Co-op went smoothly and I was home early. 

We had plans to attend a baseball game where Jared was slated to throw the first pitch. The game was rescheduled due to inclement weather.  

Before I had plans to attend the game, I'd had plans to go to dinner and a movie with Nolan and the girls or attend swim lessons with the grands. Those plans were back on - but I was too emotionally and mentally exhausted to join anyone. 

But - the garden! 

Given time we may actually end up with an accessible strawberry bed...and strawberries to enjoy. 

I started a pot of basil. It has to grow in the greenhouse. 

Peppers like the greenhouse

More beans...hope they are warm enough

As soon as the weather cooperates and the guys can finish covering the hoop house, these cucumbersare ready to go. 

This little tomato plant is putting out some growth.