Daisy Mae

Today we had to say good bye to the most loyal and smartest Labrador in the world!  She lived to be about 2 months shy of 15 years.  She lived a good life of many, many walks, hikes and swims at the lake and that good life is probably responsible for her longevity.   She was our family dog - one that grew up with the kids - and was loved beyond words. 

She loved Cherry Lake - swimming and fetching rocks from the bottom of the lake -  and her ashes will be scattered there.

Rest in Peace my sweet, sweet girlie.  You will live on everyday in my heart.  Thanks for being an incredible mentor to our other dogs and for all the love and devotion. 

KY Cousin Visit

Playing in the sand in Santa Cruz

Jess, Jen and Amaya did a whirlwind Norcal trip while here for 10 days.  They did Monterey, San Juan Bautista, Santa Cruz, SF, Oakland and Yosemite!

We went to the cabin for 4 days and spent one whole day on Don Pedro tubing, jet skiing, fishing and floating.  It was actually the kids Senior Trip to the cabin so they had our cabin and we had grandma and grandpas.   It was fun to hang out with the kids a little bit.

Sweet Amaya Papaya!

We took one day to go into Yosemite and Jim took Jen and Jess on a hike to Vernal Falls while I hung out with Amaya.

Amaya and I collected treasures, had a picnic in the truck and then hiked one mile to the trail head to wait for mama and mommy.  Unfortunately as soon as we got there, I could see melt down in her eyes, so we turned around and started heading back.  After about 20 yards, I looked down and I could tell she was DONE - so I picked her up and she immediately fell asleep.....which means I had to carry her a mile back to the car!  Thank goodness I had been training for a backpacking trip or I would have died!

After Yosemite, we went to the kids cabin and bbqed them some ribs and played some cornhole.  It will go down in history as the time Patrick and I spanked K and Bug - 21 to zero!!!

Vernal Falls

Jim took them to SF for a quick tour of the bridge and Fisherman's Wharf.  They literally hit all the sites and still managed to attend G's graduation and a couple grad parties!

Looking forward to when the come back!

Change in Command

My backpacking buddy has an older sister who is a bad ass admiral! Seriously....she is an Admiral in the Coast Guard!

Last we were invited to the change in command ceremony where she was installed as the head of the entire Pacific Area.   The ceremony was at the Coast Guard Island in Alameda and was so interesting!

Me, the Admiral and Liz

Liz, my other backpacking partner, and her family also attended.  After the ceremony there was a luncheon that we also attended and got to hang out with the Admiral.

Since Jen and Jess were here visiting, they came too!  It was such a thrill for all of us!

Waiting for the ceremony to start

The Admiral's daughter is also in the Coast Guard so she came to greet us before the ceremony and brought us to a personal meeting afterwards.

Orientation

G and I spent the last couple days in Nashville for orientation.  It was a really nicely done program!  It was a full day of sessions for both the kids and the parents and then G stayed while I went back to the hotel.   She went to dinner and ice cream with a bunch of girls and then to a Fiesta.  She stayed over nite in the dorm that she will be living in.  Her room mate for the nite was a gal who came from a town of 90 people and a third of the town is her family!

Checking in

Bell Tower selfie

The plants are so lush!

Grace's room mate drove in the second day from Indiana and met us outside the dorms.  She seems like a good fit and it was nice to meet her and her folks.

Overall it was a very productive trip and we are well positioned for move in day in August!

The campus is so pretty

Grace's Graduation

TNDC at graduation

Grace graduated from high school on a very warm June morning!  We had special guests - the hillbilly relatives from Kentucky.  Uncle B and family - except for Sam who was taking the SAT were there too.  And of course we were lucky to have both sets of grandparents.

After the ceremony, we came home and had a feast of carne asada tacos and chile rellano!  We also had a delicious dessert of cake from an Asian bakery.

I am so incredibly proud of G and can't wait to see where the journey of life takes her.