Labor Day Fun!

Micah, Sarah and the kids visited for Labor Day weekend, and we had a fun filled few days with them and the local kids and their fams. Here are some of the highlights.
Woo Hoo - bowling shoes!


Lacey was not about to let the big boys have all the fun!



Thomas the Train is a favorite with the under 4 guys


The sand table is a new favorite.


And, of course, Schwimmin is always a hit - with Weezer on duty as Lifeguard. Jackson and Lacey have some awesome swimming skills.


Thanks for coming, Micah & Sarah. We loved it!

Happy Birthday, Shmicah!

My birthday wish to Micah - keeper of all the family videos! Since he has custody of the videos, I couldn't get one of him for embarrassment. But I did find this gem of a photo. Too cool for words. Leave Micah a birthday wish. I hope he still has the knit pants!  
















And I did find this little snippet of Micah with Big Bertha out at Southridge.

Fun at Grandma's

The Lyon kids were teaching Ben and Hannah the fine art of "Timmmmbbbberrrr" on grandma's bed. It worked well when there were just 4 abreast. 5 was too many. Watch Brechin on the far left. He fell a little deeper in the forest. Do you think this is AFHV worthy?

Camping at Fort Bragg

 
 
 
We had a great time camping at Mackerricher State Park at Fort Bragg, CA a week or so ago. The Runyans invited us to come along with them. We actually went a couple of days before them, stayed in a motel, rode the Skunk Train and then set up camp. We enjoyed the kids, both laughing at them and with them. It was great to cool off at the coast. Camping is always fun, but it is nice to get home, shower, sleep in a raised bed, and be rid of the smokey smell. We have this infamous camping box we've been working on for a few years. It is actually a toolbox on wheels. We joke that EVERYTHING you'd need for camping is in the box. It also serves as our 72 hour kit. It is nice to not have to pack up the kitchen for camping - everything is already in the box! We made dutch oven carnitas with cornbread on top - YUMMY! The silverish looking sluglike things on the rocks in the 3rd picture are sea lions.

A Birthday Tribute to Josh - Stayin Alive

This video says it all. Josh was such a fun kid to have around - never a dull moment. He could really bust-a-move. Feel free to leave Josh a Happy Birthday message. Thanks to Micah for having the video clip accessible.

Josh Clowning Around from Micah Stubblefield on Vimeo.

Charleston, SC, Graduation and Myrtle Beach

We had a great trip to take part in Jared's graduation from Chiropractic School. It was a long haul for their family, but they did it, and now they are here in California. Jared will do an externship with his dad, while he awaits board results and licensing. On our visits to South Carolina we have managed to get in some sightseeing. We have seen lots of great stuff we never would have, had they not been out there. We've been to the Smokey Mountains; Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields; Biltmore Mansion; Outer Banks of North Carolina; one of the largest gatherings of the Scottish Clans and Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain, NC; Norfolk, VA Naval Base, home of most of our aircraft carriers; and now this trip we went to Charleston, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
Here are some photos of our travels this trip. I will leave the graduation posts for Jared and Debbie to do.

Porch Rockers at Holiday Inn Charleston, SC. This was a great hotel in the heart of the historic district of Charleston. If you ever go - stay here. The concierge was super at getting us on the right tours and to the best restaurant. Yummiest seafood I have ever had!


We took a boat ride out to Fort Sumter where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. I love visiting historical places. We saw dolphins on our ride back to the mainland. We also went on a dolphin watch boat excursion at Myrtle Beach, but I won't post photos - but it was tons of fun!


The cobblestone street of the Old Slave Market in Charleston.

A Gullah woman making a Sweetgrass Basket. These baskets have been made for over 300 years in America by the Gullahs of West Africa. I asked the woman if I could take her photo because some won't allow it (believe it takes part of their soul). She said "yes," if I bought one of her baskets. I took the photo, then looked at the prices of the baskets! I was suckered, but it was worth it!
A way cool cemetary with very old gravestones and cool Spanish Moss.

The best headstone in the cemetary - check out the scar on the forehead of the skull!

From the upper story looking out onto the courtyard of the Pink House, a tavern/brothel. It's one of the oldest buildings in Charleston - built in the late 1600's.


An awesome storm coming at Huntington Beach State Park at Myrtle Beach, SC. I love the oat grass on the barrier dunes. Loggerhead turtles come ashore here and bury their eggs. Then after they hatch, the baby turtles have to make their way down the beach and into the sea.

Mr.Gator - at the marshes natural habitat. He was only about 6 feet from us, with only large rocks as a barrier to keep him from gobbling us up

Cape Fear Harbor, NC. One of the oldest harbors in America. First named in early 1600's, just before the first ship sailed up to Roanoke, VA. I am fascinated by historical harbors.
Okay - that's it. I am done.
I have a movie of Bud hooding Jared, but can't seem to get it to upload to Blogger. I will do some research and keep trying.

Ode to my Mom

I thought it fitting to pay tribute to my mother, on this Mother's Day. My mom will be 90 years old in November. She still gets around pretty good, still has dark hair -not all gray and even makes it to Church with me every Sunday. She and dad live in a lovely assisted living facility. They don't complain about it, although, I know it has been a huge adjustment for them. Mom has kept her sense of humor and is always optimistic about life. She is always eager to participate in family gatherings and likes to be part of the conversation. I often have to remind her that she is not able to continue to do the things her mind tells her she can still do.
A few weeks ago, our bishop and his wife reported to us that they saw my folks trucking across the Home Depot parking lot with their walkers - mom with her rollator and dad with his Jazzy electric scooter. They had called Dial-A-Ride and hitched a ride to Jack In the Box (they had a hankering for a fast food burger), then they decided to walk across the parking lot to Marshall's and do some shopping.
This is a big shopping complex parking lot - Home Depot, Marshalls, Petco, WalMart, Bed Bath and Beyond etc. It didn't occur to them that it might be too far to walk. I called to make sure they had gotten home okay. They were pooped, but enjoyed their little outing.
Not being able to drive, and enjoy their independence has been the hardest part of the aging process for them.
I am grateful they live close-by where I can keep an eye on them!
I love you, Mom and I am grateful for your humor and optimism.