I'm Next...

Tina is FIFTY!!!

We drove up to Canada for the entire weekend to celebrate...and I only took 2 pictures!

We went to Bard on the Beach, Hayward Lake, dinner, and an after party at Tina's.

It was a perfect way to celebrate my sister who I love so much.  

Super rainy at Bard on the Beach

Hayward Lake with the Leavitt clan

I made this photo collage for Tina's party 

(I made them for Sheri and Lisa for their 50ths too)

There are so many cute pictures of Tina and I together over the years.  I am so grateful to have her as my sister and friend.  There's nothing like those times when we get silly and hyper and laugh until we can barely breath.  Love you Tina!

A Pain in the neck...I mean stomach...I mean knee

 This past year has been a bit of a struggle with my body.  After Kya's wedding was over and Summer went back to school last fall, I was excited to get back on track with exercising.  I joined Orange Theory (gym) and started strong.  Unfortunately, by the end of October, I was having pretty constant, unusual stomach issues.  I am no stranger to stomach issues (I've been struggling since Tyson was born 19 years ago), but this seemed different, and more constant.  I finally went to the doctor in November and he sent me to a specialist...only I had to wait until January for a phone appointment.  The specialist scheduled an endoscopy and colonoscopy...for the end of April.  I was kind of crushed.  I was making myself crazy thinking I had stomach cancer (I had read my Grandma's history that said her father died of stomach cancer when he was 45), and I was just not feeling well every day. I didn't know how I could make it to April...especially since we had a Vegas trip planned and a trip to Idaho for graduation.

Somehow I made it to my procedure and all the results came back normal.  I was relieved, but still confused.  Miraculously my stomach pain seemed to diminish...and then go away entirely.  I started to wonder how much of this was in my head and how much was in my stomach ugh.  Frustrating.

Well, I had a good few weeks where I felt great.  Relief and healthy.  Then one day, my knee buckled and I couldn't walk.  This happened 2 more times before I went to urgent care.  Anyways...to make a long story short.  I've been going to PT for 2 months for what the doctor thought was a patella traction issue, but I just saw a specialist this week who thinks it's a torn meniscus.  I have an MRI on Tuesday.

I feel like this entire year has been robbed from me--especially my summer.  I got a bike and a paddle board for my birthday that I haven't been able to use yet.  We went to Mt. Rainer and I could barely do the kid-friendly hikes.  I am just in pain all the time.  I am grateful that I have an MRI scheduled and I don't have to wait long.  Hopefully answers and solutions are on the way.

Same knee, different day :/

The End of Our Elementary School Era

Whether I can believe it or not, Summer is done with Elementary School!

Here she is on the first day of Kindergarten...not too long ago.

We finished the year with 5th grade camp and Summer's 11th birthday.

Camp Cedar Springs

So fun that Summer got to do the same 5th grade camp that Kya and Tyson did when they were her age.  She learned all the same songs and did a lot of the same activities.  I was so proud of her for trying rock climbing (not sure if they had a choice haha)

She came home so tired!

Eleventh Birthday

Summer decided to do Elevated Sportz  and a sleep over with Genevieve for her birthday this year.  I also made my first gluten free birthday cake and it was delicious (thank goodness).  She got Chipotle for dinner, crepes for breakfast, and an Xbox as her gift. 

And always Boba!

5th Grade Graduation!

Summer was so worried about crossing the stage, but she did great.  

It was a special day.

And our traditional Cold Stones on the last day of school...even though it was freezing.

And that's a wrap on Elementary School for our family.  Now onto Middle School--EEK!

Princess Callie

Callie went missing back in May...we keep saying "maybe she'll still come home", but we're pretty sure that's not going to happen.  She was such a sweet/salty kitty, and probably the most beautiful cat we've ever had.  She loved to snuggle with Summer on the couch every morning and loved every visitor that came to our house.  She hated Stormi, and only liked to be pet and given affection on her terms...but when she was loving, she was sooooo loving.  We miss our little princess every day and hope she really does come home.

Even Steven

 Did you know decisions you make when you're a teenager still affect you when you're 47?!  Haha, it's true.  When I was 8 I got my ears pierced.  When I was 14 I got a double piercing on my right ear.  When I was 16 I got a 3rd piercing on my right ear. 

Well, fast forward 30 years (and a cartilage piercing I had done at Walmart during college that lasted about 1 semester before Sheri had to practically rip it out of my infected ear)....as I put my single earring in my left ear and then my 3 earing is the other ear, I thought to myself, "Isn't it kind of weird that my earrings aren't even?"  

So last week, I evened out my ear piercings:)  And, it hurt WAY more than I remembered!!!

(It's hard to take a picture of your ear haha)

Spring, my new favorite

 In the past, when someone asked what my favorite season was, I would always say "summer".  But now, after being back in the PNW for 12 years, I have changed my answer. 

 My favorite season is most definitely SPRING.  

The excitement of everything starting to grow again after a long, cold, dark winter is magical.

One thing I love about spring is the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

Jordan and Mikel came with me this year!

Another thing I love about spring is working in my garden.

I even planted some tulips this year!

And Stormi gets to make lots of bunny friends

Apple blossoms

And another thing I love about spring is Easter.

Mom discovered she had a LOT of Precious Moments and wanted to share...this picture was after we had all taken a bunch!!

Lisa made mini egg cheesecake cups--look how cute!  I'm sad I didn't get a picture of Tina's mini egg chocolate cake, it was amazing as well!

And I got to see Becca💗

It was so wonderful to see her after all she has been through these past few months.  

I am so grateful for all the miracles that make it possible for her to be alive and thriving.

BYUI Graduation

 My emotions were all over the place as we celebrated Kya and Clayton's college graduation.

Proud of  all their hard work.

Disbelief that 4 years have passed.

Sad to see them move so far away.

Happy we were able to be there to celebrate.

Excited for this next chapter for them.

And even a little blue that we won't be going to Rexburg again for a while.

I am so grateful we were able to spend some time with them, as well as Clayton's family, and have a beautiful, memorable, and enjoyable weekend.

In true Rexburg fashion, we had a little wind:)

Both Clayton's parents (and their significant others) and his sister Caitlyn came

Now the pictures where we don't have to stand on rocks in the wind haha.

Maybe Sumer will go to BYUI in 7 years...wait, that's kind of soon!

So glad Tyson drove up from Provo to spend the weekend with us too!  

Just missing Jordan.

The celebratory dinner

Goodbye BYUI

As emotional as these big events are, I am so grateful to be a part of them.  I am excited for Kya and Clayton and all the new and exciting adventures ahead for them!

Vegas 2025

I have wanted to see Garth Brooks live since forever...probably the 90s.  He was supposed to come to Seattle in 2021 and I was all set to get tickets with a big group of girlfriends, then 2 days before tickets where supposed to go on sale, he cancel the concert due to a Covid outbreak.  So when I saw that his Vegas residency was coming to a close, I just HAD to buy tickets.  Who knows if I would have had another chance, right?!  So I bought tickets and we planned a trip around the concert.  

I got Jordan and Mikel on board to come hang out with us and then bought them tickets to take Summer to Cirque De Solei while we saw Garth Brooks.  I was so excited...until I got a text from Jordan when our plane landed saying "call me when you land".  Mikel had the stomach flu and they weren't going to make their flight.  After a few sad, upsetting, frustrating, and angry hours, we decided to make the best of our trip.  Even though it's been 2 months since our trip, it still makes me sad that they didn't get to come.  Ugh.

We made it!

Summer tried her first In n Out

Summer loved the giant candy stores

We did a lot of walking...and my hip was inflamed the entire time, ugh.  

We stayed at the Paris Hotel and it was lovely.

Summer got to come to Garth Brooks with me...she was a good sport, until Mike told her how great Cirque De Solei was:(

We went on the High Roller at night, so we could see all the lights on the strip.  

It was pretty cool.

We tried Blue Bell ice cream (Clayton's favorite) and searched until we found a place that sold non alcoholic drinks in the big tall cups we saw everyone carrying:)

Blue Man Group

Bellagio Fountains

Arte Museum was cool.  This was our favorite room!

Freemont Street 

(very different during the day-family friendly even)

We wanted to eat at one of Gordan Ramsay's restaurants, but didn't make it happen

(eating gluten free was hard on this trip!)

The gardens at Bellagio 

Summer got to hold a parrot!  Worth every penny:)

Saw a couple getting married at Denny's

(Vegas is weird)

We went to The Pawn Stars pawn shop...Mike found hockey cards:)

Such a fun trip for this family of 3!!!