THE LAST BIRD LEAVES THE NEST

While it doesn't seem possible, Alex is leaving for college this week. On Friday, Kelly and I will drive her to Provo where she will start UVSC August 23rd. Where have the years gone? It seems like such a short while ago that I was in Fortuna giving birth to her. I remember Lee desperately wanting another boy and offering to trade her to the people in the next room who had just had a baby boy. Now he is driving her crazy with all his sentimental whining about her leaving. Who would have thought she would be the one he'd play Barbies with or he'd whine for years about her not sitting next to him in a pickup (she quit around the age of 8 and he's still whining about it)? He still remembers her hanging outside the bathroom door waiting for him to get out and the daily phone calls his secretary would get wanting to talk to him so they could plan what they were going to do when he got home from work.
Alex has been a joy. I don't think she even started being irritated with us until this year. She has been so mellow and easy to be around. She has made such good choices and never made us worry about what she was doing. I have loved our movies out, shopping trips, Trinity Lake times, and lunches together. I am so excited for her to move on and have so many different, new experiences but will miss her so much.
I know that as parents we raise and love our children so they feel confident and excited to move out and start their own lives. It is just so hard to be left behind.

TRINITY LAKE

The first time I went to Trinity Lake http://totalescape.com/destin/lakes/trinitylake.html was when Lee and I went with Doug and Kay White (long divorced) about 28 years ago. I don't think we've missed a summer since. Our companions have changed (the Jones', Blairs, McCartneys, Berrys) but the good times and good memories continue. We used to laugh at the antics of our children, now it's the antics of grandchildren. Ammon cracked me up last weekend when, after watching 'First Knight' he donned on the covers of VHS movies on his arms and legs, picked up a stick and as he called it, became a "Queeng". Hilarious!!
I love, in fact, savor, my time at Trinity. I love the smells, the weather, the views, the feel of cold lake water, and the sun!! I look forward all year to Memorial Day and the start of " lake time" and then dread all summer the coming of Labor Day and it's end. As I get older I even sometimes ponder how many summers I have left of Trinity Lake. And when we retire and move that is one of the things I'll miss most.

Happy Days!

Kelly and I just got back from Trinity Lake. Our family has spent every summer there for about 27 years. We have a trailer up there and keep our ski boat and go up as much as we can. Alex and I went on Thursday morning with Ammon. Kelly and Jody and Cohen came on Friday. Alex and Jody left this morning (Saturday) and Kelly, the kids and I spent another glorious day in the sun. It is a magnificent place surrounded by mountains and forests, unbelievably beautiful.
Two weeks from today, Lindsey, Alan and Izzy come here for 2 1/2 weeks. I can't wait to get my hands on Izzy again! Three days later, Kasey, Kaden, Alexa and Sienna come for a week. Then 2 or 3 days later, Chris, Kalie, Madison and Kyle come for Labor Day weekend. We will all head back to the lake with Kelly, Jody, Ammon and Cohen. I can't wait to have all eight of my beautiful grandchildren together. Can't wait to take pictures of them! Can't wait to hold each of them and smother them with kisses! Can't wait to see them interact with each other! This is what life is all about: being surrounded by family and everyone having fun together! Happy days! VERY happy days!!

Pictures from our trip!







On the beach at Sunset on the Big Island

Hunky surfer dude from Maui and the Big Island


The Big Island
We spent 7 days on the Big Island, staying in the Waikoloa area at a nice condo, Paniolo Greens. We had a great time with my brothers, sister, dad and wives going to the beaches, playing "hand and foot" (a card game) tournaments and eating together. The highlight for me was kayaking to the Captain Cook monument with about 20 dolphins all around us spinning and jumping on the way over and back. At the monument we snorkeled in the clearest water and saw amazing fish. I would go back there to that again in an instant. The Kona side of the island is a little more deserty and the Hilo side is very tropical but has little in the way of hotels. Note our dive of a hotel (very 50's) we stayed in our last night. The Kona side is the side to stay on. Hapuna Beach was our favorite and was good for boogey boarding. Sad for Lee, we saw no surfable waves.



The dive hotel - purchased on Priceline. I should have been worried when I saw that Priceline only had 2 star hotels and the one we got was called Uncle Billy's Hotel!! I was wishing Alan was with us since he is a hotel snob too! I almost slept in the car!!

Maui outside our condo window
The condo we stayed in on Maui was a little old but the view was great. We were overlooking the largest grassy area and pool area and it was really beautiful. Lee and I played a lot of cribbage, ate at an amazing place, the Nine Palms, and visited many of the beaches. We got a great first visit idea of Maui and would definitely go back!! Lee surfed a couple mornings and we would walk every day. I think Lee would like to take a surfing buddy next time though!

Joining in...

I'm sure mine won't be the most interesting of blogs but I thought everyone could keep up to date with the building of our new home and my travels at least so thought I'd venture into this new adventure. Besides, this counts as keeping a journal , doesn't it??? At least it's better than the one I am now keeping! When Kelly gets back from Seattle I will have her help me get started and I will post pictures of our trip to Maui and the Big Island. I am now officially a blogger!