Summer off to a good start

Here we are....already well into June and I haven't posted anything in a few weeks. I am very thankful that summertime is always jam packed full of adventure for us! We pretty much live on the go! So, here is the summarized version of our summer so far.....AND even summarized its going to be the longest post ever because I just don't know how to keep things short and sweet! Lol

First weekend out of school we went to Vidalia. We had good family time on Friday and then Kit and I left the boys with Vimi and Gaddy (pretty cool grandparent names, huh? (ViMi short for Vicki Mixon and Gaddy short for Grand Daddy) on Saturday so we could go canoingcamping on the Oconee River with friends. What a great time being at one with nature. We had those canoes loaded down with coolers and chairs and tents, Oh My! When I saw all the stuff in the back of the truck that was supposed to go into the canoes, I thought...yeah right! Half of this stuff is going to have to stay in the truck. But, we managed to pack it all in the canoes and we weren't missing much! (Besides a toilet ;) !) Definitly something I want to do again!! Thanks for thinking of everything Hiram and Jessica! Next time I'll be sure to bring some plates and silverware, I promise! The boys were way jealous that Mommy and Daddy were going canoing and camping without them. Oh how our boys LOVE all things outside! So...... Gaddy got them sidetracked while we were leaving by pitching a tent in the backyard! And then Vimi and Gaddy took them kayaking on a neighbors pond....followed up by a bonfire that night! Pretty sure they had just as much fun as we did! Here are a few pics we took while floating down the river....

My sweetie and me

The sand bar where we camped

The floating tree ;) 

 

So, we got home late Sunday and then spent the first of the week pooling and packing. And....I did manage to sneak in a little educational workbook stuff ;) ! Then on Wednesday we were off to the beach! Oh, how we had missed the Gulf sands and beautiful water! We were there from Wednesday to Wednesday and we had nothing but GORGEOUS weather and clear aqua water. It was glorious!! I must admit though, Crystal pops into everything I do. I was immediately reminded upon arrival that the last time I had been to Panama City Beach was when Crystal and I packed up last minute and took the kids last summer. We had a blast and vowed to make it an annual Mom/Kid trip....had no idea it would be a one and only! :( Actually, the only reason we were there this trip was for Crystal and for another gathering in her honor. Kit and I and the boys usually spend Memorial Day Weekend at the lake house. Crystal, Joey, and the kids had been going with some friends to PCBeach the last few years for Memorial Weekend though. So, Joey wanted to keep the trip and scatter the remainder of her ashes. And....since we were going to have the whole family there....and then some...we had a surprise 60th birthday luau down on the beach for Mom too!! The whole trip was a great time spent with LOTS (45 +) of family and friends. I had never been to the beach with so many people before.......and it was filled with lots of laughter, love, stories, fun, and of course a fair share of tears.

Crystal and I had talked last summer about wanting to throw a surprise 60th birthday party for mom this year. After the difficult year we have had though I didn't think mom would really be up for a big birthday bash. But, since she is the most amazing woman I've never known, I certainly didn't want to let this monumental birthday go uncelebrated!! Since we were at the beach it was only fitting that we have a beach party. Sounds easy enough....but throw in trying to keep it a surprise.....kinda hard! Lol! Everyone worked hard at helping me keep it hush hush, helping keep mom busy, helping decorate, helping pick stuff up, etc....it all worked out great and it was a beautiful evening celebrating the life of mom!! She is such a special lady that so many of our friends over the years have adopted her and dad as their 2nd parents! I know how blessed I am to have these two as my mom and dad and thank God every day for my parents and the love that I've been shown my whole life. Truly blessed beyond measure!! I've got tons of pictures from the Luau....way too many to post here...but I will post a few....Of course it was an emotional evening celebrating. Things just aren't the same without Crystal there and that weighs heavy on us.  I think she was with us that day, we just couldn't see her. Jennifer and I were at the pool by ourselves with the kids for a little while and we were talking about Curtie. There was a man singing poolside and playing the guitar. As we are talking about Curtie, he starts playing "Ain't no sunshine" when she's gone. Jennifer and I kinda looked at each other and said, "weird." Then the next song he played was "Dust in the Wind" which Curtie LOVED and it was part of her funeral ceremony. Then he played "Over the Rainbow." So, pretty much when Dust in the Wind came on I had tears flowing behind my sunglasses. Cory was in the pool and swims up to where I was standing outside the pool and asks me, "what's wrong Mommy?" I just kinda shook my head and said, "I'm ok," to which he replies with a nod..."Curtie." I definitly take these type things as signs that my girl is always there with us and it makes me smile! (and cry)

A few pics from the birthday bash....I will post more when I get around to uploading them to Facebook.

 The birthday girl and her stud muffin ;)

My LOVES and me! 

 

 

The whole family minus our Angel in Heaven!

 

 

The Birthday Girl and me!

 Beautiful Sunset for the 60th Celebration

 

 

The Birthday Girl with her cakes and a bunch of kids who want cake! ;)

 

The hardest part of the trip was on Memorial Day! We all woke up bright and early and left on the Sea Screamer boat headed to scatter the rest of Crystal's remains out to sea. Shortly after Crystal left this world, Joey mentioned that we needed to figure out where to scatter her remains. We quickly determined that Lake Hartwell and Panama City Beach were the 2 places where she would be "at rest, at home"! Panama City Beach and Lake Hartwell hold so very many of our lifelong memories. We frequented both places every year growing up. We spent many a summer night camping out beneath the stars at Lake Hartwell. Mom and Dad lucked out and found us the perfect house a few years ago to call our 2nd home. And, guess what?? It was because of Crystal that we found this house!! In 2008 it had been several years since we had camped. The few years prior to 2008 we had started renting lake houses for Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. But, Crystal really wanted to camp again. So, we all agreed to do it. I really, really, really didn't want to go. I was big as a house pregnant (8 months) with Cory and had a 1 1/2 year old in tow. Camping for Labor Day weekend just didn't sound fantastic to me.....but we went anyway. Then, we basically get run out of our camping spot by ants. Oh my...they were terrible!! Millions of those little boogers....everywhere. Let me give you a clear picture.....hot, pregnant, and needing to pee multiple times in the night....waddling about to get out of a tent in the dark and squatting to use the bathroom while ants eat at your feet and legs! ;) Got it? Despite all that, it was still a fun time! While mom and dad were driving to the store in town to get ant spray and traps, they saw a sign for the house being auctioned.......long story short.....got the house a few weeks later! Sorry I got sidetracked a little...Easter weekend we scattered her ashes at the lake house. Memorial Day we had a nice ride out to a peaceful area where the dolphins often swim (near Shell Island) to put her to rest. It was a little harder this time for me because it felt like the final goodbye. We still miss her every single day and wish that she was still with us. We still struggle to try to move on. We still have unbearable sadness and holes in our hearts....but we have to take comfort in knowing we will see her again! And, the trip to the beach surrounded by so many of her family and friends just goes to show how special and loved she was and still is!

So that it doesn't take another week for me to post.....I'm going to end here. Hope summer is treating you good as well! :)

Until next time ~