THEN we go SCUBA diving

because after a trip to Idaho for 10 days - we came back to start school & home schooling - we started a week behind (because of the Idaho trip) so I was busy trying to keep my head from spinning - and keeping the house afloat - Ross took me on a much needed retreat!

We went to San Diego and dove a few ship wrecks! Hella cool!

Here's a picture of a sail boat in the sunset - which I missed when it was in the reflection of the sun on the ocean (because I couldn't find my camera) but still - wow - just makes you feel refreshed, doesn't it!)

Here's our view from the boat's slip in Mariners Bay (San Diego - across the street from Sea World)

Here's Ross getting ready on our last day.

And Here he is - he finally made it on a dive! (He had a problem w/ equalizing his ears and - only made one dive - the last one!)(I'm the one next to the guy posing like Rocky on the top of the steps....)

Here's both of us exploring on the Ruby E together!

(of course, I came back to a home even further behind than it was after being gone for 10 days, but it was an AWESOME trip)

Where did the month go?

So you get a month worth of blog posts - all in one - mostly stories told by pictures!

First, we had Kali's birthday party (family)! Here's the birthday girl after she's been given the bad news that she must endure the spanking machine before she can open presents!

This is a picture of the spanking machine - that stretched all the way into the kitchen!

Here is a picture of our "k" family - (in sitting order: Kim, Kara, Karli, Coby, Kiersten, Kali, Carrie, Crysty, Kaden, and Rachael...Ammon made her sit there!) we offered dad $100 if he could get everyone's name right without help - needless to say - he tried....no one had to shell any money out.

I don't want to out Crysty - because this isn't such a flattering picture of her, but I must say - I LOVE this picture of Isaac! Clearly his mom doesn't feed him enough! (I think he weighs roughly the same as a baby elephant)

Grandma died the last week of July and we went to Idaho for her funeral. She truly was a wonderful woman, and we will miss her - I'm glad my children got to know her! When she laughed, we ALL laughed! We know she how much pain she must have been in while she fought cancer, but never once let anyone know she was uncomfortable - she knew suffering was inevitable and complaining was an option. She chose not to. Not sure I'll ever meet anyone like her in my life time!


She happened to be buried in the same cemetery as great-grandpa's brother - who Howie is named after...check out THIS "spooky" picture!

Clearly THAT didn't damage him ONE bit!