As my last blog post stated, I began my post-Luke time at my parents house in Washington. It seems like a lifetime ago. Luke came up to Washington for a week and then he was gone. Communication wasn't terrible. He had no cell service, but he would text if he had WiFi. He could call using a land-line and a calling card, so we did that pretty often. Oddly, I realized that it made me depressed to have long, chatty, "I miss you so much" talks so it eventually evolved into a 10-15 minute talk every couple of days.
He could email me at work, so we would do that a few times a day and text when he got home. He also struggled with knowing how available to be, because without WiFi he couldn't text but it also meant that he was pretty home bound. We figured out an okay balance where we were both less unhappy than we could have been but of course there were times when it was just the worst.
But the girls and I packed our lives full of comings and goings and outings and that's what this post is about. There are lots of things I didn't get pictures of, but since this post already has almost 100, you probably aren't too weepy about that.
Pretty sure I already posted this one. Peter is such a doll. He is the funnest uncle ever.
This swing in the woods! Ivy loved it.
This is the kind of picture I would send to Luke a few times a day.
Oh, Ivy. Helping make "soup" in the sink.
Ivy is obviously super tech savvy. Nice mouse placement.
My life for four months <3
Ivy lounging with Uncle Brian
Lots of long walks with JoJo.
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Grandpa showing the girls something. They love him.
Ivy treating all her animals to a drive-in movie
A typical afternoon for me - alternating the girls between the hammock/swing/trampoline
Beautiful grandma helping with June at church
On our way to Seattle with MaKayla! We stopped at Moses Lake.
Meeting up with cousins
A visit to the aquarium with Boone and Jordan
Then back to the Souhwicks!
Ivy and Thayne. She still talks about "Fayner"
Interjection here: MaKayla and I planned a long weekend trip to Seattle, but the girls and I had so much fun with my cousin Ali and her family, I decided to just stay. The plan was to stay for a couple of weeks and then get down to Portland and meet up with my parents who would be heading to the coast for our family reunion. It was so much fun.
A trip to Vashon Island
We went strawberry picking and Ivy picked like one...
And then decided to jump in puddles with strangers instead.
The zoo!
Funny incident: I found a secluded little bench on which to sit and nurse June. When I looked behind me, I saw these guys.
On the train to Portland! It was so fun.
And had so much space compared to a plane. I just plopped June down on the floor at our feet
And it went right along the coast, so we saw some cool, beautiful things.
And then we were at the coast-. Ivy ran right into the ocean, got knocked over by a wave, and went from being a happy little girl to a shivering, salty, and quite unhappy drowned rat in an instant.
Ivy got to see Kahree! Her friend and kind of twin!
Ice cream at Tillamook
And back to Deer Park!
Fourth of July breakfast at Courtney and Alicia's - so good!
Eric and Andy's girls with Ivy
Picking cherries
Boating with my uncle Brad and aunt Julie and cousins.
And on a plane again! To Utah!
Ivy found this old picture of Luke and I at our graduation. She was obsessed.
Junie meets Declan! Her closest-in-age cousin. There was a little dispute about who would get to gum that cup to death...
And then thankfully someone produced another cup :)
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Ivy and her cousins Liv and Gwen.
The cousins and their "Frozen" play.
Ivy gets her cast off! I am just realizing that I left "Ivy falls off the trampoline and breaks her arm" off of the timeline. It happened. Ouch.
June walks!
Mikelle's baby Elsie is blessed! So great that we were able to be there.
Ivy faceplanted.
Mikelle and Elsie (Mikelsie) stayed with us for a week. It was so great.
More June walking!
The girls loved spending time with Lara, Catherine, Becca, and Sophia. And Max, the dog.
This was the only picture I got of the big Lee family reunion. Ivy and cousin Julia eating some random kid's birthday cake at the park. Believe me, I had a mini heart attack when I looked over and saw this, but the hostess assured me that she had given them permission as she had made three cakes and the guests were full. Oh boy.
It's almost over! Packing up to go to San Antonio
Brian came with us and helped so much. We got a house, unpacked a bunch of stuff, and then...
LUKE!
LUKE LUKE LUKE!
Ivy was so attached to him. She wouldn't let him put her down all afternoon. It felt so strangely natural. I thought I would have to keep reminding myself that it was over and he was back, but it wasn't like that at all. I feel like looking at all these pictures, I've just forgotten about him being gone. I have to remind myself it happened. And we really had so much fun. We have so many great friends and wonderful families.
In conclusion, that was a ridiculously long post with way too many pictures. But I wanted to get all caught up. For all those who reached out, hung out, hosted, or supported me/us this summer, thank you. Seriously, sincerely, and from the bottom of my heart. It was such a weird, hard time for me, but you made it not only bearable, but legitimately fun and memorable.
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