Ketchup: May-Aug '15


Jonah and me--a month after his mission homecoming.
 
 
Soooooo much has been going on in our family these past few months!
 
We have had the highest of highs: our son returning from his service mission, birthdays, summer fun ...
 
and we have had the lowest of lows: Bam in the hospital twice, two kids with severe mono, sports injuries (Dave and I are getting old--hahaha), allergic reactions to wonky shots, and your typical family-of-eight chaos.
 
But we're good now. Today.
 
And so, I thought it would be best to post all of the photos from the last blip of time in one post (if only so our kids have a journal of this time).
 
PS: I tried to emphasize the highs vs. the lows. It's always weird to photograph the hard stuff. Who wants a 2-D color reminder of that?
 

Selfie: Zu and her friend.

Zu (she edited it--I love this).

Selfie: CityKitty and me
(PS: She "gets" one mouse a day. Literally.
We are at something like 95 mice in the last few months. How do I know? She brings them to our porch.)

Elder Meehan--in Indiana with some special church members there. A second family to him.

Harriet and CityKitty.

Skyping with Elder Meehan on Mother's Day.

I started walking every morning--and the Oquirrh Mountain Temple is on my route.

Elders Meehan and Bullock--in their last area.

Lu's least favorite thing to do.

Harriet's FAVORITE thing to do. (Again, Zu edited.)

Youth 5K Walk.

Youth 5K walk--Bam and her YW leader and good friend.

We heart our neighbors. We asked to borrow a popcorn maker and this is what we got!

Trying to eat more healthy: making zucchini noodles.



Pool-time.

I needed to post these even though I don't have the originals.
 Taken about 20 days after we were placed (adoption) with baby Zu.

More pix of Zu as an itty-bitty. These were taken on her blessing day at church.

Our ward in Chino Hills gave Zu (and me!) a shower. It was so kind.


I've made a lot of bread this summer, but not as much as usual. It's been a busy busy season.

The front door countdown to Elder Meehan's return.

Mother-Daughter "campout"--in our backyard
(while Dave and Jr. went on a Father/Son campout with our ward.)

Pretend you didn't see that firestarter. LOL. (Now that I'm not on an island, I rarely use flint.)




Elder Meehan as the "Runicorn" doing service at The Color Run in Indiana.

Saying goodbye to families before leaving his mission, Elder Meehan.

Best gift ever: Michael Snow (from Survivor 26) sent me BREAD while he was in bread classes in New York.

Morning walk.

Going to the Temple on Lu's bday.

Lu's new hairdo. (Some color.)

One of our neighbors went on vacation and asked us to "please pick her berries and eat them" while she was away.
Uh, okay!

Raspberries.

Lu and raspberry picking.

Bam, Zu, Lu, and Papaya picking raspberries.

Lu's 12th bday party.

One of sweetest bday gifts (Lu's friend made this).

Spa night with friends/Lu's bday.

Lu's actual bday morning.

Her favorite cake: Costco CHOCOATE-FOR-DAYS cake.

Dave built some garden boxes. Yay!



Jr--just before heading out on a Pioneer Trek (3-day handcart pull in Wyoming).

Trek.

Bam got this when she graduated--from a sweet friend.

Elder Meehan and one of our favorite Indiana sisters: Sis B. (He was able to baptize her.)

Missionaries at the Indianapolis Indiana Temple!

Elder Meehan with a previous companion from his mission. (Who had been released.)

Saying goodbye to beautiful people in Indiana.

Sis E's raspberries.

Making Welcome Home signs for Elder Meehan--the night before he returned
(Jr had grown out his hair so that Elder Meehan could cut it).


Waiting at the airport. Harriet and Janae's kiddos went also.



Janae's daughter made this sign.

THERE's DAVE!

Add caption

First hug--just after he came down the stairs from his flight.

Elders Meehan and Bullock.

Seeing Janae's daughter, M, once he got home.












First day "home" after being released as a full-time missionary.

The last day of Bam's second hospital stay.

Last night on his mission: Elder Meehan at the Mission Home with other missionaries also completing their missions.

Jr. and his friend--of to Scout Camp (his friend broke both arms longboarding).

Zu got a haircut! And now she can wear a hat for the first time in her life!

Zu and Lu.

Elder Meehan and Elder Lassig--who grew up together
(Elder Lassig went to Uganda on his mission, and returned a week after Jonah).

All of our girls went to Girls Camp this year (church camp).

Papaya and other friends at camp.

Jonah's homecoming talk at church. (With Sis Herzog--who also served at same time as him).


After church: "Elder Meehan's homecoming" party.







Bam with one of our favorite babies.















Morning walk: on my 45th birthday.

Homecoming for 2 of Jonah's friends (all of these young men returned this summer).

First cucumber of season.

Zu is teaching herself guitar.

Laser tag.

Our newest summer activity.





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