"How I Spent My Summer Vacation"

Summer started out great, busy but great. I cleaned furiously...powerwashing outside, steamcleaning and even cleaned my windowblinds. Much to the jest of those who know me, hence the "Waterboarding" and "Locked in closet" comments on my FB page. As we know all good things must come to an end...clean houses and summer vacation.
But that was just the start of summer. We swam, I excercised....alot. I had a fantastic time at Del Norte....I love everyone there. Swim meets came and went before we knew it Champs was upon us. We got a last minute invite to go to Pinecrest with Jenny P. and family. We had so much fun!!! Summer storms, gossip, swiming in the lake, seven layer dip, and the best...sleeping under the stars on the deck. Thanks Jenny, I miss you.
Then.....duhn duhn daaa....July happened. July brought 26 days straight of illness. Forgive me those of you who have been a part of the saga already, here it is for posterity's sake. Two girls and I started with the stomach flu....all three puking in the toilet together. Sean got the cold/flu very mild....but he had used Aleve...a blood thinner. This inevitably resulted in a bloody nose for four days, 2 midnight trips to ER, losing 1/3 blood volume, emergency surgery, severe Pneumonia and losing 20+ lbs in 3 weeks. Thanks to friends, ward family andMom. We survived. Seriously, Valerie K. saved his life at least twice while we were in that horrible hospital. Not to mention she showed up at my house in the middle of the night to watch my kids. I felt compelled to call her, thank goodness I did. Thanks doesn't quite cover it.
Next all three girls came down with Pneumonia, apparently it is contagious. After those three weeks of insanity. I decided I needed a vacation, everyone else could just recover on the beach at Lake Tahoe while I relaxed (ha ha). Then, thankfully I was able to go on our Pioneer Trek. I loved my Trek family, I am so glad I got to go and be with them. More on that later. Then after 4 days in the Sierra at 6000 ft and 26 miles I decided to go camping with my girls up in Humbolt county while Sean went back to work. We had a fantastic time with Becky and her girls. Thank goodness we had "Mr. Nosy" to help us with our Dutch Oven Volcano Cake and our toxic fire (not really). We so rocked the over the open flame cooking (no camp stove for us). Agate beach was amazing and the kids had a fabulous time collecting rocks. We hiked out to Wedding Rock and visited a native village. Best of all, we visited Ferndale and saw our ancestors home, Fern Cottage. That is my third great grandmother who was a pioneer. The Loleta Cheese Factory is another favorite of our trip. We came home with one week to recouperate from our six week extravaganza. We cleaned and got ready for school. The house is almost back to normal, taking a little longer for laundry with no dryer. Still carrying on the pioneer spirit. I am thankful for my home and our health and my family. Life is good, live it good.