The month of August is always special to Steve and I because it's our anniversary month. We got married 13 years ago on August 3rd. We always try to plan something special for the two of us to do, even if it's just dinner out or a movie. This year we went to dinner with 2 other lovely couples, some of our best friends. Amy and Jeff were celebrating their 14th anniversary, also on the 3rd, and Dennis and Julia both have birthdays in August. We had a great time together, as always!
Dylan began horseback riding lessons last summer and we were able to squeeze in 3 lessons this summer. His final lesson was Wednesday morning. He had a great lesson as he was given the chance to ride solo and to try his hand at the barrels. We may have a cowboy on our hands as tonight he wanted to ride the mechanical bull at the rodeo! He assures me that he does not want to ride the real thing, he just wants to play around on the fake ones!
Dylan on Camilla
Trying out the barrels - none in the picture - sorry!
Future bullrider?????
The Omak Stampede and World Famous Suicide Race is an annual event in Omak (which is our neighboring town). Thursday night is always family night - which means it's cheap night! - so we usually try to take the kids to the rodeo on Thursday night. Tonight was no exception. The Cheeseman family also had tickets so we teamed up with them for a night at the Stampede Grounds. We started by paying for the kids to ride 2 rides and then had some dinner before the rodeo started.
This rodeo is an NRCA rodeo but has always felt more small townish because of the rickety arena we used to sit in. Tonight was a bit different. The arena of days past was torn down and rebuilt into a much larger and more comfortable arena! I missed the wooden benches and the quaintness of our old seats but sure liked the comfort of these new ones! Jeff and Steve tried out the new beer garden and gave it two thumbs up so all in all, the rebuild is a hit!
The kids got all cowboyed up for the evening. Lyndsi is wearing one of my shirts from my grade school days! Max (Dylan's friend) and Dylan are goofy more often than they are serious!
We'll be attending 2 parades over the weekend in honor of the Stampede and Robyn, Kim and Erin will be here Saturday for the rodeo.
Max and Dylan contemplating which ride to go on first.
I haven't shared anything about our trip to Albuquerque and Grandma Cleland's memorial service. My lack of sharing isn't due to lack of sentimentality but rather the opposite. I've been trying to come up with just the right words to use when I described my grandma. Nothing seems perfect! I've come to the conclusion that my grandmother was everything you'd want a grandma to be. She was loving, attentive, doting, sincere, fun and, in my mom's words, "a little bit naughty". What more can a person want! The service was simple and lovely, complete with a swift but wicked wind and thunderstorm - just want Grandma would have wanted! It was held at the grave site. My grandma will be buried between the two most special people in the world to her, my grandpa and my cousin, Dustin. Grandma is in her heaven. I am happy for her but missing her all the same.
As funerals seem to be, our few days in Albuquerque felt a bit like a family reunion. All my aunts, uncles and cousins were there. I met several cousins I'd never seen before and the kids met more than that! Steve and my dad were missing from the celebration, as well as my cousin's wife, but every family was represented.
Because we didn't leave Albuquerque until later on Thursday, my mom and I were able to get the kids off to Old Town, one of my favorite little areas of the city.
Nana and the kids at Old Town - San Felipe Church
The kids hamming it up in their jean jackets while waiting in the Albuquerque airport.
Busy weekend ahead and a busy few weeks and then a busy few months. Before we know it, Halloween will have passed and Thanksgiving will be in the near future. Then Christmas and New Year's and 2010 will be upon us! But, I jump ahead (I told you I start to panic this time of year!).....
3 comments:
We just had our "family reunion" with Shawn's family to celebrate Grandpa's life at the cabin. Although it's a sad time, it sure is nice all getting together and sharing memories and making more.
great post! can't believe it will be time for school so soon.. especially now that i have a new job! We saw a kid from Ana's class at the Stampede and he says to her... see ya in H ee double hockey sticks in 3 weeks :) I about spit my pop out! LOL
Wow! I guess we've seen so much of each other this summer that I haven't been reading blogs! I just love that picture of you and Steve! You haven't changed a bit! Glad we were able to spend it together (I'm picturing bigger celebrations in the future).
Your bedroom is look fabulous!
I'm still regretting missing the hummmer experience!
Your Grandmother sounds like a wonderful woman.
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