Family History, I am doing it!

 Sarah and her awesome accordion!  What awesome talent she has!

 Marriage certificate of Sarah's great grandparents Leland and Florence Paul

 Wedding picture of Florence and Leland Paul.  Isn't this a beautiful picture?  I love how love looks on them.

 Wedding picture of Linda and Jim Paul, Sarah's grandparents.  Aren't they super cute?

 Jim Paul's high school graduation picture

 Leland and Florence Paul, Sarah's great grandparents.  He died right before Sarah was born in 1989, and she died this May, 2011

 LaVerne and Art Dart's wedding picture.  Such a beautiful picture.

 Art and LaVerne Dart, Sarah's great grandparents.  Art died in 2007 (I think).

 LaVerne and Sarah

 Grandma Linda and Sarah.  Sure love them BOTH!

When we were on our trip to Chicago, we drove up to Casco Wisconsin to visit with Sarah's great grandma and visit with Great Aunts, Great Uncles, and extended cousins.   Casco is about 20 minutes outside of Green Bay Wisconsin.  We had a blast.  It is always fun to be with family.  They welcomed Dave and I and the kids with open arms.  I love them and can't wait to visit them again soon.

We went to Chicago...Gotta love the Windy City!

 Dave and Andrea in the Windy City

 Dave and Andrea

 Sarah, Jayson, and Sasha getting ready to board the water taxi to get to Navy Pier.

 Andrea, Sarah, Jayson, Sasha, and Dave on the water taxi.

 I don't know why these two pictures are together, but the top one is of Dave and I on a high speed motor boat out on Lake Michigan.  The bottom picture is of Jayson, wind blowing his hair. 

 My favorite picture of Sarah and Sasha.  They certainly have wild hair.  Love the joy in this picture. 

 Sasha and Dave on the train platform.  We were waiting in the super hot heat.  The day we were there, it was 98 degrees.  Too hot for our blood.  

 Jayson and Sarah waiting for the train.

 Andrea and "Sue" the T-Rex from the Field Museum.  The museum was amazing.  Lots to see and discover. 

 Sasha, Sarah, Jayson, Andrea and Dave in front of the skyline.

Sarah, Sasha, and Jayson in front of the skyline. 

We went to Chicago on June 24th for the first leg of a two week vacation.  We stopped and stayed with Grandma Linda Paul for the first four days.  We were blessed with great weather, great fun, and a great time with Grandma.  We laughed, stayed up late, and discovered the wonders of Cracker Barrel.  Nummmy. 

Family Vacation in Chicago

L to R:  Andrea, Jayson, Sasha, Sarah, and Dave

We semi surprised the kids and took them on a family vacation to Chicago.  I will post more pictures later, but wanted to get this one online before I got too backlogged with other things to do.  We had a blast and can't wait to go back again sometime soon.  

 

 

It is finally here!

I LOVE vacations.  I love everything about them.....except getting ready for them...then putting everything away from them after it is done.  But the part in the middle....I LOVE!  It has been too long since we went on a nice vacation.  I am happy to have people taking care of our beloved pets while we are gone.  I am thankful that Dave gets a MUCH needed rest and diversion from the recent events at our house.  This is gonna be a great event...I can just feel it.

Another trip to North Idaho

L to R: Back row: Jean & Lewis Mace ( Aunt and Uncle) Judy Mace ( cousin), John (boyfriend of another cousin), Me
Bottom Row L to R: Sarah and Heather ( cousin, girlfriend of John)

Sarah taking a picture of herself taking a picture. Kinda a neat picture, don't ya think?
She smashed her finger a day or so before this picture. It really was swollen and purple, but not broken.

Ellie the wonder dog.

My beautiful cousin Deb. She always lets us stay at her house. Now we lovingly call her home the "Hotel Pryor". The rates are fabulous and the meals divine...LOL

I went to Coeur d' Alene over the 4th of July and had a blast. Here are some more pictures of my extended family. I really wish that we lived closer to them all.

I went to Coeur d' Alene

Me on the Boardwalk on Lake Coeur d'Alene

Me and Sarah at Lake Coeur d'Alene

Sarah and I ran away to north Idaho this past weekend for some much needed Mother/Daughter fun. Since Dave and Jayson are at Boy Scout camp this week and Sasha is at EFY, we decided to go on a fun mini vacation over the 4th of July. We stayed at my cousin Debbie's house and had a BLAST. We laughed, giggled, and laughed some more. I will post more pictures in a day or two after I get things all organized and put away.

Vacation to Idaho

Kellyn Bennett (Sasha's friend) and Sasha Mathison on the

Ferris Wheel in Silverwood Idaho June 25,2009

Jayson and Dave Mathison on the boat ride in Silverwood

Watch out Jayson ! Dad is going to get you!!

Here are a few pictures of when we were in Idaho in June. We all went to Silverwood and had a fabulous time. It was nice and pleasant. Not too warm out...just right. We can't wait to go back next year.

Our trip to Bonners Ferry Idaho June 25 2009

Bob Deubel and the backside of Don Deubel

My Favorite Aunt Jean Mace

Dave, Andrea, Sasha, Kellyn Bennett (Sasha's friend) and Jayson Mathison sitting on my Aunt Jean's steps


Jean Mace, Bob Deubel, and Don Deubel. These are all of my mother's siblings. Too bad she couldn't be there too. The picture was painted by Jean Mace. Isn't is beautiful?

Jean Mace and Jayson Mathison eating rhubarb crisp for dessert. Yummmmm !

L to R: Uncles Lewie Mace, Don and Bob Deubel ( brothers) and cousin Judy Mace

Kellyn Bennett ( Sasha's friend), Sasha and Dave Mathison and half of Uncle Lewie eating lunch at Aunt Jean and Uncle Lewie's house

We went to Bonners Ferry Idaho on June 25 2009 to visit with my mother's brothers and sister. I have spent a ton of my childhood with my aunts and uncles, so I really look forward to seeing them whenever we get to Idaho. We all ended up staying for several hours and ate this really good Mexican Lasagna. Jean made homemade rhubard crisp for dessert. It was super nummy. We couldn't stay there as long as I wanted to, but a short visit is better than no visit at all. Family is what it is all about, right !!!!!

Dave in Moses Lake

As sometimes happens, Dave got the call last week that he would be working in Moses Lake, WA this whole week. I am totally bummed that he is gone. I HATE it when he is not here. Even Sasha and Jayson commented this afternoon, right about the time when he usually gets home, that "it feels lonely when Dad is gone". "When is Dad coming home???" I agreed with the kids and told them that he would be home before they knew it. What is actually happening is that Dave is going on a Boeing sponsored "vacation". He sleeps in a nice hotel that has a swimming pool, gets to eat out at every meal, and even gets paid mileage to go there. On top of that, Boeing gets to pay the whole bill. He sleeps in a bed all by himself with no wife that snores all night, he gets to eat nice fancy meals that he rarely gets at home, and most importantly.... there is no "Honey do" list in Moses Lake. Oh I wish that I could go to Moses Lake too. We all miss Dave when he is gone. Hurry Home, Honey!