Ten Years Without Tracey

My sister went to be with Jesus ten years ago today.

She's been gone one decade... that is a long time.

Dad's birthday about a decade ago

Dad's birthday celebration this year

There are no pictures of Dad with all three of his kids on his birthday.

This is my favorite family picture.

Summer 2000

This picture frame with these pictures have been hanging in my room/apartment/home for the past ten years:

I miss you Tracey.

Photos of "Papa's" 80th Birthday and a Family Weekend

This past weekend all of the Sandens -- my parents, my brother and his family, and Chris and me met up at Lake Chelan for a long weekend together.

My dad's 80th birthday is coming up in October, so we all gathered together to celebrate his birthday a few months early.

Below are some photo collages of all the pictures Chris and I snapped over the weekend.  You can click on the collage pictures to make them larger and to see the smaller pictures better.

Nephew Jake had a cool dragon kite and there was a big open field where he could try to fly it.

I love this progression of pictures -- two pictures where Jake has the kite and Chris has a beer... two pictures where Chris has the kite and Jake has the beer.  :-D

These are some of my favorite pictures... do you think I could have a future in child photography?

Back at the house, an indoor pow-wow and outdoor fun... check out the picture of the boys disagreeing (lower right second in)

Every night, Trent's family goes for an after-dinner walk, and the whole family went along.  Lots of fun was had with the two walkie-talkies.

Nephew Ryan learned how to catch a frisbee

On Sunday, we called it "Papa's Birthday"... four months early so the day started with breakfast in bed for my dad and ended with some presents.

A toast to Papa's 80th birthday!

Present time... We all gave Dad a flatscreen television -- or a box with a picture of a flatscreen television.  Since his birthday isn't until October, we will take measurements and buy one and install it this summer in his family room at home.  It will be ready to go in time for his birthday (and Michigan football season).  My dad couldn't believe it!
He had commented to my mom on how much better he can see the flatscreen televisions he has seen at our house and in the Vail condo than he can see the old box television in their family room at home.  He always tells us kids, "No more presents.  My birthday, Christmas, Fathers' Day all come along too often and I don't need anything.  Please, no more presents."  My brother and I agreed that his 80th birthday had to be an exception -- A BIG exception.  When he opened the box with the flatscreen tv on it, both of my nephews yelled, "IT'S A GIANT TV!"

This birthday party is the only birthday party, with a bunch of people I can ever remember our having for my dad.  I love these pictures of him laughing and blowing out the cake with his two grandsons!

Some family pictures and fun pictures we snapped before the end of the weekend.

What precious memories we made last weekend.

Word-Filled Wednesday: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

via

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens: 

   a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,

   a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

  a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,  

 a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil?  I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.  He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Treasuring the Present: Family Fun in Washington

 Family fun at my brother's vacation home with my parents, my hubby, my brother and his family... eight people and loads of fun!  This is Chris and my first time vacationing with my whole family!  Family vacations are so much more fun with my hubby apart of the family!  :-D

Behold my 79.5 year old dad on the top of a slide with his two grandsons (and my mom)
Dad says this is the first slide he's been down in 75 years

Our three days here have been a blast and we celebrated my Dad's 80th birthday a few months early.  His birthday is in October, but Dad always said "Better months early than one day late..."  :-D

I am completely in love with this picture of my parents and my nephews... this is going in a frame!

   

I have many pictures and stories to share, but they'll have to wait until I have more of the pictures.  Until then, I'll leave you with one story...

Ryan, my 3.5-year-old nephew is the sweetest little boy, and on the first morning that we were there, he wandered into my parents room (Grammie and Papa's room) and saw that Papa was in his underwear and a tee-shirt (his pajamas).  He looked at Grammie and said,
"Doesn't Papa have any clothes?"

He was afraid Papa would be in his underwear and tee-shirt for the whole vacation.  It was so adorable and our perfect welcome to the vacation.

Taking Anniversary Ideas, Please!

Chris and I are at Lake Chelan with my family and very little internet... so I think this will be the best time to ask a question, I hope he doesn't read in the blog.

What are your great anniversary gift ideas?

Chris and my first anniversary is coming up on June 25th, and I am still working on coming up with a few ideas.

I went on Pinterest and learned that the first anniversary is the Paper Anniversary...

I had one idea that would go well with paper, but the artists I talked to about it are really busy this spring.

So, please... SEND THE IDEAS OVER!
Please either comment on the blog or email me with your great anniversary gift ideas for the best husband in the world!

mrs{dot}bs{dot}miller{at}gmail{dot}com

School's Out!

Chris and I marked the end of our first married school year by immediately getting on a plane and fleeing the state.  :-D

We headed for the state of Washington for a Sanden family celebration that has been on the calendar since last October.  I will post more about the vacation when I can... and hopefully continue with daily blog posts throughout the vacation (because it turns out I'm addicted to daily blog posts), but the internet is really spotty, so I'll do my best.

In the meantime, I have had this song in my head ever since my summer officially began:

End of the Race

Source: google.com via oiselle on Pinterest

 Today is the end of the race... the end of the school year race!

Chris was technically done last week, but he had a teacher workshop all this week, so really today marks the TRUE end for both of us.

Source: mirror.co.uk via Alexandra on Pinterest

We have been like giddy, irresponsible, little kids this week.  We have stayed up way too late playing games, watching laugh-out-loud television, and enjoying the fact that the end of the year is upon us and summer is right around the corner.  Every night has been like a slumber party with my best friend.  :-D

Last night was Chris' end of the year teacher party, which coincided perfectly to my last day.  Chris said that the party last night was essentially a Teacher's New Year's Eve... the end of year and the start of another.  We had a great time!

Chris and I are heading out of town tonight... yeah, we don't waste any time. :-D

We're leaving our animals with friends and headed off for a long weekend with my family in Washington State.

via

I'm having some Instagram issues, so we'll see how I do with that this weekend.  If you know where to find Instagram tips, please let me know.  My pictures post immediately instead of when I tell them to.  What if I want to take 4 pictures and only post the best one?  How do I create a photo collage?  How do I post Instagram photos to my blog?

Thanks for the help and HAPPY SUMMER!