A post without pictures

Pictures I should have taken but did not.

1. {All four of my mother's grandchildren lined up in a row.} For a week my mom had all of her grandchildren, David, Mary, Caleb, and Annika, under the same roof. I loved spending time with my niece and nephew and their mom Charity. I especially enjoyed getting to know Caleb better. One night I got to lay down with him at bedtime, and I loved listening to him talk himself to sleep. The subject was firetrucks (and how his MOM should be the one cuddling in bed with him, NOT Aunt Alisa).
2. {My kids, one of the best dads ever, and that dad's kids.} My friend Liz married a super awesome guy. He happily and energetically played with my kids for hours so that Liz and I could enjoy a leisurely dinner of chile rellenos and conversation. Adding my kids to his kids is no small matter, so I am deeply deeply grateful for his willingness. I love Liz so much, and we needed that time together. We spent several afternoons at Liz's house, and David and Mary had a great time with Liz's kids. (I wish I had something more to show than this picture. But sometimes you're too busy enjoying yourself to bother with the camera.)
   
3. {David and Mary with Silly Uncle Andy.} My brother Andy drove down from Boise to spend the weekend with us. My kids were enamored! Especially Mary. She couldn't get enough of him! (David and Mary had a more love-hate relationship with his dog Miley.)
4. {David and Mary with Roderick.} Roderick the Best Dog Ever was a huge part of my kids' life this past year. Sadly, I realized I don't have a picture of them with Roderick. Every day David tells me that he misses Roderick, who is still frolicking in the Wasatch Mountains with Grandma Evie.
5. {Mary playing ball with Great-Grandma H.} We spent our last evening in Utah chatting on Greg's grandparents' porch with Uncle Daniel, Aunt Brittany, Uncle M., Aunt K, Cousin E., Baby A., and, of course, Grandma and Grandpa, as we watched the sun set on Mt. Timpanogas and were treated to key lime pie. My favorite moment all evening was looking up to see Mary and Grandma H. on the driveway playing with bouncy balls together. They were having a grand time. (This is the picture I regret most of all.)
   
6. {Me and Gina.} On our way across Colorado, we stopped to see the Thompsons. What a joy! David was thrilled to play with Caleb. He'd been looking forward to it all summer. Meanwhile, Nephi enchanted Greg with tales of climbing "14-ers." And I loved having time to talk to Gina. I miss her! (You know how sometimes it's right before you move away from a place that you finally figure out who your really good friends are? Well, that was NOT the case with Gina. We both moved to Ohio the same week, met that first week, knew right away we would be friends, and wasted no time in going about it. Pretty amazing, huh? And something I'm grateful for.)
7. {Somewhere on Highway 24.} We cut down from I-70 to I-25 on Highway 24. Oh, it was so gorgeous. I kept thinking, "I'm really going to move to the Midwest???" But my heart will always belong to the West. If only I knew when I will return again...