all abreu...all the time

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Long Lost Family Gathering

little stink bug babies climbing on the rocks! so cute!

I finally got to meet Candis, Alex's cousin, Shawn's sister. I have known Shawn since I was 14, but Candis lived in OC with her mom, so I have just never met her. She is a great woman, an incredible girl who has been through so much and such a good person. She is helping Shawn out a lot, he is so lucky to have her. They are pretty much the only close family for each other. Their little brother Colt died at a young age, Bret who helped raise them died 10 yrs. ago, their father who lived in Texas was killed about 6 yrs ago and their mom, Patty died just a couple yrs. ago. It is really incredible for two people to have experienced so much loss.

This is Eli and Candis' son Dylan, who is just a few months younger.

Kelli always ready for the camer, the little boys just trying to keep their balance.

Bret & Logan McKee

Eli watcking everybody from above...

Dylan sliding down the rocks at Grandma Kelly's house.

Shawn and Candis standing together, Candis' husband Ryan close by for when the little ones lose their balance, ;).

We had Shawn and Candis and her family- husband Ryan, & sons Dylan and Logan- over to Kelly's house for a BBQ on Saturday. It was a great day. I am so glad to have finally met Candis, and her family. She is a very sweet girl, I hope we can hang out again and see eachother often.
Shawn's doing really well too! All the kids loved to play with him and 'get' him, or whatever it's called-what they do to the adult that isn't their own parent. He's always been a fun guy!

Boots

it turned out blurry, I didn't know the camera was on manual focus, but Bret was being so cute! He loved the boots and was having so much fun running around in them! It's probably a little to "village people" with just the diaper, but it was time for bed, so I wasn't going to get him all dressed.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Quinn's Big "Surgery"

Quinn was hit by the metal hoop of the pool basketball hoop and needed 10 staples. It happened last Tuesday before coming to Bass Lake, so James brought some 'tools' up with him to take them out. Quinn wasn't thrilled at first to not be at a hospital, but he eventually agreed. It was quite the show.

Bass Lake!!

I loved it, a perfect family trip! The first one with all 7 of us. It was a nice number of days, not too long of a drive and fun family to be with. I was really excited to see Carli again after sooo long!

We finally took a picture of 'daddy and his girls' with the boat since he put the name on it.

Super Dad of the week, Alex, getting Eli's feet into the wake board for his first try. He popped right up the first time and wiggled around, but that's it. He tried hard though!

Natalja is so awesome with her little brother and sister! She is a natural nurturer!

Jared out in the water giving wakeboarding a good hard try! He was out there for a long time!

Bret's favorite spot in any vehicle!

4 happy kids in the bow of grandpa's boat! So cute!

my cousing Justin was playing with the kids all night running around letting the girls climb on him! He's awesome!

Alex is so sweet with little baby girls. I love the tenderness that shows through the big tough looking man :]

VERY silly girls!

Handsome boys!

I can't believe how old JT is getting! He just looks so mature.

Hope and Natalja down on the dock. Natalja was a little fish- in the water the entire time!

The movement of the water seems to be the only thing that can calm Bret. Whenever we were on the boat or just holding him in the water he became so relaxed and just his body became heavy/still. I need a moving body of water at home for this!!