We start with Maddie's first birthday celebrated on August 29 in 106 degree heat, hence the swimming pool, a great way to keep the kids cool. Jon and Julie did a wonderful job of creating a circus themed party complete with popcorn and peanuts.
Maddie really enjoyed playing in the pool with her friends.
Julie made a sugar free avocado iced cake for Maddie. It was so cute watching Maddie decide what to do with it as she had never eaten any kind of cake. She eventually gave it a try.
Aren't they the best looking family? Jon and Julie and Maddie opening the birthday presents.
Do you think that Josephine understands Grandpa's jokes yet? He sure thinks it's funny.
Cousins -- Maddie has something to tell Josephine about her dedication service. Josie was in the nursery and missed the entire event.
This is my newest project, a mosaic table top. It is almost finished and I'll publish pictures once it is complete. I'm having a great time playing with broken pottery and adhesive. Very therapeutic.
Having missed the opportunity for our annual Fourth of July party, we opted for a Labor Day gathering of the family. This was the first ever, and possibly annual, family cook-off. The food was fabulous. Joyce won the grand prize with her scrumptious blue cheese coleslaw but I don't have any pictures of that. Here is Heidi's prize winning side dish of beautifully presented jello cocktails. 
Heidi and Miss Josephine, both looking beautiful.
The guys barbecued, played bocce ball and eventually went to the park for a rousing game of over-the-line.
The women talked, ate, went through hundreds (maybe thousands) of old family pictures and had a great time. There was plenty of laughter over old hair and clothing styles as well as remembering those awkward stages we all go through.
Lindley was helping out with feeding Maddie.
I recently had the privilege of watching Caleb, Lindley and Lincoln for an evening. Here are the two youngest playing dress up.
Okay, that should bring you up to date on the last month of my life. At least the parts that have pictures attached. Friday I leave for Virginia for Jason and Jacky's wedding and then time with my sisters in North Carolina. Surely there will be pictures and stories to share so check back by the end of next month.
Just one of the vegetable and fruit stands. I'm not sure if the picture below does justice to the size of the lobsters, but one would feed more than one person. They were HUGE.
Leaving Seattle we headed south for Mount St. Helen's. It was too foggy to see the mountain on Monday but we were staying in the area and the next morning proved to be clear and beautiful. It was fascinating to drive the 50 miles from Hwy 5 through the countryside once devastated by the volcano. It has been 29 years since the volcano blew and the area is still in the process of recovery. Forests have been replanted in many areas and some places have naturally regrown. The replanted forests looked so strange and we realized it was because all the trees are the same type and nearly the same height. It felt like a movie set. Once in the National Park, 
nothing has been replanted and the original destruction is still visible. Trees blown down, most areas with little or no vegetation, and areas of deep ash. The mountain itself is beautiful in it's barrenness. We spent half the day there and then once again headed south.
Monday we stayed near Multnomah Falls, the second highest falls in the US. Yosemite Falls being the tallest. It was a beautiful area. When we drove up to the B&B where Doug had made reservations my my initial reaction was...'let's find a motel.' However, it turned out to be a very nice place to stay and quite historic, nearly 100 years old and still owned by the original family.
The rest of the week was spent visiting such places as Tillamook, Oregon, home to Tillamook Cheese and touring the factory. We spent time enjoying the beauty of the Oregon Coast and onto the majesty and quietness of the Redwood forests of Northern California. It was a restful and relaxing trip home. 
Doug catching up on the sleep he lost doing the large majority of the driving. I was not much help this time taking turns driving. Every time we started to drive I fell asleep. Not a good idea to let me drive.
Maddie and her Grandfather.
It was early evening when Doug, Amy and I were able to see Josie, Heidi and Caleb. What a BEAUTIFUL baby she is. Heidi was doing well, lots of pain med's and a beautiful baby make for a happy mother. Both she and Caleb looked tired and were tired but very happy. 
Heidi came home from the hospital on Tuesday the 9th. I was able to be at the house waiting for them. It was fun to welcome them home. Doug came over after work, I made dinner and we spent time with the new parents and our newest granddaughter. It is just amazing. The next day, June 10 was my surgery. It was an outpatient procedure. The surgery was scheduled for 1:30 and I was home by 8:30 or so. Very drugged and still in pain but happy to be laying on my own couch. The next few days are a blur. Doug stayed home on Thursday and I could not have made it through that day without help. I was on lots of pain medication which makes me incredibly sleepy and a bit loopy. 
By Monday, I felt good enough go to Heidi's and help with Josephine. Pam had stayed with them for the first few days. My dad drove me since I wasn't sure I could handle driving yet. I spent the week helping Heidi but not really feeling well. In fact, I kept feeling worse and weaker all week. Thursday morning my doctor's visit revealed that I was suffering from an infection. They began me on some heavy duty antibiotics which really affected me. I was weak and sleepy all the time. After a week on the antibiotics, the infection seems to be gone, my strength is returning but I'm still tired most of the time.
