To the end of 2016

I only have a short time to update the last two months.  Then we have to go to two of Lauren's basketball games.  She is playing rec. right now.  Tomorrow she tries out for school basketball. I may have to come back to this after the game.
It has been a long two months.  Lots has happened and nothing has changed. haha.

Yea, I'm back.  November was a pretty good month. I got my mammogram over with, Jordy got her wisdom teeth pulled,  The greatest thing happening is we have a new president who I believe is really going to improve this country!!!!  Congrats to Donald Trump!  I thought it was strange how some took the news.  Riots and protests and the awful name calling and words said.  I thought it would be better once the election was over but it didn't stop.  Hopefully one day.  That's all I am going to say on that..

We had some real sad news in November with the loss of our cousin in law Marcey Brazeau who passed away. It was such a huge loss. I only wish I had spent more time with her. You can never go back.  She was a special lady who was married to cousin Dave, had two beautiful daughters Karen and Renee, and two gorgeous grand daughters!  She was blessed to have so much. And she sure loved her family!  I know they will be grieving for a long time.

Also lost a friend, Gordy Wallinger. He was a nice person.  We attended the same church with him and his wife. We also had a Bible Study group with them and became good friends with them. He will be missed.

We had a nice Thanksgiving.  Well, two nice Thanksgivings!  The first one was the Saturday before the real one.  There was me and Papa, Kevon, Karla, Madi and Dylan, Manda and Lauren, Tara, Brad, Jordy and Riley, and Jessica and Alyssa.  We had a great dinner and then sat around playing games while the guys watched the football game.

On Thanksgiving day Amanda brought the whole dinner over!  It was so fun with her, Andrew, Lauren and Kevon.  We enjoyed the day!

My grandson, Patrick, and his football team went undefeated and to the Tacoma Dome for the play offs!  How exciting!  They didn't get farther than the dome but they did awesome for a small town! His little brothers were water boys.

Into December we had our Girls Cookie Exchange.  We exchange ornaments too.  It was a lot of fun as usual.  Not even sure how many years we've been doing this but it is a long time.

LAUREN

RILEY

MADI

JORDY

TARA AND KARLA WITH THEIR AUNT LIBBY (MY SIS)

LAUREN AND HER MAMA AMANDA

MADI AND HER MAMA KARLA

JORDY AND HER MAMA TARA (Didn't get one of Tara and Riley)

L-R BACK: RILEY, AMANDA, LAUREN, MADI, KARLA
FRONT:  JORDY, TARA, LIBBY AND ME

It snowed on December 9th and stuck.... didn't last long but I love snow and it looked beautiful! I want more!

Manda and Lauren went through the Santa search book one night.  We had three books but are now down to two.  Every year the books go in our bathroom.  I think we've had them since the early 90's. lol

Had a big day on the 12th.  Andrew came over for Lauren's last soccer game and her winter Band Concert.  It was awesome that he came.  Madi came with us and even Dylan decided to come with us!  I think Lauren was surprised by everyone.

Papa, Andrew and  Dylan at COLD soccer game.

Got new tires for the van too.  That wasn't cheap.

We went and saw Riley's Christmas Concert too.  It was such a good concert!

Riley in her new glasses

We went to a dinner at the casino in Suquamish,  It was for Kevon's work.  The parents of the owners (Kevon and Jay) were invited to a prime rib dinner that was so good!  We went and so did Dave and Cheryll (kevon's dad),  Kathy and Rick (Jay's mom), and Tim Cleveland (Jay's dad).  We had a real good time  Here is the group picture with us hiding in the background. Karla, Joel, Amanda and Aaron are in the picture too.  Joel and Amanda both work for Kevon.  This is Kevon's group with spouses.  Not all were there.  They all respect Kevon and he really appreciates his crew.  It is nice to hear people tell me how great Kev is. Proud of him and Manda is his amazing right arm!

Madi and Lauren stayed at our house while we went to dinner.  They rearranged a lot of my Christmas decorations and thought they were so funny.  They kind of were.  lol!  They were watching Bob Ross so now they have a new addiction.

We had an awesome Family Christmas!
I wrote on facebook:

It was a wonderful family Christmas yesterday. It snowed most of the day and it was wonderful! It took forever to cook the prime rib. It was 18 lbs and we never cooked one before. All the food was great! Played games, opened gifts and had so much fun! Then we had the slumber party and pizza. 10 kids for that but only 5 spent the night which is about all we can fit anymore. lol! We played family feud, the Sibling Game, and Gingerbread house building contest. Lots of laughs and fun.

WAKE UP ANDREW!!!!

KEVON USING PARKER'S VISION THINGY AND FREAKING OUT!

HEATHER AND LAUREN

TRIPLETS RILEY, LAUREN AND MADI

EVERYONE HAS A CELL PHONE

BROTHER AND SISTER TEAMS BUILDING HOUSE

On the real Christmas Day I sat with my coffee and watched A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life.

McCamus is over. (family joke). It was a wonderful Christmas dinner over at Amanda's with her, Andrew Black, Lauren and Kevon Ellis. She made Fillet Mignon, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Mac and Cheese, Asparagus, rolls, and a wonderful strawberry jello cake for dessert. The food was perfect, the company entertaining, more present time, listening to Beatles, watching football, and having a great time! Talked with family today. I hope you all were blessed as much as we were this holiday season. God is good. And I thank Him! Happy Birthday to Him and Merry Christmas and goodnight!

Spent a lunch with two friends I  haven't spent time with in ages.... Cindy Beck and Joleen Aitchison.  We had laughs and good food and then Darlene Ryan Stark walked up to say hello.  It was awesome! 

Well, that is it to the end of the year.  Now I hope to write once in awhile!  Hope you enjoyed!  Go Hawks!

A long, long time ago....

I used to write on this blog. It has been forever. Life has been ok but Papa and I are both sick right now. He's got a cold. I have a cold and blahs. I wish I knew what was wrong with me.  I haven't felt normal since I can't remember when.  Between my back, my head, my body everything.  I am sick of it all.

Well that is a good way to start things off after almost two months. Let me tell you the good parts of October.  We had a family dinner at Tara's.  She made her homemade chili.  We brought cornbread, chicken, candy, cookies, chips and cheese dip.  I guess we went with the "C" theme. lol!  We played games and had  fun!  Brad, Joel and Lanny watched the Washington Huskies game.  me, Riley, Karla, Tara, Madi, Jordy played the board games.  Had strawberry shortcake or pies for dessert.  I love these times with my family.

Jordy showing me her suitcase she has to haul in Seattle to school and home everyday!

Riley and her dog Hazel

Jordy and her dog Lily

Scruffy turned 8 this month.

Andrew went to Alaska with his school to preach to those in Fairbanks.  It was on video and he did so good!

Lauren played at the McTakeover with her school band at McDonalds in Kingston. It rocked.


When Andrew got back he came and visited here with Lauren.  I hadn't seen him in over a month.  He brought me the nicest Santa ornament. I know Lauren was sure happy to see her brother.  Amanda invited Papa and I over to their house to have dinner (Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo) and watch Andrew and Lauren carve pumpkins! We got to listen to Amanda and Lauren sing Adele. They are so good.

Speaking of singing, our grand daughter sang the National Anthem at her Middle School assembly. Pretty brave and she was awesome!  She also got new glasses.

Our daughter Heather turned 40!  She is our 3rd daughter.  Cannot believe how old they are getting.  And how old that makes us!  Life goes on until it gets done here. Then it goes on in Heaven.

Her boys did their pumpkins too!

Parker came home for the weekend and Jared was a happy boy!

September came alive with fall leaves. Of course, Port Gamble was gorgeous as usual.

 I had to get a new computer. Mine died. It is taking some getting used to.
 Dylan had a birthday. He turned 19.

He is doing really good in college. So is Parker. And Jordy is doing awesome in cosmetology school.  Everyone is doing good in school!  Lauren started soccer tryouts tomorrow. She has been sick since last Saturday with a cold and missed school Monday. Tuesday she went to practice in the rain and awful weather.  She made it through.

It's nine o'clock so it must bemy bedtime.  My fingers hurt. When I am sick my fingers hurt. lol! I am locking my site again but hopefully if you are reading it you can get it.  Let me know if you can't. lol!

Highs and lows and missing mama

I am a very happy girl!  I am smelling turkey. We are having turkey for dinner and I love it! Sheets and bedding are being washed. dogs been on a great walk, Cenex came and gave us propane for winter and all seems to be right with our little world.

Time to post!  Actually past time.  I did actually write a post but it was all about how our son, Ryan, severed his ties with me and his dad, Karla and Kevon.  Long, ugly story I decided not to post.  As part diary I don't think I will ever forget what has happened between us the past year that led us to the point we are.  And I just don't want to write about it.  It hurts and I am over it.

So on to happier times!  It was a fast summer for sure! I can't believe we are going into fall.  I posted most of my summer in the last post.  But I will finish it up now.

Let's go backwards.  Yesterday was one of the best days all summer. It was Labor day and we had a BBQ!  There was me, Papa, Karla, Joel, Madi, Manda, Lauren and Kevon.  We played "Last Word" and laughed SO HARD I had a stomach ache last night.  I have the funnest and funniest people in my life.  We had strawberry shortcake for dessert which was so nummy!  I haven't had any all summer so this was the perfect way to end the summer!  Oh, and we had Bacon Burgers with the works, hot dogs, Karla made a potato salad, we had deviled eggs, corn on the cob, beans, chips, and snacks. Wow, it was so good.  I'm thankful for a wonderful family and good food! No pictures though.  Can you believe it?
Sunday we did nothing but Saturday we went to the Family Pancake House and met up with Heather, Parker, Jared, Tara and Riley for brunch.  The food was good and I got to order off the Senior Menu because I am 60 now.  It was nice seeing the girls and grandkids again.

Sandy girl celebrated her 12th birthday with a pig ear.  She was a happy girl!  Spoiled!  We have offered her a retirement home the past year or two. She loves it here because it is only 2 stairs to get up and down off the deck, we have a covered deck in case it rains, and a fenced yard so she is safe.  She sleeps in the house and gets canned food every morning for breakfast.  Papa really does spoil her.  She deserves it.  And the kids and Amanda come give her loves often as they can.

The grandkids are all back to school.  Well, Dylan and Parker will be going to college in a few weeks.  Jordy is in Cosmetology School in Seattle.  And Andrew just started college at Northwestern College in Kirkland, WA.  It is a Christian college where he is studying to be a pastor.  He lives in the dorms and is making new friends already.  I am happy for them all! Now we've got Patrick in 11th grade, Joshua is in Middle School this year in 6th grade and Jared is in 5th grade!  Those are Heather and Don's kids!

Madi, Lauren and Riley are all in 8th grade this year.  Their last year of middle school and next year will be in high school.  Where did the years go.  Time just goes on and on.

They all seem to like school so far.  They are ok with their classes which is good. 

The fair came and went.  I would have liked to take the grandkids but that ended up being a busy week.  Lauren was with her mom that week so Papa and Lauren painted her new room.  Amanda and Lauren moved into Kevon's home (which used to be our home 10 years ago until we sold it to him.)  Amanda had to do a lot of cleaning to move in because 2 bachelors and a black lab lived there. lol!  She had people over to pressure wash the place outside, clean up the yard, wash carpets (which she had to redo), etc... She also had to sell the house they were living in so she could sell it.  They are all settled now. Lauren can ride the bus with Jonah again so that makes her happy! She likes her room.  Mac is settled.  They have to fix a few spots in the fences so he can't escape. Meanwhile Kevon bought a place closer to Silverdale and the base and 5 minutes from work.  He is remodeling and fixing the house while he stays in out building with his dog, Penny.  He got a fence put up right away.  He is able to come home and check on her several times a day if he wants.  Everything went much faster than they expected it to happen but there was no choice in the matter.  Once Kevon finishes his new place in a few weeks then he will get the rest of his stuff out of Amanda's garage.  Then Jeff (who has stuff downstairs) can get his stuff out and Amanda can get the downstairs cleaned out and fix up a space for Andrew to come home to. lol!  Just takes time.  I heard Ryan and his girl friend and her son and his girlfriend moved to the Keyport  area.  Poor Lauren has been moving  alot!!!  At least she is not moving to California, which we are so thankful for!

Amanda ended up taking Andrew and Lauren to the fair.  It was the last night home for Andrew before going to college.  They had fun but the rides kind of made Andrew sick. It was good for the 3 of them to do something fun together!  Karla's family went to the fair too.  They go every year but Madi is more into the animals than the rides. lol!  I would be more into the food. Love their corndogs and funnel cakes!

Karla and Joel took their family camping and we spent some time visiting them. Lanny and I went one day and then one night we went with Amanda, Andrew and Lauren.  We had fun. Played a game of "Last Word". Dylan and Andrew went for a walk.  Amanda and Karla went for a walk.  They ate some smores.  Very nice.

The last month of summer was fun but it was the most stressful time we have been through in years.  I am thankful we are pretty much done with that part of the drama. Now to enjoy Fall and Family.  Bought a few shirts marked down to $3.50 and a new rug for in front of my fireplace. Now I have to think about Christmas.  Ten grandkids are SO hard to buy from especially the older they get and college kids?  What do you get them?  lol!

In two days (sept 8th) it will only be 5 years since my mama went to Heaven.  Why does it seem like 10 years?  Not a day goes by that I don't think of her.  

Well, that is my update.  I hope God gave you many blessings this summer and He will always continue to carry you through and bless you!