Mmm...Blue Bell

My 27th birthday, August 8 was Jamie's last full day in Houston before heading home to New Canaan (also her 15th anniversary-congrats!).  It was Dan's parents' last full day before heading home to Bountiful.
So we decided to head up to Brenham, TX and enjoy some time at the Blue Bell Factory.  You show up, watch a little video about the history of Blue Bell Ice Cream, and then you get a free scoop.  Oh so good.
Going to this factory has been a staple field trip for pretty much my whole life.  Mom would take us every few years growing up.  We went at least twice with classes in elementary school.  I took Dan there for his birthday a few years back.  Good times, good times.

Hats are complimentary...and quite stylish (they've given these out as long as I've been going there too). L to R--Adam (4), Zach (6), Madelyn (7), Brooke (2), Julianne (11), Megan (3), Catherine (9), Hailey (8)

We've been so much that my sister Jamie kept spouting the facts they share on the tour before the tour guide told us. Top 5 flavors?  We were all over that...mostly.  (homemade vanilla, dutch chocolate, the great divide, cookies and cream, pralines and cream?--I think was the list that day :) )
The factory was recently remodeled and boasts a new bigger ice cream parlor at the end.  I sampled a new flavor there--Krazy Kookie dough (sugar cookie dough flavored ice cream with balls of sugar cookie dough in it--AH-mazing!).

Grandma, Papa, and our fam (we probably won't have a picture with all of our kids looking good for the next 10 years--case in point...)

We had a great time.  And it was good that we were all full of yummy, happy ice cream so that I didn't completely fall apart when we said goodbye to Jamie.  That day marked the end of our golden summer.

It wasn't the summer we had hoped for, but it was a great summer just the same.
It started with the joy and pain of Mom's last few weeks.  Then came her passing and funeral.  And after that, there were 5 more weeks with Jamie and her crew here.  My little Candy was born.  We fixed who knows how many crazy meals for 12 grandkids and 8 plus adults all together in my parents' house.  It was full of changes and adjusting to life after Mom.  There were tears shed and love shared and memories made.  I wonder sometimes if the grandkids will look back on this summer as one of the most fun of their lives--having 9 of the 12 cousins within 30 seconds across the street and my 3 just 30 minutes away was pretty unique.  They played and fought and swam and were loud and crazy and helped us all to remember that there's still a lot of living to do and a lot of joy to be had.  And of course, a lot of Blue Bell to enjoy--and don't worry Mom, we did.

Blessing Day

On August 7, Candace was given a name and a blessing by Dan.  It was such a great day with family and friends.  Other than my Dad and Tyler who were still on vacation in Washington, my entire side of the family was there along with Dan's parents.  We felt so supported by our friends in the ward and our neighbors who came to share that day with us also.
Naming Candace for my Mom made this blessing more tender for me.  Dan blessed her to be like Nephi and Lehi of old and to remember the goodness of her Granny when she remembered her name and be inspired to live like she did.  He blessed her to be a peacemaker and a kind and loving person like my Mom.  It was a beautiful blessing.
My sister Jamie bore a nice testimony also and expressed a lot of the things I was feeling without losing her composure (unlike me who was blubbering in the pew!).
It was fun to have all of my nieces and nephews in primary with me. 
To top off an already wonderful day, we had everyone over for a nice lunch after church.  We also celebrated my 27th birthday a day early.  Dan's Mom even made me a yummy cake.

Our little sweetheart on Aug. 7 (one day shy of 4 weeks old)--ready for the car ride to church

 Oh I love those little shoes...

Candace and Mommy after church

A not-so-happy baby--our best attempt at a family picture (the older 2 girls were too crazy to even attempt)

With Grandma and Papa

Three generations

Grandma and Papa with Candace (their 14th-I think-grandchild)

Carving the cake!

That's a lotta fire (and I don't think we even put 27 candles on!)

Seeing the Sights...

Dan and his Dad took the day off on Friday Aug. 5 and we decided to head to the Downtown Aquarium for some fun. It was HOT! But the kids loved it. Candace slept like a champ pretty much the whole time we were there.

Dan's Dad and Mom with Megan and Brooke (and Dan in the background)

Sleeping sweetheart

By the tigers.  I love how Megan is looking at Grandma in this picture.

Sweet little feet

Waiting for the train ride...

On the train...

And nothing beats some Culver's frozen custard to cool off after a hot day...

On Saturday Aug. 6, we headed down to the Galleria.  On the way, we drove past the Waterwall (we declined walking around it--it was WAY too hot).  Then we walked around the Galleria and had lunch at the food court.  Obviously we had Chick Fil A--the girls were thrilled.  When we got home, Dan and his parents took Megan and Brooke to the pool for some fun.

Our sweet Candace in the morning before going to the mall...

Candace is a little worried to have Brooke SO close :)

Hanging at the mall...

Look at that headstrong girl...

Papa and Candace before bedtime

Megan and Papa

Brooke and Megan having their crazy time with Papa before bed.

Some sewing therapy...

Dan's dad arrived on their original flight on Tuesday Aug. 2.  Dan could only take two days off while his parents were visiting, and he decided to wait and take them on Aug. 5 and 8 for a long weekend.  His dad worked most days as well, so even though we had visitors, we had a pretty quiet week.  Ken and Jane got some laps in at the mall and took the big girls to play there on Aug. 3.

Getting more alert!  Aug. 3

Jane watched Megan and Brooke for me on Aug. 4 so I could put the finishing touches on Candace's blessing dress.

Jamie, Owen (her baby loving boy), and Candace--they kept me company in the sewing room while I worked, Aug. 4

The finished product

I know many people thought I was taking on too much to make her dress.  But it was something that was important to me.  Megan was blessed in the dress I was blessed in--made by my Mom those 27 years ago.  Brooke was blessed in a beautiful lacy dress and bonnet that was almost entirely made by my Mom 2 years ago (I helped pick out the fabric and cut out a few pieces and voila!  Mom did the rest).  I've always wanted my girls to each have their own blessing dress that they could then pass on to their children.  I knew if Mom were alive, she would have first tried to convince me to use one of the dresses she'd already made.  But if I'd insisted, she would have then been happy to tackle that project with me.  That's just the Mom she was.  Practical first and foremost, but supportive.
So there I found myself--1 1/2 weeks away from the blessing just starting the dress.  It was one of only a handful of sewing projects I've ever done completely on my own.  In the past, the vast majority of my sewing was done at Mom's house.  She had her machines always set up and if I cut it out (her least favorite part), she'd do the sewing.  She'd teach me, but I was usually busy with my kids and it was just easier that way. 
It was so therapeutic for me to work on that dress.  I sat there cutting it out with the scissors Mom gave me (that I'd never EVER use to cut paper), fishing through the sewing box she filled for me, using the machine that was a gift from her when I graduated from college--it was almost like being with her.  I finished it off at her house, using her serger by myself for the first time since she sat beside me just a few weeks prior teaching me how to thread it.
I chose a very simple pattern and when it was done it needed a little something, so I looked through her sewing closet and found the perfect lace to finish it off.  It's not perfect, but it's good enough--and only my Mom and I would probably notice the flaws.
Thank you Mommy.  Thank you for teaching me how to sew.  I love it.  I've always enjoyed it, but it makes me feel close to you like not many things can.

Grandma Visits!

Dan's parents had tickets to come to Houston Aug. 2-9.  But then our little one arrived 13 days before her due date!  Who would have thought?
So Dan's mom Jane graciously changed her flight and came out July 28 to be with us sooner and stay a little longer. Here I was, 2 1/2 weeks after having my third child and 4 weeks after losing my Mom and I was trying to hold it all together.  It was so nice to have her come and mother me at a time when I needed it more than I ever had before.  She cleaned things that needed cleaning, watched big kids so I could nap, held the baby so I could spend one-on-one time with the big girls, made meals, took kids swimming, cleaned up toys, and played games with us in the evenings.  She did so many of the things my Mom would have done if she were here.  Mostly, she just came and loved us all--thank you Jane!

Candace and Jane on July 29.  One month after Mom's passing.  We had a nice dinner that night to celebrate my niece Madelyn turning 7.  It was also a last hurrah before our precious window of time with all of my siblings together with Dad ended.  Dad and Tyler flew out July 30 for 2 1/2 weeks away in Washington--Jamie and her family would be back in Connecticut before they got back.

New princess pjs from Grandma--July 30

On July 30 in the afternoon, we had a get-together at the home of one of my Mom's best friends, Linda (the Mom of some of my best friends, Kat and Jenn).  Carrie, Me, Linda and baby Candace, Kat, and Jamie.  (Jane stayed home--I think she welcomed a break from our crazy girls!)

Candace and I on her first day at church--July 31st (one day shy of 3 weeks old)

Sissy snuggles--Megan just loves her little sis (Aug 1)

Hanging out on the kitchen island, Aug. 1

We spent a fun morning at the pool on Aug. 2.  Jane swam with Megan and Brooke and Jamie and her 5 kids came to play too.

Candace and I just tried to beat the heat (mostly she napped and I took pictures)

I kept her cool in the shade with the occasional rubdown with pool water

Megan, Catherine, Jamie, Owen, Adam, Madelyn, Julianne, and Brooke

Reading books with Grandma, Aug. 2 (also the day Dan's dad--Papa--arrived)