Saturday, December 9, 2017

The Days Before Hell Breaks Loose

November 27 - December 4, 2017
Santa Clarita, California

Santa Clarita welcomes us back from our weekend away.
As you know if you've been with us for awhile, we belong to a very close group of high school friends who get together annually. In between we all stay in touch on our own Facebook page. That page is responsible for connecting dozens of us over the years. It was started by Stephanie White Soto several years ago, and in addition to working on numerous reunions, she has been responsible for keeping us all in touch.

Sadly we lost Stephanie over the Thanksgiving holiday to her long battle with pulmonary hypertension. Her memorial is Monday in Redlands where we join her family and several other friends from our high school. After the service we gather at a nearby home before we return home. 

I have been coming here for burritos for 38 years, we make a quick stop on our way. Still so good!!
Mike, Max and Bill

Us

So bummed we left before the group photo - all wonderful folks who already miss our Stephanie
We spend the next few days with more appointments and visits with family. As much as we look forward to resuming our travels, this time with family is a blessing.

Tessa gets some cuddle time with Shalise.

PopPop and Ezra

play ball and bat in our tiny yard.




Ezra shows PopPop how to play a game.

I think he's getting it....

Travis and Emily invite us over to see their new apartment - their first :-)

Friday Ezra and I spend the day together.

We spend time at the park - he's very good at math :-)

Sprinklers on a warm day - you can't just walk by!

We play at Target for an hour where Ezra considers a food truck career.
Friday night Brian (my oldest, our number one) picks up his brother Jeff (my youngest, our number four) from the airport. He's here from Seattle for the weekend. It's wonderful to have him back with all of us, but I get very few photos because he's moving back permanently on the 20th!! My goal is to get some family photos over the holiday - wish me luck!

Sunday my borrowed-daughter Megan comes for a visit and Nick (Bill's number one, our number two) is able to join us as well. With Brian, Shalise, Ezra and Jeff here we all enjoy football, beer and chili - and lots of laughs!


Jeff and Brian having a good laugh - probably at me :-)

Megan and Ezra look at photos.

Nick - sometimes we let him visit without Maximus and mommy Jillian - but only sometimes!
Monday morning comes way too quickly, and I'm driving Jeff back to the airport. I'm excited that he'll be back in a couple weeks, and that for awhile our kids will all be in one place. 

My Steelers keep me on the edge of my seat through the whole game, pulling out another last minute win.

Little do we know at the time that the following day will bring way more excitement than we ever want to repeat again!!



22 comments:

  1. I think I can imagine what your excitement was--hope all is well! That Ezra is too cute--the photo of him with his eyes wide open makes giggle!

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    1. He is such a character, keeps us smiling all the time!

      Yes, all is well :-)

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  2. What awesome family time:) How sweet that your son is moving back and all will be together:) Ezra sure is an adorable little guy with so much personality. Love the photo of you, Bill, and Tessa (who is looking the right way). Can't wait to read your get out of dodge story!!

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    1. I know it is going to be really, really hard to head out this time! We're lucky Tessa lets us get in a photo with her occasionally :-)

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  3. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. I'm glad you were able to have some family time. Such great memories for all :-) Ezra is a cute little guy and he knows it!

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    1. It was a sad day, but we're glad we were in the area so we could pay our respects.

      Oh yes, he loves to look at pics of himself.

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  4. You always have the Best family time. Sorry for the loss of your friend. I fear the next part of the story.

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    1. It's exciting, but (spoiler alert) has a happy ending.

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  5. Love the family photos. Ezra’s expressions are priceless! Sorry for the loss of your friend.

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  6. I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend Stephanie. It sounds like she was a very special person in your lives. Your photos of Ezra are darling -- what a joyful child! Soak up that family time -- you'll be back on the road soon!

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    1. Her loss will be felt by all of us every year when we gather.

      Joyful is exactly how he makes us feel :-))))

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  7. Ezra is such a ham! A good example of the pleasures of life, next to the sorrow of the loss of your friend.

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    1. Yes, the life balances were definitely felt the last couple weeks. Much to be grateful for.

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  8. That's so sad about Stephanie, Jodee. Your photos of Ezra are adorable!

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    1. Thanks Jim. She was a wonderful woman.

      Ezra is often moving too quick to get pics so it's really fun when I can get a few of his cute face :-)

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  9. So sorry to hear about your friend who was the orchestrator of your wonderfully close high school class. I know you all will keep it up in her memory. You look so little next to Bill in that great picture of you. Wish someday you’d publish some of the two of you in high school. Just wonderful pictures of your time with family. That Ezra is a charmer. Your captions are terrific. Thanks for the son order and whose clarification. Makes it much easier to figure out. Poor Nick, second fiddle to his son. Really hope none of your family is threatened by these awful fires. I lived once upon a time in Encino which is too close to Ventura County at this point.

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    1. Yes, our April reunions continue, dedicated to Steph's memory. I always forget just how much taller Bill is :-)))

      I always forget you lived in California. Fortunately for the inland areas the winds have kept the flames and smoke along the coast, but anywhere in SoCal has been too close the last week.

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  10. What an amazing blog topper you have! And, what a cute little boy!

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  11. It's always great to have the kids all home at the same time! Especially when there are several involved. I'm holding you to those pictures! Put your camera around your neck so you don't forget!

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    1. I had the camera sitting next to me last night and still forgot a pic of Travis and Emily :-( Fortunately I did get a good pic of them a couple weeks ago!

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