The Farewell

Sunday July 13, 2008


Today was Seth's farewell and it was short and sweet. Seth opened his talk, allow me to summarize, saying "I didn't have time to write my own talk and so I decided to use my Dad's farewell talk from 1972...let me just dust it off..." then he proceeded to blow baby powder off of the podium. It was classic. He proceeded with a wonderful heart felt talk that he actually wrote but it was his testimony that got me all choked up. I am in awe that my "little" brother (he is about 6' 4") is all grown up, loves the gospel, and is so dedicated to go serve the Lord for two years. He said it best, "I am going to go work for the best 'Boss' in the universe." After Seth, my niece Chloe who is 6 got up (with the support of her sister Emmy and cousin Jay, who hid behind her) and sang "I Hope They Call Me on a Mission." It was so, so sweet! After that, my sister's and I got up and sang "Love One Another" while Michelle McCutcheon accompanied and Cami Bluth played the violin. We sang the second verse in Spanish (Seth is serving a Spanish-speaking mission) and probably butchered the pronunciation but as my sis Jamey said, "It was an act of love!"



After church we had a huge get-together at our home. Dad made some amazing brisket and people came to wish Seth well. The homemade strawberry and root beer ice cream was soooo yummy, (Thanks mom and Aunt Cheryl) and the kids were occupied by a jump around toy mom got for the grand kids. (Thanks for the idea Jill Leach!)

The grandbabies. (minus Daisy who was asleep inside and Amber's kiddos)
Some of the Jenkins cousins.
Daisy with her Great Grampa Jenkins(Papa)
My sister's, brother and I

Giddy Up! (NM Part III)

Saturday, July 12

We visited our dear friends, the McCutcheon's, ranch to practice our song for Seth's farewell. The kids loved playing outside with the animals.

Riding horses with Uncle Seth

Helping our friend Emily feed the calves.
This was the sweetest kitty. Lily insisted on bringing it on the plane. To no avail!
Hee haw!

Pool Time in NM

Both of my sisters and their families (minus Matt and Asher) came out to New Mexico as well. It was so wonderful to see and spend time with them! A lot of aunt's, uncle's, and cousin's live there too and so it was a family filled weekend. The weather was quite mild for this time of year hanging around the mid-90's. We allotted most of our time to the pool.(Where we live right now it usually isn't warm enough to swim.) The pool is where I spent my summer's growing up; Jumping off the pool house into the water, pushing the trampoline close by to do tricks off of (prior to the diving board), Uncle Joe. D. teaching me how to do a double back off the board, seeing how far we could swim in one breath, many a Papa party with great food and always a watermelon floating in the water to keep it cold, this is even where my NM wedding reception was held. Tons of wonderful memories, and now my kids get to enjoy it. Love it!

Classic pool-side snack with cousin Jay

Papa and Meme Jenkins

(check out that good lookin' couple!)

Teachin' Lil some scuba skills.

Smiles!

O' Fair New Mexico

July 10, 2008

We were home from Seattle for 2 days and then we ventured off for Carlsbad, New Mexico. The Land of Enchantment. Each time I go back to my 'homeland' I realize that it really isn't that bad. Growing up I couldn't wait to get out of that town but every time I go back I realize that some of my fondest memories took place at CHS, the LDS Church, Riverside Elementary, the Pecos River, on Cherry Lane, at Meme and Papa's pool, the golf course, Elks Club, the list goes on. Needless to say, I am grateful I grew up in a small town with wonderful friends and a loving family!

After driving a little over an hour to the San Jose Airport, flying to L.A. and then to El Paso Texas, there is a 2 1/2 hour drive from the El Paso airport to Carlsbad. It had just rained so there were tarantulas all over the side of the road. (Which I found very cool! They come out after the rain because their burrows are flooded.) An amazing lightening storm was in the distance, and a spectacular sunset behind us. Sean and I listened to "The Operative" a novel on CD that made the time whiz by, while Lily watched "The Princess and the Pauper". Thank goodness for the portable DVD player! We made the trek out to Carlsbad to support my little brother, Seth, he had just received his mission call for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and this was his "farewell" Sunday. He has been called to serve in the Tegucigalpa, Honduras mission for two years and we are all SO incredibly excited for him! Way to go Lil' Bro!

Puget Sound Picnic (Seattle Part V)

July 6, 2008
This is the last Seattle post, I promise. We had such a fun filled trip I wanted to share it all. Everyday was an adventure. The whole Conroy Clan got together for an all day picnic at Puget Sound for the last day we were there. We had tons of good food, an amazing location, more tidepool critters, kite flying, jump roping with bull kelp, another pinata, bubble blowing, water gun fights, and quality time with Great Grandma Conroy, Uncle Joe, and his daughter Gina and her kids.

Kelly, Gma Conroy, Taryn, Sean and Daisy

Uncle Joe, Gma Conroy, Sean holding Daisy, Gina, Mike(Poppas)

The Grill Master Poppas. Lily with her Great Grandma Ellen Conroy TA-DA! An Ochre Star!

Ben and Taryn playing on the board, all the other kids fascinated by rocks.

Lily LOVED flying kites with Poppas. At one point we noticed Lily was missing. We found her location by a Toy Story kite in the distance moving further and further away. Sean ran down the crowded beach to catch her and upon finding her Lily said, "I just wanted everyone to see my kite!"

Daisy slept in Randa's one year anniversary gift this trip. Why bother hauling a Pack-N-Play when the in-laws have a trunk?

All the Conroy cousins with Poppas and Panda. Their Magic Bag gift tonight included a luggage tag with their name on it, a light up magnet pin, battery operated bath swimmers, and of course a Kung Fu Panda stuffed toy.

We had such a memorable, fun trip! Mike and Randa, thank you for all the work you put into having us all there, I have a feeling you are still recuperating and finding surprises all over your house that we misplaced or left behind. Until next time restock that drink fridge (that I will someday have, just like you Laura) and start replenishing that Magic Bag! You have started a tradition for years to come.

Ahoy Matey! Seattle Part IV

July 5, 2008

The Seattle Seafair Pirates come ashore once a year and we were there to meet them and enjoy the festivites.

Say 'Arrrrgh'!My sweet pirate princess

The Pirates are coming! (Lily and Shea just wanted to play in the mud)
Arrr... Change Me Booty! (a little too much rum for this one)
Posing with a pirate, Mike's friend from work. (The kid's did not want to stand by him.)

After some delicious Subway sandwiches (courtesy of Kelly) the day ended with a treasure hunt provided by Randa. After the clues sent them all over the yard and deck they unburied Moon Sand to play with.

Made With Love

I had to take a break from the Seattle trip to show you this wonderful quilt I received in the mail from our Aunt Jill. She made this for Daisy out of some of my mother-in-law's pillow cases.

We lost Sean's mom, Patricia, to Lou Gehrig's disease in August 2006 and so you can imagine what this quilt means to us. Aunt Jill said "I thought Daisy deserved something from her Grandma Pat." I love it so much and will make sure Daisy knows all about her amazing Grandma Pat! Thank you so much Aunt Jill!

July 4th Cuties

Here are the Conroy cousins (minus Brogan).

Shea, Taryn, Daisy, and Lily

Lily trying to be funny (Who taught her that? Certainly not me!)
Daisy with her sweet cousin Shea.
The festivities included a pinata, running through the sprinklers, and Kung Fu Panda!
Mike and Randa have wonderful decks that overlook Puget Sound and so we watched the fireworks go off all around us on the other islands. The kids did confetti poppers and sported glow bracelets. It was a wonderful 4th of July!

Seattle Part III

July 3, 2008
In Seattle there is a hidden wooded area just off the busy street with cabins and hiking trails called Camp Long. It is so lush you would never know that there is a KFC around the corner (which ran out of chicken FYI) and a Walgreens at the end of the street. Mike and Randa reserved 2 cabins far in advance so we could all go "camping" for a night. The kids enjoyed picking blackberries, running in the field and simply enjoying nature. Magic bag this day included sunglasses, bubbles, and a disposable princess camera. It didn't take long for Lily to use all her 27 pictures. She thought it was SO cool to have her own real camera.

Seattle Part II

We had so much fun in the tide pools. The coast was teaming with life. Some of the marine life is a bit different than it is in Monterey. I love the anticipation of lifting a rock and not knowing what critter you will uncover and then the satisfaction of identifying and learning about it. I think I might have enjoyed it more than the kids. We spent quite a bit of time there. Thanks to my sis-in-law Jerianne for taking Daisy so I could explore.