Summer of Sadness

Well, it's October, and I have not posted much about the Summer of 2025 because my dad's death pretty much consumed it. The kids' summer began on 6/24. I flew to Phoenix on 7/11 to visit my parents. I flew back to Phoenix on 7/27 and was there for a week. Our family flew to Chicago on 8/9 to spend a few days "vacationing" before my dad's funeral on 8/16. And then school started on 8/28. It was a quick summer.

I am very aware that two years from now, my daughter will be in college. Less than two years away! Time is slipping through my fingers. Because my days with Tay are numbered, here's a quick summary of our summer so that we can look back at the fun memories along with the sad ones.

Matty left on 6/25 for the Cougar Mountain Middle School 8th Grade trip to Williamsburg/DC/NYC. He was gone for eight days, and boy did I miss him. He did not call me once! We texted each other daily, but I was desperate to talk with him. I felt like a jealous girlfriend that he did not call me. Ha! Of course, he did not call because he was having a fantastic time. He did not want to come home. I was surprised to see a call from him coming in on 7/2, because he was flying home that night. Well, he only called me then because his tour bus had caught on fire (thankfully none of the kids were on the bus), and he wanted to make sure I heard from him. He lost his backpack in the fire but tried to salvage a sweatshirt, devotional book, and headphones that were on the bus. I laughed when I picked him up from Seatac late that night, and he was in baggage claim carrying a smokey, wet hoodie and a devotional book that looked like it was from the 1800s. 

Of the 50 kids that went on this trip, there were only eight boys. Matty was not close friends with any of them. I was very proud of him for going anyways and having such a great time! Only one other boy, Abir on the far left, goes to Liberty HS with Matty. The other six go to Issaquah HS.

We left the next day, 7/3, to drive up to Grandma and Pop Pop's beach house. This year was special because they plan to sell the beach house. It was likely our last 4th of July there. Our friends, the McNamaras and Kinghorns, came up on 7/4 and spent the day with us. Special memories were made!

I am going to miss this sunset.

Drew & Kevin McNamara, Oliver and Asher Kinghorn, Matty.
Brayden missed the picture because he was out on the water paddle-boarding.

The best memories!

Ready for fireworks!

Taylor volunteered with BelPres Vacation Bible Adventure from 7/7-7/10. I am proud of her for stepping out of her comfort zone and working with preschoolers. She did not know anyone else at VBA but got herself up and drove there every day. She left on the afternoon of 7/10 to spend the weekend at Lake Chelan with her friends Bella and Kayla.

Brayden and Drew McNamara left on 7/10 for WyldLife camp in Oregon. This was Brayden's first time away from home for four nights, with no access to a phone. He had an absolute blast! Because I have been volunteering with WyldLife for the past year, I loved knowing several of the leaders that were with Brayden. I was able to give them a heads up about his CKD and his possible social anxieties. Turns out that he did great!

There goes my heart!

I was in Phoenix from 7/11-7/14 visiting my mom and dad. I flew home the same night that Brayden returned from camp.

Matty's baseball team played in the Seattle Elite League championship from 7/10-7/16. Unfortunately, they lost to the Washington A's in the final game to finish 2nd.

Look at this MAN!

Matty and Tommy went to Portland the weekend of 7/18 for Elevate's last tournament of the season.

Tommy and I spent our 18th Anniversary at Tapatio with our family plus Tom, Elaine, Brian, Kristen and their girls. 

I flew to Indianapolis on 7/24 for my 30-year high school reunion. It was a wonderful weekend reconnecting with lifelong friends, especially because I knew at this point that my dad was dying. All of those friends knew my dad, and it was comforting to be with them while I was dealing with all sorts of emotions. On Friday night, a smaller group of us gathered at Sara's house for tacos and drinks. We sat around her pool and reminisced about high school. On Saturday, our reunion was at a restaurant called Pizza & Libations in Bargersville, IN. I have always loved reunions. Maybe it's because I live so far away. It always gives me the opportunity to reconnect with long-lost friends and learn about their lives. I held back tears the whole night, thinking about my dad, but I am really glad I was able to see so many people from my youth. I re-routed to Phoenix from Indy on 7/27.

The gang is back together! Chelle, Emily, Sara, Kevin, me, Eric C and Eric B

Emily, Chelle, me and Eric before our reunion

Taylor had Elite Dance Camp for the high school drill team on 7/25-7/27. I missed her showcase on the last day when she won an Outstanding Dancer award. Thankfully, Tommy was there to support her.

Brayden and Drew McNamara went to Sambica overnight camp the week of 7/28. This camp was four-nights, just like WyldLife, but it was much closer to our house. Brayden had a great time at this camp too. He said he liked WyldLife and Sambica for different reasons. 

Brayden, Drew and their Sambica counselors

Tommy flew to Phoenix to be with me on 7/28. It worked out that Brayden and Taylor were both away at camps that week, and Grandma and Pop Pop were able to stay at our house with Matty.

Taylor departed for Young Life camp in Malibu, British Columbia on 7/29 (at 2:00 AM!). I was able to message her counselor after Baba passed away. Natasha (her camp leader) gave her cell phone to Taylor and told her to call me. Taylor had a life-changing experience at YL camp, and I am so grateful she was there when she learned about my dad. 

Tommy and I flew home from Phoenix on 8/1. Brayden returned home from Sambica that evening too. I was blown away that evening when Brayden laid his hands on me and prayed for my dad. It was a moment I will cherish forever.

Taylor returned from Young Life camp on 8/4. She had a great time but was utterly exhausted when I picked her up at 1:00 in the morning. I told her she had a few days to recover before our new family vacation plans. We were originally scheduled to go to Banff in Canada for a little family vacay the week of 8/11, but my dad's passing changed those plans. 

Instead, we flew to Chicago on 8/9. We spent three days and four nights sightseeing, shopping, and eating our way through the city. Despite the sad occasion for the trip, we had a really nice time being together as a family. We would come back to the hotel every night and pick a movie to watch while snuggled on the beds. We ate deep dish pizza, rode the L to our old neighborhood, walked by Wrigley Field, played mini golf, stopped for acai bowls, walked around Northwestern, went to our favorite steakhouse (Wild Fire), went out for brunch, went to Millenium Park and Grant Park, took an architectural boat tour, went to a White Sox game, went to Navy Pier and rode the ferris wheel, went on Flyover Chicago, ate at Harry Caray's, ran through an incredible rain storm, shopped on Michigan Avenue, ate at Eataly, and talked our way to the top of the Hancock Building after it had closed for the night. Phew! We really covered a lot of ground. One of my favorite memories of this trip (as my dad would say, it was a "moment of ultimacy") was helping the kids shop at Hollister and Aeropostale on the last afternoon. My boys have not shown much interest in shopping yet, so it was fun to help them pick out jeans and sweatshirts. All three kids got clothes at Hollister in separate transactions, and I had the same sales guy each time I walked up the register. I'm sure he was thinking, "Woman, how many kids do you have?" It is a fun memory.

Mini golf

Sibling love!

Brunch!

Matty looks pumped to be on the architectural boat tour. It was so hot and humid!

On 8/13, we left Chicago and drove down to Indy for my dad's funeral on 8/16. We spent one night with Sara and her family before we drove down to Greenwood and met up with my mom, Ryan and Brandi. I'll write more about the funeral in a separate post.

We made the kids recreate pictures that were taken many years ago. They complied. The first picture of Tyson and Matty was taken in July 2015. Ten years makes a BIG difference!

The first picture of our kids was taken in January 2013. Look at those cuties.

We flew home from Indianapolis super early on Monday, 8/18. Immediately, Taylor raced off to school for the start of drill season, and from there we prepped for the start of school. Taylor also took the SAT on 8/23. No rest for the weary. The kids' first day was 8/28, and then Scott, Mandy and Casey arrived for a visit on 8/29. It was fun to see my brother three times in three different cities within a month, but obviously not for the best of reasons. 

I LOVE this - sitting around and talking with my family.

A cousin (plus Tyson) picture

We went hiking with SMACe on Rattlesnake Ridge. As we were hiking, Scott said to me, "Ali, you live 30 minutes from this!" Ha! It was a good reminder of the amazing things to do within my fingertips.

Look at my big brother, chowing down on Taiwanese hot pot (malatang)!

It was a weird summer, but I am grateful for all the time with my family and friends. The years are going quickly!