CT, Mineral King and Girls Rockin UNweekend

I said Connecticut was up next, but Arizona is coming up further down the post and I had to show a little teaser photo. So much fun visiting these cuties!  :)

SO, as I've mentioned in previous posts, Matthew and Michael flew out to Connecticut on their own to stay with friends for two weeks. They very easily could have flown back to California on their own, but I thought it might be fun to go out to pick them up. Mike needed to visit the Stamford office anyway, so we planned it so that we could go at the same time (and not pay for a hotel) when the boys were at the end of their stay. It worked out perfectly!

Michael started out his Connecticut visit with our good friends the Kemsleys. They were actually moving to Louisiana in just a few days, so it was a good thing he caught them before they were gone. Michael has been friends with Josh and Caleb since they were babies! So that was fun for him to see them. Michael's next stop was staying with his friend Adam from school, and their super awesome friend Mitchell came to visit at the same time. Mitchell used to live across the street from Adam, but he moved to Georgia. The three of them keep in constant touch over the internet, so it was really cool for them to get together. They had such a great week!

It was Mitchell's 16th birthday when I was there, so the entire day was all about Mitchell. We had so much fun! We started out at Ichiro for some awesome Hibachi. YUM.

Matthew joined us as well, so that made it even MORE fun. Matthew stayed with a couple of different school friends over the two weeks. His friend Ryan, who he stayed with at first, he has known since they were in Circle of Friends preschool when they were three years old! And then Matthew also stayed with his friend Sergio who he has spent many MANY weekends with when we lived in Connecticut.

We had a beautiful lunch, and Mitchell had his first serving of ice cream for the day. Oh, believe me, there will be more!

I wanted to do something fun with the boys after lunch. What to do? Pokemon Go had just come out. Like literally the day before, I think. But I wasn't interested in chasing Pokemon. Mean mom, I know! But they didn't really ask, so it was fine. And they did PLENTY of Pokemon chasing the rest of the week. In fact, it was pretty hilarious seeing all of these pale kids on bicycles all over the neighborhoods and parks with their phones in hand. It was a lot of fun to witness the beginnings of that game firsthand! Back to the day at hand ... We finally settled on bowling which everyone thought would be fun. I had 'kids bowl free' coupons, so we were set. We had so much fun! Mitchell embarrassed us all with his mad bowling skills.

One of the things on my list of Places to Go in Connecticut was Ferris Acres Creamery for the best ice cream on the planet. I think this was the only day I could take Matthew and Michael with me, so Adam and Mitchell indulged us. Hahaha. That ice cream is out of this world amazing!

It was a super rainy day, which is quite normal for Connecticut, and one of the big reasons why we chose an indoor activity. There was a break in the rain while we got out of the car to purchase our ice cream, and then the heavens let loose. Connecticut rain is the best. So hard core!

We met Adam's family a couple of hours later for dinner at Friendly's (where ice cream makes a meal!) since Mitchell really wanted Friendly's on his birthday. I'm not the biggest fan, but it was nice visiting with Adam's family. Good people! And Mitchell had MORE ice cream! I think he probably had a good birthday. Lol. This was his first time not spending it without his twin sister Shannen, so that must have been weird, but hopefully he had a fun time.

As soon as we returned to California, we headed up to Mineral King in the Sierra Nevadas for
some R&R at Mike's family cabin. It was so beautiful and peaceful there. We really enjoyed it!

GIRLS ROCKIN UN-WEEKEND!! We drove back from the cabin, I showered, and we drove directly to the airport where I flew to Arizona to be with the girls. It was a miracle that it worked out to squeeze this in with all of our summer schedules while I was in the country, and BEFORE Carrie had her baby. It was a priority!

I brought a few things from India for Carrie's kids which turned out to be a lot of fun. Jack worked so hard on this 3-D puzzle of the Taj Mahal. It was hard! Thanks to Walter's help towards the end, we were able to get it put together. Jack took this very serious picture to show Matthew (the master puzzler).

The other kids got Indian Barbies. Hahaha. They were cute! I didn't realize it until they opened
them that Lucy's little Kelly dolls matched Walter and Kylie's couples. Walter was kind enough
to print out these pictures for me to take home. Only Kylie's Barbie and Ken are not pictured.

Carrie was basically nine months pregnant, so we stayed close to home for her. We were all

more than happy to kick back at a local resort. Too bad we only made it over to the pool once.

The lazy river was so relaxing, and the little water slide was obviously da bomb!

THE BEST!

I missed out on the slide since I couldn't stop my tube from floating by. Hahaha!

I kind of hate this picture, but it's the only one we have with all of us.

We did start out the un-weekend with legit massages, and then

finished off the weekend with free massages at Brookstones. :)

Poor Mike was working like a madman while I was away!

Matthew sent me this funny picture from Mike's parents' house.

I loved seeing the new temples in Arizona while I was there. This one is in Phoenix. Beautiful!

The Gilbert temple is literally down the street from Jennifer's house. Gorgeous!

I love the intricacy in the stain glass windows and everything on the outside.

It was fun to finally see Jennifer's house! I loved being welcomed by this 

picture of Ashlyn who is currently serving a mission for our church in Virginia.

We went to the movies with the kids on my last morning there. Fun!

Lucy is kinda my new best friend. We do makeup together and everything. :)

Carrie had her baby, sweet RUBY ANNE, about nine days after our girls trip.

Unfortunately it was the day we were flying home, so I didn't get to meet her.

I love this picture!

Ruby truly is perfection. And Matthew got to hold her since he stayed behind to live

with Grandma and Grandpa Shepherd in California for the rest of the year. Lucky him!

Isn't she just the sweetest thing?

One more post to go to complete our USA summer adventure!

SHEPHERD (and Tomlinson) 4th of July

To be a Shepherd ... It's the greatest thing! For me it all began with my brother Mike and I in the early 70's. Gosh, we had some good times. Lots of love and laughter! And then my two sisters came along, and two more brothers. Barbies, Lego, forts, clubs, bike rides, singing, playing, laughing ... We had a great time growing up. So, it is always a happy day when we can all see each other.

Most of my family gets together every year for the 4th of July at my mom's cousin's house in San Diego on the beach. For the first time in over 10 years, I could finally go too! So, EVERYONE came. Wow. Unfortunately my immediate family couldn't all be there. Mike had just returned from India and was beat, and needed to get some work done, Lauren was back in Boston working, and Matthew & Michael were visiting friends in Connecticut.

Collin and I were the lonely Toveys, so Darren & Carrie took us in. :)

Haha. That was a fun ride down to San Diego. For reals!

They were so nice putting us up for the night at their resort. Good times.

Thanks to Kylie for sharing the sofa bed with me. I told you I stay on my side!

My mom and her cousin Penelope - Such a brave soul

hosting ALL of the Shepherds this year. She is awesome!

The last time I saw my cousins Erin and Lindsay (Bob & Penelope's daughters),

they were both expecting little boys. I was so excited to finally meet these two cuties.

Wolfgang & Reef

A huge thanks to Jennifer for taking most of these pictures!

Her whole family wasn't there either. Ashlyn is serving

a mission in Virginia for our church, and Thomas was at home.

The last time we were all together was 2008. EIGHT YEARS ago!

I LOVE these pictures of everyone.

David is in TX, Marianne in UT, Dad & Mom in CA, and then Darren, Jennifer & Mike are all in AZ.

What a treat to see Marianne! She has been through so much with her health,

and we were all thrilled to see her with her family. She is doing so well!

Hahaha, Mike ... He's like - "This is my family!"

So, Mike wanted to recreate this picture from when we were little. I couldn't 

remember what I was doing in the picture, but we were cracking up. I don't see Mike 

very often either, so it was wonderful to catch up with him. Doesn't he look good? :)

Good times hanging out with the fam ...

Mom must have been able to pull Bob away from the grill for a beer.

HAHAHA! Funny picture for sure.

Just about everyone!

(i think my favorite thing about this picture is Pete peaking between my parents. haha!)

David and Stephanie were inside with a sleepy Anna.

So much fun to see Marianne's family! I definitely need to make my way out to Utah next year. 

I think Jimmy was mid-blink here (haha!), but I love this one of Jim and Jennifer.

Fireworks on the beach at the end of the day. What could be more fun?

(that's one happy Walter!)

Thanks again to Mom & Dad and Bob & Penelope.
It was a perfect day! I wish it could have been longer.

Bob & Penelope put me up for the night, and even
drove me to the airport in the morning. So nice!

Next stop - CONNECTICUT for our final farewell . . .