Firsts

August was a month of firsts, both happy and sad. 

Sadly, my aunt Zeann passed away after a long fight with cancer. She is the first of my parents' siblings to pass away. I was so lucky that I was able to visit her in July when we could visit and talk before things got worse. It was a pretty Sunday morning and we talked about little things happening now and memories. It was a special visit that I'll always treasure. Zeann endured years of treatments, relapses, and pain, but not in a complaining way. I didn't realize most of what she was going through because she always was talking about happier things. 

When Kevin and I were dating, Zeann invited us to her family dinners at her house with all her kids. Then, and especially after we got married, it was so nice to have a place where we could go to be with family, since we didn't have as much family around as we do now. It was wonderful to be around Zeann's family and get all kinds of advice while we were becoming new home-owners and new parents, have fun, get to know cousins better, and eat great food too of course. We've noticed in Utah that so many people have so much family around, they don't make as many good friends, so it can take hard work to make friends when you don't have lots of family around here. We always felt welcome with Zeann's family, and never like we were intruding. It was a valuable gift they gave us. Zeaan also started and kept alive some of our favorite extended family traditions!

We all went to her viewing Sunday night, and just Kevin, Evelyn, and I went to the funeral on Monday. Crowds and crowds of people were there, Zeann influenced so many through her needlepoint shop, church, family, and community.  The speakers were touching and it was a great day celebrating her life. 

 

As for happier firsts, here are a few for Evelyn. 

First self-fed cup of yogurt, first slide down the big slide.

 

First rings-- strong girl! And first time saying mommy-- finally! At 16 months old!

  

Luke had his first day of preschool (Violet took our picture).

 

We got Cora and Violet ready for their first days of school with back-to-school double manicures and pedicures.

 Cora had her first day of second grade. 

 

 We celebrated with a trip to the bakery. Evelyn was so excited to sit with the big kids and hold her own cookie-- well, smash the frosting in her face at least!

 And, last but not least, Violet had her first day of kindergarten!  

 

 

  (Luke took our picture!)

  

 The kids got to play on the playground for a few minutes, then we said goodbye and they lined up to go inside! 

It was a big month of firsts!