July 24, 2009...Brooke day

This beautiful frame was given to us...made by friends who gathered the flowers from Brooke's funeral. The plaque reads "Brooke Ashley Cameron~We will miss your shining spirit".

July 24, 2009 marked the one year anniversary of Brookes' passing. We decided to celebrate her, remember her, and focus on her on this day, rather than her birthday...since we want to make the focus be a celebration for every year we have Summer. The day was a lot harder than I thought it would be. We all spent the morning getting ready to go to visit Brooke's grave. We reflected on thoughts and feelings...it was really emotional. Before we left, we sat and watched the picture videos my hubby made of her...we all bawled our way through it.

We decided to visit the grave, then take the kids on an outing...so we headed for Tacoma. Tom and I got out and visited Brooke, left her some flowers from Grandma and Grandpa Norris, and added a special photo of Brooke to the basket of flowers left by Grandma Cameron. Grandma (Tom's mom) lives right around the corner from Mt. View Funeral home, so she has taken up the task of taking care of Brooke's plot....she keeps seasonal flowers there and visits often. We still haven't ordered the grave stone...haven't really been ready to, but hope to have it for next year.

After visiting, and wiping our eyes, we headed for Point Defiance Zoo. The kids love the zoo....it was a nice way to be together that day. We ended by eating dinner at a Mexican restaurant. We are thankful for all our kids....

The flowers from grandparents

The weather was record breaking hot for a couple of weeks....though the grass was dry, Mtn. View is still a beautiful and peaceful place

Summer loved the fish...

4 great kids...Andrew, Summer, Tom, Morgan :)

OUCH!

Morgan and a Walrus

Harbor seal

This guy was huge!

My kids love the puffins...

....they could stand and watch them for hours :) We've even seen them dive of the top of the cliff into the water :)

Morgan is a "hermit dab"

This is such a cute natural picture!

Tom being eaten by the local sea life

Andrew too...check out his front snaggle tooth! It took weeks for it to finally give up and come out!

Chillin' with dad

Morgan

More hermit crabs

Otter slide

Summer

Andrew was having fun until...it kept on spinning without him!

Petting and feeding the "doats"

Cool! We saw this deer on the way out...in the parking lot :)