The Temecula Molstre Family: 2011

July part 1

For the girls' graduations we wanted to do something special this summer. Cancun was tops on our list but with all the violence in Mexico we just didn't feel safe taking our family there. We decided to go back to where we have spent almost every summer vacation - with Mark's family in Seattle. We added on a fabulous trip to Whistler, BC as well. Though we have been to Seattle about 9 times, we were still able to find new adventures. Such as...

Taking a tour of Theo's chocolate factory. Sample way too much chocolate but boy was it delicious!

Found the Gum Wall in Pikes Market. This was the most disgusting thing I have seen. It's located in an ally and people come here to stick their gum on the wall. Very colorful, isn't it?

While some of us shopped, others climbed to the top of Mt. Pilchuck, snow and all!

Enjoyed the usual bonfire complete with weinie roasts and smores!

Got silly with cousins while shopping.

When we hit Whistler it as all about adventure. We hit the rapids by white water rafting (well, I didn't. I stayed behind at a coffee shop in the village and enjoyed a book)

The best adventure was bungee jumping. YES, we jumped! It was the scariest and best thing I've ever done. We all were thankful that daddy signed us up! It was a 160 foot jump over a beautiful river.

Sisters were able to bond.

We ziplined through the trees, although anti-climatic after bungee jumping!

It's great to have everyone together again, even if it's just for a short time.

July part 1

The majority of July was spent traveling. First trip: Lake Mojave with the McGill Family. They were so nice to invite us to their trailer and spend some time over the 4th of July at the river. Everyone had a blast.

Tabby and Jake learned to wakeboard!

Everyone had fun on the tube. They were bloodied up and everything!

Dylan was nice enough to take Jake on many trips on the Jet Ski.

Kelsey spent the last day soaking her beaten body. Between tubing and she and Dylan throwing each other off the jet ski, she was definitely battered. She had bloodied elbows and knees from tubing, a cut and blackened eye from Dylan and she whipping off the jet ski, and a bruised butt (yes there was a LARGE bruise!) doing the same.

It was all worth it though. Great times with great friends. Thanks Rachel, John, Dylan and Megan! (Oh, and by the way, Kelsey is planning her revenge!)

June

June brought much sadness to our family. After a long struggle with cancer, my mother passed away on June 9th. I am so thankful that we were able to move her near us for her last year. It meant so much to have her near our kids for the first time. She enjoyed attending their soccer and baseball games when she could.

Steve and I headed to Washington DC for his nephews wedding a week later. It was a nice getaway to take my mind off of all that I had to do. We walked the town and took in all the traditional sites. The best part was spending time with the brothers and sisters-in-law. We really wish we could see them all more often.

This is the only picture I got during the wedding. Nope, no bride. UGH! My camera battery died! We were very excited to welcome Meredith into the family. Congrats Jordan and Meredith!