HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY McKALLISTER!!

The day was a rough one for Cali (and probably Josh, but he had work to take his mind a bit away from reality).  We first took Oak to a friend's party out by their house.  It's amazing how just driving in the car can wipe Cali out, so when we got home at lunch time she slept the rest of the afternoon away!  But her honey Josh had planned a birthday party for Mac; he had invited family and friends on the down-low to meet at Mac's park at 8 pm. 

 So when Cali and Josh pulled up...

 ...this is what she saw!...

There was a very bitter-sweet singing of Happy Birthday...

...then the releasing of balloons so McKallister and Quincy had something to play with in heaven.

(I love this picture with the big bunch of balloons in the upper left corner, a small bunch that Oak and Cali sent off together in the lower left corner and the moon in the upper right.)

Some of the balloons got stuck in the tree, not sure they wanted to leave the fun of the party!!  And who could blame them?... 

...all the kids, big and small, really had a great time at Mac's park...

...and they even got to run through some sprinklers...

and with a beautiful sunset to end the day...

...we got to be reminded again of our angel baby on his special day, and now he has his little brother with him forever!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY McKALLISTER!!  WE LOVE YOU!!!

The good, the not so good, and the random...

Let's start with the good news....

Cali is home!!!  She got home late Thursday night.  (They came to our house so Cali had someone to help her while Josh was at work) It took so long to check her out of the hospital because she had so many doctors and nurses that had to come give her a hug and say good-bye.  She made a big impression on a lot of people.  There were a many people who felt the spirit while with Josh and Cali, but some of them didn't know that's what they were feeling. They just knew they felt good when they were with them.

 Oak didn't want to let her mommy out of her site.  This is a picture of her playing with a toy and singing a song right next to Cali, but as you can see the meds had kicked in and Cali really could have cared less.  But the important part is they were together.

 Tomorrow is the big yard sale that the Hinckley family has put together and we have 1/2 of a garage FULL of items for the sale.  So many people have been amazingly generous; even people that don't know us, the Hinckley's or Cali and Josh.  A young woman in our stake made these tutu's for the sale.  They didn't make it to the garage!  The girls wore them all morning!!

And now the not so good news...Colby and Kierra are dangerously close to the fire in Eagle Mountain.  They have not been evacuated yet but some houses nearby have been.  They have taken out valuables, some clothes and the dog and have been camping out at my parent's home. 

 This is the view from their neighborhood last night.

 And this is the view from their driveway.   Too close for comfort.  And a lot of dry land still to burn.

And now the random...

I've mentioned before how talented TJ is, well here's more proof.  This is what she gave Mike for Father's Day; she painted a dolphin on either side of his gas tank on the motorcycle.  Beautiful, isn't it?!  She did a fantastic job.

The other night I had to have some wood cut up at Lowe's.  Al tagged along with me and when the saw started going he ducked behind this fork-lift, put a crate on his head and covered his ears with his hands.  Definitely not one who likes loud sounds!!  But I still thought it was an adorable picture.

Thank you for your concern, your prayers, your faith.  We couldn't have made it through these past two weeks without them!