Grandpa Jess and Tucson temple open house

The start of our Summer was a whirlwind.

Grandpa was starting to decline fast.

He was on hospice at home. 

This visit was a day before he passed away.

He would open his eyes about every 5 minutes and mumble some words that I couldn't 

make out. 

But almost every time before he would doze off again he would tell me, you are so special,

I love you.

Those words I could hear clear as day.

And I knew he meant what he was telling me.

He wouldn't let go of whose ever hand he had at the moment.

His whole life he wore a watch like this.

It was not easy to see him in a bed like this since I have only known him to be

working.

Whether it was outside in his backyard, his work yard, or the temple.
If there was a project, he was on it!

I have many memories of spending Sunday evenings at his house.
His numerous trees and retention ditch served as great hiding spots for
us cousins to play kick the can and hide N seek in.
Other little funny things that remind me about him are waffles, grape nut cereal,
fresca soda, Pepsi, citrus, half pieces of gum (waste not want not), kittens, goats, High On the Mountain Top and so much more.

When Stephanie and I were little he would chant this song to us:
Steph the ref with a boyfriend names Jeff.
Shell the bell with a boyfriend named Mel.

I broke my elbow when I was 5 requiring surgery and a full length arm cast.
I vividly remember Grandpa and Grandma taking me Christmas tree shopping with
them as a reward for being brave. After Christmas was over my Grandpa planted the
tree in the backyard. I loved looking at it with a reminder of that day where they made me feel so special and loved. I also like to think he replanted it just for me:) But I'm pretty sure it is
because he hated to see ANYTHING get thrown away!

Leah asked me to help her decorate the tables for the viewing and funeral.
It was fun going through all of his stuff.

My personal favorite was this U-pick sign that 

was always out front of his house.

His Navy uniform was also a favorite.

He was so skinny!

Pretty sure if I tried to put it on it wouldn't have gone over my thighs!

It all makes sense where the tall, skinny boys  in our family get it from.

We went to the cemetery first.
I LOVE doing it that way!

It is so much more peaceful, in my opinion.

Taps in the background

It is hard to see but they are giving the flag to my grandpa

I was so surprised to make this discovery, my grandpa was buried right next to a man

whose widowed wife and son live in our ward! He died 20 years ago.

He was killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. 

We are very good friends with his wife and son.

He just came home from his mission even.

She never remarried, it's been just the 2 of them.

My grandparents bought their burial plot a year before he passed away.

So all of these years when they would come to visit his grave, they wondered who

would be buried next him.

And if it couldn't get any more coincidental, they both are school teachers!

Including my Grandma and friend, who both will one day be buried next to their sweethearts.

I have no doubt my grandpa wasted no time get acquainted with his new pal:)

After the cemetery we headed to the church building for the funeral.

It was a wonderful service.

We didn't stay for the luncheon because we needed to meet up with the Goodman's in Tucson.

It was planned in advance to go to the temple open house then stay 2 nights in a resort.

Stephanie and Justin were SAINTS and offered to take our two boys with them!

I was not looking forward to them being disappointed in missing out.

They have 8 kids on their own so for them to do that meant a lot to us.

Bless them!!

At the temple Friday night, which was the same night as the viewing for my grandpa.

Saturday they hit the pool!

We got there late afternoon with the girls.

We wasted no time joining them!

Sipping on the good stuff:)

We filled up the back of the resorts dining room.

Luckily they had a kids buffet where they didn't have to wait for food to be made.

Corn hole after dinner.

The next morning was Fathers day!

We sure love our dad. 

He puts up with a lot and always with a smile on his face:)

We went down to the breakfast buffet.

Then time to leave.

For Lane to fall asleep means he was pretty tired!

Go ahead and make yourself comfortable!

End of the School year

Cute cousins enjoying popsicles together

outgrowing the Rock N Play:(

But getting so big!

And learning how to rock back and forth on her hand and knees.

She took off crawling around 7 months.

The messiest eater there ever was!

I sat down in relief society and noticed a row of Bizzy skirts, lol!

Gotta love when you here screaming from a child followed by

blood. Lane threw a Peppa Pig toy and Rusty's head got the brunt off it.

X marks the spot! Good thing uncle Travis can fix your teeth AND your forehead!

Della gets snatched up by our whole ward each Sunday.

These boys were being so cute with her, I had to be irreverent and snap a picture:)

Bearded man caught me, whoops!

Last day of school breakfast smoothies.

Virgin of course!

I was in charge of Rusty's party.

I took them to Hawaii for an hour:)

First was a "hulu" competition.

Mrs. Wietzman was a good sport.

Then Fiiz for our last after school snack.

I introduced our Summer rewards system.

Each basket was worth different point values and were filled with different prizes.

They would get points for good behavior, extra chores, reading and what not.

AND they could be taken away!

Prizes ranged from things like juicy drop pops, a trip to QT, fidget spinners...

They could turn in their points when ever they wanted.

Sort of like tickets at Peter Piper Pizza.

It worked pretty well!

Easter

Our Easter followed suit just like normal years in the past!

3 legged egg hunt at Goodmans

With the difference of a surprise birthday party for Grammy afterwards!

We told her the grown ups were taking her to dinner.

She thought we were taking the kids home to babysitters.

Instead we went to Stephanie and Justin's where her friends were waiting.

The grandkids sang, Favorite Things, with a twist to all of Grammy's favorite  things.

Easter morning.

After dinner we hid Easter eggs for the kids to find.

Birthday Peeps

We partied hard in March!

First was Casey's big 35th bash!

Sunni and I were sneaky sneaky and threw the best surprise party, ever!

Just kidding, it wasn't that grand.

But it was fun to catch them off guard.

We usually do something together every year on their birthday.

We tricked the boys by saying instead of going out on their actual birthday, we would go out the following night.

It worked because Sunni's sister was in town, and we said they had plans with them ON their birthday.

Little did they know a limo was picking them up that night:)

Travis, Sunni, Polly and Brandon got picked up first.

Then they swung and picked us up along with Stephanie and Travis.

Casey thought we were going out with just them that night.

Here they are catching a glimpse of their matching outfits.

Twinners must twin on their special day!

The surprises kept coming!

They had no idea we invited all of our siblings and spouses.

They were all waiting in a church parking lot.

The party limo was FULL!

Somehow Casey guessed that we were going to eat at BobbyQ.

Then off to K1 SPEED Way!

Our old age must be catching up with us.
On our second round, people were sitting out due to nausea and sore necks!

The following week Lindi Lou turned 4!

She had her heart set on a hair salon chair.

Which is what she got!

This doll is glammed to the max after hours of  curling and primping from this 

top notch hair dresser.

She was old enough to "get" birthday parties.

And has never had one before.

We invited over all the cousins. 

I've learned with this age group that organized games don't really work.

I borrowed all of my moms fun toys and set it up like nursery. 

Come in and play for an hour!

Then outside for more play time!

I had 2 water tables outside since the weather was starting to get warmer.

And my moms vintage roller coaster.

I believe Jefferson got this on his 4th birthday!

He is now 22?

She is saving it for when he has children.

I thanked my lucky stars that Marcie stayed to help!!

Man, you forget how bonkers it can get with 8 four year olds running around.

The cute babers 

We had lunchables.

I attempted duck, duck, goose... but it was going WAY over their heads.
I am glad I didn't waste time on games.

And a princess birthday cake!

Wishing she could have cake

But sleeping sounded more fun I guess.

I had to laugh at how random this ended up being.

A far cry from a super, over the top, themed party most kids get.

But honestly, this was just as good in her mind.

And I get to spend the $$  I saved at Target for myself now:)