Kids these days

 Becca and I participated in a craft show.  We made a grand total of $2.50 (whoop-ti-doo!), but we had a FUN time together.  Lots of time to work on crafts with no interruptions.

Our family took a rafting trip on the Genesee River (everyone but Katey).  This is Scott in his wetsuit.  We had a fun time!  

 

 Caleb likes to play outside. 

 

Katey on her birthday.  She LOVES this dress from Grandma and Grandpa Guy!

She wants her swimsuit on, no matter the weather.

 What a princess!

Funeral

 

 Mom died Sunday, March 17, 2013 at home.  We traveled to her funeral which was the following Saturday.  My sisters and I did her hair, makeup and jewelry the day before.  It was a sweet and sad experience.

 We had a good time seeing my entire family and most of both Mom and Dad's families, as well as the community of Oakley.  We all knew Mom and loved her.  The only one missing was Mom!  I'm sure she was there in spirit.

 

Jer, Karli and Shane

 

Lu and Em

 Caitlin and Ser

 

Carlos, Jon and Kay.  Three brothers.  Elna (sister) was also at the funeral, but in a wheelchair, so she was not able to come to the cemetery.

 Jer, Lu, Cass, Em (holding Alicia), Chris and Dad in the background, and Bowie in front.  Mom is buried in the Oakley cemetery.  We woke up to snow that morning, and the kids had a snowball fight at the cemetery!  After all, a FUNeral is fun, right?

 Here is the kitchen help from two of the Oakley wards.  The food was delicious.  It was so nice to be so well taken care of.  Rosemary, Jacque, Karla, Camille, Tina, Lynne, Rosemary, and (I don't know the person on the right).  Thank you all!

It really touched me to see people that had heard about Mom's death and made a quick decision to travel to Oakley from far distances.  In the center here is my Best Friend growing up (and my mom was a second mom to her) Sharon Nelson.  She came from San Francisco with her boyfriend Wyatt.  On the right is her mom who traveled from Montana.  I was also so grateful and touched that Michael's parents came up from Logan, Ryan from Montana, and Kristy from Salt Lake.  Cousins from southern Utah.  That kind of support shows so much love.

Last time with Mom

In February I took a trip to Oakley to see my Mom and Dad.  This is Mom in a hat that I had made for her and sent at Christmas.  Then I figured out how to make mittens and made her a coordinating set.  She was so grateful and sweet about my funny little gift.  She insisted on putting them both on right away and having me take a picture of her.  What a beautiful lady (in beautiful accessories)!

  

Dad took such good care of Mom her last few months when she needed a lot of care.

Zach and Luann, Ser, Dad, me and Mom.  Jess was also there the next day.  So fun when siblings are around!  We cleaned and cooked.  We pureed colorful vegetables for Mom.

  We sat in the hot tub in the barn.  We played the dice game with Mom a few times (I even won once---amazing!).  Mom sat up to the table in a traction device that Zach set up, to hold her head up.  She could do it for about a half hour before she choked and had to get out quick.  I played the piano for Mom a lot.  She would clap after every song and give me a thumbs-up to do another.  Dad never got tired of hearing, "Somewhere in Time," and said I could play it at his funeral.

 

I was in the kitchen making a giant batch of giant cinnamon rolls (Mom's recipe, Mom's way).  Dad was spending the morning framing an enlarged picture of Ser hiking in the red canyons of southern Utah.  I asked him why he didn't put a giant picture of me on the living room wall.  "When you do something amazing and adventurous, send me a picture," he said.  "What?!  You don't think the home arts are amazing and adventurous?"  So I had him take this picture of me, looking awesome and muscular in the kitchen. 

I like how Mom is looking up at Dad in this picture.  Forty-five years together.

Scott came with me on this trip.  We had lots of really fun flights together!  I meant to take him to Oakley to visit my parents, but Mom was too sick, so we decided he could stay with Grandma and Grandpa Guy while I went to Oakley.  Scott had a great time!  He got to play the Wii as much as he wanted.  He watched movies and went to restaurants (and ordered hot chocolate!).  Grandpa took a few days off to be with him.  Thanks Grandpa.