California Funeral

My grandpa Dick passed on last Sunday and Greg was kind enough to fly Rex and me to California for the funeral. I loved seeing almost my whole family and getting to spend some one-on-one time with my grandma. It's funny how it takes a death to make me finally sit down and ask my grandma about her life. I missed the opportunity with my grandpa, so now I don't want to miss it with her.

Wednesday: We flew out early in the morning and then hung out at Grandma's all day, went to the park I went to as a kid, and played with cousins. Rex thought running the circle through the den into the kitchen and then around the living room was just about the coolest thing ever. He also enjoyed the in-and-out game. That's where he goes outside runs a lap around the yard and then comes back inside. Needless to say he needed a bath by the end of the day. Here's Rex going down the slide. Sliding, as mentioned in a previous post, is one of his favorite things.

Thursday: Funeral. Long day. We had to be to the church by 8:30 for the family service, then the viewing from 10 to 11 and then the actual service from 11 to...well it was only supposed to be an hour, but then it was almost two (which Rex, thankfully, slept through in the port-a-crib I so wisely set up for just such a purpose in the Mother's Room), so then to the cemetary to dedicate the grave, and then back to the church for the dinner, and then my mother not wanting anyone to work alone offered to help clean up so of course I couldn't leave her alone (quite literally, she was my ride). And then back to Grandma's to play with cousins some more.

Here we have Grandma with her brothers Jimmy and Johnny, Johnny's wife, Grandpa's sister, Linda and her husband Doug and their son Sean.

By the time we got to the cemetary, it was nearly 1 and Rex just couldn't take it anymore, so we had a picnic right there. He was in a much better mood after wards.

Rex and my cousin Heidi's daughter Persley sharing a sippy cup.

Friday: Beach. Rex could not get enough of the sand. Aunt Amber buried him, which he thought was pretty much the greatest thing. He also enjoyed throwing it, crawling backwards in it, crushing sand castles, and other such sandy activities. He also wasn't wearing a diaper; I bet you can guess what his little bum looked like. The water he also found entertaining. He thought the waves coming over his legs was pretty hilarious, and then he realized how frigid the water was and that ended the water adventures.

Water with Grandpa Brian.

Friday: San Diego. I had planned to spend the whole time swimming in Traci's pool, but that didn't work out, mainly because I didn't bring my bathing suit. So we went to McKay's baptism instead. Rex had not really had a nap yet, so he was not on his best behavior. He spent most of the baptism in the hall, but at one point did push an old lady's walker around for a while.

Here's McKay. I'm pretty sure McKay is the only kid who is honestly cuter than Rex. Girls are going to be all over that curly hair. I can't even keep my hands to myself when I'm around him, and I'm married, and his cousin.

Sunday: We came home to this. It's a playhouse/swing set. Greg just decided to build one while we were gone. He even sold a gun to fund the project. He is so thoughtful. I may go on vacation without him more often. It's not done yet, but he only started last night.