A weekend in Utah for Grandma Maurine's Funeral

We were able to visit Utah last weekend to attend my Grandma Maurine's funeral, and also to have some great family and friend time!  

When we got there, Emma was excited to get her new glasses she picked out!  She chose a pair of pink and black ones and some turquoise rectangular specs.  She was worried about the first pair, because the brand says "Bratz" on it, and she's embarrassed people will think she likes Bratz or something.  But I think she did a wonderful job choosing and she's definitely the cutest little four eyes I've seen!  The first night we got there, we had pizza from the Pie (heaven in a pizza box!) and hung out with Grandma and Grandpa Ryerse, Julie and Randy.  They were waiting on the front porch when we got there, and it's always so fun to see them again.  The kids ran right up and were so excited to see Grandma & Grandpa!

The second day we were there, we slept in (which we did the whole time and it was so, so nice) and then got ready and played outside.  Then Dave took the kids and I went with Amy, Mayela and my Mom to go get pedicures.  This was my first pedi, and it was very nice!  My feet feel so soft now and I love the cute mint green toenails I have now.  We all talked and laughed a lot.  It was so relaxing, except for the massage chairs.  I still can't get used to them and I think they feel so funny.  Then Mayela and I went shopping for a while, which was nice.  Then we went to my mom and dad's house that night for dinner.  It's so fun being together with everyone (minus Adam & Meghan's clan - we miss you!).  We headed out to Bountiful's Chalk Art Festival.  The kids loved all of the drawings, especially the super heroes and Disney ones.  There were some others that were very artistic and impressive.  It was amazing to me that they could do it all with chalk.  The kids even got in on the action and were able to do a few of their own drawings, which they loved.  How can you top that day?  Three words: Nielsen's Frozen Custard.  Ohhhh yum!  We finished the night off as we all shared some tasty flavors and enjoyed each other's company while we savored the custard.

Friday morning was the funeral.  Lately, I've been thinking about my Grandma Maurine's life a lot.  I've been looking on Family Search to see if any new pictures have been added and there were a few since the last time I visited this past winter.  I really like this one of her and her ex-husband, Roland (who passed away while my mom was pretty young).  Also, here's her obituary.

When I was younger, we used to see Grandma Maurine about every week.  This is how I remember her. Big smile, strong-willed, always ready with a big hug, and a loud, funny chuckle.  This picture was taken at a baby shower for my Aunt Debbie.  Looks like we are enjoying those cupcakes.  It's too bad she had problems and stopped talking to my mom when I was about 10, though my mom tried and tried and tried to be a part of her life.  I was really hoping Grandma Maurine would stick around so she could realize her mistake, apologize to my mom, and tell her she loved her.  Well, that didn't happen but I know she loves my mom more than I can express!  It's a long story, but I will spare the details.  Just as my mom said, it was decided by all of her siblings to just focus on happy thoughts and memories and times.  And that's what they did.

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The funeral was very nice, there were a lot more people there than I imagined.  It was a graveside service which was just right.  The Bishop spoke a few words first.  Then all of the kids (and a couple friends) got to say what they wanted.  Each talked about some memories from when they were young.  My mom talked about how she and my Aunt learned how to decorate cakes from her when they were young.  One year, they made a cake with their Easy Bake Oven and tried to decorate it for their mom for her birthday.  My mom also talked about what a sacrifice my Grandma Maurine made to get a piano for the family, and how that has changed my mom's life.  Some talked about her nursing abilities, and how she cared so well for them when they were sick.  Others talked about her love of the outdoors and gardening.  A few spoke of her love of literature and the arts, love of sports, playing cards and watching movies.  They all seemed to have gotten some of their talents and hobbies from Grandma Maurine.  Some discussed how her stubborness worke dot their advantage sometimes.  My Uncle Danny, who was her caregiver for the last 30ish years, brought some lists she'd made.  She was worried she had Alzheimers and so she made lists.  On one of them, she wrote down all of children she had, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  Then she categorized it by those who have served missions or married in the temple.  All of her children and grand children so far have married in the temple, and all of the male grandchildren and many of the females have gone on missions.  She is truly leaving behind a legacy of faithful posterity.  I was going to share something, too, but got cut off before I could start.  I enjoyed going over to Grandma Maurine's growing up.  I would always be greeted with a hug so big and tight I felt my eyeballs might pop out.  She was almost always smiling, from my recollection (except for when her feisty side came out or someone made her upset).  We would get out books and toys from the front coat closet.  I loved these books that had hologram pictures the best.  Then my parents would talk to her and Uncle Danny about the garden, the weather, latest home projects, the family, and other events going on.  We would then go into the kitchen for some Chips Ahoy cookies and Diet Coke.  To this day I crave that combination.  I remember all of the banana stickers and Family Circus cartoons she'd clipped out of the paper on her fridge.  Often when I see stickers on bananas, I think of her.  And I've always loved the Family Circus as well, probably thanks to her.  Those have always been my favorite comics, even more so now that I'm a mother.  She always sent us cards for our birthday, Valentine's Day, Christmas, and sometimes some other holidays growing up.  And she still sent Christmas cards to me each year, even this past December we got one from her.  She never forgot us, though we might not have seen her.  I know she loves me and I hope she's happy now on the other side of the veil.  Uncle Danny also brought this chair my Grandma's mother and Grandma sat on.  And I remember sitting on it when I was a little girl.  I had Emma go sit on it too, since she's the youngest grandchild.  That's 6 generations who have used that chair!  I thought it was sweet.  Also, a year or so back, my mom got out a picture of my Grandma Maurine when she was about Emma's age and they look so similar!  I love looking into the past to learn about myself and the future as well.  We can learn from loved ones, whether it's good things or even sometimes bad things.  After the funeral, and talking with some family and friends who had gathered, we went on a drive past her house so our kids could see it.  Dave's been there twice, but our kids don't really remember.  We also went down the "Roller Coaster Road" as we called it growing up.  Then we went to the church for a nice lunch (funeral potatoes and ham, oh ya!) and to visit with cousins and aunts and uncles.  

After the funeral, Dave went to go see his former co-worker at a new health facility they opened in Ogden where she took a job.  Chris is so sweet and it was fun to see her.  Dave was impressed by the facility and they told him he should apply.  Then we went back to Bountiful and spent the night with the Ryerses.  Jerry, Stacy, Tayla, Kaison & Brody came down.  These kids love their cousins!  Tayla gave Emma a bracelet, a little craft she made, and a letter.  Lucy kept hugging Brody and telling him he was her best friend.  And Cal and Kaison were actually very good and got into very little trouble!  We played  frisbee and tag outside with the kids. Stacy gave Dave a much needed haircut.  We also met Julie's new beau, Todd.  He was a nice guy.  That night after the kids went to bed (almost), Dave went to see the movie Godzilla and I went to Applebees with Jasmine and Katie.  We had a great time talking and laughing and eating for over two hours.  I love these ladies!  They are such an inspiration to me!  Saturday, we spent the morning lazily again, then we went to a birthday lunch for Mayela where we had salad and bread and shrimp scampi with a delicious white chocolate raspberry cake.  We're glad to have her in our family!  Then Dave and I went to the Bountiful temple with Dan and Sue.  It was such a great session and the Spirit was so strong.  It was great to be able to go with them!  We invited the other siblings, but everyone else had stuff or was sick.  That night, we went to Home Depot and Costco and did some big city shopping.  We decided to stay one more night.  Then Sunday morning, we went to church.  Our kids loved seeing some of their friends they have gotten to know as we lived there.  After church, we loaded up and left to go home.  We stopped halfway at Amy & Kolby's house.  Oh, and Boji!  Lucy kept correcting me and saying "and Boji, Mom!" when I talked about how we were almost to Amy & Kolby's.  We had a yummy dinner of Cafe Rio salad and watermelon.  Amy's cooking is always tasty!  We saw their peacocks they got and their camper they recently bought and then Dave couldn't wait to test out the side-by-side!  It was a blast, and all of the kids loved it too!  Dave is really wanting one of those now.  Most of our neighbors have one, so he needs one now, too.  They are fun though.  Only, I wish I didn't wear a skirt, he he!  We loved being with Amy, Kolby & BOJI so much and it was the perfect ending to a nice weekend!

Mother's Day

I'm so blessed to be a mother, especially a mother in Zion!  What a blessing the Gospel is in helping me to raise my children.  It helps give me an eternal perspective, I can seek help through the Holy Ghost, I can find answers in the scriptures on problems we're facing, I can be a better mother because of the example of the Savior and others, I hear words of the modern day prophets which help me know how to be a better family member.  I'm so thankful!

We started off by making Mother's Day cards for the grandmas.  The kids used stamp markers to decorate paper and we folded them into origami dresses.  Then we recorded the kids reading "My Grandma is Special" and sent them to Grandma Sue and Grandma Di in the mail.  Emma, Cal and Lucy were so cute and practiced so hard until they had it just right.  They turned out adorable, and I think the Grandma's love them!

When Mother's Day arrived, this is what we woke up to...snow!  I guess it was Mother Nature's little Mother's Day surprise.  We thought we'd just get a little skiff, but we got a ton.  In one day we got between 8 to 10 inches.  It snowed all day and never let up!  So much for Spring here in Wyoming!  :)  While I was grumbling about it under my breath, Emma helped set me right.  "It's so beautiful!" she exclaimed.  She couldn't wait to get out there and play.  She's such a great example to me of "come what may and love it" (Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin).  I'm glad I have her great optimistic perspective.

Dave surprised me with this cute flower planter box and installed it Saturday while I was off practicing the organ for church and went to the store.  He went to the store to buy some flowers with the kids also, but then saw the forecast and decided to hold off on that.  He also worked on some pallet planters we are going to use to plant some veggies and plants in the backyard.  Thanks, hon, I love it and can't wait until we can put some color into them!

 
We went to church, which was great.  There were a few youth speakers and then the entire Bishopric spoke since they are new.  It was wonderful!  One of the Bishopric members talked about how his little 4'10" mom was one of the first women welders and he talked about how women weld our families together.  Another Bishopric member talked about a mother's place in the Plan of Salvation.  I played the organ, which was fun since it's been a while.  And I also accompanied the Primary children while they sang "A Child's Prayer".   This was our last week in this ward, as the boundary lines were changed, but there was a discrepancy in them, and so the stake had to ask the First Presidency which line was actually correct before they told us which ward we were in for sure.  But we just found out we will now be in the other ward, which is a mixed bag of emotions of course.  We're sad to be leaving the friends we've made behind, but excited to meet new people.  And of course we're willing to go and serve where we need to be.

Emma is my total sweetheart.  She made this little book for me and made me cry! Here are a few of my favorite pages:

Em also went with her cute friend Zoey to Artistry in Glass to a ceramics class.  She picked this little turtle (she named it Turtey already) and painted it so cute.  She painted red lipstick on its lips and its fingernails red too.  She really loved it!  Thanks, Robyn for taking her.  She was so careful to keep it a secret that it was for me for Mother's Day, but Zoey's little sister and Cal kinda spilled the beans.  She was kind of upset but I told her I hadn't seen it so it was a surprise because I didn't know what it looked like.  

I got some other fun things as well...pictures from the kids they made, a little glass dish Emma made at school, Turtey of course and some M&M's or MoM's (that Lucy ate).  Dave and the kids were also very sweet to try to do everything.  They made fajitas, corn and southwest salad for dinner with my favorite ice-cream for dessert and it yummy!  The kids all helped set up and clean up.  It was nice!

It's kind of fun (and scary) to see the things your kids pick up on that you do.  I remember when Emma started doing tons of sound effects as we did things when she was very young and then I realized I did the same thing!  They also pick up on so many other things, say many of the same things I do, pick up on some of my personality traits, so I need to watch myself and hope I can be better so they have a good example to follow!  I notice they also like many of the same things I do.  This is Lucy with her chocolate ice-cream we ate.  She kept saying "mmmmm....chocolate!"  He he!  Some good things do get passed down.  

Our deal is, for Mother's Day, Dave changes all of the diapers, and on Father's Day, I change all of the diapers.  He he!  But I'm grateful I get to do these little things (though sometimes not fun) for these little people and serve them in some small way.  I love all of them with all of my heart!  It was such a nice day and I'm thankful for the little family I've been so blessed with!

Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful, strong, talented, Christ-like, domestic, fun, knowledgeable, loving mom to whom I owe everything to!  We actually got word the other day that my mom's mother is in the hospital and not doing well at all.  It sounds like she will pass away very soon.  My Grandma Maurine has not always been there for my mom and hasn't spoken to her for years though my mom always attempts to call/visit, which is very sad.  My mom never really had a great example of what a mother should be as a youth, and I don't know how she turned out the way she did.  She is incredible and I love her so much!

Also, a Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing women in my life.  First, my incredible Mother-in-law, Sue!  I love her bunches.  She is really the perfect MIL!  She is so kind, always there for us, so fun, she doesn't try to get in anyones business but she puts up with it.  My sisters are all the greatest, I love them!  I can always count on them and they keep me in line.  My sister Amy recently had her first baby and so this is her first Mother's Day. It's so fun to see her now as a mother, she's such a great one and little Boji is blessed to have her!  My Grandmas, aunts, cousins,  neighbors, friends and my own girls are such great examples to me and I'm grateful to every woman in my life, whether they have children of their own or not, they all are nurturers of all children of God!  Thank you for the lives you live and share with me!

If April brings spring showers, then what does May bring?

We had lots of snow and rain in April, mixed with a few nice park playing days!  We are thankful for the moisture we're getting.  So did that bring May flowers?  Nope, the grass is just barely starting to get green and the trees are starting to bud!  It's mid-May now, still snowing and raining and I think we're ready for some sun and warmth!  :)  But besides the wet stuff, here's what May brought...

Soccer!  Soccer is intense here.  Practices started up mid-April, and games began the first week in May.  Emma and Cal are playing.  Cal has practices each night, M-F and Emma has one practice a week on Friday.  They each have games on Tuesday and Thursday.  So total, we have 6 practices and four games a week (on average, when they don't get cancelled).  The first games were great!  We were sitting around for almost 20 minutes for Cal's coach to show up (who the kids and parents all thought was absolutely fabulous!) to the first game.  Then a parent, who was a policeman showed up on the scene and announced that their coach wouldn't be making it since he was booked into jail that afternoon.  Wow...only in Rawlins!  So some of the other parents stepped in and the kids had a great game.  Both of the kids have had rave reviews and love being out on the soccer field.  Emma runs after the ball and kick it if it gets up to her but is working on following through.  Cal is not as aggressive with soccer as we thought he would be.  But he's really liking it and has even scored a goal!  Emma's already asked if she can play next year and is having a great time!  And that's the most important thing.  The teams are co-ed, which is interesting, but the kids are all very nice to each other and it seems to work out well.  Cal especially likes Austin on his team, and loves playing against a team all of his buddies is on (Wilk, Noah, Evie and Emma) and Emma is excited to have Christine and Bella on her team.  It is fun to see them in action and be a soccer mom!  Go Tornados (Cal's team) and Rapids (Em's team)!

 

May Day! The first day of May, we learned about May Day and the May pole and we made our own.  Cal and Lucy had so much fun dancing around the may pole, trying to weave the ribbon into patterns.  Then Emma and Kenna and Zoey enjoyed playing with it too, and then just dancing with the ribbons.  They also made up a little dance and play with it.  It was fun to watch their creativity at work!  We also made flowers to give away, as is tradition for May Day.  We made tissue paper flowers and gave them to a lady who lives by us whose husband just passed away.  We attended the viewing to give her the flowers and a hug.  On the way in, Lucy also picked some dandelions to give to her, since Lucy loves dandelions and thinks they're so pretty.  When the kids handed them to her, I was so proud.  Cal went right up and gave her a huge hug and Lucy was a little more hesitant and shy but gave her the dandelions which brought tears to her eyes.  I told the kids after that I was proud of the way they helped cheer her up and asked them how they felt.  Cal told me "When I gave her those flowers and a hug, I felt the Holy Spirit."  Lucy just smiled and said "I feel happy!"  We recently got a card from our friend thanking us and telling us how their flowers touched her deeply and it was something she'll remember for a long time.  Emma also felt happy, too, though she couldn't go and give them in person.  She got a big smile on her face when I told her what the card said and that she spent a long time making sure her paper rose looked beautiful.  It makes me happy to see them have these experiences and to look beyond themselves to learn to help others and in so doing, recognize what the Spirit feels like.    

Nice weekends with friends!  One day, I went with Mariah and Shelly to the stake Relief Society conference in Laramie.  It was awesome!  The decorations were so chic and the breakfast was tasty.  Even better though, the messages from the workshops and speakers we heard from were amazing!  We learned about holding to the iron rod, embracing our differences and accepting all, and creating a strong sisterhood.  The theme was "Remember who you are and whose you are".  I am so thankful I know I am a daughter of God and that the Savior payed the price for me so I can get back to Him and my family someday!  I'm grateful for the amazing sisters that surround me!  It was an enlightening morning.  While we were there, the dads (Dave, Toby & Ben) took the kids to go shoot gophers.  Emma and Cal shot a gun for the first time, and thought that was totally the bees knees!  They said the gophers were so cute... But Dave only took a few shots of the dead ones.  Luckily, no one was hurt, and we met up in Laramie at Sonic for drinks.  Then we drove over to Fort Collins.  It was a beautiful drive and a nice, warm day!  We did some shopping at the mall, which was like a ghost town since they're doing construction on it right now so many shops have moved out in the meantime. For part of the drives, Cal went with Noah and Jett and Evie came with us so we had the girls.  The boys were always giggling a ton and Evie said more than once "I wish you guys were my cousins!"  They all get along, and we just love hanging out with the Schaefs and the Smiths!  Then we went to P.F. Changs for take-out and drove over to the Drive-In theatre to watch Spiderman 2.  We ate and talked, played and ran around, and then watched the movie.  It was okay, not my favorite.  Our kids were all whiney/fussy/sad/tired/overstimulated that night so it was a little stressful.  But about halfway through, they all fell asleep...phew!  We got home about 2 in the morning so we were so tired but it was worth it!

More Snow!  More snow!?!?  Yes, that's right!  We just can't seem to knock it, but from what we understand, it can snow in the summer here too.  So we will be patient.  One morning though, Cal woke up and looked out the window and said so excitedly "Mom!  Look at those little white flowers growing!"  I so didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, but I had to tell him that it was snow and not flowers.  He was a little dissapointed.  I was even more dissapointed.  Lucy that same morning said "I want to wear something for Spring!"  I wish we could put away all of the snow clothes, but they're probably going to stay out year round.  We heard summer is perfect here, so we're waiting anxiously for that!  Luckily, Em always has a good attitude about the snow and is a good example to the rest of us. See the Mother's Day post to follow for more on that.  Okay, to be fair, we did get some sun!  We had some very lovely days that hit almost 70 degrees!  One day, we went out to play at the park for playgroup in the morning.  Then we went on a picnic with Robyn and Garrett.  And who was the mom who forgot the sunscreen?  This mom!  Oh, I felt so bad!  When Cov woke up from his nap, he was bright red!  I slathered aloe vera all over him.  The other kids weren't too bad, but they and I had little farmer tans.  I'm not in that mode yet, I guess.  I put more sunscreen in my purse and in the car though so I better remember next time.

Lots of reading!  Okay, okay so there's always lots of reading going on around here.  But we just finished our first chapter book we've read out loud together as a family, "The BFG" by Roald Dahl, and the kids loved it!  (Those little chiddlers enjoy now speaking of whizpopping and asking "Am I left or right?")  We also read "The Littles" and are starting "The Mouse and the Motorcycle" now.  It's been so fun reading long chapter books together and I'm actually how surprised how much Cal and Lucy pay attention for so long and want to read more!  Emma's also really getting into reading and we always catch her staying up late with her flashlight trying to get a few more chapters in.  She has read pretty much every Junie B. Jones book written and loves the Rainbow Fairy books.  She will read one in one night!  Cal loves reading Ninjago, Marvel comic book readers, and is starting to read many words on his own now and sounding out lots of words. He likes to read the same books over and over (and I have to remind myself that's okay because repetition is good, even if it gets old).  Because we got great reports back from Parent Teacher conferences for Emma, I got a book for her and the rest of the kids from the book fair.  Lucy was especially excited about hers because the title was "Little Lucy" and it was about a dog.  She likes reading just about anything though.  Covey even enjoys sinking his teeth (sometimes literally) into good books.  He likes sitting in my lap listening to me read or holding books himself looking at the bright pictures and especially likes pictures of other babies in the books.  

Well, we've had some good times in May so far .  We're about halfway through the month as I mentioned...where are you Spring?  Anytime now, please!  We've decided we'll probably have 8 months of winter here, 1 month of spring, 2 months of summer and 1 month of fall.  And we're okay with that!  Right?!  :)