Sad Day

My grampa passed away today.  He would have been 91 this November.  This is the best picture I have of him right now since I'm not at home.  He had dimentia, which is kinda like Alzheimer's  He and my gramma were married about 65 years (I don't remember exactly when they were married) but have known each other for 70.  I'm sad that I couldn't be there right now.  There won't be a funeral, instead he's going to be cremated and his ashes will go in the Columbia River since in the whole four years they lived in Vancouver, he didn't believe the Columbia River was there.  The day before I left for NC, I went and cut his hair and when I gave him a hug as I was leaving, it felt like it would be for the last time.  It's been a long time since anyone close in the family has died.  The last time was my other grandpa and I was about 13 or 14 so it's been a while.  I'm grateful for the gospel and that I'll be able to see him again someday.  I love you grampa.

Marissa, this one's for you (and everyone who has lost a child in a store)

Yesterday my sister and I loaded up all the kids and ran some errands.  One of them was a much needed trip to Sam's Club.  For the most part, we were doing well in the store.  We'd have the occasional, "Where's so-in-so?" and we'd find them looking at an end cap or standing in front of those demonstrators with the food samples.  We finally made it to the register and then the door....1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, yup, all kids counted for.  We get to the car, get the groceries loaded into the trunk and do a final check for seat belts.  Wait, where's Aiden?  Not playing in the front seats of the van, not in Nichole's car and he's not walking on the lines that make up the parking spaces, which he loves to do.  I go back into Sam's and the woman at the exit asks what I needed and I said, "My son."  She tells me to wait right where I was and gets on her radio.  Meanwhile, I'm scanning all the check-out lanes and a man getting ready to walk out the door says, "There he is," and points.  I see one of the workers holding him, don't even thank the gentleman for pointing Aiden out and start walking towards him.  The lady at the door tells me I can go ahead and go on over there.  Ummm, thanks lady.  The woman holding him had put him down in a chair with a pen and pad of paper.  There were about 5 or 6 employees all circled around him, staring at me as I walked up.  One woman said she had begun to worry because she had already sent out two pages through the store.  I thanked her and said Aiden's name.  He turned around and I asked, "What are you doing?" and he said very innocently, "Nothing," giving me this huge smile.  Everyone laughed, which broke the tension and all the employees turned around and went back to work.  Of course, now I feel like this horrible mom.  We are never going shopping with seven kids again.

Sharing some pictures

One minute it was all sunny and the next minute this is what I saw.

And a few minutes later there's a lake forming in the front yard.  I love the rain here when it's warm.  It's a nice change from back home.

Playing some Rock Band.

For a few days all Aiden wanted to wear was this kangaroo costume.

Enjoying some ice cream from the ice cream man.

It' very interesting driving around town and finding these random cemeteries.  

Buddy, their chocolate lab.