A couple of weeks ago, we were in 3 states in less than a week. We loved it (especially the boys), but it wore me out! We started the week in Phoenix for Grandad's funeral. The day he died, Mom and Dad told us that he would have liked us all to be there - including the great-grandchildren. So, after much configuring and convincing, we all headed out to Arizona, minus Uncle Brandon, who stayed to work.
Views from the plane:
EARLY in the morning - plane took off at 7
Pop Pop and GiGi were the entertainers in a pinch
We had a singing stewardess on Southwest that plugged her own YouTube video - she was better in her own head I think
We had a service for Grandad on Monday morning. It was so nice to see his former church friends and bridge partners and neighbors. All of Dad's side of the family was there - dad's brother Tom and our aunt, Candy (who Heath and Stacy got to meet for the first time), and dad's sister, Mary, her husband Ed and our cousins Amy and Paul. They all live in Los Angeles, so we rarely get to see all of them.
My kids couldn't make it past the TAPs ceremony - Turner kept yelling "Stars!" when he saw the folding of the flag, and then asked really loudly, "Where's Grandad???" So Heath exited quickly with Turner and a sleepy John Burke.
They met back up with us for a reception in the church. I love that Turner could identify Grandad - he has not seen him since Christmas but he remembered!
Stacy and Chloe
Playing with cousin Paul at the reception (guess who knocked down the gate thing behind him and woke up all the elderly guests)
Right after we buried his ashes next to Grandma
This makes me laugh - so natural for Heath :)
Our 12 passenger van - you jealous? Turner referred to it as "Pop Pop van" - We filled it to the brim. And do you know it is pricey to rent 5 carseats?
Tried to get a view from the front
3 turkeys in a row - they liked the set up
We spent the rest of our time by the pool at the Embassy Suites
I won't say who enjoyed Happy Hour the most (here is a clue - not my aunt Mary here with Derek)
Chloe loved the water
Uncle D and Pop Pop made the pool even more fun
We ate dinner by the pool and spent a lot of time as a family - we were encouraged to "stay in" by all the looks at breakfast with 5 kids 3 and under, and at the Mexican restaurant we attempted as a big group
Group picture - poor people at dinner around us
Tom or Mary brought a bunch of pictures, and we think Burkita Jones (his newest nickname - I don't know why) looks like Pop Pop at this age
Turner and Chloe watching the planes take off
Derek and Heath both took these scavengers on some walks around the airport
And GiGi and Pop Pop tired this guy out - he and Turner made Heath and me very happy by sleeping almost the entire flight home!! Hallelujah!!
We got home, got Gordon (the forgotten pug) situated, unpacked and repacked and headed to the beach a day later.
We spent the night in Andalusia on the way down. Turner got bored with the small tractor, so Pap came home from work to take him on a spin on this "boo tactor" (blue tractor)
This was our view. It was Mother's Day weekend, and the weather and water could not have been better! I didn't take any pictures on the beach or at the fabulous zero-entry pool we visited because I cannot trust my little angels around water
The one cell phone picture I got - what a perfect pool - they could have played in it for a week straight
We met our trusty friends the Bennetts down there - and had a ball, as you can see.
We wished Granny Fran a "Happy Muvvers Day" (or the best Turner could say) and headed back to Birmingham through Andalusia
We had a fabulous family lunch and then hung out outside for as long as we could
Driving "Pap's tactor"
We drove all the tractors we could get our hands on
Uncle Jonathan let Turner "push dirt" with him - it might have been the highlight of his life - he ran in the house to tell me and could barely breathe telling me about it
We love playing with Ellie - even when she takes fashion risks like denim diapers :)
We celebrated and hugged our MeMe and Granny Eloise
And I tried to wrestle them into a sweet Mother's Day pic, but you know
This was the view in the car on the way home. He was asleep, yet taking his bottle. Y'all may feel like this after reading this long post with SO many pictures!
No comments:
Post a Comment