The Sunday before Thanksgiving Rusty's Papa died, so we traveled on Thanksgiving Day to Littleton CO. By the way, the airport was NOT busy at all. We walked right through airport security, and none of us had to do the body scan thing (on all three of our flights with all 11 of us, only one had to do it). People are nice and laid back, and the kids were super good killing time till the flight. We landed, headed to the hotel and then some of us went to the viewing and then we tried in VAIN to find something to eat. Just so you know, unless you want to eat movie theater popcorn, or drive all the way into Denver, the only place in Littleton open to eat at was Village Inn or the Del Taco drive through. You've got to admit, it was memory making that my kids' Thanksgiving meal was chocolate chip pancakes, macaroni and cheese and fries. We did get pie though!
(I should say that we actually did celebrate Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday before we left, so don't feel too bad for us.) The following morning was another viewing and the funeral service. It was beautiful. I did not take one single photo that morning. I have a really hard time with funerals, but it was heart breaking to watch my sweet Braden go from sobbing to a small cry throughout the service. I loved learning new things about Papa, there was a lot of humor in the service. Rusty's Dad gave a talk, Jill sang a beautiful hymn and all the grandkids sang also. All the talks and music were amazing. It was sweet to see the chapel packed with so many friends and family members.
A huge THANK YOU to the Jardine/Burkinshaw/Conroy families for watching Brenner and Jaci so we could focus on the service. It was good seeing you all, even if it was for 10 seconds! And, I mean really, in that crazy house did you even really notice two more kids?!?
Right after the yummy luncheon we headed right back to DIA to catch a flight to Utah. We got settled in to our second hotel and headed to get some dinner at our MUST EAT place, Training Table. It was closed. I was shocked! So we went to Zupas instead and that made me feel a little better.
Audrey and her three sister in laws.
(Ron, Donnie, Cheryll, Baum, Russ, Marianne)
It was nice to meet Papa's three sisters and their families. And all of Rusty's 1st cousins were there. How often does that happen? We had another luncheon and a little tribute to Papa in Pleasant Grove.
Close Up of the eldest grandkids- Rusty, Angie, Brit, Bobby, Brian and Chris
Baum with her grandkids and great grandkids
Braden and his great grandma. He sure loves her!
After the lunch we went back to the hotel, rested and then headed to Highland to Ron's house. We spent the day watching th BYU/UofU game. And the boys got to play in the snow in the backyard. The big boys loved it and were out there for hours. Brenner, not so much.
It started snowing in the night on Sunday and it snowed ALL day and was still snowing when we went to bed! The boys thought that was so cool. I thought it was amusing to watch Rusty clean snow off the car!
They said even with the constant snow there were still some crazies skiing without shirts on. Weirdos.
It was a long, cold, day but a super fun one. Monday was a lazy day, our flight wasn't until dinner time, so we took our time, went to a few stores and headed to SLC to try to eat at Training Table again, and it WAS CLOSED! "Thanks for 30 Great Years!" the sign said! I was so upset! This place is a family tradition for us! Anyway, we ended up at Cafe Rio and then headed to Temple Square. It was so pretty from the snow the day before. Brenner and Rusty stayed in the car, because B3 was asleep. So the older B's and I bundled up and walked around and through the Visitor's Center. It was so nice.
The flight home was LONG. Ok, not really, but Brenner was so over being on planes. He and every other toddler/baby on the flight screamed nearly the whole time. Poor kid. Did I mention he was cutting his molars during this trip? Anyhow, it was good to be home, great to see family, and sad all at the same time.
