Trip to Utah for Grandpa's Funeral

Despite the trip being made for a sad reason, we really had a great time and enjoyed seeing a ton of extended family members.

We drove to Nampa, Idaho the first night (getting in around midnight). We stayed in a hotel with a pool so the girls could get up and swim in the morning. They had a blast of course - sorry no pictures of that, I was on the treadmill while they were swimming and Konrad was all wet, so no one could document it. We left around lunch time and finished the drive to Salt Lake. We headed straight to my Aunt Kari's house, my dad's sister, where almost my entire Riding family, all but one cousin (who away at college in Arkansas) was in attendance. This was a huge occasion - seeing as though we haven't all been together since my Grandma Riding's funeral 6 1/2 years ago. I am still bummed I didn't make them all pose for a picture.....

I did get this picture of my Grandpa Riding with Miss Mackenzie though.

The next day, Friday, we went shopping with my mom and sisters (of course, that is what we do anywhere we are - we have to hit the mall!), out to lunch at Cafe Rio (YUM!) and then Konrad, the girls, and I headed over to Konrad's brother Brian's house. We got to meet our newest niece Addison - who is super cute. Again, I didn't pull out the camera - what was I thinking!

Friday night was the viewing. We left our girls at Konrad's aunts house so they could play with her daughters (she has a daughter 6 months older than Kimber). They had blast checking out their ginormous dog, eating ice cream sundae's, and playing in the secret room (they have this secret room that they made in their basement - you literally push on a part of the wall, it opens and reveals a fun play room).

Konrad and I enjoyed visiting with my family at the viewing. Viewings are not my favorite thing to do. I do not enjoy the actual "viewing" part - and avoid it when at all possible. I would rather have a vision of my Grandpa taking a walk or eating a fudgesicle than lying in casket. I did however want to give my Grandma a hug, so I ventured into the room. I was to the point where I was about to start crying, as I went to give my Grandma a hug. She, being herself, said "Man, I wish someone would give me a comb - all these people hugging me is messing my hair up! I know it just looks awful!" It definitely made that part of the funeral easier on me, being able to assure my Grandma that she looked great. And no worries - someone brought her a comb and she was able to feel better about her appearance! :)

Here is a my dad holding my nieces Makenna and Natalie

One of the relatives brought over "Mortuary Munchies" so that we'd have a spot to go and refuel and take a breather from the sadness inside. We called it our Funeral Tailgate Party. Can you believe all that food? Un-luckily for me I am having a month of no sweets - luckily there were bags of freeze dried fruit in there! I decided it was a good thing I was doing a no sweets thing though - I would have made myself sick. I can never turn down free candy! :)

Saturday morning was the actual funeral. As we got to the funeral home it was raining and pretty yucky outside. Of course the day before it had been beautiful. Konrad actually got a little sun while golfing on Friday. So we were sad that it decided to rain on the day of the funeral.

The funeral itself was great. Lot's of great memories of Grandpa Carlson were shared and the Spirit was strong. We all know that he is in a better place. I had the opportunity to speak at his funeral - which of course I cried through-out, but oh-well, at a funeral you can get away with that. I really truly loved my Grandpa and will really miss him - it still makes me sad, but I know it will get easier.

As we headed out of the funeral home we walked out into a winter-wonderland. It was beautiful. Cold, but beautiful.

Heather helping Grandma to the burial site.

Steph and Doug trudging through the snow (BTW - it was Steph's second son, Jordan's, birthday this day - he turned 2)

My poor Grandma HATES the cold. We all had run to our cars to get her blankets to try and warm her up. If I'm not mistaken she even had a Thomas the Train blanket wrapped around her! :)

My dad with Kenna, Alli, Kimber, and Sam

My beautiful sis Michelle and Natty

Many of the grandson/grandson-in-laws carrying the casket

There were 3 members of the military there to honor my Grandpa. They even played the bugle and gave my Grandma the flag as a thank you to my Grandpa for his service.

After the funeral we made a quick pit-stop at Sconecutter for some honey butter scones, then headed over to my great uncle's church building for a family dinner put on by my cousin Heather. She arranged the whole thing and did a great job. The food was great and it was so nice to have everyone there together to visit with before we all went our separate ways.

We ate, played Scum/President, and took pictures.

Here is my family with Grandma

Cadance and Samantha quickly became friends

Cadance, Sam, and Katie - 3 perfect friends! Too bad we don't all live closer!

That night we gathered at the hotel to play more games and hang out.

Sunday morning Konrad and Kimber attended Music and the Spoken Word and got to watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform. We were all going to go, but found out there was an age limit, and Sam and Alli weren't old enough.

The girls got to play in the snow at Uncle Randy's and Aunt Cheri's house. The girls loved staying there. They were convinced that we needed to move in with them. They loved that they each had their own bed (typically when we travel they have to share or someone has to sleep on the floor), they loved the American Girl dolls, the pool table, the "kitchen" in the basement, the Micky Mouse waffles, the swing set in the back yard, the 3 floors, the cool spinny/swinging chairs in the kitchen, and Kimber loved the fact that it was 2 minutes from a mall. :)

Enjoying some hot chocolate in an attempt to warm up!

Sunday afternoon we went to Brian's again and hung out with his family. It really made me wish we lived closer to Konrad's brothers (not that I haven't wished that already). I wish Kimber and Sam had cousins closer to their age to play with more often. They love my sisters' kids - but it's nice to have someone a little older to play with. Then we headed over to another of Konrad's aunts (there are 4 that live in Utah) for a Williams family get together. We saw tons of family there and enjoyed visiting, ping-pong, and treats (well I enjoyed water - they enjoyed treats! :))

We came home on Monday. It was a quick trip for us (typically when we go to Utah we are there for a full week, if not two) but being as though it was an emotional weekend, we were (or maybe it was just me) tired and ready to come home.

House Swap????

My husband wants to spend a month in Hawaii this summer. We are already going for 2 weeks, but he has decided that he thinks we should spend a month or two living some where new as often as possible. He'd like to do Japan, Mexico, Europe, etc.

Well, we found a potential family to swap houses with. They live in Hawaii and want to come to Seattle. They want to be here from June to July, we can't do the whole time, but could do from the end of June to the end of July.

I am sort of freaked out about 1. letting someone I don't know stay in my house and 2. staying in someone else's house.

What if their house stinks? What if they steal all our stuff? What if they crash our car? What if their 3 young boys destroy my preschool room? What if they steal our stuff????? (I know, I already said that, but what if they do!!!!!!) What about my calling? What about my Wild Waves Passes? What about the fact that I won't have any friends to go to the park with?

Am I crazy? Should I be elated to live in Hawaii for a month? Housing would free (except for the wear and tear on my sanity) and we wouldn't have to rent a car. Konrad would be done with work by 2:00 everyday so we'd have more time as a family. The tan would be awesome!

What do you think????

My Grandpa - Roy Carlson

My Grandpa passed away today. What a sad day. He lived a full life and I know he is in a better place...reuniting with his Dad who passed away when he was really young, but it still hard.

When I was at BYU my grandparents, who lived in Orem at the time, had all us cousins over for dinner EVERY Monday night....4-5 years worth of "Monday night dinners". When I was a freshman, there were only 4 of us - maybe only 3. By the time I graduated we were up to 10. Every week they opened their home to us, fed us great meals, and let us get to know our cousins - but also get to know them.

I lived in Utah for the first 9 years of my life. I have very fond memories of my Grandpa Carlson from those years. He has this awesome jeep - that we thought was so cool. He'd load us all up in it and take us to the park. He would take us fishing. He walked us over to the church parking lot so we could ride bikes. He let us trick-or-treat at his house EVERY SINGLE TIME we visited. They had a pocket door in their kitchen, he would go into the kitchen, close the door, and let us knock and say trick-or-treat. Grandpa Carlson LOVED chocolate. I think he is the only man I know that really LOVED LOVED LOVED chocolate. The more chocolate the better. Which meant his cupboards were always stocked with Snickers, Peanut M&M's, Paydays (okay, not chocolate, but still yummy), Kit Kats, and cookies. The freezer had frozen Hostess Cupcakes (the only way to eat a Hostess Cupcake is when it is frozen....trust me. try it.) and fudgesicles. If you asked him what kind of ice cream he wanted he looked at you like you were crazy and said "chocolate".

My Grandpa was one of the hardest working men I know. Up until the last few years, as age took its toll, I never saw him sit still - unless it was night time and he was visiting in the living room with everyone. He spent many hours taking care of the grounds in their condo complex. He spent many hours serving in the church. He was the ultimate example of a Christ-like person. When I was thinking of him this morning, remembering how special he is, it made me think of one of my favorite Primary songs "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" - in the song it talks about how we would act if the Savior stood beside us - I know that my Grandpa wouldn't have had to change a thing. I never heard him say an unkind word. I never saw him do anything the least bit dishonest or hurtful. He lived his life to the fullest and to the best of his ability.

I love you Grandpa. Thanks for being there for my family and me. I am excited to attend your funeral and celebrate the wonderful life you led. I love you Grandma - please know we are praying for you. Keep smiling!

Here are a few pictures I had on my computer....

Not the best picture - but it's all I had. Seeing as this was my graduation from BYU, and that my grandparents had a huge impact on my college days, I had to include it.

This picture is from my love-you-like-a-sister cousin's wedding. I was 7 months prego with Samantha :) This smile on my grandpa's face, along with his I've-been-working-in-the-yard tan, is how I picture him in my mind.

This picture of Grandpa, Allison, and Jackson was taken the last summer they lived in Orem. We enjoyed many a popsicle that vacation (notice Grandpas is a fudgesicle - no fruity flavors for him!)

Fruit Snacks at Albertson's

This is a great deal - thought I'd share....

Buy 5 boxes of Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks get a $3.50 catalina (a catalina is a "coupon" that prints out at the store, that you can use on your next shopping trip).

The Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks are on sale right now for $1.00, which is a good deal anyways....but watch this:

1st transaction:
Buy 5 fruit snacks = $5 OOP (out of pocket)

2nd Transaction:
Buy 5 fruit snacks = $5
use $3.50 catalina from 1st transaction
OOP = $1.50

And continue on. I bought 20 boxes total (4 seperate transactions) and my total OOP was: $7.50

FOR 20 BOXES OF FRUIT SNACKS/FRUIT ROLL-UPS!!!!!

Granted - I did have $2.00 worth of coupons (which I printed from coupons.com and smartsource.com - you can print 2 coupons from each site). But even with out coupons you would only be paying $9.50.

In the end, with my leftover $3.50 catalina I bought some conditioner (that we happened to run out of today) - I got two bottles for .69 (after coupons and doublers).

So in all: 20 boxes of fruit snacks and 2 bottles of Aussie conditioner for $8.19!

I love good deals!