McCall - Andrew's last for 2 years

Lily, Emily, Andrew and I headed up to McCall after dance on Monday.  We got there just in time for a quick dinner, some hellos to Kelly's family, a cool dip in the lake and some late night pool time.

I was rewarded with deer on my morning walks and the kids were able to catch sight of one moose on their evening North Beach drives.

We played a lot of games, Kubb, pickle ball, swimming, reading, and just enjoying being together.

Wouldn't be McCall without a trip to Ice Cream Alley.  We also enjoyed milkshakes and huckleberry lemonade at My Father's Place.

My cousins Ryan and Todd were determined to get Andrew up wake boarding as a last lake week before he entered home MTC the next week.

He did pretty great and enjoyed some tubbing time as well.  They took the girls out tubing as well - which made their day.

Grandpa came up Thursday afternoon with Kate, 2 4-wheelers, and his side by side.  So we went on a mountain adventure.  Grandpa and Andrew each on a 4-wheeler, with Kate, Emily and I squished in the side by side.  Lily stayed behind and played with Todd and Taylor's kids.  The drive was narrow, rocky and dusty but we had a good time and enjoyed some fantastic views.  It was also good driving practice for Emmy and Kate.  We were dirty, hot, and a bit sunburned when we got back just about the same time that Greg and Mack had pulled into the condo.

The next morning Greg, Emmy and Andrew headed out on a 9 mile hike while Mack, Lily and Grandpa went on their own ATV adventure.  

Kate and I enjoyed some quiet time together, reading, playing games, and making dinner.  The ATV group came back absolutely filthy and the hikers came back with a water bottle full of huckleberries. Happy Lily!

Grandpa grabbed a bite to eat and headed home while the rest of us cleaned off in the lake swimming and paddle boarding around.  We were able to get dad a view of our friendly beaver that we had seen on our first night.

The next morning we got up early enough to claim a pickle ball court and spent an hour with the littles and then an hour with the boys.  I'm not very good but it is a lot of fun.

After that we loaded up the paddle boards and kayaks and drove past North Beach to the bridge where we put in and paddled around for a while.  It was a bit of an adventure trying to get that many of us on only three flotation options but we made it work (Mack stayed home washing sheets and making beds).  We all enjoyed our views and some time in the sun.  

We returned to the condo, ate a quick meal of leftovers and then Emmy and I sent the others off so they could get Kate home in time for work.  Emily and I stayed to finish all the clean up and play a few more games.  It was a lovely week and I left wishing we could push pause and stay another week.

Papa's Funeral

Friday morning we woke up early and went to the Draper temple for Andrew to receive his endowment.  It was special to be there with Grandma Nani the same day as Papa's funeral.  It helped remind all of us about how families can be eternal.  

Emily and Marley came with us and went to do baptisms while we did endowments.  Marley was praying to feel close to Papa.  When Emily, "Sister Easton" was being baptized the temple worker asked Marley if they knew Mike Easton.  She explained the relationship and the temple worker told her he knew both Mike and Mack.  She came seeking closeness to Randy but God showed her He knew her by helping her remember bother her grandpas.  

We loaded in the car and headed to Mesquite - Lily and Mack rode in the sauna with Laurie (the a/c wasn't working in the party van) and Kate rode with Beth.  Randy didn't want a viewing so that evening there was a gathering in him memory.  People came to share stories and love.  Ric served Randy's famous salsa and the room was filled with some great photos.

A friend of Nani's let all 5 of her kids from out of town stay in her Air B&B.  It was nice to all be together.  The funeral the next morning was beautiful.  As Spencer told me later (he watched on Zoom with my parents in Florida), "It didn't feel like a funeral but a celebration". Just how Randy would have wanted it.  

Greg spoke and referenced Randy's love of Hallmark movies.  And talked about the many ways Randy taught, served and loved him and others.  Mack, Braden and Brad sang "Did Jesus Really Live Again" - it was beautiful.  

As lined out by Randy years ago the oldest grandchild from each family, female or male, were pallbearers.  It was so hot outside but we all made our way to the cemetery.

It was a hard day but beautiful to hear all the wonderful things about Randy.

Back at the church we enjoyed a nice meal and time to chat.  A kind man in the community brought a large portable freezer full of ice cream novelties.  The kids had dozens before we realized the man was letting us take them back to the Air B&B with us.  So the consumption continued into the evening and next day.

After all that crying the kids were ready for some fun.  They all headed to Bunker Pond while Greg and I visited with Nani and ordered tons of pizzas to feed the crew when they got back.

How many kids can ride on one zip line?!

Brad helped catch some fish.

It was fun to be with all the family, laughing, crying and sharing life with each other.

Mack and Bode stayed up late into the night both nights creating RC tracks for Bode's car using sheet, duct tape, and anything else they could find.  The work was epic but I have no evidence - I guess taking a pic at 2:00am when I was taking Greg to the shuttle drop off so he could head to the North Carolina didn't occur to me.  

We hit the road early the next morning with Andrew showing signs of Lily's pink eye - little did we know we had spread it to some of Laurie's clan and picked up Strep Throat from someone else.  Andrew and I would be out cold sick for most of the next week.  He tested negative but a few days after I was positive and VERY grateful for the antibiotic shot in the hip and the quick improvement of symptoms - it is amazing how we take swallowing for granted.  

Randy we love you and are so grateful for all the years we had together.  The kids will always remember how you, played games, teased, worked, listened, laughed and loved them. 

Beth’s Wedding

Lily woke up one morning with a crusty, red, puffy eye.  A call to HealthJoy got us a Rx and luckily it was clearing up by the time we headed to Utah.

Wednesday midday we headed to Utah because Beth and Ric were getting married Thursday, July 6th

We stayed at Laurie's and the girls enjoyed doing nails, arranging lavender bouquets, doing hair and just being together.

The Church of the Dirt didn't disappoint - the view was amazing.

It was a little chilly for popcylcs so the kids hiked to the sunshine to absorb as much warmth as possible.

Last Visits with Papa

In April Papa got a strange fungus in his eye and had to go back to the Huntsman Hospital for surgery and treatment.  Natali went and visited him a few times before she headed home from BYU.  She even brought Fritz to meet he and Grandma.

Papa was able to go back to Gayle's house for awhile but while we were in Spain he took a turn for the worse and ended up in the hospital again.  This time his kidneys and liver were failing.  We got home Wednesday - Greg and Andrew left Friday afternoon to go see Randy before their east coast trip.  Andrew went knowing this was probably goodbye.

The other kids and I were going to go on Tuesday but I felt so uncomfortable all day Sunday.  I broke down crying more than once at church and finally after sacrament meeting I told the kids we were leaving as soon as we could.  We left our house less than an hour after church ended.

We thought we were going to go say goodbye to Papa so very sobering but we also had some fun times with cousins.  Staying at Beth's house and using Gus's Virtual Reality toy.

Monday and Tuesday we got to spend a lot of time with Papa and got to be there for some good news - the doc that day was optimistic that Papa could be headed home soon.  We left for home thinking Papa was doing better.  Sadly, that was the last time most of us saw him.  

While at the hospital Nani took the kids outside to put out food for the squirrels.  Papa liked to watch the squirrels from his window.  So Papa and I watched as the kids climbed on the rocks putting out seeds.  Then Nani set on this bench for a while.  Emily came over by her and then spotted something.  Nani's reaction was a quick removal from the bench and both of them slowly backing away.  On the rock not far from Nani was a rattle snake with a full belly.

I went out later and took this picture.  Yikes!  Glad Nani didn't lean her head back.  For the next day Papa and his visitors enjoyed the spectacle provided as different groups of men came out and tried to remove the snake.

Tuesday night was McCall's bridal shower.  We helped Laurie get ready, took Hazel to lunch, and then the kids partied at an indoor play place including arcade, jumping pit, go carts and stuff like that.  They had a blast.

We headed home Wednesday morning and Papa called to say bye and wish us safe travels.  Once home we sent Kate and Andrew off to Ghana for 10 days.  Meanwhile, Papa didn't improve.  Not long into their trip he decided he was done.  He said goodbye to the Utah grandkids and headed home to Mesquite.  

He loved his first few days home visiting with loved ones and seeing his favorite sights.  The house was full of visitors all day long.  But he quickly went down hill.  Greg wanted to go see him one more time and planned to go as soon as Andrew and Kate were home, but we decided he couldn't wait.  He and Mack drove to Mesquite with the plan that I would follow with all the kids.

Kate and Andrew got home on Wednesday and Andrew had his wisdom teeth out Thursday.  I figured I would monitor how he was doing and head to Mesquite on Friday, but by Thursday evening Papa wasn't speaking much any more and we decided it was best to stay home.

Greg had a difficult yet beautiful few days with Papa before he finally went back home in the early morning on July 2nd.  

Greg and Mack didn't tell me but they loaded up and headed home Wednesday so they would be home in time for my birthday.  

He has left a big hole in our hearts and in the family.  My kids couldn't have had a better Papa and I will always be grateful for the lessons he has taught me.  Love you forever Papa.