My Aunt Joan

My Dad came from a family of three siblings.  His oldest brother George is seventeen years his senior and his sister Jean was 15.  My dad was by far the baby of the family.  Be that as it may, my dad has always been very close to his brother George and therefore, we all have.  George and Joan were a constant in our lives growing up.  They always made a trip to see us every year and we often made a trip to California to see them.  Some of my very first memories include visits to their California home in beautiful Los Altos.

The first trip I remember is when I was very little and my mom took a long road trip to California.  I was very young but I remember bits and piece of that trip very well.  I remember going to Shoup park and George cutting a piece of cork from one of the trees.  I remember going on a train through the redwood forest.  My Aunt Joan still remembered that I loved She-Ra dolls and played with them constantly.

When I turned thirteen, I decided it was time for me to make a special trip to see George and Joan all by myself.  I remember feeling so grown up as I took the flight without an adult.  It was a trip I will never forget. Joan knew I wanted to see "The Phantom of the Opera" so badly so she bought tickets.  We took the train to San Francisco and then the bus to the theatre.  It was a very funny experience as we are all NOT city savvy but, it was one I will never forget.  I couldn't believe that Joan would be so thoughtful as to buy those tickets.  I still have them tucked in my childhood journal.  Joan took me to Neiman Marcus where I was amazed at how expensive everything was and was thrilled I finally found a Christmas ornament I could afford to take home.  It was clear and sparkly. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  We took a trip to Half Moon Bay where the flowers were lined up through the town.  It is such a breathtaking place.  George and Joan treated me like a princess.  It was such a wonderful experience that I am so grateful for.

Every trip to California included trips to the Exchange, Stanford Shopping Center and Half Moon Bay.  We would always take a walk up Quinn Hill (It's no wonder they both are so skinny!) and eat bran muffins for breakfast.  I love being in their home with treasures from the many places they lived while George served in the Navy.  The ornamental pieces from Thailand are among my favorites.  I loved watching Frasier and Jeopardy with them in their family room and especially loved sleeping in the "Strawberry Room" with Joan's hand stitched quilts.

One time when George and Joan came to Wyoming to visit us there was a day when the men were all fishing and my mom and sister were gone somewhere.  It was just Joan and me all day long.  Joan took me to the county fair and we shared a funnel cake, just the two of us.  I always felt like I had a special bond with Joan and for that I am so thankful.  She was such a refined and classy lady but full of so much love and kindness.  She loved me and my siblings very much.  Every Christmas we wait for her to send us a package filled with shortbread and presents for our children.  Even when I lived away from family in Ohio I could always count on this package that brightened my Christmas.  My girls received piggy banks, pictures for their walls and special ornaments that Joan found at the Bargain Box where she worked.  I remember the time she sent Carli and I REAL pearl earrings.  I couldn't believe I was actually the owner of such a treasure.  Her thoughtfulness and love will be in my heart always.

 It was recent that Joan got sick.  I haven't been able to see her in so many years because of the many miles that separated us but I knew I needed to take this last chance to visit her and let her see my girls.  George and Joan have been one of the most active followers of this blog and have followed our lives but hadn't had the chance to actually meet my children.  So I booked a flight to California and made one last trip to say goodbye.

It was hard.  It was hard to see Joan so sick in her bed.  But her eyes.  Her eyes were bright and alert and she understood everything that was going on.  I was just so thankful to have those moments again with her, to let her know how much I love her and how much I'm going to miss her.  I just wish we could have talked more.  I would give anything to have that one special day, just me and Joan, splurging on a funnel cake at the local fair.  But I am thankful that my girls were able to see her, and that she was able to see them and that even though they had never met there was a connection of love and family.  She knew them well.

My girls got to spend some quality time with George which was wonderful.  George was always so good with kids and my children took to him immediately.  He has two orange trees in his backyard and they were thrilled at the opportunity to pick them and make fresh juice.

 He picked a lot!  They are my very favorite oranges to eat.  George remembered that I like them a little sour.

 I absolutely love this picture.  It was so good to be in their home again.

 Lily carried around a giant lemon that she liked to pretend was a baby.

 George and Audrey are scoping out the best oranges to pick.

 The juice was perfect.

 George likes to juice the old fashioned way and it worked perfectly.

 We walked down to Shoup Park and to the Redwood Forest Walk.  It was like a blast from the past.  Julia was excited to see the Redwood trees since she recently studied them in school.

 These Redwood Trees were at Cuesta Park.  They were enormous and so spectacular.

 Because Joan was so ill we only made very brief visits.  Therefore, we had a little extra time.  One of the days we headed to Half Moon Bay.  I was so glad.  Not only was it so beautiful but it was what I would have done with George and Joan.  It was good to go back.

The girls loved exploring.

 The view was spectacular.

 We walked along the rocky shores for a long time collecting shells and rocks.  We found all the shells with a hole in them so the girls could could make necklaces.  My mom remembered when George and Joan lived in Hawaii and she and Joan collected puca shells to make necklaces.

 Julia liked these rocks with a white stripe in them.  She called them "wishing rocks."

 Lily's feet may have gotten wet a time or two.

 Another day we headed to the Children's Museum in San Jose.

 I think the very favorite part was the kitchen.

 Lily loved the water table.

 The train ride at the end was a favorite.

We headed home a day after this and Joan passed away two days later.  I am just so thankful that I was able to see her and say goodbye one last time.  I am so thankful that I get to tell my girls about how wonderful she was and how much she meant to me.  I am so thankful for George.  Most of all I am so thankful for family and that I have such wonderful people in my life.  I am going to miss Joan so much.  Til we meet again...

December So Far

We are getting into the Christmas Spirit around here.  We had some friends over this last weekend and made gingerbread houses and had dinner.  We have such great friends and it was great getting together.  

 The kids building their houses.

 Kara and me.  We are so glad we could have them in Ohio and now in Idaho.

 We also attended a holiday parade with our other friends who couldn't come do gingerbread houses with us.  It was so cold.  SO cold.  We ended up spending most of the time in the Jensen's suburban until the parade finally started.  We made it through about half before everyone was freezing to death.  It was really fun though and we had a delicious dinner at the Jensen's house.

 Here we are all lined up and freezing.

 I thought the floats were pretty cool.

 We definitely needed the hot chocolate and warm apple crisp we had after this.

Thanksgiving

We thought Bryan was on call Thanksgiving Day.  Turns out he wasn't.  So last minute we decided that for the first time in oh....ten years we would actually go back to visit our families for the big day.  Right before we left, Bryan went out and blew all the leaves off the lawn and the girls had to go and play in the little pile he left for them.

 We drove to Salem and spent Thanksgiving Day with Bryan's family.  Patricia worked so hard on all the food and we had such a great day.  We spent the morning at Grandma's house playing with cousins.  I couldn't believe how beautiful the weather was while we were there.  We didn't even need coats!

 Those gorgeous Utah mountains.

 All of the cooking that was going on.  So much of it.

 We went to our Brother in Law Ryan's office for the dinner because there was lots of space for the kids to play.  Grandma had set up a really fun craft table for the kids.  They enjoyed that very much.

 These girls definitely know how to craft.

 Bryan with Phil and Jason.

 The girls with all of their cousins.  They played so hard this day.  All their little faces were just bright red by the end of the evening.  Lots of running, lots of playing.  Ryan had 500 glowing bouncy balls that he released in a big room for them.  Chaos, screaming and fun ensued.

 The yummy food.

 Phil and Kacie.

 Lily napped for most of the dinner.  She woke up and helped herself to some rolls.

 These three girls are all just one month apart.  I think it's so fun for them.  Ryan also gave them matching tshirts to wear.

 Lily and cute Ilene.

 After Thanksgiving we headed to Evanston to spend a little time with my family as well.  Since the weather was so nice we headed to the pit to have hot dogs and marshmallows.  It was pretty muddy but so much fun.  It was great to spend some time outside.

 We end up smelling like smoke but it is well worth it.

 We also went to see Frozen at the nasty local theatre.  I kid you not, this place has not changed at all since I was a little girl.  Not one bit.  That being said, It was such a cute movie and my girls all loved it.  Even Lily made it through the whole thing.  She only terrorized everyone for a small bit near the end.

 Adam and Camille were there as well with their adorable twins.  I don't think Lily left their side.  I'm sure she just drove Adam and Camille nuts but she just loved those babies.  Julia was super excited about them as well.

 Just too cute I tell you!

Thanks to all the family that spent the holiday with us.  It was so much fun being with everyone!