On Thursday November 5th my maternal Grandpa passed away at 4:45 am. My Grandpa is an amazing person. I love him so much and cherished every time I got to spend time with him. I will miss him terribly but I am so grateful that my kids were able to meet and know their Grandpa Great. My Grandma passed away a little over 8 years ago ( a little over a week before I discovered I was pregnant with Nathan). I am so happy that my Grandma and Grandpa get to be together again. A couple of things that I want to remember and tell my kids when they get older.
Nathan while saying his evening prayer on Wed Nov 4th "Bless Grandpa Great that he will survive." We then had the discussion of how sometimes what we want isn't what Heavenly Father wants. That Grandpa Great probably wouldn't survive much longer because it was time for him to get to work in Heaven and to be with Grandma Great again. Nathan asked some questions and we had a great little moment together.
I went down to the Hospice center to see my Grandpa on Wednesday the 4th. At this point he was only able to slightly nod to let you know he heard you. I was able to give him a drink from a small sponge. I was so grateful to have that opportunity to serve him. My cousin Britney was also there at Hospice with her husband while Preston and I were there. We stood on both sides of the bed while our Husbands sat at the foot of his bed. When we were kids we would always sit on the arms of his recliner. My mom crossstitched a picture with 2 girls sitting on a grandpa's lap with the phrase. There is always room on Grandpa's lap. So as Britney and I sat there we mentioned how there is always room on Grandpa's lap. Grandpa gave a very slight nod in agreeance. I told him I loved him and turned quickly away to leave before I lost all of my composure. Preston said Grandpa mouthed the words I love you after I turned around.
Taylor and Natalie went with us to the Hospice center but I didn't let them go into the room. So Taylor drew him a picture that my Mom showed to him after we left. After waking up to learn that Grandpa Great had died.
Taylor asked "Oh is he in Heaven now?"
Me- "Yes"
Taylor- "When are we going to see him again?"
Me-"When we go to Heaven."
Taylor "Oh, are we going to go there today?"
This picture was taken in June.
On a happier note. Thursday November 5th was also our 11th wedding anniversary. Or as we refer to it, our family's birthday. So that morning Preston and I had pancakes on our red plates and we sang happy birthday to our family. Preston bought me these beautiful flowers.
Friday night we went out as a family to celebrate our birthday at Famous Dave's
Taylor loved the Famous Dave's pig and gave him a few hugs.
Natalie on the other hand was not a fan. If she ever saw him in her vicinity she would frequently look over her shoulder to keep tabs on him. This is one such occasion. I guess she isn't ready to meet all the Characters at Disneyland.
Our family at my Nephew's 10th birthday party. He decided he wanted a costume party this year. In case you can't tell Preston is Gilligan and I am a Hawaiian tourist. I had planned on being a banana and Preston a Gorilla but our costumes were up in the attic and there wasn't time to get them down.
This is 8 of the 11 cousins on my side. I am holding Natalie up in the back to get her in the picture (it was the only way) That is Nathan behind the Optimus Prime mask.
On Saturday Oct 24th our ward had a ward trunk or treat. My brother was in town from Utah for his 10 year High School reunion and while he and his wife were attending that we took there two oldest Thomas and Henry to the trunk or treat. We pulled out some old costumes of Nathan's for them to wear Thomas picked superman and then had his face painted as Batman and then Henry picked Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and had a scorpion painted on his face.
Then on actual Halloween we headed to my parents ward carnival. Nathan and Taylor did the fishing pond about half a dozen times each. I think it was there favorite booth.
Kids enjoying some hamburgers and capri suns at the carnival. Taylor's face paint could really use some help at this point.
Our little ladybug Natalie. She spent the night just walking around at both the trunk or treat and the carnival. She is loving the freedom that walking brings.
Taylor's professional face painting job at our ward Trunk or Treat. We have a lady in our ward that is really good at face painting.
Natalie enjoying some corn on the cob at the carnival.
This past Monday November 9th was the funeral for my Grandpa. The oldest Grandsons from each family were the casket bearers.
Grandpa was a World War II veteran so there was a Military Honor Guard at the burial. It was all very sobering. Patriotic stuff always makes me emotional so you can just imagine how emotional I was. Especially when the trumpet was played.
All of the siblings. My Mom is the one in red, she is the youngest of the 5 kids. 
All of my immediate family posing for a picture. Honestly it is not the greatest picture but hey at least we are all together and took the photo opportunity. The baby is the 89th Great Grandchild born and his name is Warner Walter (Walter is my Grandpa's first name). The best thing is my brother had just come from Utah and visited Grandpa 4 days before his stroke and only 10 days before he passed away. Grandpa was able to meet his namesake.
