California Visit

California Visit
April 26-30

I planned a visit home with Lucas a few months back so I could visit with my mom and other family with only the baby to worry about.  A few days before I was set to leave, my mom's mom, my Grandma Anne, passed away.  In the last couple of years she had developed dementia and her health had continued to decline.  It was time for her to move on, and I know she is happier where she is now, but it is still hard to lose someone I love so much.  I have always had a close relationship with her.  My brother and I were her only grand-kids, so she pretty much made everything about us!  I would have scheduled a trip out anyway with this news and to be with my mom, but it turned out to be already planned.  I was really sad to have missed seeing her one last time by only a couple of days, but glad I had everything set to leave Matt and the girls and head out soon.  This changed our trip from one of relaxation, shopping, and movies, to errands and funeral arrangements, but we still managed to enjoy our time together.  The first morning I was there my mom decided to still play in her softball game.  I think it made her feel better, and it was fun to get to watch her.  We spent the rest of the day with Aunt Linda, going to lunch and visiting Grandma Anne and Linda's house.  It was so weird to not have Grandma there anymore.  Sunday we spent with James at his house, and got some of our Damages show in.  Monday we ordered flowers, and did some other errands for the following day.  Tuesday was our big day for Grandma and also the day Lucas and I flew back to Utah.  It was busy, but we managed to do everything we wanted to, and give Grandma a good send off as well.  It was really nice to spend time there with my little baby buddy, who as always, was happy to be dragged all over, and so very well behaved! 

This was Lucas's first plane flight, and he was a fantastic flyer.  It was bedtime on both flights, and I had hoped he would just fall asleep.  On the way there, he was just too excited and interested in everyone around him to fall asleep.  When I thought he was going to lose it and there were still 20 minutes left in the flight, I handed him a crinkly wrapper.  All hail the crinkly wrapper, it entertained him the whole rest of the flight.  He was a very wiggly angel!  On the flight home, he actually managed to fall asleep for the last 40 minutes or so.  I think he was so beyond exhausted from all the missed naps and new sights and sounds and people from the weekend that he finally let himself sleep.  I got lots of compliments about my adorable, smiley, happy baby!

 The boys hanging out at the game.  It was fun watching Uncle Chunk with Lucas.  I think they already have a special little bond.  We are short on men in our family.

 I decided to take my camera to the game and capture some of my mom's action.  Everyone always says that they want to have whatever she is drinking because she is great at every game.  It's fun to see my mom be really active still, and enjoy a talent she's had for so many years.

 

 My mom's best friends on the team, Nancy, Trudy and Mary Jo.

 I sent a text to Chunk with a picture of Lucas wearing one of Emilyn's old, pink "I love Uncle Chunk" bibs.  He surprised Lucas with a new boy version for his very own!

 Lucas almost rolling.  Those wipes were very enticing, they almost convinced him to go over!

 It really was weird to be at Grandma Anne's house without her there.  I decided to snap some pictures to remember just how she had things.  They have been the same for as long as I can remember.  I loved getting to have slumber parties over there and sleep in the extra bed in her room.  And almost all the pictures in her room are of me as a little girl, then there's also one of Matisyn as a baby.

 Her parlor, living room, looking the same as it has for years...circa I'm not sure which decade!  She did not believe in wasting money on things like redecorating.  She liked to use what she already had, she was practical like that.  She didn't like to spend money and she didn't want to see perfectly good things wasted.

 My mom sitting in Grandma's chair trying to get Lucas to roll.

 A couple of years ago as she started to lose her memory, I made her a book of family members with their names and faces to help her remember.  My mom said she really liked it and looked at it often until the end when she said, "I don't know any of these people."  I noticed that she had written, "I am still alive, Anne Blank, I'm 90 years old" in the front of the book.  I liked that.  It made me think she just wanted to make sure we didn't forget about her.  I don't plan on it Grandma!

 Hanging out at James's house, aka, my old house.

 Lucas was very fascinated with Chunk.  He kept looking up at him with wide eyes.

 Lucas trying out a Heather hair toupee!

Lucas rolled over...the other way!!!  He rolled back to front (4-29-13), 6 1/2 months old.  He's been rolling side to side and getting his arm caught.  He finally got all the way over while we were over at my brother's house and he was hanging out on his blanket.  Doesn't he look proud?!!!