Grandpa Benny & Grandma Stella

It has taken a few days to bring myself to post anything from the weekend. It was draining - but a good weekend spent with Mark & Brenda.

Mark and Brenda flew in on Thursday. We went to Barbacoa for lunch and then headed down to Burley. Mark and Brenda took a ride down the Snake River with Danny in the boat. Then we went to The 610 to pick up grandpa. That was interesting to say the least. We headed back to Danny's and all went out to dinner at The Upper Crust.

Brenda snatched grandpa and put him in their bedroom for the evening.... not to be seen again til morning.

We got up pretty early on Friday and were surprised to see Danny had brought back coffee for us!!! It was so sweet (he doesn't drink coffee!)

We were so out of it when we left for the cemetery. The only thing we remembered to bring with us was Grandpa! We left the memory books and the flowers at Danny's. Luckily Danny & Beneta had not left the house yet, and were able to grab everything we left behind.

Brenda and I had to be at the cemetery early to meet Dave. He actually brought Grandma Stella out in a Hurst! The grave site was so nicely decorated, and our Tia Inez sent beautiful flowers. We read poems and everyone shared memories. We laughed and we cried. At one point I even heard Dave laugh in the background. We really wanted this to be all about keeping the memories of them alive and remembering how Grandma, Grandpa and our dad had touched all of our lives. We asked Susie if she would say a prayer - and it was just beautiful.

My dad is buried next to my grandpa's step-father, Tiburscio Urigoitia. Inez said they called him Begonia.
We placed flowers at the baby's grave as well.

I took a picture of the sun set over the Snake River the night we laid our grandparents to rest. I was left with the hope that our grandparents and father would be proud of us.

Our Grandma Stella would never let us say goodbye - not in person or on the phone. So we didn't say goodbye that day, just a very tearful..... I love you, and I will miss you - until we are together again.

Happy Feet

I love what this picture represents.... Kids upstairs watching movies.

I think the happiest feet are the feet that belong in the white tennies (Garrett's), because if you noticed, there are only one pair of girl shoes.... and the feet that belong in those shoes are attached to a girl who came over to see Garrett.

Apple Crisp

YUM! I think this was the best apple crisp I have ever made! I am not sure if it was because I used apples from our tree in the backyard or if it was the sprinkle of cinnamon over the apples, or if it is because I made it with love... (ha), or if it was because I used the last apples on the tree.... well there are three left, but they are for the birds - literally. They come by to much.

I have enjoyed having the apple tree in our yard. It reminds me of my Grandpa Hellewell and his mom - my Great Grandma Hellewell. She had several apple trees in her yard. We loved going out and picking them with my Aunts Susie, & Julie. I use to be bothered by the apples with worm holes. My Grandpa would laugh and say.... ohhhh they don't eat much! And then he would say, you know what is worse than finding an apple with a worm? An apple with only half a worm.

Happy 20th Birthday Kristen!!!

Can you believe our baby is 20???? When Kristen was born, Grandma & Grandpa Hellewell came to California a couple of days before my due date. (I actually had her on my due date). Grandpa told me that they were not going home until she was born (no pressure there...). Grandpa also told me that he wanted a blonde haired, blue eyed baby girl born on his birthday. (again...no pressure there...). So.... it ended up that I had her the day before his birthday, and she had a full head of dark brown hair! He got a laugh telling the story..... "What I asked for was a blonde haired blue eyed baby girl born on my birthday and what I got was a brown haired, blue eyed baby girl born the day before my birthday".

Some interesting facts about Kristen's birth order:

• She is the first born child of the first born child of the first born child on both sides of my family
  
• She is the first born daughter of the first born daughter of the first born daughter on my mom's side of the family
• She is the first grandchild on both sides of my family
• She is the first great grandchild on both sides of my family
• Her middle name goes back 3 generations (all belonging to the first borns)
  

Moline's Day 2

It was another amazing evening! Inez invited us to dinner with them tonight. She told me her sister Flora would be with them. When we arrived I was pleased to find out that Rick and Donna were there! Flora is my Grandpa Benny's other sister - Rick is Flora's son, and Donna is Rick's wife. Tom had no idea I had a big family on the Moline side. It has been so much fun talking and laughing with them. Inez made a toast to Benny & Stella . Made me sad that they are not here.....
During dinner Inez got up and put her arms around Rick and laughed. It was the first time since 1981 that I had felt so close to my Grandpa Benny. Her mannerisms are so much like his, I had to fight back the tears.

I didn't realize what I have been missing out on.

Blast from the Moline Past

Phone rings on Saturday with a 408 area code.... I could never have guessed who was on the phone - even if given a multiple choice option. It was my Grandpa Benny's sister Inez. I have not seen her or talked to her since I was about 12 years old. She got my number from my Grandma Stella's sister in law. Inez was here visiting her family and thought she would give me a call. I was so thrilled! We have kind of lost touch with my Grandpa's side of the family. I told Tom that if she looks like my grandpa - I'm gonna cry. Well - she looked so much like him! I am so glad she reached out! We laughed, she cried - we told a couple of stories. I can't wait to see her again. I just got off the phone with my sister - told her we need to take a trip to San Jose to see Inez.... and that Inez said she makes a mean egg nog!

Here are a couple of pictures. The first is of Inez and me, the second is of Inez and her husband Ken.

Cat bath!

We love our baby kitty. Yes that might as well be her name because that is how we call her. She is a foofy kitty with long black fur. She does a good job of keeping her self clean most of the time but she likes being out side with the big kitty. So she lounges and rolls in stuff she shouldn't.That's where the bad part comes in. I discovered last Saturday that she had fur balls or knots close to her skin on both sides of her hips. Not just one or two but many on each side. I wanted to shave her but we don't have a shaver that will work for her. So Shanna and I clipped the knots out and then Shanna decided she needed to bathe the kitty.

Now I am not sure Shanna has ever bathed a cat before so this was new to me. And when I came in she had hold of each end of the cat trying to get her in the water. It was funny to see but I don't have a picture of that. Now the sad yet funny part is the poor cat lost its hold on the side of the sink and went in but not just in she went in head first. That was when I asked Shanna if she had bathed a cat before and told her "I think the other end is suppose to go in the water". I laughed and she said "I KNOW THAT!". So no kitty is not impressed with her experience and really wants out plus she thinks mama is trying to drowned her. After seeing the attempted drowning andn the cats expressions I thought I better photograph this. Here are a few pictures of the cat before she was finished.


Baby Kitty "You are only doing this because I don't have front claws"

"Oh BLEEP let me out of here. No not head first again."
















"Just wait I will get my revenge"

So as you can see the kitty was less than impressed or thrilled about this experience. I hope you have enjoy the virtual experience as much as we enjoyed the real deal.

I wish you all a happy day and most excellent week.

Tom