Happy Birthday M-A-X

What an eventful December I've had. I am posting this a day early because I want to make sure it is up for his birthday.

Barrett and his family were able to fly in for Grandpa's funeral last week and they flew back to Kansas City today. When me and Dad picked them up from the airport, Max told us how he had his birthday at Miss Kaffee's. Chantel said that Max has said he's already had his birthday.

I was on the ball and sent his birthday present early so they got it before they came out here to Utah. When I asked him what his favorite animal was, he said "hippopotamus" in his cute little voice with the lisp. I said, "well out of a dog and a bear, what is it" he said a BLUE DOG. Well Build-A-Bear didn't have a BLUE DOG, so he got a dog that I conveniently name Blue.

On Christmas Day, we met at Nancy's and had a little family Christmas party and a little birthday party for Max. I had asked Max what he wanted on a birthday cake and he said he wanted a "DINO CAKE" so I went to Smith's and ordered a cake. It turned out so cute! Except it had these little brown spots on the cake, I'm not sure if they were supposed to be rocks.. But once Max saw them, he started singing "every dinosaur poops" and that is exactly what I thought!

Max looked so handsome at Grandpa's funeral, flash back to when Barrett was little. In his cute little suit. I just love him! He is so cute with his big blue eyes.. Just another little Labrum who got Grandpa's eyes! :)

I hope he has had MANY fun birthdays this year. Not many people get to have about 15 parties! :) I love you Max!

Christmas Season

As the Christmas season is here, I look back and think of everything that has happened this year. Especially over the past month and the events that have happened.

This past Friday, my Grandpa Rue passed away. I got the phone call at work and it totally took me by surprise. I was soon surrounded by my coworkers showing their love and support. I knew I had to be with my family at that time. I left work and talked to my cousin Mitch and met right off the freeway in Salt Lake and traveled to Orangeville. The family was at Grandpa's house making plans. Saturday we went to the funeral home and talked about memories of grandpa and then to the floral and made floral arrangements. The arrangements were PERFECT for Grandpa.

The viewing was Monday and the funeral was Tuesday. The family met before the viewing and shared memories of Grandpa. All the grandchildren had the memories of Grandpa of Christmas. It just seems that it was the perfect time for Grandpa, he loved Christmas!

The funeral was PERFECT! Everything turned out just right. The burial was cold and snowy but couldn't have been better. Since Grandpa had been in the Air Force, he had the American Legion there. It was so cold, the little old men seemed to be frozen there. But it was beautiful having the snow fall all around.

As I sit here on Christmas Eve day, I just think about the memories I have of how it was growing up. Every Christmas Eve night, we would go to Grandpa's house and have dinner and we would get our pajamas. We would know what we were getting but that was okay! Grandpa would have us listen to the books "The Gift of the Magi" and "Twas the Night Before Christmas" before we could open up our presents from him and Grandma. I don't remember what "The Gift of the Magi" was about, I just remember sitting there wanting to open up that present. Once we opened it, we all had to go put them on. We would walk out in the living room and once everyone was there, we had pictures. So many years of pictures of our pajamas!

I love my Grandpa and I will miss him so much! He has taught me so much. He taught the grandkids to show respect. Be PROUD of where you are from! I hold my head proud because I am from Orangeville! He will be missed.