My wonderful grandma (the one that first let me use Nair (It burned!) and would buy me Blackjack gum) recently passed away after being on Hospice for the last few weeks. Sean and I were able to fly out to California this last Thursday night and meet up with all of my family on my Dad's side for the funeral. Only one cousin was missing. We stayed at my aunt Gee's house, where 12 of us did our best to squeeze into her leftover space (and avoid getting our stuff pooped on by Gee's vengeful cats). My parents were there, as well as my brother and his girlfriend, and my cousin and his wife and two children. It was so fun to have them all there. (Especially Jaxon and Skylee. Skylee was our little friend all weekend. I taught her to say "yeehaw!" Although there never was much feeling behind it when she said it.)
Friday was the funeral. Who knew that funerals were so time consuming and that there were so many different parts to it? First there was the viewing (It was at that time I resolved to be cremated) then there was the funeral service where all of her kids spoke. Then we went to the grave site for the grave dedication. Then it was back to the church for snacks. I think that was probably my favorite part. When I die I want to be cremated, have a quick funeral, and then lots of food for everybody!
On Saturday we had so much fun! We went to the beach for a weenie roast lunch and s'mores. We got to play in the water and dig up little shells and sand crabs (well not so much the sand crabs, those things freak me out). My grandpa, who is in his 80's rode his bike 11 miles down to the beach! I think he is in better shape than me. Then we went to a family get together and everybody played volleyball and baseball, talked, and ate dinner. For dessert we went to this amazing place just down the street from Disneyland called Joe's Italian Ice. If you are ever in the Disneyland area I highly recommend going there for the best ice cream and italian ice ever! Then we went back home and had a Nuts (Nertz) tournament. It was a pretty fierce competition!
On Sunday we played a lot of Boggle and went to church and we had lots of family over for a wonderful taco dinner, thanks to Brittany and all the other helpers. Brittany also made these awesome "Oreo cookies." I will put the recipe at the end of the blog because they are that good! My friend, Cassie was able to come over too and we played so many fun games and Sean is so proud that he won a game of Nuts!
On Monday we went to a yummy brunch at IHOP and then we went to the Tide Pools at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. I may have taken a shell or two... Then it was off to the airport for a return to real life. How lame!
Awesome Oreo Cookies:
Cookies:
1 Pkg Devils food cake
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Oil
Bake at 350 for eight minutes
Filling:
8 ounce pkg Cream Cheese
1/4 cup Butter
2 tsp Vanilla
2-4 cups Powdered Sugar
Friday was the funeral. Who knew that funerals were so time consuming and that there were so many different parts to it? First there was the viewing (It was at that time I resolved to be cremated) then there was the funeral service where all of her kids spoke. Then we went to the grave site for the grave dedication. Then it was back to the church for snacks. I think that was probably my favorite part. When I die I want to be cremated, have a quick funeral, and then lots of food for everybody!
On Saturday we had so much fun! We went to the beach for a weenie roast lunch and s'mores. We got to play in the water and dig up little shells and sand crabs (well not so much the sand crabs, those things freak me out). My grandpa, who is in his 80's rode his bike 11 miles down to the beach! I think he is in better shape than me. Then we went to a family get together and everybody played volleyball and baseball, talked, and ate dinner. For dessert we went to this amazing place just down the street from Disneyland called Joe's Italian Ice. If you are ever in the Disneyland area I highly recommend going there for the best ice cream and italian ice ever! Then we went back home and had a Nuts (Nertz) tournament. It was a pretty fierce competition!
On Sunday we played a lot of Boggle and went to church and we had lots of family over for a wonderful taco dinner, thanks to Brittany and all the other helpers. Brittany also made these awesome "Oreo cookies." I will put the recipe at the end of the blog because they are that good! My friend, Cassie was able to come over too and we played so many fun games and Sean is so proud that he won a game of Nuts!
On Monday we went to a yummy brunch at IHOP and then we went to the Tide Pools at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. I may have taken a shell or two... Then it was off to the airport for a return to real life. How lame!
Awesome Oreo Cookies:
Cookies:
1 Pkg Devils food cake
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Oil
Bake at 350 for eight minutes
Filling:
8 ounce pkg Cream Cheese
1/4 cup Butter
2 tsp Vanilla
2-4 cups Powdered Sugar
May 27, 2010 at 3:01 PM
I love your grandma! I'm glad it was a nice funeral. Thanks for sharing :)
May 27, 2010 at 4:01 PM
Oh my gosh. I love those oreo cookie things. I'm totally going to make them this weekend. I've been wanting them for seriously-like months, but I didn't have the recipe. Thanks for posting it. I'm glad you had fun in Cali. I'm totally jealous you got to go to the beach.
May 28, 2010 at 8:27 AM
I'm very sorry to hear about your grandma, Amy, but I'm glad you and Sean had a good time with your family. Too bad your plane didn't have a stopover in St. George, eh?
May 28, 2010 at 9:59 AM
Sorry about your loss. :( Funerals are long and hard but it is amazing to hear the stories and feel closer to that person. I'm glad you guys were able to get there and spend time with your family. It sounds like it was a blast. I sure do miss you guys and know that "real life" is very bisy for you. I've finally got my car back so maybe I might just have to come kidnap you or see if we can go to the movies?? Love ya both. -Mitsy-
May 28, 2010 at 12:39 PM
Meghan: Yeah, she was great. It was so much fun going to grandma's house to play in the pool and the "forest" when we were little. Remember the hammock and the tire swing? Your dad was at the funeral. That was really nice.
Celeste: I made it the way the recipe says but the cookie turned out much harder than I wanted. I would maybe do only one egg and more oil. Good luck! I will be experimenting with the recipe too. And the beach was awesome, except I forgot to bring shorts so I had to wear rolled up pants and run away from the bigger waves. I think thats my favorite part of the beach.
Tom: I look forward to visiting you guys! Sean and I will be down in St. George with my family for 2 days (I think) in early July. And if its ok, maybe we can come down for Pioneer Day. Sean has class on Saturday, but it might be cancelled on the 24th...
Mitsy: Yeah, my grandma has had alzheimers for a long time so it was good to be reminded of what she was like before then. I would love to go to the movies with you. We haven't been to the movies at all this year (I can't even remember the last time we went. It might have been Christmas) Lemme know!
May 29, 2010 at 1:23 PM
You betcha it's okay!