My Little Helper!

Jackson has never cared before when I sweep the floor, but now every time I pull out the broom he says,"My turn!" He stands there next to me repeating that until I give it to him. I try to hurry and sweep up everything first so he doesn't push it all over the floor, but he thinks he is so big helping Mommy. I love it and wish he really knew how to do it so I didn't have to! 

Just like the slippers, Jackson one day just loved hats. He likes to wear them all the time. If he puts his jacket on that has a hood then he takes his hat off to put his hoody on. He makes me laugh. Kids are so silly.

Boondocks with the Yates Family

The Yates Family came up for their Spring Break. It was so much fun to see them. We decided to go to Boondocks with them on Tuesday. Kelly took off work and once Mom was done working she came over. We went on Tuesday because you can pay to do all of the games inside as many times as you want and it is so much cheaper then going on a regular day and paying for each thing. Then after four p.m. you can pay $6 more to do all the things outside as many times as you want. It was so awesome. We definitely were not anticipating being there all day long, but we were there for over seven hours. The kids were still not done after being there all day, but I was and so was Jackson so we left and then they came home a little later.

Jackson loved playing the games with the big kids. They would help him steer and he thought it was great. He loved the motorcycle and would let the big kids take him and then he decided that he wanted to do it all by himself and kicked them off. It was really funny. 

They had this cool ball looking thing where you can pick a roller coaster or track and then you get in and it does whatever you picked. It was really fun, but something I could only do twice before my head started to feel weird.

We could do laser tag as much as we wanted which was so fun. Every time we went it was just our family because no one was there! It was awesome! There was also four movies that you could pick to watch with 3D glasses and the chairs you sat in moved all over. That was really fun. We did three of the four. Grandma was not too sure about that one.

Outside we rode bumper boats, drove go-carts and were able to play miniature golf. Jackson thought golfing was fun at first, but then he thought it was a lot more fun to just run all over. It was a good thing no one else was there because he was all over the place. He loved the tunnels and the hills.

It was so much fun and I am glad that Jackson and I went. I didn't think there would be much for him to do, but he had fun with the big kids and just running around.

Bowling with Friends

We went bowling with some of our friends, the Scott Family, Bobbi and Kinzi. Jackson hadn't been before and he loved it. He thought it was so fun to carry the ball and roll it down the ramp. He also loved dancing to the music. He had a lot of fun playing with the other kids. I was horrible and lost, but Jackson seemed to beat most of the kids and me! It was really fun and I am glad we have such awesome neighbors to hang out with! 

The Funeral

My Mom and brothers were going to go dress my Dad the morning of the viewing, but a family friend said it was a spiritual experience and said that the whole family should go. So we decided that all the siblings would go with my Mom. We all got there and the coroner had already put on his garments for us and then the boys did most of the dressing. We each did a button on his shirt and I put on one of his shoes. I did not look at it as a body with no life, it was my Dad. I did not fear touching him or helping at all. It was a special experience and I am glad we decided to go. Before we left, we said a family prayer. I did surprisingly well during this whole process. It was just the beginning of a very long three days.
The viewing was Thursday, February 14th. It was wonderful. A lot of friends and family came to show their love and support. There was a lot of tears and a lot of smiles too. It was a long night to get through, but we all did our best. The viewing was from 6-8, but it didn't get over until about nine because there were so many people that came. My Daddy was a very loved man.
Friday, we had another viewing before the funeral started at noon. More friends and family came. We had a family prayer and then the casket was closed and we all followed it into the chapel for the service. Trying to decide the funeral was very stressful, it is a lot harder then one might think. My brother Tim read the Eulogy, then my Dad's cousin, Uncle Tracy, shared memories of my Dad. The girls sang a song that combined I am a Child of God and Families can be Together Forever.  Then my brothers Dustin and Scott gave talks.  Bishop Doug Milne ended by saying a few words. The whole thing was beautiful. I could have sat there all day and listened to stories about my Dad. Everyone did a great job, there was enough laughter brought into it and enough spirituality too.

The above picture is my family and my Dad's twin brother's family. 14 children from two great men, seven from each. We are lined up oldest to youngest.

My Dad is from Star Valley, Wyoming. That is where he wanted to be buried, in his hometown. It is by far one of the most beautiful places on this earth. Everyone who has been there will agree. It has always had a special place in my heart, but even more so now. My Dad always bragged about how he got four plots for $1. We were a little worried that he didn't really have a plot. Four for a $1, really? We questioned it, but my brother called and they said that Terry Johnson had bought four plots. My Dad made a good purchase on that one!
On Saturday morning my family all headed to Star Valley to bury my Dad. A dear family friend drove my Dad up in the back of his mini van. We all laughed about that. We got to the church and had a short viewing there because we knew there would be people up there who would not be able to make it to the funeral. A lot of people came to say their goodbyes. It was hard to go through it all again. There, is when the casket was finally closed for good. Sheriff Shane, my cousin, drove his truck with its lights on and we all followed him up to the cemetery. We could not get over how beautiful the day was. It didn't even feel cold outside, the sun was brightly shining. My Mom said that Dad made it warm for her because he knows how much she hated the cold.
We got to the cemetery and my Uncle Gary dedicated the grave. Afterwards, all the girls picked a flower from the floral arrangement on the casket to keep. We hung out for a while because no one wanted to leave. This was it, it was our final goodbye.

Above is my Dad's parents grave. He was finally reunited with them.

There was a luncheon after the burial. It was nice to still be with family. When we decided it was finally time to head home, our family all went back to the cemetery to see my Dad officially buried. They had laid all the flowers on top of the grave site. We will miss our Dad and Papa. He was definitely a beacon of light in my life. I love you Dad.

My Sweet Daddy

February 9th was like any normal day. We got got up and had breakfast and just played the whole day. Little did I know that my life would change drastically later that day. It was a little after nine that night, CJ and I were sitting on the couch watching t.v. when my sister Holly called me. I could tell she was upset on the phone. She said that Matt and her were on their way to my house. She then proceeded to tell me that Dad had another heart attack and was gone. I was laying down and sat up quickly and said,"Please tell me you are joking." "I wish I was", was her response. I just broke down. I couldn't even talk to her or to CJ and tell him what had happened. CJ took the phone and asked what happened. Holly told him and then told him to pack me a bag so I could stay at my Mom's house that night.
I couldn't move, my body was numb and all I could do was cry. I didn't want CJ to leave me, I just needed him to hold me. After a while I thought I better pack a bag so I am ready when Holly comes. We went in to the bedroom and started packing and Holly walked in. We just held each other and then she said we needed to go because Mom needs us.  I left CJ with Jackson that night. I wanted CJ with me, but at the same time was afraid to leave Jackson with someone else even though he had no idea what had just happened.   The roads were horrible that night so it took us a long time to get to my Mom's. The whole way there, it was like a bad dream. I knew what Holly had told me was true, but I also didn't quite believe it at the same time. I wanted to see him so badly to confirm the news, but we were unable to before the coroner took him because it had been hours since my Dad had passed and he was already turning blue. That was very hard.
Once we got to the house, it was filled with family and close friends. They all held us and said how sorry they were. We all just cried, there was nothing else we could do. My Mom's Bishop was there and talked to us all and gave my Mom a blessing. We stayed up talking and telling stories of my Daddy. We laughed and cried for hours. We finally decided to go to bed around 2:00 am. I slept with my Mom that night, but neither of us fell asleep.
The next day, my brothers Tim and Dustin and sister Jodi all got to the house. CJ came out in the morning with Jackson. Jackson lifted all our spirits with his happy attitude. His ignorance was bitter sweet. I was glad he didn't quite understand everything that was going on, but then sad that he wasn't old enough to remember his Papa.
Later that day, all the siblings, spouses and my Aunt Susan and Uncle Gary went to the mortuary to see my Dad. It was hard to see him laying there. He looked so good though, I kept wishing he would just pop up and say Boo! Then tell us all it was a joke and we could all go home together. He just laid there though, stiff and cold as ice. I am glad that we were able to spend that time together with my family to see him, but it confirmed that he was really gone. Everyone left the room and I stayed behind to be alone with my Dad. I sat and talked to him and told him I missed him and how sad I was that Jackson won't remember him. I asked him to watch over us. I know he was there, I know he heard every word.
As we were driving home, I couldn't help but think that all the people in the other cars have no idea that we just went and saw our Dad who died. They are busy with their lives while ours came to a halt.
The next few days were busy planning the funeral and deciding how my Mom was going to make it financially. It was great to be able to spend that time with my family. I love them all so much. We all want to go to Heaven someday and be with our families forever, but I think we all have a bigger desire to do what is right now. We all want to be with my Dad. You don't realize the reality of it all until someone you love has passed on. My Dad is up there busy at work, but waiting for all of us to join him.
I never wanted to let down my Heavenly Father, but I really don't want to let down my Dad. I will try my hardest to do what is right and raise my children with the knowledge of the gospel so we can be an eternal family. I feel so sorry for those families who don't know that death is not the end. For either side though, when someone is lost, all you have are memories left of that person. How sad if you don't have any. Create good memories now so you can remember them forever.  Spend time with your family. At the end of the day, that is all you have and you don't know when someones time here on earth will be over.

Front Runner Ride

The day after Jackson's birthday, my Mom called me to see if I wanted to meet them and ride the Front Runner up to Ogden and back. Jackson loves trains so I thought he would enjoy it so we said yes. My parents and Aunt Susan and Uncle Gary got on in Sandy and I got on at the Woods Cross station. Jackson was very excited to ride the train and was very excited when he saw that Grandma and Papa were on it. He was a little hesitant at first, but he quickly warmed up when my Mom pulled M&M's out of her purse. 

My Mom forgot his present the night before so she brought it on the train. Jackson got a Thomas the Train blanket and pillowcase. He was very excited to see Thomas. He doesn't like to have covers on, but he does like to look at it and drive his trains on the blanket. Funny boy.

We rode to Ogden and got off. We had thirty minutes to hang out until the train left to head South. We ordered some food at a little restaurant in the parking lot and then got on the train to eat it. Jackson thought he was very big to sit in the chair.

 

Jackson loved looking out the window with Papa.

It was so fun. Jackson loved it and so we will have to do it again with CJ one day.