Grandma Jean

As most know I lost my Grandma earlier this month. It was semi-expected, but no matter how prepared we all thought we were, it couldn't compare to actually going through it. I took it really hard. I was in a fog for the two days before I left for CA. Luckily I was blessed with peace before the journey.
It was a wonderful opportunity for our family to be together though. My sister Mary & I were able to fly out for the funeral (thanks Dad!). We ended up flying out on my Birthday. We had a wonderful family dinner at Mel's (my FAVORITE burger joint). Can I tell you how wonderful it was to be together again. I can't remember the last time my family, just us kids (no spouses) and our parents went out together.
The next day we made the trip down to Escalon for the service. It was great. I got to sing "Nearer My God to Thee" with my sisters. We went out to lunch and laughed and shared memories of Grandma.
She is the coolest Grandma! Can I just say that. I mean look at the picture. This was taken at Mason's birthday party, I think his 3rd, 5 years ago. I know I have "better" pictures of her, but this one's my favorite. It just shows how cool she was.
So now I will share one of my favorite memories of my Grandma Jean...
Turn the volume up on my playlist. There's a reason Vanilla Ice is on my playlist.
The year is 1990. I'm 12, my sister Mary is 14. Our parents are out of town and Grandma's staying with us. It's a Wednesday night, so we're headed up to "Mormon Center" for mutual. We're in Grandma's hatchback Honda Civic with at least one, maybe two friends. Ice Ice Baby comes on the radio. Yes, she let us listen to whatever we wanted even though she only liked country. We tell Grandma to turn it up. She does. We tell her to turn it up again. She does. This goes on. Mormon Center is on a hill, a big one. So picture her little Civic, packed full of girls, rattling with the base from Ice Ice Baby, chugging up the hill. I wouldn't be surprised if we blew her speakers that night. If we did she wouldn't have cared. That's just the kind of Grandma she was. She loved her Kids, her Grand kids and Great Grand kids. We will all feel her loss till we are with her again.

biRthDaY pReSenTs

(those aren't my legs, btw)

Hey Mom & Dad,

That's some of what I got with my birthday money you sent me.
I also got black tights with a subtle floral print and gray tights with a diamond print.
Bargain shopper! Cute huh? Thanks!!!

Love,
Meliss

Peanut Butter and Tabasco Sauce

I'm in California right now. My Grandmother passed away, so I flew out for the funeral. I was able to go to the Sacramento Temple with my dad this morning. While in the temple one of the workers was so sweet to find my father in law, who was working there, so I could say hi. It was so nice to visit with my Dad and father in law. My father in law shared a memory with me that I had forgotten to get down here, so I thought now was a great time to share it.

While my in laws were in town for Mason's baptism, in September, Willson was being his usual naughty self. I was upstairs and heard an odd noise. I went down to investigate.

The smell hit first. I was so confused.

It was such an odd mixture of smells I couldn't tell what it was. Bet you can guess from the the title of this blog.

He had gotten into the peanut butter and the green Tabasco sauce.

Let me tell you from experience, that this is two smells you do not want mixing.

Seriously.

They should have a label on them, like the cleaners where if you mix the two it will produce toxic fumes.

The most amazing part in all this is where the mess was.

The floor.

The bottom cupboards.

The counter.

The upper cupboards.

And the ceiling.

Yep, that boy's talented.