First day of 3rd Grade

The girls were very tired Monday morning (and so was I) after our whirlwind of a trip, but we made it to school on time thanks to Jane coming to watch dalton and Sydney!

Saige had Mrs. Smith and Madi had Mrs. Cates. They both had some good friends in their classes so they were excited.

Looks like I mixed some "school picture day" pictures in with this post. Oh well...

Grandma Darling

Mary Ann McKee Williams Myers

Beaver

May 30, 1936 - August 15, 2013

Our beloved mother, grandmother, wife, sister and friend Mary Ann Williams Myers passed away August 15, 2013 from heart complications. She was born May 30, 1936 to Lawrence David McKee and Ada Naomi Overlade in Provo, Utah. She lived most of her young life in Springville.

She had a loving relationship with her parents who adored her. Her father passed away when she was 8 years old. She learned many great lessons in life from both her mother and father.

On October 9, 1945 her mother married Rex Packard. He was a ray of sunshine to their sweet little family. She and her brother Lynn loved the attention from their new Dad and were later thrilled to have Verl join their family. Her brothers were a very special part of her life.

When she was in the 7th grade she moved to Beaver where she made friends quickly and it became home. Red became that special guy in her life. He was a free spirit, so outgoing and fun loving. They were married February 15, 1952. They were blessed with five beautiful children who were all raised in Greenville where everyone there was family. It didn't take our Mom long to feel part of the Williams family. They loved her so much and treated her like one of their own.

Mom relished many things in life but she reveled in being a mother and grandmother. In fact, some of her greatest blessings call her "Grandma Darling".

A big part of Mom and Dad's life was the trail ride at the Grand Canyon and going to the horse races with their friends. They met people from all walks of life which added character and dimension to their lives.

She loved learning and education. While raising her family she graduated from SUU and began teaching at Belknap Elementary. She transferred Motherhood into the classroom where she loved her students and they loved her.

Her beloved Red passed away August 10, 1990 which was forever life changing.

She married David Myers on December 26, 1992. They have enjoyed 21 years together. David brought a sparkle back into Mom's eyes. He has been a devoted husband and friend. She loved the Myers family and all of Dave's children and grandchildren as if they were her own.

She was an active member of the LDS Church where she served faithfully in various callings. She had a firm testimony and was a great example of service. Our Mother always taught us to look for the good in others.

She loved decorating her home, collecting dolls and thimbles and creating beautiful quilts. She enjoyed parties at the lodge, ceramics, genealogy, oil and water color painting, gardening, knitting, photography and reading. She was famous for her homemade dill pickles. There was always something good cooking in Mary Ann's Kitchen.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband: David Myers. Her children: Rex (Ranae) Williams, Carolyn (Mike) Dalton, Laurie Cox, Cliff (Michelle) Williams and Chad Williams. Step Children: Clayton Myers, Matt (Jodie) Myers, Markita (Bret) Yardley, Marissa Myers, Burgundy (Chris) Blomquist and Sunny (Bill) Evans. Brothers: Lynn (Mary Lee) McKee and Verl (Marie) Packard. She has 30 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

The Funeral services will be held Friday, August 23, 2013 at 11:00 am in the Beaver 3rd-4th Ward Chapel (220 N Main St., Beaver, Utah). A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Thursday Evening, August 22 at the same address and from 9:30 to 10:45 am Friday morning prior to services. Interment will be in the Greenville Cemetery, Greenville, Utah.

Arrangements are entrusted to the SWINDLEHURST FUNERAL HOME.

This is a letter my Grandma wrote to me when I was in the hospital with Madi and Saige. Just wanted to have it here to remember. She experienced a LOT of trials in her life and stayed faithful. She was a wonderful example. I miss her every day. 

Some pictures from her funeral

Danielle made this cake in honor of Grandma. She loved shopping and getting all dressed up.

These girls had SO much fun picking flowers from all of the arrangments that were sent for Grandma. There were SO MANY FLOWERS.

I've never seen people taking pictures at a funeral before but my cousin was taking them so I posted them here. Kinda strange and sad.

Together again at last. It's been a LONG time.

Uncle Chad is in the middle. Not sure who those other guys are.

August 2013 trip to Utah

We were supposed to take a big trip to Utah in July but one of the other vets quit in May and so July was crazy busy for Brett. We moved it to august instead-the week b4 school started. I can't remember now how it all worked out but it seems like Brett flew the girls to midway for a few days b4 we made it up there. Then he helped me drive there with the babies and flew to Minnesota to a conference and surprised Kelsi for a couple days in Iowa. Then we flew Julia into salt lake to help me drive back to Bakersfield. Complicated, but fun!

This picture of dalton describes how fun it is to ride with Syd in the car. She NEVER stops talking.

We took Joe's razors up Los creek when we were home. It was SO much fun. Dalton loved driving with Grandpa.

Dalton LOVES Circleville because he gets to "walk on the road."

We went over to Bryce's to roast hot dogs in their fire pit.

Checking out the horses. 

Trying to wink

We got to see Mia while we were there!

Stef's super dooper snow cone machine!

The girlies love sleepovers with their cousins. 

Stef making syds toes pink and pretty!

This is the only thing she will hold still for. 

Having fun at G & G Remunds! The kids LOVE the gator.

Tricky!

Riding bikes in aunt Jess's driveway. 

Roy creatively fixing the chair

The kids love Grandma's piano. 

I'm sad I didn't get a picture but we were able to see the Kay's while we were in midway. Janene and her family were in town for her sister's wedding and we were able to visit with them for a few minutes. They were good friends in Pullman and we hadn't seen them in years so it was fun to catch up. 

We were supposed to go to a McKee/Packard family reunion at the Heber valley girls camp but our plans drastically changed. Driving home from Janene's house I got a call from my mom telling me that my grandma had had a minor heart attack and was in the hospital in Provo. Mom said grandma didn't want anyone to know because she was worried they would cancel the reunion. She said that she was fine and that they would stop in to see her on their way up tomorrow. I planned on leaving the kids with Martha the next day to go see her for a minute too. 

Well, I finally got the kids to bed and was trying to get there myself when I got a text from Stef telling me that grandma had died. It was so shocking. I couldn't believe it. They did a scan and found bleeding on her brain and when they were trying to decide whether it not to operate she had a massive heart attack and died. We were all in major shock. We cancelled the reunion and Julia, the kids, and I drove back to Bakersfield. 

More about Grandma in the next couple posts.