Grandma Charlie

Jon's Mom passed away August 13th. To be honest, most days I "forget" (for lack of a better word) that she is gone. Moms are just something that we assume to be around forever. I feel very fortunate for the time we had with her before we moved. We stayed with her for the 4 days before we moved and we are so grateful for that time. Not many people get to say a real goodbye to someone before they pass. I feel lucky that we did even though we did not know that it would be the last one in this life. My final image of her was at 5-something in the morning, standing at the end of her side walk in her blue flowered night gown, waving goodbye. I like that memory.

A few things I want to remember~ Moved in on Monday~ Found out she had fallen while in California on Thursday~ Jon flew out on Saturday~ She passed away on Monday~ The kids and I flew to Utah on Monday~ Jon flew to Utah on Tuesday~ Funeral was on Saturday. ~In between her accident and her passing we told Bennett that she had hurt her head and that we needed to pray for her. We did a few times throughout the days and at nights. When she passed away and we had to fly back to Utah I told him what happened and where she had gone. He took it as well as a 4 year old would, confused, still oblivious. I talked to him about it throughout the day to make sure he knew what was happening. He seemed to. When we were landing in Utah he sighed and said, "I hope Grandmas head is feeling better." Through my tears I told him that it was not able to get better and she went to live with Heavenly Father. Later as I was retelling that to my family someone suggested that I tell him that she is better because in Heaven you don't hurt anymore. OF COURSE! Why would a 4 year old know that she is not hurting anymore just because she died. All in all he has taken it well, he never has shown much sadness but I think he just doesn't know that he should be sad. It is great the perspective that kids can add to things. We talk about resurrection and being with Heavenly Father as a happy thing, so why should he think of it any different. He knows that Poppy died so the concept is not new, but he still prays for her head to get better, maybe out of habit. ~The theme was bright and cheery which is so fitting for her, and we all dressed accordingly. ~Each grandchild shared a memory at the funeral. Bennett bravely talked in the microphone about the toys at Grandmas house, the army guys and the matchbox cars. We tried to get Libby to talk about the cookies at Grandmas but she just held the microphone and gave everyone her classic Libby glare. ~She was born in CA and died in CA. I am sure that California girl would have had it no other way. ~So many flowers, big displays of beautiful flowers. She would have loved that.

Charleen Mayne 1943 ~ 2012 Our beautiful, beloved mother, sister and grandmother, Charleen Ruth Mayne, age 69, passed away peacefully at a hospital in Modesto, California on Monday, August 13, 2012 due to injuries sustained from a fall a few days earlier. During her final days many loving family members surrounded her. A friend said "The sun is a little dimmer today because Charleen passed" and we couldn't agree more. Charleen was born in Huntington Park, California on June 25, 1943 to Ruth and Charles Wilson. The oldest of 3 daughters, Charleen was the original "California Girl". Charleen attended Fullerton High School during which she was head Yell Leader and the Pow Wow Queen of 1961. Upon graduation from high school, Charleen attended Brigham Young University; Provo, Utah where she met David Ray Mayne and was later married in the Salt Lake Temple. Charleen is the mother of six children, David Jr. (Naomi), Matthew (Michelle), Jason (Ginni), Charee Thorn (Jeffery), Jonathan (MarKey) and Mitchell (Holly). Charleen's life has been made complete with 17 grandchildren. The family dinners where we shared "stories about mom" have brought much laughter to our lives. Family gatherings were always fun with Charleen because they involved laughter and great food. Charleen was beautiful, optimistic and fun loving. She had experienced many of life's challenges but her perspective was always positive. Family and friends were her source of happiness and fulfillment. A friend said "Charleen saw the real humor in the little things in life, so she could make any of us smile and even laugh through our tears as well as during the happy moments". You can see it every day in the lives that she touched. Her testimony and faith helped her through life's struggles and her relationship with her Savior helped her find happiness to overcome those challenges. Charleen was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a firm foundation of the gospel and was proud of her pioneer heritage. She was privileged to serve in many capacities from Primary President, to Seminary teacher. Many of those whom she served have fond memories and a great love for Charleen. Charleen was a loving, kind mother who spent endless hours supporting her children in all their endeavors. Her most important accomplishment in life was being a mother and grandmother. Growing up in the Mayne household could be described as Grand Central station with Charleen organizing and making sure each child was at their practice or game. She attended everything she could that her kids were involved in. She not only attended, but also cheered louder than any other parent. As a grandmother, she could frequently be found on the sidelines or in the audience supporting a grandchild. Charleen loved to serve; whether it was at home, church or in the community, she liked to get involved. One of her most recent interests was in the Mitt Romney campaign. Charleen was passionate about being involved in her local community. She set the example for her children and grandchildren to get involved and that no one is too small to make a difference. Charleen had an artistic flair and she used her talents to establish a successful catering company for several years before health issues forced her retirement. Special thanks to the wonderful hospital staff at Dr. Hospital in Modesto CA for their kindness and care during her last days. Charleen was one of a kind - there is no other like her. Her personality was infectious - she made you smile. We know that we will see her again. We are grateful to have her in our lives and the legacy of love and happiness she left for us. Proceeded in death by her parents. Survived by all of her children and their spouses, grandchildren, sisters Pam Reese and Jill Youkel, Stepfather Ralph Michael. Come celebrate Charleen's legacy with us - Funeral services will be on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 11:00 am at the LDS Stake Center, 587 S. Saratoga Rd, Saratoga Springs, Utah.

Today I cried

Today I cried. And not the graceful cry where a tear rolls down your cheek and you wipe it away while containing a smile. No, it was the ugly cry. Today was our last day at our ward. I was dreading going to church today only because I hate goodbyes. But we went anyways and I was so impressed with myself that it stayed so upbeat. I even had the nerve to look at the clock at about fifteen minutes to the end and congratulate myself for being such a big girl and not crying or even coming close to crying even once. Then the closing song hit. Sitting next to one of my dearest friends and next door neighbor, I had a little flash back of six plus years earlier. Her and I sat next to each other in the same Relief Society room because we were the only familiar face to each other in a room of strangers. Flashing forward, there we sit again, but this time we are holding hands and bawling like babies.

I have a feeling this will be my first post of many as we say goodbye to Sunshine Drive.

Eastward Bound

The dust has settled and the word is out, we are moving to the DC metro area in August. It all happened so fast and took us by complete surprise. This was not something that we initiated. His current company came to him and asked if he would like this promotion....which would require a move, a big move. It did not take long for us to see that this is where our lives are supposed to be right now. There has been a lot of things happen to set us up for this and even more things NOT happen to make this possible as well. We really are excited for this adventure and doing something totally new and out of our norm. All my life I have lived in a 40 mile range. So uprooting from everything I know will be surreal at the least. But again, I am ready and up for it. Jon will work from home all but a few days a month, so we have alot of freedom in where we can live. Jon will visit the surrounding area a few times a month. On those days he will travel a few places in his area which covers, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware(I didn't even know people really lived there) and North Carolina. He will travel most to DC and Philadelphia, so somewhere in between those two would be smartest, but who knows. You would think more freedom would make it easier but it doesn't. For now we are deciding between PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

or...VIRGINIA

Looks like........

Bennett is a hoot. I love this boy and his imagination. Even if it results in total embarrassment, I still laugh so hard.

He is very into saying announcing what or who people look like. Every time we are in public and I hear, "HE LOOKS LIKE......" I rush to his mouth to attempt to cover it or change the subject. First off, everyone is a "He", and second, you just never know what is coming next. It is sometimes flattering, but usually not and NEVER p.c.. People have been pegged as Sir Topham Hatt, a hula dancer, a pirate, Grandma great(she was about 30), chocolate, Grandpa if Grandpa was bigger, his Uncle Court, a girl(it wasn't), a baby but not a baby like mine, a baby with messy hair, a rock star and SEVERAL Thomas S. Monsons, as well as just about everyone he knows(friends, teachers, family). The other night we went to my brothers graduation, it was quiet and at the perfect time a girl walked across the stage to get her diploma. Bennett announced, "That looks like Thomas S. Monson, if Thomas S. Monson was a girl". We are working on this:/

An 18 month-er

Miss Lib is 18 months old(in every sense of the word)

She is a chatty pants, saying more than 30 words. Her "comfort word" as Jon calls it, is Mommy. Not to self promote but she talks about me all-day-long. When she is happy or sad, scared or excited, tired or waking up, hungry or angry, frustrated or proud of her self-you get the picture, she says Mommy none stop. I pretty much love it even though it is often yelling or whining or crying....Mommy. It melts my heart.

There are not many places in our house that she has not climbed on, in or out of.

There is no blinking aloud around this girl. It is safe to say she is usually up to no good. Good thing I like looking at her.

While I am folding the clothes on top, she is unloading them from the bottom(and putting them on, all of them)




She loves baths. If the bathroom door is left open chances are she will find her way in there and help herself in, even if it means a face plant, worth it in her book I guess.

She is a blanky girl. She does this weird thing when she gets in her bed. She grabs the edge of it and pulls it up right under her nose. We are not sure if she is smelling it or rubbing her nose, but it is adorably strange. She has done that for as long as we can remember. If you are snuggling her she will grab another end and stick it up to your nose. It melts my heart and it would be ok with me if she never stops, 18 years old, sure. I adore it.

She is a little momma, loves babies, real, dolls or pictures of babies, loves them and needs to cuddle them all. She loves books, especially those with pictures of babies which she kisses every page.

First day in nursery was a breeze. She did great, which surprised me on account her her usually unfriendly-ness:)

She loves this guy and he returns it ten folds. He sure puts up with alot from her. It is safe to say we are all pretty crazy about her.

Hello Seattle, so nice to finally meet you

Jon was born and lived in Seattle until he was 8 or so. He has always been a die hard Seattle Sports fan. So it was only fitting that he take me back there. Jon and I have been planning this trip to Seattle for only about 8 years now. It always got cancelled or relocated. But in celebration of our 7 years of blissful marriage we made the reservations and nothing was going to stop us this time.
Here were some of my favorite parts:

We had to hit a Seahawks game while we were there. It is probably note worthy that they WON!! It was kind of cold.......ok, it was alot cold.

The underground tour was really cool. I love the historical yet eery part of it. I'm kind of weird like that.


When you go to certain places there are some obligatory pictures that must be taken, here is one of them.

We were also able to meet up with a couple of our friends that have moved there. That was a definite favorite as well.

Bye bye for now Seattle, I am sure our relationship has just begun.

The Village

Do you remember the movie The Village? A bunch of people made a big wall around their village and lived like the Amish to protect their kids from the ugly, sickening world. In the end they burst out only to find out they are in the current time period.

Kind of a dumb movie and we all walked away thinking, "What freaks"!

Now I have kids and I would like to withdraw my stance, not a bad idea. Whose with me?