Oh, Fun Days!

The past couple of months in photos:

Elina is getting really good at flying kites.  Too bad she can't fly on one (like in Wild Kratts :)

Here's Emmett pointing to the bowl of spaghetti sauce he just dumped on the floor.  It totally reminded me of the Mormon message when the Dad walks in just in time to see the bowl go flying :)

I don't know if it's legal to play in the sprinklers on the Temple grounds, but the kids were roasting, so I let them get a "little" wet!! Emmett especially LOVED it!

Our field trip to the pet store turned out to be a huge hit!!  Aaron talked about the dog with the smooshed nose and Elina adored the corn snake! These kids really need a pet :)

We said good-bye to our milk jug igloo.  We had fun putting it together, playing in it, and ripping it apart! 

Emmett especially loved throwing the jugs down the stairs!  He laughed and laughed!

My very talented brother, Darren, stole the show in the last high school concert any Robinson sibling will ever be in again!  I can't believe he's graduating.  I'm so glad we live in Cedar and can support my siblings.  I've loved watching them grow up!

Here's my handsome Emmett in his Sunday best.  Even though he wouldn't put the tortilla down for a picture he's still a cutie pa-tootie!

The other day, we heard some clanks against the wall and looked outside to see "Monster Hail".  Literally the biggest hail stones I have ever seen.  Elina tried to catch them in her cup, but ended up scooping them up once the storm passed!

A Celebration of a Great Life!

There are times in life when you think it will always be the same, then something happens to remind you that the only thing truly constant... is change.  I never imagined life without my Grandma Robinson but was filled with graditude as we celebrated her life a few of weeks ago.
In planning her own funeral, due to terminal melanoma, it was as if she was with us one last time.  She instructed every detail down to making sure the closing song "Go Ye Now In Peace" ended on a major chord instead of a minor.  She requested the grandchildren to let balloons go at the conclusion of the graveside service.  It was such a beautiful scene to watch them float peacefully up to the sky...a reminder that death is not the end and peaceful, colorful things are still to come.

My cousin, Devin, wrote these thoughts about the service:

What was Grandma Robinson trying to teach me during her last sermon (the funeral program)?

1. Make room for music in your lives. Wendy and Shelly both talked about Grandma’slove for music. They mentioned the groups she was involved in, the family musical programs, singing while washing the dishes, etc. I think she set up her funeral service to be a program of sorts because there were no congregational numbers. She wanted the grandkids to sing, her daughters, and a few families. I think in this she wanted to help us understand that the generations to come should not be afraid of performing because music can bless lives.

2. “We should be more gentle with ourselves.” When I heard this song it was like I was sitting in the kitchen visiting with Grandma. With a smile she’d say something like, “Now Devin, there are a lot of things that can get you down in this life but most of them are of no importance. You really should be more gentle with yourself.”

3. Be sure that everyone feels like they are part of the family. I had never heard Dianna’s account of her experience as a foster child. This may have been difficult for her to do but as she shared the experience of her sitting alone crying in bed in new surroundings and Grandma coming upstairs to listen and express love, I’m sure that Grandma wanted Dianna’s family and everyone else to know that they are loved and part of the family. I love how she even listed all 124 family members on the back of the program. In addition, I’m amazed at the opportunities Grandma provided for everyone to have a part in the program. Iwas touched to see the balloons as part of the burial service because I know Grandma was thinking, “Now, how do I involve all the kids?” What a great principle to teach her family through colorful balloons, “Don’t look down in the grave…. look up.”

4. Do it with a smile. Grandma could make everyone laugh and understood the power of humor. When I walked in to see her body and saw that picture of her waving by the guest book I thought, “Now this is what Grandma would have wanted.” The Scrabble and Rook games on display were also part of Grandma’s life. Balloons would surely bring smiles to the faces of little ones. When I watched her video I saw so much that made me smile and this is how I’ll always remember her…