How was your day?

My day was up and down and then up again with a happy ending. . . . . .as pictured here. Cris headstone is finally completed and in place.

I received a post card in the mail today (I've called once a week since the end of August) telling me that his headstone is in place. So I go to the cemetery to take a look/pictures and have a moment. Uhhhhmmm--it's not there--not even close. So I call the office (while standing on his grave). "Hello"--I received a post card today stating my husband's headstone is in place and I'm standing here NOT looking at it. Can you help me please"? Long time on hold--long time. Then the funeral director himself comes walking across the lawn. BIG apologies because it was actually installed in the wrong place. They were very embarrassed and said they would move it immediately. I stayed--I watched--I hovered. All with a calm but disappointed face. They dug it up, moved it to the correct place.
They took great care to make it perfect. NOW I'm happy. Hurting heart--but happy. I'm sure he loves it.
It looks great.

A side note: In the interest of fiscal responsibility I salute this Costco baby swing. Purchased for $20 in 1997 for baby Christine, all 14 grandchildren have swung on our patio. Grahammy Bear love it just as much as all the rest. Sigh. . . . .Life is Good.

Can you STAND it? NO--you can't!!

And then there's this--a most precious and poignant moment in our memories. This was recorded just a few days before he left us.



But this is how I like to remember him--loving every minute of every day.

My most recent adventure.

It was time for me to make a trip to Virginia to see Cris' mom, bring her some mementos and help with the closure process, etc. etc.

She is living near John (Cris' brother) and doing really well. We did some site seeing,

and some baby bouncing. This is Anderson, John's grandson. Soooooo cute.

And this is Clair, John's granddaughter. Sooooo cute.

And here's their mom and dad--Jill and Matt. It was so much fun spending time with these twin cuties.

Just had to post this picture of an Ethiopian Wedding photo session outside the Botanical Gardens by the Capital. (Insert your photo caption here)

Botanical Gardens--really beautiful.

Gramma and John outside the Botanical Gardens.

The hat---classic.

We also visited the Pentagon Memorial on September 12. It was very moving.

This is the wreath placed by President Obama the day before.

Each person who died that day has a bench with a stream of water underneath. Some benches are facing the building honoring those who died on the plane. The other benches are facing away from the building honoring those who died at the Pentagon. They're in rows by age. Very moving.

Look closely at the one dark stone at the bottom of the building. They left this original stone from the charred remains as a reminder.

There are markers for each year. (John's birth year)

Cris' birth year.

We also visited the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum at Dulles airport (an extension of the one on the Mall--for REALLY BIG planes). The Enola Gay--dropped the bomb during WWII.

And the best part of all--the Shuttle. THE Shuttle!!!!!

So I'm standing there looking at one of the shuttle's that actually went in to outer space. Loved it.

Also went to an antique quilt show at an historic home. Actual quilts from the 1800's. . . .and a lot of other stuff too.

Like this totally cute purse I bought for Memzy made from authentic vintage 50's curtain fabric. Take my word for it--it's even cuter in person.

But--I've saved the best picture for last. My favorite thing in the D.C. area is the Star-Spangled Banner. I took an illegal picture while staring at it but it was too dark to post. Here's one cut and pasted for google. Sigh. . . .love it.

The original Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the song that would become our national anthem, is among the most treasured artifacts in the collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.


A true American Treasure.

There's a lot to be said for male bonding. . . . . .

Isn't it so sweet---these knuckleheads are enjoying the BYU game together.

WE WON--WE WON---WE WON!!

I'm sure Cris was jumping and cheering.. . . . .or maybe he helped. . . . see example below. . . .it could happen :)

Out of the mouth of babes. . . . .

So, Clara and I are playing with her doll and pretending to be mommies. She tells me her baby is hungry and she's going to "feed" her. Up goes the shirt--baby plugs in to her belly button--and presto--she's feeding her baby. Just like HER mommy feeds Grahammy Bear (except for the belly button part). Priceless!!!!!