Their First Day in New Schools

Well, Max has moved out of middle school and Elise out of elementary!  Big milestones and lots of changes.  So today was the first day of their school - Max in Junior High and Elise in Middle School. (In Kearney, they divide it 6-7, 8-9, 10-12, which I LOVE because in Bartlesville, high school was also divided and I felt that it allowed for more preparation for college in the last couple of grades before graduation.)

We started the day with German Pancakes (because it's both of their favorites) and off they went!

Once they got home I asked them to describe something from each of their days.  Here's what Elise learned and loved (she likes inspirational quotes and such):

And this was Max's reaction:

 (In hopes that it will help him to fall asleep better!)

 LOL!

Some Pictures of the Kids...

The rest of the summer vacation for the kiddos:

Sword play in the backyard with Cousin Reed.

And discussion about it afterward.

Father and son grilling.  (with the pup waiting for a dropped mistake)

Father and daughter drive.

I asked them to play outside.  (Rolling my eyes.)

Helping to make his chalkboard.

Elise working on her chalkboard wall. (blurry though)

I forgot to mention that she lost a tooth while we were playing Apples to Apples with Livia and McKenna!

Family pre-school supper at Freddy's.

And also, the day before school, we dropped in for some hand-dipped ice cream cones from McDonald's Yummy!

Some of the Flemings Come To Visit

We could have stayed out in Utah a bit longer after my grandpa's funeral, but Hyriam's brother-in-law passed away suddenly, so he was heading back to Kansas and bringing Livia and McKenna with him.  So, we traveled home as well to be able to spend some time with them in our home.

It was just less than one full day, but every minute is worth it!

 (Above) - On our drive home we stopped in at Little America and got some ice cream!  Yummy!  I was still trying to learn the art of "selfies" but it was really bright!  LOL!  And that dinosaur's nose was covering most of my face!

 Before we drove off.  But the kids are like, come on mom, what's taking so long!  Sorry, I'm trying to figure out how to do selfies.  (eye roll)

 The rest stops in Nebraska are the most beautiful in my opinion!  And even when giving and receiving bunny ears for pictures, these two make them even better!

 The four-some, together again.  They can still pick up where they left off, especially Max and Livia!

 A quick game of Apples to Apples.

 Really?  *sigh* on the iPod touches and iPhones.

 We took them to the farm to see the new piglets and the goats, ducks, and chickens.

 They're all so big!!

The Beauty of Funerals

We had anticipated only going west once this year for Nate's family reunion in Idaho.  But on July 28th, my Grandpa Gillis passed away so the kids, my brother, Jon, and I loaded up Peter Pan, the Beater Van, and headed to Utah.

This cute man was my role model, my teacher, a good example of kindness and gentleness and was goodnatured. He gave me my love of bicycles and the outdoors. Helped to teach me that hard work and then fun-play are good things. He was the one who baptized me a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was influential at my wedding. I'm happy to think that he is greeting my sister, Giselle and all his other loved ones. But I will miss my Grandpa Gillis and his smile.  

The beauty of funerals, though, is that they get the family together again.  I imagine that this is how it is when someone dies on the other side of the veil too.  Everyone gets together to welcome him home and there is much rejoicing and hugging and such joy at being able to see one another again!  

Daughters sharing chairs with Great-Grandmothers (this is Elise and Great Grandma Elsie, one of whom she was named after)...

...sons snuggling up to Great Grandmothers too (her papa's name is Max, just like his)...

 

...seeing dear friends, extra mothers...

 ...and more dads...

 

...friends who shaped one's life from childhood...
 

...siblings back together...


 ...And ancestors/progenitors all together in one place.  

Yes, funerals are beautiful!

Here are a few mementos that are reminders of my grandfather or that he loved:

His faithfulness to his country and love of freedom and patriotism.

His love of fishing (and bike riding, but we couldn't bring the tandem into the funeral home).

His love of outdoors and, yes, John Wayne.  He had a no-nonsense attitude toward learning and teaching, and a toughness and simple bluntness, much like you see in John Wayne.  

This last picture is a great illustration of Grandpa Gillis, waiting patiently for others, watching people around him (usually to see where he can help), and holding a tithing envelope in his hand, ready to give to those in need all with his quiet grin, a small glimpse into his mischievous personality: the man who asked God to let him catch the bouquet of wedding flowers when Giselle threw it and who always offered us ice cream before bed, then he'd say, "just don't let your mom know".  *wink*