Grandpa

I had a great time going through the last few years and putting together all of the memories of good times with Grandpa!  We had a lot of fun together, especially when we lived with Grandpa and the years afterwards.  The kids knew that Grandpa was always around to cuddle, play with and get cookies and candies from.  These are the moments that I want to remember the most!

These pictures with Baylor were taken just this past Feb.  Grandpa was weaker than his old self, but still the same fun and spunk, as is obvious by the fun he is having here with the baby.

Marshall was always on Grandpa's lap.  These two were the best of buddies.  It really was Marshall growing up at Grandpa's side.

It was true that the adoration was mutual as Grandpa loved Marshall as much as Marshall loved him.  Grandpa could never tell Marshall no, he would get as many cookies and candies as he would like, until I would intervene.

Marshall still loves balls, and he had a constant companion to throw and kick the ball to.

These are great treasured pictures of Grandpa in his whites.  He was pretty nervous about the call to serve in the temple but in the end turned out to be one of his favorite callings of his life.  We were grateful for his work and diligence.  It is so cute to see him here, all goofy and cute.

We even got Grandpa to play Wii with us.  He is here trying to head but the soccer ball.  He would lean side to side.  So cute and funny!

More cookies and candies.

The girls actually did tackle him down here.  It was awful, but thankfully he came down slow and wasn't hurt.

Grandpa every morning would read his scriptures and the newspaper.  This was frequently interrupted by girls wanting him to read to them.  He often did and they loved to cuddle beside and have him read a kids book to them.

This may look like more injuries but it is actually girls finding lipstick and giving Grandpa lipstick kisses all over his face.  It is even all over his hair.  He had to take another shower to get it all off!

Enjoying a smoothie Popsicle with the kids.  He was often right in there as one of them!

What a great example!  He is reading his scriptures and so she is doing the same.

These last few are taken in Grandpas last weeks.  We were so grateful to be able to spend so much time with him through his life and especially at the end of his life.  We so enjoyed having the opportunity to serve him and try to care for him.  I had missed out on the opportunity to say good-bye to my other grandparents and I wasn't going to let this happen again.  We were there by him nearly every other day.  It was special times.

Marshall still cuddled in his spot beside Grandpa.  He didn't know any different other then he had to climb up the side and not over top of Grandpa's tummy.  It was still the same Grandpa, in the same chair, with the same treats.  I think Grandpa liked those times to feel normal as well, with his boy cuddled next to him.

Each of my kids have lost a great-grandparent when they were a baby.  This is the last one gone.  I don't think that there are many kids to have the opportunity to know their great-grandparents quite as good as my kids.  That has been an incredible blessing in our lives.  We feel blessed by the time that we had with Grandpa!