Another Week, Another W(fill in the blank)

 The endeavor of the week was trying to solidify my AT certification by uploading my CEUs. Which happened to occur the same week they were changing the website. Which has many bugs. BUT at least I got all my continuing ed's DONE (and they're not due til December anyways).

Some lady in California apparently keeps shipping her HelloFresh meals to the wrong address. And by the time they arrive (to Flagstaff, AZ), it's to late to redirect the packages. So instead, the UPS office has been splitting the packages they are REQUIRED to dispose of. In my belly. 

Speaking of which, I made Roger sit down and watch Legally Blonde this week so he could see the UPS dude. And also understand some pretty basic American literature. You're welcome. 

We went to Page this weekend to see Little Stu get the Melchizedek PH. But we went early enough to try out Rog's .30-06 (which I can DEFINITELY kill an elk with. Or a human. As long as I think about killing SOMETHING, I am deadly). And we picked up a pizza and swam at the private beach until the storm rolled in (very quickly). It was a nice date, even if ALL the ice cream places were closed. 

Jumanji IRL

She likes being squished.

The chins were still here on Monday, living in our 500sq foot apartment. Which was a little tight for everyone. But MGH loved it - she painted, she made a creepy frog out of clay, and she got to open the drinks fridge sometimes. 

MGH living the dream.

We made it to volleyball and got out our aggression out there. And then Greg showed us how he would've used his foot to carry extra milk in from the car during peak milk days. 

It was not feasible, if you're wondering. 

Soon after they left on Tuesday, there were severe rainstorms (which have continued DAILY since then.) Since there was a major fire in Flagstaff last year, there are no longer plenty of trees and plants to stop the flow down the mountain BUT there is plenty of debris. And we had ourselves several Jumanji-style flash floods. And it was kind of cool if you weren't near it or affected. Less cool for everyone else. 

This is cars getting flushed down the road. 

Since Rog and I both work with the youth now, we crashed their temple trip to do some baptisms on Saturday. It was a long drive but with a good ending (and I'm not just referring to the Mexican food at the end). 

We had Roger's cousins over for dinner and entertained their kids while they fell asleep on our couch. I'm all for lazy Sundays. 

The Most Elaborate Funeral

Monday was still vacation, so Lavinia asked if we could wake up early for a swim. 

The Lake. (When you coming Uncle Rog??)

She changed her mind in the morning, but we made her come in the car anyways while Zubs and I dipped. 

Gremlins. Both apparently in need of Derek vibes.

We enjoyed a lunch of fish tacos that the Chin had helped catch on the lake. TDF. And then we went to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon - which is NOT like the South. It was 99% driving and I was very cranky by the end. But we had some shakes and Navajo tacos so I wouldn't kill anyone on the 3+h car ride home. 

MGH: You're a funn

I only worked two days, but they were FULL days. Which I felt okay about since I was unexpectedly dipping out on the rest of the week to fly east. (I later found out that the other PT was sick on Friday, so the week was kind of a wash.)

I met the Chin after work Wednesday and had him drive to PHX while I finished my notes for work. He almost hit a coyote and only complained about the heat a couple times. We had a great breakfast for dinner with the Cassens, who are some of the nicest people I know and are always doing me solids. I can never thank them enough.  

Beautiful. 

We woke up early to drive to PHX airport and parked there. We met Greg in Dallas and Brother Boise in Boston. We did miss out on the police escort, but Aaron did such a ridiculously good job on the "pomp and circumstance" of the event that we didn't miss out on much. The church building was full of policemen taking shifts at the coffin and providing us with snacks. The halls were full of several stations highlighting each phase of Grampy's life - police work, family, temple president, mission president, etc. And there were two videos available to view on the man as well. It was good to see some family and chat with Uncle Al.

Legendary. 

 The funeral was even more elaborate. There was a live bagpiper providing music before and after and a full police detail the whole time. I read my poem, Zach his eulogy, Amy/Jenny shared memories, the Police Chief did a tribute, and the retired Father spoke a little. Dad ended and "cut his talk short" to ten minutes (which was his originally planned time anyways, so sus.) There were two musical numbers including Aaron's all-male group that I now want to serenade me everywhere I go. Aaron was awesome with his commentary between speakers and there wasn't too much crying, which was great. (Word is that the zoom session with 4+ camera angles was also excellent). 

Audience view. 

We followed the casket out in the pouring rain to the gravesite across town, where the Navy paid tribute as well as the Fire Department, who had flags overhanging the roads on cherry pickers. Adam played taps and Ben offered the dedication of the grave. And we headed back for a delicious lunch and hangout with Cousin Gib. We jaunted down to CT to raid the house and steal the blubes (to share with Mimi and Jenny's fam). And Rog drove us to the airport the next morning bright and early. 

Staple. (Not the Frozen Pudding flavor though.)

We arrived and headed up to Flag. We met up with the rest of the fam for a trip around downtown for oil, lavender lemonade, pizza, gelato, and wherever else we wanted to go (like Bookman's). It was a great time. 

Love MGH themed vacations. 

Hello, Fellow Lamanites

This week was good. I met with my boss and figured out some things for work that will make everything easier. Also, I love having those conversations because I always leave with an affirmation that my boss has my back. I also had my first sales from my Etsy notes and found a better way to do my YouTube videos. Things are slowly coming together. 

Green screen, baby. 

I drove up to Page after work on Friday to meet the fam. Who were all two hours away in a car that they got stuck in the sand and broke down twice. Sheesh. Somebody start paying more fast offerings. We had a chill night where no games were played. 

Keep her happy. 

We did learn that Grampy passed away peacefully on Friday night. Which was a blessing because that man's whole life for the last several years was a #suffer. I was grateful that I got to spend a lot of time with him recently helping with his book and my wedding stuff. He asked that I read a poem at his funeral, which was appropriate because I've written rhyming eulogies for him over the years. So I wrote another. (Only to learn that I was supposed to read a different poem, but then Mimi loved this one so much she okay'd it.)

If you need a photographer, these are both good options. 

Rog took Stu and the Chin out on the lake for some early morning fishing. Meanwhile, the girls and I met Trevor at the July 4th festival at the park. We had street tacos and I got MGH a snow cone since she got gypped on ice cream the day before. We had a cookout followed by some sand volleyball and swimming. 

The Bend. 

Sunday, we enjoyed a testimony about how good it was to see a lot of brown passing the sacrament. And also planning the next ward activity to watch the Suns game. We played Frisbee Bottles (I made that up) and Stu only had to get 4 stitches. It's still my favorite yard game and Rog and I are undefeated at the Sandalls. We took the oldies to Horseshoe bend and watched fireworks on the roof. 

Also the bend.