Whew

So I left Monday to go home for my mom's service.  It was weird and sad and all kinds of other things.
Drive up was smooth.  The only place we could find to house us for the week was the Gambi cabins which are old, funky and used to be pretty shabby.  When my Dad told me that I was like ehhhhhh.  When I checked in I was REALLY scared.  The office is dingy, poorly lit and the lady there looked like she hadn't slept in 3 days.  I mustered my courage and went to Cabin #5.  I approached the door, inserted the key, braced myself and pushed open the door.  When nothing scary emerged I sidled a little closer and peeked in.  It was in a word funky.  It was clean but that would be about the best thing you could say.  It had a teeny little kitchen (I should have taken photos) with a sink, a 2 burner stove and little drop leaf table, microwave and coffee pot.  The shower would be fantastic for someone about 4' 5" but there was plenty of hot water and they did have nice towels.

Monday I just went over and hung out at the house.  Judd called me and asked "what do you put in the boys lunches?"  So I told him and then he said "and where do I find that?"  Really?  I can't believe that just came out of your mouth.
Tuesday we had to go in for Dad's dr appointment and meet with the Chapel to go over the final arrangements.  When we were driving in there was a lot of road work being done.  I said as an aside " I keep expecting to see Kevin or Gary along the road", when we got to the next road work area there they were!  We honked and waved and they kinda sorta waved back with the "who the hell is that" look on their faces.  The pastor who did mom's service was actually the same one who did my grandma's.  We selected some music and went over what was going on then headed to the florist and to the grocery store. 
Wed we went over to my Aunt Rose's to help get everything ready for the get together afterwards.  This time when I saw Gary he actually recognized me.  Judd and the boys got there around 9pm.  He said they did really well.  Ronan was VERY happy to see me.  He is still my little snuggle bug.
Thursday we went to the service.  The boys did really well.  I sat them down beforehand and stressed that it was very important that they sit still and not yell and climb all over stuff.  There would be a man at the front and he would talk some and they'd play music and a little video and other people would talk, then the man would talk some more and then there would be more music.  We would be going to the ranch afterwards and they could run and play and yell all they wanted.  Ronan did really well, he was quiet but a little wiggly.  Logan, however, had to keep "clearing his voice".  We played Enya's "Only Time" and Vince Gill's "Go Rest High" (I thought for sure mom was going to strike us down with lightning for playing that one but she didn't want any service at all so we figured in for a penny in for a pound). 
I didn't see many people that were there other than my bestest friends Cass and Vic.  There were others there but with trying to corral the boys I just wasn't paying attention.  Some of them came out to the ranch so we were able to hang out and chat.  It was really nice.
Friday we had a BBQ at dads and they all came over.  We laughed and ate and caught up.
The boys also washed my car.  They were pretty excited

Then of course they had to do some goofing off in the back of Grandpa's big red truck.

These are size 4 jeans.  Baby doesn't have back!

Then they had to go next door and pose on the tractors.

These are my bestest friends.  The 4 of us to the left have gone to school from kindergarten to high school graduation.  There is very little if anything we don't know about each other.  Christine joined us later but is still a very special friend.

Friday James had a baseball game so we went back to the ole alma mater.  We got to see another old friend there and catch up.

Saturday during the day there was another service for a local man that was murdered in a home invasion.  He was a volunteer firefighter and very active in the community.  I did not know him well but knew who we was.  Vic and her parents, Cass, Kevin and Christine all went.  They said it was very nice and tons of people were there to remember him.  Weird that something like that could happen in that little town.
Saturday night we went over to Kevin's (the guy in the pic)to hang out and I'm not sure I've laughed that hard in ages.  We traded stories and he told us of some escapades they used to get into and some of their college adventures.  I nearly peed myself.  We were there till midnight and Logan and his middle girl, Jaiden, played and played and played.  Ronan conked out early.
Sunday we went out to breakfast before heading home.

The boy loves his bacon

it was storming when we left and it snowed (well sleet really) on us a little bit.  We had periods of heavy downpour, light rain and even some lightning.

We got to Paso around 7pm.  Had some dinner, returned the rental car and did some quick grocery replenishment.  Got home about 9 and headed straight for bed.  Monday morning came way too fast.

It was really great being home and seeing Dad and Rose and my nephews and catching up with friends I hadn't seen in years.  It just sucky that it was something so sad that got us all together again.