Surprise!

August 7-12, 2014

When Brian heard of Terry's death, an idea started to form in his mind. He decided to talk to the director of his anesthesia program and found out that he could take the time off and come to the funeral. They made plans with Cindy to pick her up and left Erie at about noon on Wednesday, August 7th and headed west, deciding to surprise us. They picked Cindy up at about 5:30pm and kept on driving through the night. They arrived here about 5:30pm on Thursday, August 8th. 

Blake was outside weed eating, I was inside in the office.  Blake didn't see them drive up, they parked over at Anderson's and Cindy and the kids got out of the car and just sat on the grass waiting for him to notice them.  He finally turned around and saw them, but wasn't sure what he was seeing. The kids ran to him telling him they came to visit.  I heard the small voices and thought it was someone at Anderson's, then I looked out the window and saw Maden running across the front lawn! I ran outside and couldn't believe my eyes that they were all here. I'm kind of glad that I didn't know they were coming and driving all night, or I wouldn't have slept either.

Here they are at our house. Maden wanted to go play "pool table", and Annie had a great time exploring the little house and toys.

Then we went out to swing, it must have felt really good to be out of that car!

Jared and Nikelle came down as soon as they heard we had surprise visitors. Annie and Maden had a great time dancing with Nikelle.

Friday morning, there was more swinging and hot tub time for Maden and Celia. Cindy, Brian, Celia and Randy went to play tennis for awhile too.

We went to Texas Roadhouse before the viewing. Blake and Annie had fun making up silly moves together.  Annie loves to steal my phone and take selfies!

The kids all went to the viewing early, then left with Jared to help him take care of the chores for Doug and Chet. They had a great time feeding the horses, milking the cow and feeding the calves. And of course they found some kittens.

I'm not sure what day it was that Brian and Celia went for a drive in the '65 and it ran out of gas, or so we thought, but I guess it was really just flooded.  On Saturday morning, Blake, Brian, Cindy and Randy went to play tennis, they came home about 8 am. Just as they got home, and Maden was having fun with the light bright, the power went off.  Cindy, Brian and Blake had to race into Randy and Courtney's to shower.  Good thing Celia and I were showered and had already done our hair!

The funeral was very good. Beckie and Brent did an excellent job with their talks, and it was very nice tributes to Terry. The weather was perfect at the cemetary.

After the funeral, Blake, Brian, Celia, Cindy, Randy and Jared went to play some more tennis, then we all met in Randy and Courtney's back yard to roast hot dogs and marshmallows.

I played "Mother May I" with the kids, Nikelle did some more dancing with them too. Cindy played in the fire for a bit.

Then everyone joined in on a game of "Duck, Duck, Goose". It was pretty funny.  When Blake got up to chase Maden, he slipped and fell on the grass. It was a great way to end the day.

On Sunday, we went to Randy and Courtney's Sacrament Meeting, then came home for dinner.  Blake had to go to Boise to work on Monday, so he left after dinner. The kids all played a rousing game of Egyptian Rat Screw, which is always a great time.

On Monday, Brian and Celia went to look at some houses and Cindy and I took the kids to Tautphus Park Zoo. We met Beckie, Porter and Paige and Nikelle there. We had lunch at the park and let the kids play at the park.  When Blake got home from Boise, we had dinner at Rupe's.

Tuesday morning there was some IPad playing, swinging, game playing and sitting in the flowers while Brian and Celia went to the temple.  Annie wanted her chair right in the flowers, so Cindy helped her out. We talked Randy into playing Phase 10, and he won the first hand he played without even giving Cindy or I a turn! All the while telling us he didn't know how to play.

Tuesday afternoon, we went to Courtney's school. Annie loved sitting in the desk, I hope the 3rd graders are taller than her! They taught Maden how to play 4Square.

They played some baseball out on the softball field.

Maden went down this big slide, so Annie had to go down too.  The first time Brian went up with her, but the next two times she did it all by herself!

They got up early on Wednesday morning and started the trek east. Maden won a prize at a Perkins. They stopped for the night in Kearney, Nebraska. They took this "corny" picture somewhere in Iowa. They stopped at Cindy's on Thursday night, then headed for home on Friday morning. The kids were really tired as they approached Erie. 

It was a fast, long trip, and they sure did surprise us! The funny thing is that their only deadline to get home was to pick Blake and I up at the Erie airport on Friday night at 10:00!