On Memorial Day we were able to go to Brigham City to pay honor to our ancestors resting in the Brigham City cemetery. We started at Rulon and Rubie's grave, my great-grandparents. Some cute pictures were taken of Rubie at her namesakes grave, maybe I'll be able to get a hold of some of those later. We spent a few minutes there with my Dad telling us stories about his grandparents. John and Char and their daughter Cindy came while we were still there. We visited a few other graves including the graves of my sister-in-law, Tai's, ancestors. Our ancestors are buried near each other. After visiting the cemetery, Tai's parents hosted a nice lunch for us at their home. It was a very nice day with lots of sunshine.
A program at the cemetery.
Grandma and Chantel with Eric watching the program.
A lot of orange balloons being released into the sky.
At Grandma Rubie and Grandpa Rulon's graves watching the balloon's being released.
A Jeppson grave.
Rubie with her Great-Great Uncle John.
Rubie at her Great-Great Grandma Rubie's grave.
Listening to Grandpa Jeppson relate stories of his relatives and ancestors.
At the Goldsberry home for a great lunch. Eric is stealing Jared's dessert. Actually he is stealing the whipped topping from his dessert.
The week after Memorial Day we were very much looking forward to a family vacation. We had planned to go to Tennessee for my brother Ben's wedding. Scott was unable to make it on the trip due to an emergency appendectemy. When he had his appendix removed on Tuesday I was still hopeful that he would be able to fly with us to Tennessee on Thursday. But the doctor discouraged that and Scott spent the weekend at home with his parents caring for him. On the Wednesday before we left I also had an emergency. Scott called me from his hospital room and I was doing dishes. I kept on doing dishes while talking on the phone and while not really paying attention cut my thumb with a kitchen knife. It was bleeding very badly. I tried to stop the bleeding and bandage it up. I had so much to still do to get ready for the trip. I couldn't get it bandaged because it was bleeding so much and so went to find a neighbor to help me. She encouraged me to go to the E.R. and offerred to watch the kids while I did. I finally agreed. It turns out that I had cut deep enough to cut right through a tendon. A hand surgeon was needed to fix it. It just so happened that a very good hand surgeon/plastic surgeon was available. So a few hours after cutting it, it was repaired. With a lot of help from friends and family Eric, Rubie, and I were able to get out the door and to the airport with no hitches.
We had a great time in Tennessee. My family was so helpful with the kids especially since I was handicapped. The trip would have been miserable if it wasn't for all the aunts and uncles, and grandma and grandpa that were able to help keep Eric entertained in the plane, the airports, and throughout the trip. What a blessing family is. We were so thrilled to meet Ben's fiance, Cassie's family. They are wonderful and Ben is blessed to be a part of their family. The first thing we did upon arriving in Tennessee was to go to the Coleman family home for dinner where lots of Cassie's family members were and some of Ben's friends as well. Over the next few days we enjoyed doing some site seeing in Nashville and Franklin. We also loved the time we were able to spend with Ben and Cassie and her family with the wedding rehersal, rehersal dinner, and the wedding itself. The wedding was so lovely. Cassie was beautiful. The whole event was a lot of fun. I was so proud of Ben. He has done a lot of growing up. He is going to be a great father and husband and Cassie is going to help him do that. I am so happy to have such a great new sister. I am so excited about the little nieces that will be joining the family as well. A few times over the last month Eric will ask me where Koen (Cassie's son) is or what he is doing. Obviously Koen made an impression on Eric.
The airport has great play areas for little kids.
We found three different play areas that kept Eric and Rubie entertained.
Touring downtown Nashville.
Emmanuel with an Elivis statue.
Joe and Eric along the river. Eric is Joe's little shadow. We started calling him "Little Joe."
Joe, Tai, and Eric in Nashville.
On the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Jared and Chantel performing.
Mom and Rubie downtown Nashville.
Jessica exploring Fort Negley, a historic fort in Nashville.
Grandpa and Jessica at the historic fort.
Grandma and Grandpa along the river walk with the Hershel Greer Baseball Stadium in the background.
Grandpa on the porch of an old plantation home.
Visiting an old plantation home.
A cemetery of mostly civil war casualties.
Joe and Jessica at a plantation home.
The wedding.
A beautiful view around the horse farm where the ceremony and wedding festivities took place.
The bridesmaids waiting the arrival of the bride.
The groomsmen watching the ceremony.
Ben and Cassie repeating their vows.
Koen, the ringbearer.
Ben and Cassie pronounced husband and wife!
Rubie with Tai right after the ceremony.
Getting the line ready for pictures.
Standing around waiting for instructions on picture taking.
Eric and Emmanuel.
Grandma Jeppson fussing over Eric's shirt.
Jessica, Grandma Jeppson, and mom.
Eric, mom, and Rubie.
Jessica and Emmanuel.
The Jeppson men looking so debonair.
A handsome couple Grandma and Grandpa.
The new family, Ben, Cassie, and Koen.
We are proud of you Ben and Cassie.
The Jeppson and Coleman families joined together.
The party and reception area.
Grandpa Jeppson making a speech at the dinner.
Scott and I are both healing well. We are both so excited to get back to doing all the things that we love and want to be doing. Scott's surgery has made him take things slower. While the surgery seemed to aid in his weight loss, it put a damper on his fitness goals. He has barely been able to get back on his bike and do some light riding. But he is anxious to up the intensity and do other forms of exercise as well. While I have still been able to run, not having a working thumb has kept me off of my bike. That is hard as I have so been looking forward to the summer riding season. But I'm going to try to get back to it very soon.
Rubie really enjoyed her ride on Dad's back.
I got so excited about the hike that I started running down the trail. A big tree root caught me foot and I went flying. I really scraped my knee and it was bleeding all down my leg. Mom cleaned me up with wipes and made a bandage. A cookie helped me feel better and stop crying.
We had a little snack before continuing down the mountain. When we got home, I got to put a Mater bandage on my knee. Despite falling I still really like hiking.
Rubie climbed into the sand box too.
Then she tried to eat the sand. I don't think she thought it tasted very good.
One of the best parts of the parade is getting candy.
Rubie liked the snacks and enjoyed watching the parade too.
We had a blast watching the parade and hanging out with friends. But it was long. Rubie missed her nap and was so tired. After the parade mom took us home, both Rubie and I fell asleep instantly in the car. When we woke up we all went to Aunt Angela's house for lunch. There we got to hang out with Angela, Brett, Alec, Maomie, Dellitt, Grandma and Grandpa Wilson and Katie. Aunt Brandee and Hayden and Eli came for a few minutes too. We ate and played games, colored and played with Katie. I tried to get her to play fetch with sticks, but she wasn't interested.
