Uncle Arne's Funeral :(

I have decided the best thing about a funeral is that everyone gets to be together! My dad said the last time I visited that funerals were for the living...as it's a time to be together and have the support of loved ones. I totally agree!

We couldn't believe it, the Air Force gave Beau a week off of his deployment to Guam to come back for the funeral! We are all together! It was such a wonderful blessing...especially since we are scattered all over and hardly get to see each other at the same time! In fact, we took family pictures. Unfortunately we didn't have our spouses, but at least we had just the family. Bekah was able to make it up to WA to see all of us and Beau...they had a great time together! I was so happy for them as it had been months since they'd seen each other.


We all got into Seattle around the same time and headed for...our favorite store, REI! It's so huge in Seattle! They had an awesome playground for lil Zoie to play on. It was this huge tree-house with slides, etc.


Then we ate at the 'world wraps' there in REI. It is delicious! After hanging out at REI and finding all sorts of stuff we wanted to buy, we headed up to Aunt Dori's in Queen Anne.

We had dinner up there with Erika, Steve, and Dori.

Then we spent the rest of the evening looking at old pictures of Uncle Arne and his life with mom as they grew up. It was really cool to be able to see them and learn more about both of their lives.

Mom and Aunt Dori had some great stories to tell about his life and the things he has done in them. It is interesting as you become an adult and your perspective changes on people you have grown up around.

I never knew that he was such a great business man among other things. It was really a wonderful night and I am so glad we were able to get together for it!















Then we headed back home to MV.

Bekah came in the next day and Beau went to Seattle to pick her up and hang out with her. Noelle, Ariel and I headed up to Bellingham to hang out at her house. We had a great time just hanging out and getting Thai food :)



















Zoie with Auntie Ariel and Uncle Brandon. She had a great time with all of us! And likewise :)

We took a walk down to the beach and Zoie enjoyed throwing rocks in the water.































Ariel and Brandon had a headlight they let me use. Zoie found it and just loved it! We put it around her waist and she refused to take it off!




We headed back to MV and took our family pictures. The next day we got ready for the funeral and went to it.
It was more of a memorial service as he had decided to be cremated. It was a beautiful service! There were wonderful stories written about him and many friends and family shared in it.

Here is a picture of lil Zoie with a whistle her mommy had bought for her.

She was able to use it very well.

That pretty much sums up the trip. On my way to the Airport we stopped by the waterfront and ate some well known clam chowder. We had a nice morning and then I left. It's always hard to leave!














Thanks for being such a wonderful person in my life Arne!! You will always be in my heart. I love you!

Also, thanks to my family for being so wonderful! I love you guys soo much! I have the best family in the world!!!


A fun picture at the end...someone threw a 'no parking' sign in the water off of the pier. Haha!