For Thanksgiving this year we surprised my mom and sisters by going to Idaho. It was a bit of an adventure, we flew into Salt Lake City and drove to where my mom lives in Idaho (it was about a 3 hour drive). We got in really late Wednesday night, and woke up early Thanksgiving morning so Rob could go out and meet all of my cousins/uncles for football. The whole trip was full of giggles, food, and me constantly peeing. My mom's family is quite large so there were about 50 people at our thanksgiving chatting and catching up, many of whom had never met Robert. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch. After leaving our lunch, my sisters, brother in-law, niece and Rob and I went to visit our other side of the family. We took a few pictures and sent them to my dad, he was very jealous that he wasn't there with us. After all of that we did a little shopping; yes you read that right shopping....on Thanksgiving...We went quick so we could get back and watch the Seahawks game (which we were recording). We had a hell of a time trying to avoid seeing any scores throughout the mall. We were also stopped a number of times because we were wearing our jerseys (Idaho is mostly a Bronco fan state). Robert and I found a bunch of basic baby clothes for our little girls first year, it was fun picking out things together and to see Roberts face when he found something he really liked for her. We kept up our tradition of a puzzle and scratch tickets, although this year we didn't get to complete the puzzle or scratch our scratch tickets until the evening. My mom and her husband helped Robert and I find one of the only stores open Thanksgiving in her little town so we could buy a puzzle; and my mom's husband bought a round of scratch tickets for all of us "kids" (we each got 4, 1$ tickets). Robert won 3$ and I won 40 bucks!!! It was silly to have everyone join in on our goofy tradition but overall it was a wonderful time.
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| Rob was out shooting with our brother in-law and my cousins, it was freezing and super windy |
I haven't been back to Idaho since my Grandfather passed away, it was an emotional time for knowing that I would be there and he wouldn't be. We were close, and I miss him a lot. He was always a big supporter for me and the funniest old guy be around. He always had a story to tell and loved going on adventures. I know he would be so proud of where I am now. I also know that he would have loved Robert; its hard to think that he never got to meet him, and will never get to meet my baby girl. I am not the biggest believer in religion but I do believe that he is still present in my life. After struggling for years to conceive I was incredibly anxious and nervous about starting all over, and after months and months of nothing, there was a night while Rob and I were in Hawaii, sitting on the beach, where I was just overcome with emotion that we would find out after our wedding that I was pregnant. (I write this trying my best to not sound weird...) It was like my grandpa was giving me a big hug and whispering "it will be ok, it will happen." After returning from Hawaii I told my older sister about my experience, she told me she too feels his presence in her life. About 3 months later, unknowingly on what would have been my grandfathers birthday, I took the tests and found out I was pregnant. I know he is still rooting for me, where ever he is now. Robert and I went to visit his grave the last day we were there. It was freezing cold and so so windy but we sat in the grass for a bit, said a few things and made our way back to Salt lake to catch our plane home.
Thanksgiving was great this year and I'm so glad we got to spend it with family.
