So I landed in Spokane at midnight and was in bed by 1/130,just enough sleep to wake up for Silverwood with the family . Had some pretty amazing orange juice at the Old European Breakfast place first though. Seriously, fresh squeezed to order and so darn good. It was me, my aunt, three cousins and their spouses, and their children. Quite the group!
I had not been to Silverwood in quite some time. ( Read, over 6 years. ) so I had forgotten that it is a roller coaster park AND a water park in one! We had cabanas for all of our stuff which was kind of brilliant and so we were able to spread out a bit and relax about keeping out things in order. Did a couple family slides, one of which I was positively certain was going to flip over the entire time down...although it did not... And the lazy river and the wave pool. I love lazy rivers but I really don't like those silly water falls or places where water shoots out at you. Kind of inconvenient if you ask me.
After several hours in the sun, I was ready for a nap and the kids were ready for some roller coasters so off we went. I was pretty content just watching the kids on their little rides but then I was finally coaxed into going on a big kid coaster with my cousin..the AfterShock. I had forgotten how much I love roller coasters! It was a crazy one too,straight up first so you are just sitting there completely parallel to the ground praying your harness is effective and then dropping, doing the coaster and then back up again and doing it backwards! By the time we finished that we had been at the park for 8 hours and it was time to start meandering back to the cabanas. It was a fun day, got a little sun, and had so e nice family bonding. I just don't see everyone nearly enough !
Saturday was the main event. Grandpa Fred's memorial service and Grandma's birthday. It was probably the largest family reunion I have seen since my cousin Travis' wedding I think...and that was almost 10years ago !
It was the perfect day for something like that though, warm and sunny with a nice breeze. We had the ceremony over by the garden and orchard and each of the five children and grandma all said something about grandpa and then spread some ashes under the apple trees like he asked for. I don't think there was a dry eye under the tent and even all the little kids were quiet and well behaved which was really impressive. It was really nice having everyone share stories and memories and really for the most part everyone was really up beat. I hope whenever my memorial service is to happen it's as full of love and family as grandpas. I think he must have been so happy looking down on all of us.
My cousins' adorable children =)
The rest of the evening was over in the front yard of the farm, or grandma's house if you will. I think that the farm has such a distinct smell from all the flowers and trees, it's always so comforting when I first get out of the car there when I'm there. We had so much food and four generations of family. Really there were so many kids running around and were all really well behaved. They are all so adorable too! Not gonna lie, my family has some good genes. It was just enough kiddy play time for me to keep off any baby itch for a while, not that I had one because I didn't but there is nothing better than playing with happy kids and giving them back when they get cranky. At least for now! I loved seeing all my aunts and uncles and cousins. I feel like I am finally at the age where the age gap isn't really relevant, at least it seems that way to me. And I feel like I have been waiting for that since I was 10 years old, always too young to hang out or drink or have any sort of relatable life experiences. It was really wonderful to not feel that this time. Although it has become apparent that any future kids of mine will be in the generation gap just like I was. Haha such is life I suppose.
Still have never made it to Curlys...but after how long Saturday was, I really didn't mind going to bed early.
Today was also a fun morning. Got to shoot some guns out in the field like we've done the last couple times I've been up. Using good ol beer cans for targets. Yup. My family has quite the collection of guns among them and so I shot about 5-6 different guns I think ranging from an assault rifle to a 9mm and all the good things in between . Surprisingly I am much better than I give myself credit for. I think I may have to find a range in Las Vegas and make a purchase or two of my own. Haha oh goodness. Maybe just one and then I can use theirs when I come to visit.
Played a couple games of cribbage with Grandma too. I always try and make sure we get in at least one game whenever I come to visit. I think I am the only one she plays with anymore. I remember when I first saw her and grandpa playing years ago...maybe 6 or more years ago... And they taught me and then took turns playing with me. Grandma asked why I didn't say that at the memorial. I just don't think I had the words to really talk about it there. They are the only ones I've played the game with too. I beat grandma in both games which was very rare. That last game was neck and neck.
Finished off with some final hanging out around the pool for the last bit of sun ( because there isn't enough sun in Las Vegas ) and then headed to the airport .
Tomorrow starts a new week that should be pretty exciting as well but more about that later!
Xoxo
Kali
