grandad

A week ago Tuesday, Ben's Grandad passed away. There really is too much to say about the 6 days that we spent in New Martinsville. So I'll boil it down to a couple of things.

I have never been this involved in the entire process of everything. From being there minutes after he died, through the whole planning process, the days spent with family, to the closure of the funeral. Although it was quite emotional, it was such a blessing. Great time as a family, great time remembering and hearing stories from days gone by, grieving together and laughing together. Those six days were very special.

Ben said something during the week that kind of surprised me. He didn't realize that most people didn't have a relationship with their grandparents like he did. Their relationship was something very special. I have never felt someone's pain and sadness so deeply. But it makes me realize that I want to foster my kid's relationships with their grandparents. That they can be sort of second parents to them. People who hold a very special, unique place in their lives.

Our family dynamics are changing. Both of our parents are now the grandparents of the family. And we are now where they used to be. This is where our nuclear family becomes different. It's a strange thought.

Ben and I have talked a lot about the legacy that we want to leave. I think that Grandad sets a pretty high standard. I can't explain the stories . . .

Family Picture Time:

The Goddard/Tuel Family

Joanna, Ben, Andy & Jim - no time to tell you all about them!


The Charleston Tuel's

The Great Grandchildren. Wyatt and Faith made the trip. It was SO wonderful seeing them. Faith was quite a trooper!

It was great being in New Martinsville. My parents were able to keep the kids a lot in the evenings, while we came to Charleston to get clothes, and during the viewing.

Sophie watching one of he videos in her carseat.

Ted playing in the boat.


And having a work day with my Dad.

We are tired. So tired. April and May are busy months in general. And June promises to be full as well. So we're catching up on life and getting ready for more.

the best

We had the BEST weekend. Just family time. March and April were kind of a whirlwind. And we missed each other. Ben was suppossed to go on a fishing trip this weekend but it had rained so much that they couldn't. For once, I was thankful for the days and days and days of rain. Friday night we had dinner as a family, Ben set up for the lacrosse banquet, and then we went family grocery shopping at WalMart. Ted found my camera and took some pictures.


Waiting for Daddy to get the car b/c it was monsooning for the 8th day in a row.

The wall at WalMart.

Ted's boo-boo

the inside of my purse

waiting in the checkout line. it was monsooning on the way in - hence the drowned rat look on both of us.

Saturday morning we got up and with nothing to do and no where to be. Ted was singing songs on his stage so Ben got his guitar out. Ted got out his shaker thing and Sophie was really interested. She really hasn't seen Ben play his guitar much.

In between bursts of rain, Ben mowed (mostly weedeated) the yard. He was COVERED in wet grass.

Saturday night, Ben and I went out on a date. We haven't been on a date in several months. We had done so well all fall, but once spring rolled around things kind of faded. We had a great dinner together and just browsed around some stores. I set off the alarms at every store. It was kind of funny. It was so nice to just be out together. We laughed a lot.

Sunday Ben didn't have to lead worship. It was a great Mother's Day gift to go to church as a family! And Ben even filled in for an open spot in the nursery. We had family nap time Sunday afternoon. Sophie wore this cute dress to church - she was so sweet! It was a great weekend overall.

snuggle sandwhich

We just had a "snuggle sandwhich" in Ted's bed. It's where Ben and I put Ted in between us and have a good old fashion snuggle. It's a new favorite thing of ours. We tell Ted that he's the peanut butter and that when Sophie can settle down enough to lay still, she will be the jelly.

Here's some pictures that I'm behind on sharing . . .


Ted carried the Easter Eggs around for a couple of days last week. Hid them all over the house. This was a birthday cake and he's blowing out the candle.


A recent trip to the mall. Doh got Ted the batman mask.



At the library the other week. Sophie is pretty agile in pulling herself up. She's starting to walk along things and walk behind her little walker.

Ted feeding Sophie with his mean face on. There's less than a 10 pound weight difference between the two.

The kids and I watching the prom goers.

final days travel

It's funny how I packed the same amount of stuff for 3 days that I will probably pack for this summer to be gone for a month. That's just the way it is with kids.

We packed up and left around 9:00 am. We made a pit stop in Washington, PA to see Courtney and Andy. They grilled out some lunch. It was so yummy and so good just to visit them.



Ted helping be the grill master.





Sophie wishing she was outside and totally goobering their windows!



We had chocolate covered strawberries. Ted doesn't like strawberries, but he sure does love chocolate!

We finally pulled into Charleston around 4 pm. They were much better travelers on the way home than the way there. I guess they both just realized that's how it's going to be. Now to unpack, unwind, and take everything in . . . I don't feel like I really had the opportunity (more like I didn't let myself) really think about everything and take everything in. I guess that comes next.

travels - part 2

Feel free not to read this - this is more of a thing for my kids . . .

On Friday morning, Ted crawled out of his closet bed at 6:15 and promptly woke up Sophie. So we had breakfast with the family early.

Sophie ate her bananas directly from the table. She kept mashing them when she tried to pick them up. Pretty smart if you ask me . . .

Nothing like the pool at 7:45 am! Not too crowded either.

Too pooped to party . . . she was so tired she snored during her morning nap.

The funeral was a mass. I think Ted has gone to mass twice with my mom. They are usually in the nursery or in his preschool class during church. They both did a great job. Sophie blew a LOT of raspberries, waved to the people behind us (she's never waved before) and chuckled at the family sitting across from us. At one point, we were telling Ted that he needed to be quiet just a little longer b/c church was almost over. He said, "This is not church!" =)

Kids playing at the lunch afterwards . . . glad I brought toys.

Family photo. . .

Big family photo . . .

10 grandchildren - I can't remember the last time we were all together.

After the funeral and lunch, we all went to the hotel for naps. Some family from the other side sent a prime rib and Sara made everyone a beautiful and delicious dinner. It was a good evening as everyone was just tired and drained. Thanks, Sara! It was great!

Thanks for the planter, Doh! It is currently residing in our kitchen.

on the road again

The original plan for last week was for me to go to Atlanta Wednesday thru Friday for a Family Ministry Conference. I was so excited. I missed it last year b/c I was pregnant for Sophie and not able to travel. But on Monday, my grandmother passed away. She had been sick for about a week with some of the same things that she'd had for awhile. So, instead of heading south with friends, we headed north with the family.

But of course, there's always something to throw in there. On Wednesday, a coffee carafe fell out of the van when I opened the door. By Wednesday night, I couldn't even walk on it. So at 5 pm, Ben, Ted, Sophie & I were at the radiologists for an x-ray. Because of the time, they lost the faxed order so my dear, sweet friend Liz (also my family doctor) drove to where I was with the order. She gave me some pain killers - no broken foot.

Thursday morning, we dropped Millie off at some friends, got gas and hit the road. When we were getting gas (15 minutes into the trip), Ted decided that it was taking way too long and that we should definitely go home. I knew right from the start it was going to be great.

Sophie slept from Clarksburg to Morgantown - that's it. Ted didn't sleep at all on the 5+ hour trip. We stopped at the Morgantown Mall for lunch and to play for a little bit at a neat play area there. We checked in early at the hotel hoping for naps but no such luck. Both kids fell asleep on the 5 minute drive from the hotel to the funeral home. . . figures!

My kids did really well at the funeral home. We were there for a couple of hours. It was neat to see some of my grandfather's nurses from days gone by and family and friends from the river. I really don't think of myself as getting older until I see my cousins come in with kids of their own. I guess I have two kids and am an "adult." A 2nd cousin (or something of that nature) had an 11 month old - Juliet. She and Sophie hit it off bigtime. They were so funny together.

Sophie leaving the funeral home . . . she was pooped. She wasn't smiling until the camera came out!

Ted having chicken nuggets and french fries on the porch with Gary Pap and Uncle Charlie.

Our hotel was a suite. It has a completely empty closet that entertained Ted the entire time. I'm thinking it might be worth the effort to clean out one of mine. Both nights, we put him to bed in our bed. Later on, we put the cushions from the couch in the closet and he slept on those. He LOVED it.

Charlie, Valerie, Ben & I went out for a late dinner on Thursday evening. A psuedo celebration of our 9 year anniversary and Val's birthday - both April 29th.