Memorial Service Weekend

We drove up north again this past weekend to attend my grandpas memorial service in Carson City.  It was a celebration of his life, especially the last 20 or so years with his wife Linda.  My mom and aunt did quite well getting up in front of everyone sharing their childhood memories and after the service, there was a 21 gun salute and a flag presentation to Linda.  She let the grand kids each keep shells from the salute and we all ate lunch at her place after wards.  

Aunt Heather with Juliet and Gabriel.

My uncle Tom and Ava.  

Ava tells me "he's the funniest guy on the earth."  He's a goofy kid himself so my girls get along with him famously.

Mason-don't you just wanna eat his face off??

Gabriel...the ladies man!  He's so dang CUTE!!

My grandpa's great-grand kids.

After lunch, some of us decided to take the 30 minute drive up the mountain to south Lake Tahoe, and I'm so glad we did.  The weather was just awesome and the view was amazing.

I just love how the water color changes with the depth change.

Flower children.

Mason mowhawkin' it.  

Sunscreen makes for good hair gel, even after 4 washings with baby shampoo.

Starbucks loyalty right here!

Uncle Tom and Aunt Val at the lake.

Wading out in the lake.  

Ava did NOT stay dry (neither did Juliet, but that is because she thinks she can just pee in her pants when she sees shoreline even if she is NOT in a suit).

Our Family

Kylie~6, Juliet~almost 3, Ava~almost 5

My aunt and uncle, my cousins Michelle and Cheryl, and their men.

Me and my little sister.

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After the lake, we met up with my parents to go to the local shooting range and fire our weapons.  My mom has my grandpa's 22 rifle and we have a 357 handgun.

Gun control talk.

Ava did not like the sound the guns made, so she had zero interest in shooting it.

Kylie wasn't strong enough to pull the trigger, so she became a little apprehensive.

But the rifle she had no problems using!

She even figured out how to pop out the shell and load in a new round.

She would have shot this all night!

My mom.

My dad.

My sister.

This is the gun we have under our bed for protection so I figured I should be somewhat familiar with it.  I shot it ONCE when we bought it a few years back.  I'm a chicken with the noise too, but it was fun shooting the VHS re-winder and juice cartons we found in the trash at the range.

We did manage to squeeze in some fun family time despite the reason for our trip.  My sister got to make the 7 hour drive with us and it was great having her along.  After one last family dinner together on Saturday night, we headed back home, and my parents followed to spend a few days with us in Vegas.

Comfy in the MV.

Every time she falls asleep in the car, her face is covered with hair.

Nap time is for (my) sissies.