Baptism, Shower and Death

How's that for a headline/ teaser?
About a month ago we went down to Henderson with Mike's family for Mason baptism.  June had a blast with her cousins and those boys adore her and are so tender with her, which not the usual for those boys :)  They loved having a girl around.

Mason showing of his iphone skills. 

Can you tell where June learned to point?  

Mike and his family headed back to Utah, but June and I stayed to spend time with my fam and throw Dia a shower.  Secretly, I made a goal this year was to throw a party.  I didn't have anything in mind when I made that goal, I just knew that I hate the awkwardness of being in front of people, but loved the idea of planning, decorating and having a good time.  My whole family has this fear of attention and awkward settings, especially when you feel like you're asking people to come give you attention and gifts.  So instead of the traditional games , I stole ideas from out friends' holiday parties where we played lots of mini challenge games.  Then  Dia played the guess right-or- chew-gum game with the newly wed game questions in order to open presents.  I might have over thought it and cared too much, especially the bubble gum ball necklaces, but I didn't want anyone to go home empty handed and I wanted the guest to leave immpressed.  I felt like it was a big success.

June and Hazel playing nicely, for now.

Dia's teaching the girls her best dance moves.

Papa Ken playing with June underneath the trampoline

The last day I was there with my family was quite somber.  It wasn't the best note to end one, but I was glad to be there and see the tender side of my dad.  Their dog, K8 (yes, that's right, said "Kate," a pun on K-9) has been pretty sick for a while now.  She was expected to go a very long time ago, but had endured and possible temporarily healed due to much prayer on my little brother's behalf.  But now, it was time.  My mom had been telling my dad that it was time for days now, but maybe it took him some time to mentally prepare.  He took Friday off to spend with June and me, but it ended up being a better time for him to give K8 the attention she needed.  With our first dog, we didn't know until later that my dad took her on a hike, shot her and burried her in the mountains but he didn't have the heart to do that again and he couldn't handle her being "disposed of."  So, Dad and our dear neighbor, Skip, dug a hole. (Skip and Roberta have been like co-owners to K8).

After the hole was done, Dad and the little girls played for a bit, had some lunch and said goodbyes.  (Dad didn't want to get to the vet and then have to wait for them to return from lunch, so he was waiting to take her in)  The whole day, Delyse and I kept tearing up, sad for my dad.  Introspectively, this was a new experience for me, to see death coming and to ponder it and grasp the reality and finality of it and to share this with my family- athough I'm sure it's a lot easier with a dog than a close friend.  We don't share too many tender and vulnerable moments with each other (or maybe I just never have).  I really had no bond to this dog, only the empathy for my family.  

I made this headstone for my dad.  At the time, I thought it would lighten the mood,
but maybe later they'll laugh at my joke- she was pretty notorious.

With the much needed support of Roberta, my dad took K8 to be put down.  Delyse and I kept busy at home with the girls.  I was upstairs when my dad came in from the backyard and I could hear his breathing.  I came down to be with him and my sisters and he said little, but that it was a lot harder than he expected.  I can't imagine watching your dog go, bring her home, then drop the first few shovel-fulls of dirt into the hole.  

A little bit later, the rest of may family was home from work and school.  Dessa came in crying while Mom was filling Dane in will the news.  Dane came in quiet and reserved.  He didn't seem to acknowledge it.  A few minutes later he grabbed his scriptures and said that he's forgotten to read for the day.  Still, no sign of emotion.   It wasn't until later that I saw his facebook status, "3 words, worst day ever".  My heart broke for him.  Dia told me later that he had slept with K8 (probably cuddled up with her) every single night for forever.  I was sad for him to go to bed that night.  He may not have gotten to say goodbye, but did that make it easier for him?  I'll have to ask sometime.  

Sorry this post ended so depressingly, but it is ones of  the defining moments for me to remember with my family, all who I love.