Grandpa Stotts

I'm not going to categorize my Grandpa Stotts passing away as a highlight of the summer, but I still want to document his passing, and the chance we had to have family gather together to celebrate his life.  His funeral landed on Scout's first day of kindergarten, we debated whether or not to have her miss her first day, but realized it was much more important to be there at the funeral, even though she didn't really know Grandpa at all.

 

My dad picked us up from the airport, and we stopped at City Creek on the way to Ogden. . .

 Where Porter was not too pleased to have gotten nailed in the face and pants with a fountain.

 Then my dad was so sweet and took the kids into the Disney Store, and wanted to buy Scout something for her first day of school.  She is a proud owner of a Tangled lunch box.

 

 

Our grandpa was a funny man.  For the last years of his life he was in constant pain, which made him a constant grump.  BUT, let's be honest, I am a beast if I don't feel good for a day, let alone for a decade, so we can't blame him too much.  The last time I saw my Grandpa was when Porter was about 7 months old, and we were up in Ogden celebrating Pioneer Day.  I was walking up to the porch to see my grandpa holding Porter, and he yelled at me to 'Get the Baby away from me!" 

Sweet Memory.

 

He was a great man, that did a lot of great things.  Best of which is my mom. 

 

My sweet 80 pound, blind, and deaf grandma didn't want it to be a sad funeral.  She wanted it to 'Be a Party!'  She thought it would be fun to serve punch and cookies at the funeral home during the viewing, so we did!  It was fun to see his old friends and barber, and thrift store workers come and celebrate and laugh about grandpa.   

The best part was having family there together (minus Corbin, Brittany, and Kailee) and telling funny stories at the cemetery about Grandpa.  I think we were all grateful for the knowledge we have of the Plan of Salvation, and being able to recognizing that Grandpa is no longer in constant pain.

 

Sorry- these pictures are probably more for us and my family that wasn't there- feel free to skip if your last name isn't Dean.

 

I wasn't quite sure how Scout would handle seeing my Grandpa's body there at the viewing.  I remember when my other Grandpa passed away, and I wasn't much older than Scout, and I didn't necessarily like seeing his body, so I was worried a bit about Scout.  As always, she took it like a champ.  Her and her little cousin kept peeking up over the casket on their tip toes, and would talk about his hat, and his big hands, and that he looked like he was sleeping. 

Scout really wanted a picture with my mom and our uncle with Grandpa. 

And, now, 4 months later, when she talks about that trip she starts it off by saying, "Do you remember that place where there was that dead grandpa?. . ." 

So terrible, but such a 5 year old thing to say. 

 Needless to say, I don't think her seeing her first body had too much of a negative effect on her:) 

 

Here's our Four Generations picture. 

You can't get much cuter than Grandma, but my mom is right up there with her!

 

Grandpa loved Sizzler, so we all headed there for lunch after the cemetery. 

I think all of our favorite part was when the waitress asked to see my grandma's idea when she ordered a beer!  Really!?! 

Look at her, you don't think she is over 21! 

Her husband just passed away, give the woman some alcohol!

My cousin's cute kiddos. Our kids were instant friends!

(Check out Porter stealing someone else's soda in the back.  Just hope it wasn't grandma's beer!)

Then- with our Semi-Sandlot Movie Obsessed little boy, we couldn't make a trip to Ogden without stopping at the infamous Sandlot Pool!  Porter loved seeing the 'Pool Honies' Pool, and his sentences from the trip start with, 'Remember when we saw the Pool Honies?. . . "

It is pretty cool.  This is where Squints had the infamous kiss with Wendy Peffercorn.  Best part is, my mom grew up swimming at this pool, and they have tried to keep it similar to how it was in the movie.

And of course- HAD to take a trip (or 3) to Farrs Icecream.

This was my mom's first job, scooping icecream cones, and one of our family's favorite stops. 

We opted for taking the train back to the airport, and the train ride was probably the kids favorite part of the trip.  Better than Disneyland for Porter.

"Mom, Check this out!!" "Mom!  Look!  A cow!!!"  Etc... Etc...

 

We have all been blessed in one way or another because of Grandpa Stotts in our lives.  We are so happy to know that he is finally out of pain, has escaped his broken body.  How blessed we are to know that we can see him again.

It was a perfect funeral, and so great to catch up with my brothers and cousins, and to celebrate the man Grandpa is!