We just got back from visiting family in Colorado. The original intention of the trip was to go out to see Austin's grandmother and grandfather, as Grandma Evelyn was not doing well. It was extremely important to us that Kennedy get to meet her Great Grandma Evelyn. We were set to fly out Saturday, April 10 at 7am. On April 9, 2010, Friday morning at 10:00 a.m., we got the phone call that Grandma Evelyn had passed away that morning. We were heartbroken, literally missing her by about 20 hours. So, instead of the happy and exciting trip we had been planning it changed into a trip to say goodbye to the Great Grandma which Kennedy never got to meet.
The memorial service was held on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. in Centennial, Colorado. Evelyn Louella Hon was 85 years old, and had lived a long and, I would call it, happy life. She was married to a wonderful man, Paul, had two sons, William and James, two grandchildren, Austin and Jennifer, and the joy of having 4 great-grandchildren, Brennan, Reeve, Gavin and now Kennedy. She loved everyone so much, and had the biggest heart. She always made me feel like I belonged in that family just as much as the others, and she truly was a grandmother to me as well. We will forever miss her.
While we were there though, Kennedy did get to meet several family members for the first time. Her Uncle TJ, cousins Brennan, Reeve and Gavin, as well as her Grandpa Bill and Great-Grandpa Paul, and of course she got to see her Auntie Jen again. (In addition she also got to meet Austin's Great Uncle William, Great Uncle George and Great Aunt Margaret - so I guess that makes them her Great Great Uncles and Aunt?) It was crazy to sit there at night and look around the room and realize that in one room alone there were 4 generations sitting around and talking (well Kennedy was listening most of the time if not sleeping, the boys did put in their two cents here and there :-) )
I am going to get side-tracked here - a little history of what we learned -
Austin and I learned so much about his family history. The Hon side of the family descends from the MacLeods of Scotland, and Grandma Evelyns family is along the Stuart line - and goes back to the Queen Mary of Scots. We also got to hear the stories of the battles that everyone was in during WWII as they were all in one branch of another of the military (George and Paul were in the Navy, William in the Army (he retired as a Colonel and worked at the Pentagon for a number of years) and Art was in the Marines). I think their stories and history would make for another blog post - but this has all sparked mine and Austins interests even more in doing a family tree and looking further into our families' histories'.
Okay, so back to the trip....
Kennedy also got to experience her first airplane ride! She did amazing during both legs of the trip, sleeping the entire way there from take off to landing, and almost the entire way back falling asleep about 10-20 minutes after take off and sleeping all the way through the landing and picking up our bags! We were truly surprised and so happy that the trip went well for her! We did realize that traveling with a baby is not the easiest thing, but we are lucky she is a fairly easy baby, goes with the flow and doesn't fuss to to much. I did feel like I had to pack her entire room for the trip though. Man do babies go through a lot of stuff!
Okay, so that is what I have for now... here are some pics :)
The peanuts first plane ride!
Visit with Grandpa Bill
Gavin saying hello
Brennan getting a chance to say hi!
The cousins and Auntie Jen!
And she isn't so sure what to think of this hat :)
Austin sitting in the back with the boys on the way to downtown Denver.
Our adorable nephews!!
Reeve
Gavin
Brennan
And then just because we thought it was awesome - a drive thru liquor store! Of course we had to go through and get something.
All and all it was a nice trip to see family. We wish it had been on better terms and that ultimately it was for a different reason.
We love you Grandma Evelyn!
