The End of I-90: june wrap up

Well, the goal of this post is to catch up through the end of June...slowly but surely I will make progress! :)

I (Jenny) took a quick weekend trip to California near the end of June. Unfortunately, it wasn't for a happiest of circumstances, my dear Papa Joe's funeral, but it was wonderful to see the Tobin side of my family, many on them I hadn't seen since Daniel and I's wedding, and some even longer than that!

Papa Joe, Grandma Peggy, J & D, Mom and Dad Tobin, 7.22.2006

I flew out on a Thursday night (actually, this is funny, so quick side note. The night I flew out was the night of game 7 of the NBA championship, LA Lakers vs. Boston Celtics. Well, I was flying on a non-stop flight from BOSTON to LA. Inevitably most every person on the plane had allegiances one was or the other, so I made sure to wear my celtics shirt on the plane. :) Unfortunately, the airline I flew (virgin) did NOT have the channel the game was on, so some people paid for internet and watched on ESPN gamecast and gave updates. I was mostly watching ESPN and waiting for the updated score to scroll across the bottom of the screen. Unfortunately, the outcome was not good, the celtics lost, but it was an interesting flight to say the least!)

So I arrived late, after midnight, on Thursday. Friday morning we stopped by my grandma's house to say hi to the family that was there. Then we took a trip over to the cemetery where most of my mom's relatives are buried. We also made time for a quick stop at pinkberry, which was my big thing I wanted to do on this trip. I have a slight frozen yogurt obsession and pinkberry DID NOT disappoint. :)

My mom's Grandfather.

My mom's Grandmother.

My mom's Great-Grandmother.

My dear Papa Rudy. (my mom's dad)

And my dear Kiki. (my mom's mom)

Kiki and Papa right next to each other, with their lovely flowers.

Yummy pinkberry run!

My youngest cousin Joey showing off his unicycle skills. :)

Saturday was the funeral and then an open house at my Grandma's house afterward. Everything was wonderful, though of course sad at times. Everyone really had a lovely time and it was great just to spend time together with the family.

My dad and 3 of his siblings staying to watch Papa Joe be buried.

A picture I love at my grandma's house, baby pictures of my dad and his 4 siblings. My dad is oldest, the one on top. :) Such little cuties.

Family pictures that evening...the cousins (minus Rachel, plus a friend and some significant others) :)

My dad's cousin Melissa, Grandma Peggy, My dad, Uncle Greg, Uncle Ed, Aunt Jackie, and Aunt Patti.

The whole family.

Sunday morning we made one last stop at my Grandma's to say good-bye and then my parents took me to the airport for my flight back to Boston. Like I said, the trip was short but sweet. It was wonderful to see so much of a my dear family again, it had been way too long. Love you all dear cousins, aunts, uncles, and Grandma Peggy! Miss you lots and hope to see you soon!

A few days after I returned to Boston I hosted a small but sweet surprise birthday party for my dear friend Beck. :) Her birthday was actually back in May, but between memorial day plans, friends visiting, job interviews, and trips to california, we had never gotten around to celebrating her. Since they were leaving to move back to NJ the end of June, we needed to act fast. With the help of her dear hubby Nick, we hatched a plan and surprised her good. :) We had dinner, strawberry shortcake for dessert, and played whatever games Beck wanted. :) Emily and I also had bought her some birthday/baby gifts that we ordered from Etsy that hadn't quite arrived yet, but they were successfully delivered the end of July when Reed and Emily visited Nick and Beck on their move to OK (yes, many of our friends moved away, and we are sad and miss them but are thankful for skype and our many wonderful friends who are still here too. Plus all you washingtonian friends. :) We have many great friends and we are so thankful!)

So anyway here are a few pics from the party. It looks like we forgot to take an actual "surprise" picture, but it was a good one. :) Reed and Emily came over early and Emily helped my finish up the last of dinner/dessert. Beck thought they were just coming over for dinner and to see our place all set up/decorated (they were there when we moved in, but hadn't seen it all set up) so I gave her a tour of the house while Reed and Emily were hiding in the guest room. That was the last stop on my tour, so when Beck walked into that room they jumped out and surprised her. It was great, and we had fun hanging out with the 6 of us for the last time...for now at least. :)