Old family photos part 1

The last time I saw my dad, I was helping him and my mom pack up their house to move out of it. I mostly helped my dad with his woodshop/shed. There were a ton of boxes in the loft area and while getting them down for my dad, I found a box of old photos, mostly of my dad when he was young. I was so excited to find such a treasure. I asked my dad if I could take home the box of photos to scan into my computer. He thought it was a great idea. I was so glad that I took them home instead of sending to storage with all the rest of their stuff. Because my dad passed away just a month and a half later and I was able to find some great photos of my dad for the services. 

A couple of weeks ago I decided I needed to actually go through the whole box, organize the photos and start scanning them. My mom and I had so much fun going through and looking at all the photos and talking about them. There are a ton of photos and scanning them is a long process. So this is just the first batch of photos that I was able to scan. 

This is my dad's mother (whom we called Nana) Beaulah and my dad's father Kenneth who died about 50 years ago. My grandfather was, I think, 19 years older than my grandmother. And their dog Cindy which my dad loved.

My Nana holding my dad at four months old. 

My dad in 1939.

My dad and Nana in 1939.

My dad and Nana when he was about one.

My dad and his parents at about one year old. 

My dad at four months old. 

My dad and his mom. He looks like a teenager. 

My dad on his fourth birthday. 

My dad and his bike. There is a great story to go with this bike. After a flood my dad found a glass jar with $100 in it. He turned it into the town he lived in. No one ever claimed it so the money was then given to my dad since had found it. He ended up using the money to buy this bike which loved!

My dad assuming between 7 and 12 months old. 

My dad probably high school. 

My dad as a teenager. 

My dad. This one reminds me alot of my brother Ryan. It looks like it might be a senior photo since it looks like he is wearing a class ring. 

My dad when he was in the Navy. I was so excited to find this photo to get printed for my dad's service. 

My dad's graduation photo. 

My dad. So CUTE!

My dad in the Navy. 

My dad. 

My dad.

My dad and his mom. 

My dad.

My dad.

My dad. 

My dad at four months. 

My dad.

My dad. 

My dad and his mom. 

My dad. 

My dad. I love how you can see his father's reflection in the rear view mirror. 

My dad. 

This is my favorite photo I found. My dad and his mother. 

My dad at two months. 

My dad, his sister Judie and their Mother. 

My dad with his mother holding him and his father. I am not sure who the other lady is but I plan on asking my Aunt Judie who she is.

My dad and his sister and their mother. 

My dad and his sister. Love her face!

My dad and his sister and their mother. My Aunt said she had never seen this photo before. I really love the hats and the camera my dad is has over his shoulder. He had a love for photography since he was very young. 

one month

It has been one month since I buried my dad. I am still having a hard time believing that my dad is really gone from this earth. I spend most of my time avoiding thinking about it too deeply because I am tired of crying. I know that I am going to need to get that all out at some point, but I am just not ready. I miss him so much, yet I know he is happy and well. I have been enjoying talking about all the wonderful things about my dad and the wonderful memories we have of him. That makes me happy.

 I went back and forth on whether or not I was ready to post these photos I took. But I want them to be here on my blog to remember this day. 

The day we buried my dad could not have been a more beautiful Utah, December day. I was worried how my children would react. Both of my kids surprised me. Mac was solemn and serious, and Oak burst into tears as soon as she saw my dads casket. The one blurry picture of the top of my kids head is Oak hugging my leg balling and Mac immediately came up to Oak and started comforting her. It was a beautiful moment in a moment of great sadness. I will never forget it. 

Another beautiful moment was when Taps was played. My dad would have been so pleased with that.

My kids loved holding Grandpa's flag afterwards. 

I miss my dad more than words could ever express.

Time and memories...

As I have been thinking about my dad, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the time I have spent with him over the years, especially this last year. And for the many pictures that I took of him with my kids.  I can think of countless memories with him from just this year. I am truly grateful that I have those memories. My dad was so special and one of the greatest men I know.

Some of my recent vivid memories of him is him standing in the driveway of his house while I pull away to go home. He never went inside until I drove away. I can feel him hugging me and saying, "I love you sis." I just miss him so much. It is so hard imagining life without him.

 

 This was from a year and a half ago, but I am so grateful that I took the time to make my parents' 50th wedding anniversary special. 

 

Last December there was a snow storm coming in and Hubs was out of town so I hurried up to my parents house before the snow started and stayed there for a week. We had so much fun playing in the snow with grandma and grandpa. 

 

These two had such a sweet relationship. Mac loved anything his grandpa Dick loved. 

 

This was Thanksgiving last year. Exactly one year before he passed away. I am so grateful that I spent holidays with my parents. 

 

When we were at my parents house during the snow last december we helped them put up their christmas decorations. These guys loved trains and these two worked hard at putting the train set together under the tree. 

 

We always spent Christmas day with my parents. This was last Christmas.

 

In February I had the privilege of going up to my parents house for a couple of weeks and take my dad in for two cataract surgeries.  I am grateful I was there to help him when he needed me.

 

This was a scene I saw a lot. This boy sitting with grandpa in grandpas chair. 

 

My dad loved going to movies. He took us to see The Lego movie.

 

I think this was after they helped us move the rest of our stuff from our house after we sold it. Before they headed home we went on a little walk by the lake. 

 

One of our visits with my parents we went bowling then to frozen yogurt. 

 

Playing legos together. 

 

Mac always wanted a little project to do with grandpa. This was a little wooden car kit they were working on. Grandpa always had to get out his tools even for simple projects that just needed glue. 

 

My dad was an amazing artist. He could draw anything. Here he is drawing something that Mac asked him to. 

 

Another visit with my parents in April and we decided to make a trip to the coast. The weather was beautiful!

 

We had so much fun together on this trip. 

 

And of course ice cream. 

 

I think this was in July and we were meeting my parents for lunch. My kids saw grandpa and literally ran up to him and hugged him just like this. 

 

My brother, niece and nephew came for a quick visit this summer and we made another trip to the coast. My dad was slow because of issues with his feet and this is where you would always find Mac walking with grandpa. 

 

Another visit with my parents this last summer and we decided to go get some ice cream on a warm night. 

 

My dad isn't in the photo but while Hubs and I had a meeting in Portland my parents took my kids to Enchanted Forest. They had a blast!

 

A last minute decision in which I am so grateful for was to go camping with my parents the week before labor day. It was so much fun. On this trip I talked to my dad about camping up at Fort Stevens this next year, just like we used to when I was a teenager. It breaks my heart thinking we won't be doing that with him. 

 

On that camping trip my dad took my kids fishing. What a sweet memory I have of him that early morning. 

 

After camping I had one more day at my parent house before we had to head back home. We were going to go to Silver Falls but it was raining. Last minute we decided to go to Salem to a children's museum and then to lunch. Love these two. 

 

In September my parents decided to take the train down to our house. While they were here Mac had to find another project at Walmart to do with Grandpa. He found a catapult kit and they loved putting it together. 

 

While they were here for that visit I took my parents up to Crater Lake. My dad said he hadn't been there since he was a kid. He told me several times after going that it was such a great day and loved that trip. I am so grateful we have that memory with him. 

 

The reason my parents brought the train down to our house was so they could take the kids back to their house on the train. My parents had been wanting to do this for awhile. I am so happy my kids have this memory. 

 

A boy and his grandpa

 

This is the last picture I have of my dad. It was taken the middle of October when they came for a quick visit. I think it is one of my favorites. 

I know there are many more memories that I didn't get photos of. I am grateful for the relationship my kids had with him. My dad far exceeded the kind of grandpa I wanted for my kids. 

I can not express enough how grateful I am to have had the dad I had.