Pappy's Resting Place

On a beautiful day in September, we gathered together to settle Pappy's ashes.  Dartford Cemetery was a beautiful place that day--perfect weather, Lochheads gathered, and memories shared.

Harvey Lee Lochhead---1931-2017

The week that Pappy passed away, I remember the "boys" took the week off (Scott, Jeff, and Drew) to help organize all of the details.  I remember thinking that time should really stand still for a few days, while we all mourned our family's loss.  But it was a good week to be together, telling stories about Harvey and looking through pictures.  Here's a picture of Scott that was found in a box of photos...DOESN'T HE LOOK LIKE JOSH!?!?

His service was held on a Friday at Whitworth Presbyterian Church, and it was a full house.  There were a lot of stories told, as Pappy was full of life!

Perri and Dennis came over from the west side, and this is the only picture I thought to take!

It was a good week for our family to celebrate G'pa Harvey's life.  It was so hard to see him in the shape he was in...and we're all thankful that he's now free of his body that was "TRASHED."  :)

Snow Day for Pappy

Monday, January 9 was A SNOW DAY!!!  The Lochheads in North Spokane decided to celebrate with a sledding day at Drew and Annie's house.

We later got the call that Pappy had just passed away.  He'd not been doing well...the boys had just moved the hospital bed into the house the day before.   We were sad.  Very sad.  How fitting that on Pappy's last day on earth, we were enjoying the outdoors at his old house.  He would've loved that.

 

     

Jeff went to be with Granny while we kept the kids' schedules steady.  After swim lessons that night, we stopped by Granny and Pappy's so that I could see him one last time.  A bittersweet thing...we knew he'd been in so much pain, but we were sad to say goodbye.

The kids and I had a cookie toast to Pappy that night before bed.  Sad time, but great Pappy memories were shared.

Granny Snuggles

Cookies.  Books.  Granny snuggles.  This makes my heart so happy.

Micah and I try to go see Granny and Pappy on my days off, if just to distract them from the day-to-day struggles that have become their norm.  Some days with Pappy are good, and he's in the chair, others aren't and he's in the bed.  He visits as best he can...often I say, "It's so good to see you, G'pa!" and he replies, "It's good to be seen."  I miss his regular spunk.

A Haircut for Pappy

Jeff helped Granny take Pappy to get his haircut on a day that I had a report card meeting.  The place they go is out near Deer Park (on G'ma Dianne's road) and it was so very convenient that they had a trampoline in the backyard!

Life after vacation...

 

Lazy summer mornings with my slow wakers (don't let Micah fool you...he wakes up with lots of energy!!!)

 Julie and Cali came to visit, which was a good thing, because we were going through Auntie Julie withdrawals the week after vacationing with her!

You thought this was Jeff, right?  Yeah, I am the creepy lady who discreetly takes a picture of my husband's doppleganger at the local bakery.  (I was supposed to be professionally developing...)

 The littlest has to fend for himself around here...

...and Pappy is fighting the good fight these days.  It's no fun to see him struggle through his days.  We love this guy!

Granny and Pappy's

We snuck by Granny and Pappy's for the usual fun--book reading and car ramp-ing.  Granny loves to read with the kids.  Pappy loves to read the paper.  :)

Donuts with Pappy

Micah and I had several visits with Pappy when he was recovering in the nursing home.  On this particular day, we heard he needed some calories, and we were happy to oblige.

The REST of Memorial Day Weekend

Pappy spent several weeks at Royal Park.  We loved to go visit...sitting in his wheelchair, walking around the halls, putting together puzzles in the gathering room, and eating cookies that Granny had stocked up in his room.  He worked so hard in therapy to be able to go home...

Stinkin' cute.

Van Stickle kids thought it was time to send their parents away for a bit,  so they came over to spend the evening with us.  First was a round of Forbidden Island!

And THEN on to s'mores!

And then Daddy surprised the kids with a sleep in the camp trailer!

I was there, too, just for the record.