Grandpa's slideshow...

(More of the family and funeral for Grandpa)

Goodbye Grandpa Goodwin....till we meet again....

My grandpa, "Chuck" Goodwin was an amazing child of the greatest generation born August 11th, 1921. He could do anything and did almost everything.  He was a track star, football star, and a boxing champion. He was a pilot both privately and in WW2. He won awards for his beautiful oration skills. He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints serving in many areas all his life. And most important to me he was king if the "big adventures" with us grandkids. 

He climbed the Tetons with his brother and future brother in law. They didn't really know how to climb a mountain but they knew that they needed a rope...so they tied themselves together. I guess if one went over the side they'd all go...all for one and one for all! 

He married the beautiful "Bunny" Prestgard on August 11th, 1944, his 23rd birthday. They just celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary this year. Grandma's given name is Myrtle, and she's always hated it. When they were dating Grandpa had given her a big Easter Bunny and started to call her his Honey Bunny...and Bunny stuck. She's been called Bunny ever since by everyone. 

Grandpa always made everyone feel special. He took the time to do simple things for people. He was a dentist in Riverside for many, many years which gave him the financial ability to help others and Christmas was a BIG occasion at his house. More than the gifts he gave, his best gift to us grandkids was that he gave us his time. Many times when he'd visit us or we'd visit him he took the grandkids who were old enough on a "big adventure". Just Grandpa and us. When we lived in Wyoming it was to the top of the mountain in Jackson Hole on the tram to feed the squirrels. When we came to visit him in California it was to Knott's Berry Farm. We never knew before hand where we were going and that added to the excitement. He always wanted all of us to know we were of worth and we were loved...mission accomplished.

Grandpa died on October 22nd, 2010 surrounded by most of his children and some grand children. Grandpa would have loved that he got to bring all of the family together again...great aunts and uncles, cousins, extended family who haven't all been together since his parents were alive. We reminisced, told our Grandpa stories...mostly funny, cried a lot and enjoyed being a big family. 

(Uncle Dale, Aunt Jean, and Aunt Berna..his brother, sis in law, and sister)

Grandpa was buried at Riverside National Cemetery. It was a sweet service full of tears and laughter...just like he would have liked. 

(Pallbearers..Kumen, Steve, John, David, Scott, and Rob...the boy in front is the funeral director)

(After a lone bugler played Taps, they presented Grandma with the flag that draped his coffin.)

Grandpa left behind many letters he had written and saved. I think it was his way of journal keeping. Most of the content of his funeral was from those letters added into talks given by each of his kids reading what he had written about his marriage to Grandma, events and wisdom from his life, and a talk he had given one Easter. In the Easter talk he spoke about being in the womb, warm and cozy and he was sure not wanting to leave that place but he had to. And it was a struggle. Then the first thing he saw was his mother's loving face looking at him welcoming him to this new world. Then he had a great life and got comfortable and didn't want to leave this place and the people he loves but he has to. And it would be a struggle, but then he'd be in a new even better place and the first thing he'd see would be his mother's loving face welcoming him. And because of Christ we'd all be welcomed home in joy, being able to be with all of our family for eternity. 

Grandpa was a good man and he'll be so missed. But he made a wonderful family, he gave us a good name and a great example to live up to. The last few years have been a struggle for him. The once all powerful athlete and scholar lost those abilities and had to rely on us for food, getting him dressed, and getting him around. But whenever I came to see him his eyes lit up with as much joy as ever to see me and he'd always say "Hi Jilly!" with a smile. The Thursday before he died I went to babysit him because my mom and grandma had an appointment to go to. I sat with him, got him breakfast, and as I sat next to him on the couch he grabbed my hand and kissed it and told me again how special I was to him.  

I have a lot to live up to and so much to be thankful for. 

Love you grandpa...

Catching up...Julia's birthday!

It's been a LONG time since I've updated our blog. I am playing catch up now so here we go starting in August....Julia turned 4! She wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese for her party and had talked about it for months before so that's what we did. 

She ate lots of pizza...

Rode the rides with friends...

Ate cupcakes...

Bought prizes with her tickets...

Thoroughly enjoyed her presents...

And bought her favorite present, Rufus the piggy bank, with the money she got from Grandma and Grandpa.

Unfortunately I tend to be a little on the air-headish side sometimes and didn't get a picture of all of her friends at her party or of her opening her presents. So you'll just have to trust me, they were there and she had fun. We feel very blessed to have this happy, crazy, little ball of energy in our family. She brings a smile and usually a laugh to all of us. She is affectionately referred to as "Baby" by her oldest brother but she will tell you she is 4 so she is a BIG girl. She loves her friends, loves learning, loves singing and since she got Rufus she loves money. Love this silly little girl of mine!