The Howell Family Blog: Ca-li-for-nia

Ca-li-for-nia. That is exactly how Parker pronounces it. It is the cutest word he says right now, and it cracks Matt and me up every time he says it. So, anyway, yes, we flew to California last weekend for Grammie's funeral and memorial. To be honest, I was so nervous about the flight and the actual funeral itself. I was so worried of how my little rambunctious boy would be on a 5 hour flight, as well as how he would be in a full mass Catholic service. Well, let me tell you... My boy was A-mazing. Just A-amazing. I tell you what... He may be full of energy, and mischievous, and prone to meltdowns when he doesn't get his way. BUT my boy also knows how to behave when it REALLY matters. And for that I am so beyond proud of the boy Matt and I are raising. Sure, most of the time we have no idea what we are doing and if we are doing it right, but obviously something is working. Parker truly is a good boy, and he just has 2 year old tendencies at times. That's totally normal, so I'm happy. I'm happy with the boy we are raising.

The California trip was a good one. It was nice to spend time with family. Grammie's service was beautiful. I didn't expect to be so emotional about it, but I was. Tears flooded me and Matt's eyes every time Parker pointed out a picture and said "Grammie!" It just makes me so sad to know that Parker has no idea that she is gone. Well, let me take that back. She is NOT gone. She is with us, and Parker and I had a conversation about that last night at dinner. We were talking about Grammie, and I asked Parker if he knew where she was. His reply…. "yeah, ca-li-for-nia." Haha, he is too cute. I corrected him and told him (like I've told him many times before), "No, baby, Grammie is in heaven. She is up in the sky with God, and the clouds, and the birds. And she is always looking down on us. We may not be able to see her, but we can feel her all around us." Parker listened very intently at what I was saying, and then he immediately looked up to the sky and pointed and said "Grammie?" Yes baby. Grammie is up there looking down on us. I will always and forever tell him this. She will never be forgotten by him. Never. Ever.

After our long flight, we unpacked, and headed down to "The Warf" for some shopping and animal watching. Parker was mesmerized by the fish skinning guy and the seals and pelicans that were fighting over the dead fish scraps.

Parker and Joey were so very cute on this trip. Parker has a new found love for his baby cousin, and boy did he want to be with him ALL.THE.TIME. Here is a video of him calling Joey from the hotel phone.

Saturday, after the service, we all spent the day at the beautiful Carmel beach. The water was FREEZING, but that didn't stop my fearless little boy. He wanted in that water. He is crazy!