05.25.2013: Avery's Elmo Bday Party

Avery drew a pretty big crowd for her 2nd birthday party!  Maybe it was the fact that it was an "Elmo Party"....or maybe because it was a pool party....or maybe it was because she is just so darn cute...or maybe it was just because it was time for another Durbin summer party.  Who knows the reason...but there were a lot of us that converged on Brent & Alisa's for the day/night!  The afternoon started out with a pool volleyball game...mostly with the guys.  Ok, only with the guys.   The bigger kids (Drake and Andrew) got to partake in the game...and had an absolute blast!  The younger kids got sidelined and just watched.  It was pretty fun though watching all of them....got pretty intense for a while there!

 

 

 

 Avery just taking a break under her Elmo umbrella and chilling at her Elmo table.

 Avery showing off her swimming skills...doing the back float.

 Nana getting her snapshot in...

 Avery under the waterfall with Daddy

 Round 2 of volleyball game....girls & kiddos on the sidelines

 Lena taking a swim break and snacking

 Ezra....little cutie!

 Alisa made the cutest Elmo cake!!!  Yup, made it herself....came out perfect!!!

 Rainbow cupcakes...homemade as well!

 Grandma watching over the kiddos during dinner

 "All this for ME"!....Avery during the Happy Birthday song!

 Clapping for the singers...

 her very own "EYEBALL"

 Steph & Aubrey!

 All the kids got goodie bags...

 Avery had to pass out everyone else's presents before she got open her own. Think she really liked that!

 All the clothes that she opened, she wanted to wear right then....over her current clothes! Hmm....wear the clothes as soon as you get them....wonder who that is like?!  Maybe Uncle Vince has been teaching her some fashion 101 on the side...

Clarification: In regards to wearing the new stuff right away...not wearing it all at once!

 She has her regular clothes on....pajamas...and a dress on top.

Although Avery might not remember her 2nd birthday .... we will!!  It was a great night with a great group of family that all came out to celebrate!  Thank you to Brent, Alisa, Andrew, Brianna, Olivia, Mom, Dad, Gina, Bill, Chris, Nicole, Kent, Tammy, Brad, Leonor, Erik, Stephanie, Aubrey, Miss Ashley (Brianna's teacher), Greg, Anndrea, Lena, Ezra, Vince, Drake, and me.....for all being there to celebrate Avery's big #2!!!!

05.24.2013: Pre-party Swim Party

 Mom & Dad, Gina Bill Chris & Nicole all came into town tonight.  Brent & Alisa were having a birthday party for Avery tomorrow...so we had a little pre-party tonight!  We brought Drake over so he could spend the night...so we stayed for dinner and watched the kiddos swim for the evening.  Avery showed off her new swimming survival skills.  Alisa has had her in toddler survival swim lessons for the past few weeks....and that girl can swim!!!  Those classes are beyond amazing and all parents should invest the money and time to put their kids in it.  It truly can save their life.  It was sooooo cool to see her just swim and float on her own.



 

She loves swimming under water....and always opens her eyes!!

When she gets tired of swimming she flips and float on her back until she regains herself...then flips back over & swims to her destination.  It is amazing to watch.

The other little girl fishy in the pool!!

 

JUMP!!! Avery JUMP!

Eyes....

 

3 of the most beautiful kiddos...

Sunkist!!  Or Sun-kissed...depending on the season :)

 

Avery sharing Piggy's cars with Grandpa

 

Video of Avery Swimming:

05.16.2013: Long Beach Day Trip

We have had such amazing weather everyday this week!!  We have spent all our mornings up early with walks on the boardwalk....and then working all morning....and then the afternoons on the beach.  It has been unbelievably perfect!  I don't know how we got so luckly this week!

 

Today was the first day that it was slightly gloomy.  Marine layer all morning!  So, we worked until about 11, then decided to take a drive up the coast to Long Beach.  Vince had never done that drive before, so we just took our time heading up through the little coastal cities and enjoying the sights.  When we got to Long Beach, he really wanted to go to the Aquarium there.....so we did!  Us, and about every school in SoCal were there :)  So, we didn't spend much time there....just walked around a little...checked out some fishes.



 

 

 I swear this was JAWS.  And I think he had his eye on us....kept coming around our side of the glass and eyeballing us!!  It was slightly creepy...and kinda cool too :)

 Eyeball.....

 

 

After our little fish visit, we were hungry for some good seafood.  But, it has been so long since I've been to Long Beach, I couldn't tell ya the great places to eat.  So, we winged it!!!  We were in tourist trap area, so knew it wasn't going to be the best of the best...and overpriced for what we were looking at.  So, passed on the seafood, and settled for a really cool little Mexican restaurant on the bayside area called Tequila Jacks...right on the water overlooking the boats....that served beer in freeeeeezing cold giant mug/glasses!!!  The food wasn't bad either, not "authentic", but that beer was the coldest on the planet! 

 

Great little road trip and another notch of a Cali landmark for Vince to check off his list!

 



05.15.2013: Lazy Beachy Afternoon

So, after a loooooooong day of really hard work, we got to take a break and spend a few hours on the beach before picking up Justice from school.  I am telling you that we could not have ordered more perfect weather this week.  THIS is why people live in SoCal....THIS is why people pay exorbitant amounts to live by the beach....THIS is why people deal with the ridiculous Cali traffic and people and congestion.....for moments like THIS.  When everyone else is at work, and you have the entire (well, ok, at least part) of the Newport Beach and Pacific Ocean to yourself!!

 



I am home.....

 Even walked down to the pier and it was still empty....felt like it was "our" beach.

05.12.2013: First Night In Newport

So this week Vince and I were supposed to be in Newport watching Justice while Christina & Lex are in Europe.  They are there on a cruise through the Mediterranean, that Christina had won from work.  Top salesperson of the year, or something fabulous like that!  So, they are on an all-expense paid amazing vacation to Spain, Paris, coastal France, etc, etc....all miserable places to visit I am sure. So, they were off torturing themselves in Europe for 10 days....and we got to spend the time with Justice and at the beach.

 

Unfortunately, it had been really bad timing with Gramma's passing.  Vince took over covering Justice duty while I was in Riverside helping out with Gramma's funeral and arrangements.   However, now that everything is taken care of in Riverside, I was able to join Vince in Newport for the rest of the week.  First night in, I got to see the fabulous little gifts that Christina & Lex left for us to enjoy for the week. 

 

One of our gifts was this amazing bottle of wine.  A 2007 Darioush Cab...wow. They had just visited the Darioush winery the week before and brought this back for us.  Sooooo good...and such a wonderfully relaxing night and gorgeous sunset!!  It was special to be able to enjoy this moment together.   Much needed.....

 

 

05.10.2013: Gramma's Funeral

The past week has been a whirlwind.  I honestly don't remember much of it.  It has been a mix of emotions.  Grief, sadness, stress, sleeplessness, exhaustion, anxiety, planning.....   We have been taking turns making plans & arrangements for the funeral, and caring for Papa and helping him cope with his loss as well.  He repeatedly would say "It wasn't supposed to happen like this".  How do you comfort someone who just lost the love of their life and the one person they have spent the last 60 years with.  Unimaginable.

But we all got through it.  Papa got through it.  Arrangements needed to be made.  Things needed to get done.  I guess it was a good distraction in dealing with the grief.  Just a rough, rough week.

Friday morning, Brent and Kenny went over to Papa's house to help him get dressed and ready.  They were going to drive him to the mortuary and the cemetery and kinda take care of him for the day.  So, they headed over at about 4am to spend the morning with him.  I think Papa was actually looking forward to today. He was excited about wearing his suit again and seeing everyone, and I'm sure just getting out of the house.  Again, despite the situation, I think it was a good distraction for him and it was an honor to Gramma.

The funeral went well...Brent, Kenny and I all gave speeches during it.  Mom opened the ceremony with a poem to Gramma.  I think we all were pretty choked up throughout the entire ceremony...everyone was.  We all took turns crying quietly as we reflected on Gramma's life and began to imagine how much we are really going to miss her.  I don't think it had sunk in yet for most of us.  The service was packed with people that knew and cared about her, and about our family, with people even standing out in the lobby.   Papa held up really well and seemed to take in the moment.  You could tell he appreciated the support and everyone that showed up.

After the graveside service, everyone came over to Mom & Dad's house for a luncheon.  It was really nice, as so many people showed up!  I think Papa was a little overwhelmed by all the attention, but he seemed like he was enjoying the celebration of Gramma's life.  It had been over a year since he had been over to Mom & Dad's for an event...and I think he appreciated it.  Again, despite the situation.  He visited with everyone, and even had a Bud Light!  After a few hours, it was time for him to head home.  It had been a long and emotional day....but it went well.

05.08.2013: Patricia Alice Riedman

 

PATRICIA ALICE RIEDMAN (LYNNE) Patricia passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2013 in the comfort of her home in Riverside, CA.

 

Patricia was born on April 4, 1936 to Carl Lynne and Evelyn (Tufte) Lynne in McHenry, North Dakota. Patricia graduated high school and Valley City Teachers College in Valley City, ND.

 

On October 29, 1955 Patricia (Pat) married her friend and love of her life, Robert (Bob) Riedman of Litchfield, ND, and shortly thereafter moved with him to Riverside, CA. Bob and Pat lovingly raised three daughters there. Pat enjoyed sewing, cooking, gardening, going for long walks in the neighborhood, and caring for her 9 grandchildren as well as her pet desert tortoise, Pokey. Pat was very family oriented and the highlight of her year would be hosting Christmas Eve dinners for the entire family. Bob & Pat lived in the same home in the Wood Streets area of Riverside for over 50 years.

 

Patricia is survived by her husband, Robert Riedman; brothers, Larry Lynne and Neil Lynne; sisters, Carol Dunn and Gale DeRouchey; daughters, Tina Ketring, Bonnie Durbin (Ralph), Shelly Clabaugh (Jim); grandchildren, Cassandra (Durbin) Hearn, Brenten Durbin, Matthew Ketring, Chad Clabaugh, Steven Clabaugh, Kenneth Durbin, and Michael Ketring; and 9 great-grandchildren. Patricia is preceded in death by son-in-law, Rick Ketring, and grandson, Grant Clabaugh. Memorial services will be held at Akes Family Funeral Home in Riverside on Friday, May 10th at 10am. Patricia will be laid to rest at Olivewood Cemetery.

05.04.2013: My Last Day With Gramma

I was actually planning on being in Riverside this weekend.  Shelly was going to go out of town and I was going to go out to help watch Gramma & Papa.  But Shelly cancelled her trip....so I decided to wait to go out until Monday.  However, yesterday morning, Mom called to let us know that Gramma wasn't doing too well.  We were kinda on standby to go out just in case her condition got worse.  I decided to head out on Sat morning, either way.  Just felt like I should be there, and thought I might be helpful in case they needed me for anything.  So, I woke up and hit the road with Kaizen.  I got home about 3:30pm...and stopped by the house to unload.  Was catching up with Dad before I headed over to Gramma & Papa's....when Mom called to let us know that Gramma had just passed away. 

I rushed over there, and was able to see her and say my good-byes to her, even though she was already gone.  I knew God had taken her home....ended her suffering.  It was a good thing, and supposed to be a moment of peace and grace....but it was hard not to be devastated.  I felt blessed to be able to be there in that moment with Papa and my Mom and Tina & Shelly....but it was heartbreaking at the same time.

Gramma was 77 years old, and one month to the day when she passed.  She had been suffering from dementia over the past year or so, and required someone to be there to help care for her around the clock.  I was able to spend some of those hours helping care for her...and getting to know her again....and being able to remind her of all the wonderful memories we have shared together.  Even though she had a tough time communicating with us, I truly believe that she was still all there.  I have many, many moments shared with Gramma over this past year...funny and touching ones, loving and calming ones, sometimes frustrating ones, and almost always "interesting".  I am so glad I was blessed to be able to experience these times with her....as I know Mom and my aunts are as well.

Gramma had changed so much and so quickly, but her heart & soul were the same...her spirit and spunk were the same....they hadn't left her and they certainly hadn't changed.  She was still the same amazing woman that she always had been.  No disease could ever take that from her.  

Gramma led a great life, with a loving husband of 58 years, 3 caring daughters, wonderful grandchildren...and adorable great-grandchildren.  She lived, laughed, and loved...and there is not much more you can ask or hope for.  Her life was complete, and she will not just be remembered, but she will forever live on within each of us. 

Gramma will continue to be there for us....
Just as she always has been.