My "Aunt Yvonne," really my great aunt died a few weeks ago. When I heard about the funeral, in Phoenix, I thought it would be really great to be there. I had the weekend off, my parents were going down, Trisha has lots of family and a really good friend that live down there. It could not have worked out more perfectly. We briefly looked at airline tickets before we decided that $450.00 per person was not gonna work. So, a road trip it was. Scary to take a 1 year old on a 13 hour drive, but he ended up doing really well.
We left friday morning at 6:00am. We hoped that leaving that early would allow Sam to sleep more while we drove. That certainly didn't happen. He actually only slept for about an hour of the entire drive. We drove out of town and in to Colorado. Through Rangley and down in to Grand Junction. It was an absolutely beautiful drive when we arrived at Douglas Pass. Once we got to Grand Junction, we headed back into Utah and down through Moab, Monticello and Blanding. Our first stop was in Blanding, 5 hours into the drive, where we had lunch and got back on the road. Trisha drove us down through Bluff and past the 4 corners region, into Arizona and onto the res. For this stretch of road I tried to sit in the back of the car next to Sam in order to entertain him. I tried to watch a movie with him on Trisha's iphone but it didn't work out that well. He was only interested for a couple minutes and then he just wanted to eat the phone. I played with him and we had lots of fun but I think I distracted him from sleeping. My bad.
Our second stop was in Tuba City, Arizona. On the reservation. BIG mistake. That place is beyond crazy. It was a friday and I swear the entire Indian population was uniting in the "city." The traffic was terrible, the place was trashed. We pulled in to a gas station for a bathroom break and some water. I went into the bathroom and Trisha changed Sams diaper in the car. I waited in line in gas station, which was packed. I was looking around when all of a sudden my eye caught hold of a hand written note posted on the bulletin board. I couldn't believe my eyes, so I took a picture of the sign. Here it is:
Written: "TCRHCC Navajo's T/C Want to run their own hospital, out with the Whites, in with the Navajos. Self Determination"
Once I was done, I walked out to the car. Trisha hurried and went into the bathroom. She was gone forever and when she finally came back to the car, she said, "hurry let's get out of this place." As we were driving away, two gentlemen tried to approach our car and ask us for money. I just waved at them and hurried and got out of town. Apparently they had already approached Trisha while I was in the bathroom and they wouldn't leave her alone. While she was in waiting for the bathroom, 3 teenage girls were giving her death stares. She was afraid for her life. Point of this story is that if you are ever driving through Northern Arizona, DO NOT STOP in Tuba City!!
We continued our drive down through Arizona. Flagstaff and then on into the greater Phoenix area. Sam did so good until the last 45 minutes. By then he had had enough and he cried the remainder of the time in the car. Once we got to Phoenix, we went immediately to Vicki's (Yvonnes daughter, my moms cousin) house where the family was gathered for dinner. Sam was so happy to see grandma and papa. He was even saying "papa" on our drive there. We had a great dinner, talked with family and watched a video that was put together to honor Yvonne and her life. Then it was off to see Trishas uncle and aunt, Bob and Christi, where we would be staying for the weekend.
Saturday started off early with the viewing and then the funeral. It was a really good funeral. There are a few things that stick out to me, that I will remember about the funeral. One is that Aunt Yvonne was loved by everyone that knew her. She had a way to make people feel special, like they were the most special person. Second is when two great-granddaughters stood up on the stand and sang, "Families can be together forever." They tried so hard to make it through without crying, but there was not a dry eye in the crowd. As they looked around, the younger girl just started to loose it, then pulled it together, then lost it completely. It was so sad and so touching. Third was the other great granddaughter (age 3 or 4) that stood up and gave a memorized speech about Jesus and how he loves us and died for us so that we can be ressurected like her grandma. It was a really good service. We had a police escort to the gravesite and then returned to the church for a luncheon put on by the ward. We got to hang out more with family and got to see some of my cousins, the Downs'. Although a sad occasion, it was a really good opportunity to see and talk to family.
Aunt Yvonne's obituary: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=emily-yvonne-dahl&pid=154037372
Near the end of the luncheon, Sam decided to poop (diarrhea) his pants and get it all over his pants and then decided to vomit all over his shirt. So, we left the church with Sam only in his diaper. We ran to Target, and looked like the biggest white trash family ever, as we pushed Sam around naked in his stroller trying to buy him a pair of clothes to put him into. Then it was off to Schnepf Farm with Chelsee (Trishas cousin) and her husband, Ben, and their son, Brayden and some friends of theirs. It was so much fun. A fall carnival. We watched bikers in a stunt show, went to the petting zoo, ate really good food, rode a roller coaster, ate more good food and had a great time! Sam was scared to death of the little goats that I tried to make him pet but he warmed up to them after a minute and laughed when he petted them. It was fun.
Sam stripped down to his diaper at the lunchean
Sam smiling at Schnepf Farms
Sam scared to death by the baby goat
Finally warmed up to them enough to pat them down
Our family at Schnepf Farms
Sunday we went to church with Trisha's cousins, then went to visit Trisha's life-long friend, Ashley, and then back to Bob and Christi's for Sunday dinner with the family. The whole family in the Phoenix area came and it was a blast. I loved meeting all of the family and Trisha loved seeing them all again. After dinner we sat around talking and singing and just enjoying one another. Then we stayed up really late talking with Bob and Christi, an event that happened several days in a row.
All the little boys gathered 'round Sam to eat his food
Monday was a little more laid back. We drove around Phoenix seeing the sights. We visited the Mesa temple, went to South Mountain Park, tried to see Mystery castle, went to a shopping center and took a stroll through an aquarium.
Trisha and Sam at the Mesa Temple
A view of the city from South Mountain Park
What is more Arizona than a cactus?
Mystery Castle
Sam smiling at the fishies
Sam touching the star fish
What a cheese ball!
Sam giving kisses to the crabs
Blow fish?
Monday night was the last hoorah. We had Family Home Evening at Brad (Trishas cousin) and Lael's house with their kids and Chelsee and Ben. They live on an orchard and they started a bon fire in their backyard where they cooked tin foil dinners for all of us. We ate outside under the stars in the light of their garage. After dinner we all pulled our chairs over to the fire where we had FHE and roasted marshmallows and ate 'smores. We used Reese's instead of chocolate and it was delicious!! Then we went inside and laughed ourselves silly as they reminisced of their days growing up and the funny things that have happened in the Worsley family. It was seriously so much fun. We are so glad that we got to go down there and that we got to hang out with family. They were so good to us. Thanks to all the Worsley's for letting us stay at their house and be a part of their family for the weekend, it was extremely fun for us!
The family gathered around the fire
Tuesday we headed back as early as we could get out of bed. The trip back was an adventure in its self. We stopped at Montezuma Castle, which is ruins built into the mountain by the ancient Indians. We drove through Monument Valley. We did not stop in Tuba City. We stopped at the temple in Monticello and walked around the grounds. And then it was straight home, through Price and Indian Canyon and on into Duchesne. Sam was sick the entire drive. He started to get sick on Monday, but during some points in the drive, he was wheezing so bad we were scared we would have to find a hospital in the middle of nowhere, or even worse on the res. Luckily he made it through the drive and he slept quite a bit, which also seemed to help with his breathing. I think he liked the noise of the wheezing so he would push it out while he was awake and then when he slept he would just breathe normal and it wasn't so bad. Crazy kid.
Montezuma Castle
Monument Valley
Mexican Hat
Trisha and Sam at the Monticello Temple
Sam spent 2 whole days in the car seat, he is the best little boy!
We were all extremely exhausted when we got home but it was a great little trip to Phoenix. I did't mention that my favorite part of the trip was that it was nearly 100 degrees the entire time we were there, fantastic.
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