Our dear cousin Stephanie passed away on June 27th after a 13-month battle with Small Cell Ovarian Cancer. She was only 26 years old. Danni and I were both lucky enough to meet her before she got sick ... she held both of us as babies, and sweetly and patiently played with us whenever we visited. She was an incredibly beautiful person whom anyone would describe as an angel on Earth. Her Memorial Service was held in Utah this past weekend. Mommy, Daddy, and I flew there to say goodbye and to give support to her loving and close-knit family. What a devastating loss for all of us.
Despite the tragic reasons for our trip, we still managed to fit in some family fun while we were there...
Ready for take-off on our 'rocket' to 'Utalk' ...
The harder I stomped on the ramp, the louder noise it made! Cool!
Danni really enjoyed the free Direc-TV...
Don't know that you could really see any of the screen after she got her little greasy fingers all over it...
Now that I am 3, I get my own seat! Mommy says it was worth every penny to not have me squirming all over her lap like Danni did...
Danni doesn't know that you're not supposed to look for surprises in barf bags...
The early morning was catching up with me...
I am into Play-Doh these days.. and Shhh... don't tell anyone I smuggled a knife on board!
Danni liked the Play-Doh too... until she tasted it...
I taught Danni how to do the seat belt...
Smiling after a loooooong hour and 17 minutes....
Rental car craziness... notice Mommy's suitcase partition...
The partition served a great purpose... Mommy may put the suitcase in the back seat of her Jeep when we get home!
Night-night, Danni!
We went to a COOL water park in Sandy called Cowabunga Bay...
Danni liked the water sprayers!
It was a little cloudy and cold, but that didn't phase me at all!
Danni didn't mind either!
I went down a BIG purple slide with Daddy!
And a big pink slide all by myself....
Daddy and I raced down the yellow slide....
I held Daddy's hand so that he wouldn't be scared...
Happy little water park baby!
They closed the pools at Cowabunga Bay for 45 minutes because someone (not ME ... or Danni... or Daddy or Mommy!) pooped in the water. (They called this a "Brown Tide" ...) Since it was freeeezing, Mommy and Daddy decided to take us to a pizza and games place called Incredible Pizza (they claim that John's Incredible Pizza copied them) ...
I love blowing stuff up!
And hitting stuff without getting a time out....
They had a toddler-sized air hockey table! (And it only cost 27 cents to play! LOVE Utah!)
I got to ride in a mini Toyota race car!
Danni rode on the baby up&down...
This old car went too slow. I was bored.
The kid version of Dance-Dance Revolution. It sang "The Wheels on the Bus" for about 15 stanzas...
I had fun rearranging EVERYTHING in our 'big station house' ...
The Dora Bed didn't make the trip... I slept in a 'Dora Nest' instead... in the middle of my very own king-sized bed, in my own room. (We stayed in a 2 BR suite... I insisted on having the door CLOSED!) Brave little man!
Danni joined me for a nightcap...
... and lots of night-night kisses...
Danni wouldn't sleep in the Pack-n-Play... so Mommy and Daddy had to share their bed with her....
Danni didn't like wearing her shoes on her feet for the Memorial Service...
I didn't like wearing my suit...
Danni loved the dozens of gorgeous flower arrangements that were there...
Uncle Po and Kelly cleaned up nicely ...
Danni and I had fun playing in the nursery...
Dance with the angels, Sweet Stephanie!!
Steph and Danni smiling at Disneyland in February...
Steph played with me, a 'treasure box,' and tons of almonds in Santa Paula in early March.
Mommy's favorite pic of Steph... (at Mommy and Daddy's wedding in 2004)
