A Day to Celebrate Life

Grandma Edith Woolley Jex Clayton was a wonderful, righteous woman who proudly led a large, happy family. It was a wonderful day full of music, tears, hugs, and memories. The Bird family, known for its musical abilities, was asked to sing, "In the Garden" during the service. In addition, all of her grandchildren sang "We'll Bring the World His Truth" and her son played a hymn medley on the organ. Oh, how she loved Primary songs. I learned that she served in Primary (the church's children's organization) for over 30 years! What a woman! She also made hundreds of fruitcakes year after year for her sons and their friends to earn money for scout camp. Now that is a lot of fruitcake for anyone.

Her ward put on a delicious luncheon afterwards. We had so much fun catching up with all of Steve's cousins and distant cousins. It's really fun to see how small the world truly is when you are a member of the LDS church.

Two years prior, we had held a big 90th birthday party for her where all of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren attended. I think 90 people were there. Everyone said they wouldn't miss it because NO ONE wanted to be on Grandma's hit list. :) This was a precious moment captured with her.

The Richard & Edith Jex Clan

Things were so crazy at the church, I made my family take a picture after the funeral. The girls were given the roses out of one of the floral arrangements.

(Notice Carter's shirt is untucked. I think he has a special magnetic field that doesn't allow shirts to stay tucked in.)

In order to truly celebrate the day and keep everyone happy, the kids went swimming, Steve and I went shopping for Easter stuff, and then we all went to ice cream. This was no ordinary ice cream joint. This was Leatherby's. Steve and his sister worked at the 1st "Leatherby's" which went by the name of "Phipp's" outside of Sacramento in Citrus Heights, California during their teenage years.

To heighten the experience, Steve threw down a "Man v. Food" challenge (Travel Channel show) and told the kids that if they could finish 2 giant triple ice cream sundaes between them, then he would dance like a crazy man.

Bring on the competition!

Enjoying every bite!

We tried to emphasize that this was not a timed challenge; however, you take 2 competitive 9 year old boys, put them against their older siblings, and they will raise the stakes of any dare.

Been there. Done that. Conquered.


It ain't over til the...big man dances.

(Love you, Steve! Wink! Wink!)
My favorite part of this picture is Braxton's totally embarrassed look as he is scooting away from any association with his father.

The kids all danced to their own beats.

The kids wanted to "wave" good-bye.

After our sugar rush, we headed to Grandma's house and decorated our cooked eggs to prepare for our "Easter Egg Roll" the next day.

Jeffrey was getting bonus points by writing "Kori is Awesome" on his egg. I know this spoils everything, but he actually won the egg roll (just with a different egg).

Here are the kids' finished products.

To end the evening, we allowed the boys to break in a potential member of the Jex family. He passed the test.