Celebrations of Life

Josh Thomas and Misha share a big hug outside the church.

Just a week after returning to South Dakota, we attended Carol's funeral. Her relationship to me is wordy, something like a cousin-once-removed-in-law, but I feel like she was more of an aunt. Looking at my grandparents' recent funerals and now Carol's, I have been comforted by how positive funerals are in my family. They truly are celebrations of life, filled with memories, talking, laughing, food, and family.

Isaac, Amanda, Rebecca, Ed, Josh, Kathy, Sarah, James, Susan.

Josh and Sebby

The gathering at Gary's was a great place to relax and catch up with family, just like a family reunion. Rebecca, Isaac, and Amanda supervise the boys on the ever-popular trampoline.

A week after that, Sebby turned 2! We had a small party for him. Uncle Joe took us out for pizza, and then we had cake at home.

Chow down!

New legos!

Sebby has been learning and talking so much. Having Grandma Kate with us in Italy meant that we were all using each others' names more than we usually would, and Sebby picked up on that. It was in Italy that he first said Misha's whole name "Misha" instead of just "sha." He can say it soft or loud, inflecting it in a long "Miiiiiiiisha" when he's trying to find out where he has gone. He also learned how to say his own name, "Sebby," plus "Cake" for Grandma Kate, and Tammy and Josh as well.

Now that we're back, he has quickly learned to say Gomma and Gobba (you know, Grandma and Grandpa!) and Tanya and Nara. He even knows the names of the pets in his life - Kuzco, Karst, and Tonka. He is communicating much more, using sentences and lots of new words. In the morning, he wakes up and announces, "I wanna make a house, kay?" and starts building with Legos. Or he puts in his requests for breakfast - "Cheerios and pizza" or "I want chicken rice."

He can sing a few songs, including "Happy Birthday to you" and "Row, row, row, row BOAT!" I'd say he's just about ready for a round. :)