Uncle Dick's Memorial Service

On Saturday we had a beautiful afternoon spent out on the ocean saying goodbye to my great-uncle, Richard Riley. Uncle Dick actually passed away a year ago after a battle with cancer, but because his children and grandchildren had had the chance to say their goodbyes before he died, they decided to do a gathering a year later to scatter his ashes at sea. It's not a side of the family I am directly related to, so I didn't really know any of his kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews, but I do know my great-aunt and their daughter, Allie, really well. It was wonderful to see them again, and to meet some of the Riley clan as they gathered to say goodbye once again to their father/grandfather.

The harbor at Newport Beach

we saw a ton of seals and dolphins that all came to say hi!Allie and my Uncle SteveAllie practicing for her part in Titanicme with my Aunt Vernita & Uncle Steve (dad's sister and brother in law)me and ms allie--we tried a couple pictures, this was actually the least wind-blown. Aunt Vernita & IEveryone gathered on deck for the brief "service" Renata laughing about something next to a person I don't knowRenata and Vernita laughing as people are sharing their memories of Dick during the serviceAllie and RenataWe were each given a flower to toss overboard

It was a beautiful afternoon, and after we left the boat we went back to Brian and Robin's house (Dick's son and daughter in law) for a meal, a slide show and more visiting.

A couple days in Minneapolis

Right after graduation dinner Chuck and I boarded a red-eye flight to Minneapolis to spend 3 days with my parents there. My grandparents also were in town from Colorado to see us, which was so fun! We showed Chuck around downtown, walked across the stone arch bridge (which spans the Mississippi River and gives a view of the I-35 bridge that collapsed last year), wandered the Minnesota Arboretum, explored the Mall of America, and played a few board games. Here are a few photos:

The mighty Mississippi--there was a TON of water moving because of all the rain they have had!The view of the I-35 bridge collapse/reconstructionThe old flour refineries that were on the river banks (apparently that's how Minneapolis got its start, with the flour factories--Gold Medal on one side of the river and Pillsbury on the other)

A waterfall at the arboretumChuck at the bottom of one of the waterfallsThey were doing education about the ash beetle which apparently eats trees thereI was being tickled :)My face was about the size of a peony!Lego land at the Mall of AmericaWe met a shark wandering around the mall (advertising for their aquarium)It was a close call but luckily he escaped the shark attack!Happy Hour out at Lake Minnetonka with Grandma and Papawith mom and dad

On to Charleston

After Minneapolis we flew to Charleston to spend a few days with Chuck's family. His sister and three kids showed up too which was awesome, I had been looking forward to meeting them! We explored Charles Towne Landing (the first settlement in SC) one day, and went into Columbia on Friday to meet up with other family members. Here are a few of those photos:

Chuck and I took his dog Amber for several walks out in this huge park where she could just run. It borders the lake by their house, which was HUGE and beautiful!

Six year old Diana playing with a bubble wand

The aviary at Charles Towne Landing

Diana ready for the day!Chuck and his nieces and nephew (Diana, John, and Helen)

Diana and her grandpa

the animal park at Charles Towne Landing

Helen shooting a canon

John hanging out in one of the cabins set up in the way the settlers would have had them.

John & Helen in the stocks

Diana's legs weren't quite long enough!

John being shot by the canon

It was SO beautiful out there!

Time out to climb a tree!

Helen and Uncle Chuck taking a break

Helen and I in the wedding archSnack time! Fun with fruit by the footThen on Friday we went into Columbia to have lunch at Fort Jackson army base with some of Chuck's relatives, and afterwards we went by the state capital to hang out for a bit.

My favorite part of the capital was the beautiful memorial they have to the African American slaves

They have an outline of a slave trading ship as you enter

They have carvings and images of various moments throughout black history that were beautifully done.