Over Labor Day weekend, the Milite family met in Deltona Florida to say our final good byes to my dad. It's true what they say about funerals - it's the only time that you see some of your extended family members. It's the pits too. I like these people. Every time I see them, I think, now why don't I see these guys more often?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00AR2RWA8_XQo0HID-v5XdszwpfKxlnpSO1Isk6Wzm2gtsoaSxYDZMdvSmEvVk6fzEFiQIQDpFRolfSUMxFCRqXt-AqWz7uTh3aKYSP3ZoQRF_D4PlzRQZIF7F-sH_XJoiuz3D1gyG58s/s320/DSC03438.JPG)
My Aunt Mary - she's 10 years older than my dad and looks EXACTLY the same as when I last saw her 5 years ago. She moves a little slower but she's still the same. My Uncle Bob, who is 5 years older than my dad. He also looks the same as when I last saw him. I couldn't believe the physical resemblance between him and my dad. He was showing us something on his hand and all I kept thinking was "he has hands just like my dad!".
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvkRfJp1IgqBHsiNm30rPeQk-cnUkcKdW_SaeedhmMMZsv-Q2qju_YTGGA4Kr8hgmU0W5W90LgZvd2AkXZNpvFisPdNYf5NNMv3ceqEZKgQl8qA6JYP1oLELrD3xb4FIqzMt8H8SX3Npa/s320/DSC03439.JPG)
My Uncle Bob, Aunt Terry, Aunt Mary and my cousin Randy. My Aunt Terry looks amazing.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o217ChBQRC6ivEuCNKwkmyz9joc9FzWos5iIpz6jyZZaWG49PouZS8Bb4wR-ZFhvlccfX1dcuPybTq1faJ8_y9vzX2TlJDKCXQWmY9iWUylyIpXtXK0fr_itmimN3vva54gvuxQtzRVK/s320/DSC03447.JPG)
Mary, Randy & Marina.
My sister and her kids came out for the service as well. Little Miss Harper wanted to sleep with me. This is how she slept all night. I got what was left of the bed...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaN7wttOEUpdWY7KbyBHrIZqFQTEKwDxfUsseezrx1qDCJUCc3SixqNihhx_ZWNVZxD5ZzSUrLHtGLV6Ywy3rLVYXJMYHsZpnDSfgYMGXLL8rCm729dmeT_bzR6WnDMY2TX-lO9MG_ahAN/s320/DSC03414.JPG)
The day of the service, we all got up and hung around drinking coffee in the morning. Mom & Harper were outside feeding the squirrels.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-oYuejecebvS6HxwWxHY_2iG-kxngjIIJmmGjXjtzrlDyYfg-sC4ivfmza2dz__hovs6hCkTAlHnaSKUS5eJZg8uhOCtDSeFZgf7ZeNM-7gFp6bHviViLBHV5OaXHFdNe_ieSm8BooCB/s320/DSC03417.JPG)
After the service, everybody gathered back at Marina's.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAzUSHv6-M6gFTz5ZbMWxcOGR8c4JQPwyc7uV8_1El-QMq_6Jpz1mXOeW2JLF6rxvLiJDseARWY42Spx7ZOpnPe2-0mbfCx-VEEmqf54g5hRBv8KYNgMHFGAhthO7lodWyo_JUdlSMghn/s320/DSC03432.JPG)
Cheryl, Mom, Mary, Ed & Marina discussing the meaning of life.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkSF_lwDY1Az-n2S9M4DBIVvmYqt6GNG7FdclnEM6u7Cb0QBXAaDt7UwgQl_S2c8xnUk3sFLPq5a9q8imGNXzq4bU1nqsboiABfWUt3n2VAZBettciQ1Yx1dctYwNurukU9LOeWYyDeus/s320/DSC03430.JPG)
Harper is giving Uncle Bob a lesson in Tinkerbell.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81mr8m17EOzB2hkavZT134F5aYceUnE8l6_CehBu_jOdVimsa05nNlXt4y6s_Ts9ZQFcJJSXEWy95fJAh0HloRAGPSKvHhcvQKqG3exZCC8YSgSaFA9Qh5qI-PR5R-cBuQ98PuOLOgy5Y/s320/DSC03425.JPG)
Everybody loves Randy. The kids really liked him. I can't believe this is the kid I used to chase around the mall when he was the same age as Atticus is now.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildsNvtjIWl4L2MFmeC6-IBAazGLoBIhu0WyEA8JcAGgEF665vQ8J7JTZlkhuIpHa90Wb5PZe-vAuiK6PzmpXeCa73OGQkwpvY9MQHkL49T2o1B5SgcqcUdiVpZDUBcKV_28gQgaq_pqku/s320/DSC03477.JPG)
That last day, we had planned to go to the beach but nature decided we should stay home. The kiddos were a little disappointed. Harper came up with a new name for Marina - Mina. I like that.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_57mjnLT_A_uUMaAdiw9x3Qg1Ru_Nam812A3R7gyXmpBzqj7C7Mh1rEoiScVjmKddXFhQ4WVJSaUIb4nppFktTKITotrPx5DDgyLnNgQF2vPW-_oQ1aFelAyix0gofouxqAtf1na62Ft/s320/DSC03466.JPG)
As a result of the rain, we all hung out and watched the rain hit the pool water. My sister appears very relaxed.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R4J2u9k6v-Wx7w6eukiPzk-guKGb5CzozDePobwQrVoENkp69m-aSnSsVidL3k0xhM21MoyP1-uH04pRa-_I7fMzAd_sJxC_Y_4k5-eK5QG-CXdmMonkE2eDiKE7Q8JMlBfs-3FiP9sF/s320/DSC03471.JPG)
These guys wore me out. We had so much fun together.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij75yXl6M0iNvoN2eYls4cWchkMi8rW-iHwfCsv2TXWFr31imqmTd8dUl3hDfu0TL3EKwoRu8Xlqf-thGRg8MJnNi_XrjxgMqXFiFWbN0Mub5xJXn2Bsa3Wj11pumsfHWewqtbIDohBR3v/s320/DSC03487.JPG)
Atticus talked Mina into going to the store. Harper got a fairy outfit. She was granting wishes left and right.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoDq5Eo5kE0PPwHk0co3_IXRAQ930EMn1NSELG6VWEuK3v8Lg4k-6RksXb8z7AijZKJe3VBgHCVOLcXBJvYhCs0LZeB9jGMAlIU_CJBewaL_f0cLurjmqvehQCohcGElbXr8bq8SNEjMW/s320/DSC03492.JPG)
Atticus talked Mina into playing with him. He got a sword, a scabbard, an axe and a breast plate. Marina played with him all afternoon. That must be how she got her exercise in.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIStVBT8SYvHAKfUdkbfPztPkgIRYNZcHTCRSelyKNPtykrHGPat8pOtcHOngv9GC6OXwq-vlS-a2O0t1g7CWPNuW3QwkgswiH2ymITRohQEotTc5O6W9Hrt1W6GNyxMnemNTUb0DRz-IT/s320/DSC03494.JPG)
Then she had rest period with Harper. They are coloring. Marina has been dubbed "Grandma #3".
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlRQoP1NL9uG2ATZeLAd1ucYjQ0KhC_eDgbrjGMxkk0UclOmbG1_Axslg2K-xH8EhQzlzfklBBMyEqiG8ipPpfuqpnpOIxYe1gEZdHiGDqMSQPkCSIryyAUqaEb3ZnpR0O0QyIbuGlbs0/s320/DSC03475.JPG)
This was the first time my mom had met Marina. They became fast friends.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUet8Bgz4Ebw2kWbp7gpONjuQA-HzhO_GrWV9Xrledi0ZdaXuwztn-AuK0B6qV_LubHEVwaVWy4PsnwXQ65wE8f4Lw9KYMElfJFN6dD1E7FnV8AMGIevYcNxGHIgTGCx6saOkr7j1djUEb/s320/DSC03472.JPG)
Harper would make this face and I thought it was so funny.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY34s4JPks6diMt4_SAIxUIvII61HWpEK7ngxNEbQaZC2nolit_1QO11FM9DgOHU_bR_rWpoKK2u4NDkpYSKik8JaRNN0V3Jlc0ECPokFvqYq3rNSXk91sbG3Gzk1x3FghFqLbnYmhqH3q/s320/DSC03448.JPG)
My sister & I with my cousin Randy. Ok - I know I look terrible, but in my defense, I'd been in the pool all afternoon playing with the kids.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcYOIlpRC1JbyD9gf3DaJmZTIPTzeYucT9LwCcI7pHxsT6MjmQngNpLTOstb3t7gNIRCaBTgyyWHBtNNkhTG0I_REhnQftLaxgpvpUyjeS29USczqAXDSmXHXO6uhFwDpAPRMhbVoA0mT/s320/DSC03456.JPG)
This was a typical scene. Harper followed Atticus around the whole time. She was his shadow. Here, she's throwing up her hands and saying 'i just don't know'.
We had a really great time. I just wish my dad could have been there to enjoy it in person rather than in spirit.
Below are a couple of videos. The first one is Atticus & Marina having a sword fight. She really got into it. The second one is Harper with the headphones on. She's singing & jamming to whatever she's listening to.