Memorial Day

Memorial Day has become one of my favorite days out of the year. Not just because it is the "unofficial" start to summer, but it is a day where I can go to the cemetery and be near the ones that have gone before me. I started this tradition when Alexis was 2 months old because it was my way of introducing Alexis to Grandpa Ed. Since then, we've gone to the cemetery every year to tell him about what we've been up to (yes, Alexis thought I was weird the first year we did this). 

Each year seems to get harder and harder for me and this year was no different. This year it hit me a bit more that he is missing out on not only my life, but now his granddaughter's lives.
I started a new tradition this year. I had the girls draw and write about important events from the year or things that were important to them. We brought those to the cemetery where Alexis read and talked to Grandpa about her year. Brynn read her list to a neighbor grave! We then rolled them up and gave them to him along with our usual flowers.

My Grandparents are also buried at the same cemetery so we always stop to say "hello" and give them flowers as well. We had extra flowers, so I told Alexis to find graves that didn't have flowers and give them one.

All of these traditions made for a PERFECT day...other than a sneaky snake that got our hearts pumping!!

I'll let the pictures tell the rest of our Memorial Day!

      A flag flown in honor of my dad's years of military service

           Letters to Grandpa

                                   Alexis summing up her year to Grandpa

Brynn summing up her year to a stranger...I find this funny!

Letters and flowers for Grandpa

 

                                                       A view from the front

                                            Leaving flowers for the greats!

                     Leaving flowers for those who had none

Below are a few pictures that I captured of some poems/phrases that drew me in to read....I simply LOVED them!

Waving and saying goodbye to Grandpa...I LOVE how the house my Grandma lived in (where I spent much of my younger years at) is in the background!

Until next Memorial Day...We Love You Grandpa!!

I Need...

My essentials & good stuff that I need:

1. A cold coke in the afternoon

2. My fuzzy purple robe

3. Cappuccino first thing in the morning ~whipped cream/carmel topping

4. At least 7 hours of sleep or my day is a mess

5. A mental break from reality every now & then

6. Pizza in my diet

7. The love of my life

8. Little reminders that God is near (see rainbow picture below)

9. Happy, healthy children

10. My dog Molly

11. Framed photos

12. Flip Flops in the summer

13. Popcorn

14. Time spent with family & friends

15.Watermelon on a hot summer evening

Right Before My Eyes

When you live with people you really don't notice their changes since it happens a little everyday. But, when I went back through some pictures today-I couldn't believe how big my girls are really getting. Sure, they are in bigger clothes and running around like wild girls, but now I can see how much they are really growing up!

Alexis

 1 week old

6 months old

2 1/2 years

5 years

Brynn

1 week old

6 months

 1 year

 20 months

The Little Things

My husband, to put it nicely, stinks at the so called "expected" things. When I buy myself a new outfit or I get a new haircut, I rarely get a compliment. Occasionally, I'll get a "you look sassy" comment from him (which I think is his way of complimenting me). Occasionally, I'll get a bouquet of roses or a single rose because I've been unbelievably stressed. I can no doubt rule out ever getting flowers "just because" and I can forget about a hand written love note that spells out his love for me. It's at this point that I tend to forget just how good he is at the little everyday things. The things that mean the most to me.

Like how he keeps our house looking clean day in and day out. He does more than his fair share of laundry (yes, even folding it and putting it away), vacuuming, making beds, and putting those endless piles of toys and books away. He will help keep up with the countless plates, cups, sippy cups, forks, and spoons that need to be hand washed daily. He is a fabulous cook and does so without complaint. He loves and spends time with his girls (yes, that includes Molly) each and everyday. He makes sure that the cars are working; oil changed, tires rotated, etc...

Almost every day he does something that makes me feel so incredibly lucky to have him in my life. So I will gladly accept the lack of compliments and flower giving skills he possesses and not take it to heart. He makes up for it in so many other meaningful ways that I just simply smile in my sigh and say I love you.

Time Well Spent

To scrap or not to scrap? Despite the fact that scrapbooking is time consuming, a bit addicting, and a tad expensive ~ I love it anyway! If I ever wonder why I spend the time, effort, and money to scrapbook, I try to remember why I am doing this.

I started scrapbooking years ago before we had any kids. At that time, scrapbooking was something fun to do to fill all that spare time that I once had! Now, I love getting creative to show the happy, the silly, and the crazy aspects of Alexis and Brynn growing up. These are my treasured books that I plan to give the girls when they reach adulthood. These are on my top list of things that I MUST grab out of the house if we have a fire!

Scrapbooking is very therapeutic and it is cheaper than a psychiatrist I like to tell my husband (who puts up with my scrapbook table in the basement). It is part of my life and at this point, I don't really think I can stop!

These are some of my top favorites!