Family

Family is a funny thing.  I think most would agree.  Everyone has one (willing or not) and everyone's is different.  Why is it that it is so easy to point out and remember all of the negative things from our families?  As I have been on this rollercoaster that is motherhood there are times that I forget about my family.  I forget about how hard it was for my mom when we were little, or about how devoted my dad was.  I forget about the all night atari sessions with my brother and the sound of my moms voice as we were sledding by the house at 2 in the morning...  I forget about the weekend at Western with my sister in law when she got carded for the rated R movie and I didn't.  I forget about the tears I shed when I saw my amazing neice for the first time in the airport, and the other right after she was born.  I forget about the sacrifice my mother in law makes babysitting so often for us.  I forget that my little spunky neice Sadie always gives the best hugs and Tyler the best high fives and how very blue Aurora's eyes are.   Too often I forget about my cousins that live so far away and how much fun we had when they didn't.  I forget how much time my aunt Cindy spent with us when we were little.  All the trips she took us on, nights she had us stay over.  I forget that not only are they my family but I am theirs..  Here's to trying not to get so wrapped up in myself and to remembering that family has always been there and always will.  To trying to forget the things about family that can get in the way and trying to remember underneath it all we are in this together.

Can she really be Seven????

Sometimes it is so hard to believe she is Seven.  At other times I feel like shes 16...  Either way, I have been blessed with every day I have been able to spend with her.  She is smart, she if funny, she is intense... but best of all, she is full of love.  For me, for Dad, for her brother (that took a while), and for God.  Some days she is easy, some days she is difficult, but every day is a gift.

A cake I made and brought to school for her to share with friends.  Not planned, but she had a rough morning with a friend, and rough mornings are not allowed on birthdays!  I definitely smoothed things over :)

It has become a fun tradition to make the kids cakes...  This year it was vanilla ice cream with Oreo filling and whipped cream frosting.  It was so yummy!

To this day I remember on my 18th birthday my Dad gave me flowers.  Apparently he had gone out to get me jewelry and just couldn't do it.  I was still his little girl.  Se he came home with flowers instead.  Best birthday gift I have ever received.  I make sure to get them for Em every year more for me to remember my dad more than anything else, but I can tell she loves them :)

Cupcakes..  because "not everyone likes ice cream mom..."

Dad had to leave before her party and drew her an airplane.  A friend thought Michael did it :)  ha ha.  Em was so happy that Daddy left her something.  She colored it in and had to "design her spot."  Notice the flowers she drew?  I am forever going to miss the phonetic spelling of first grade.  Her party was "owsum, supr & grat!"  It was a great day for Emily...                                                  

Birthdays past :

Six Years Old

5 Years Old

 

A week before her 4th birthday, we spent a week in the hospital with Pneumonia...  She was such a trooper.  She was so fragile as a little kid.  The first 3 months were terrifying with constant x-rays, throwing up, and inability to breathe.  Heart surgery, years of respiratory issues...  Most of the time I forget how fragile life is.  Seeing these pictures of her in her huge hospital bed remind me of how special she is.  She might not have made it past 6 months if she were born 50 yrs ago.  she would have died in her sleep and be labeled a "SIDS" baby.  We are blessed with her, there is no doubt.

A few days after coming home from the hospital.  4th birthday!

Cayman Christmas part 2

 Dave hard at work :)

 Dad and Michael on one of their many walking adventures...

 Reading Santa's response to her letter.  She was not happy that he didn't tell her how he uses his magic or how reindeer fly....  He said that some secrets just can't be reavealed.  She says that next year she will ask in person so he has to answer..  Hahaha!

 There is a good feeling as a mother when your child opens a package of waxy string from grandma and gets this excited :)

                                                        Thanks Grandma!!!

 Em checking out all of the sea glass she found

 "Michael just smile for once" 

My handsome little man... :)

Cayman Christmas part one...

Alot of little boys get to at some point in their lives sit in the cockpit of an airplane, but how many get to be Daddy's co-pilot midflight???  This right here is one happy, and very lucky little boy.  He eventually had to give the seat back to the actual co pilot..  reluctantly...  and then sat in between their seats for the rest of the flight :)

Em, you want to give it a try???  Nope, I'm good right here playing hangman with Mommy...  wouldn't want to be near all of those buttons and bump the wrong one (her words)

Finally at the condo...  nothing like Disney shows you shouldn't be watching, fold out beds and bananas at 11:00 pm.  Let vacation begin!

This is what I woke up to the first morning :)

6 am sandcastles :)  Pure joy for my little man..

Em held out a little longer.  At least the sun was up when she came out :)  Nothing like the beach in your PJ's

Michael basically played with sand for the whole vacation..  He loves to dig!

The Dolphin Pool.  Beldive it or not, the water was pretty chilly.  We didnt swim as much as I thought we would.  They were so happy to just be goofing off in the water.

Oh Christmas Tree... Indian Hill Tree Farm

I dont' know how we found this tree farm tucked behind a mental hospital on a hill, but every tree is perfect.  All of them.  I'm pretty sure I went once with Dave and my Dad which is why I think this place makes me so happy.  My Dad loved Dave and the feeling was mutual so those memories are precious to both of us. 

 I'm pretty sure I was asking Dave what kind of man sits at the tractor and talks to the driver while his wife cuts down the tree at this point :)  The "tractor guy" is the same guy every year and he always asks Dave about flying.  Every year they agree that they will go flying..  it has yet to happen but no one seems to mind. 

I told them to pose next to the tree...  ummmm...  wow...  :)

Although a blurry picture (oops..  it was a bumpy ride) I always love seeing the joy on Michaels face when he gets to go for the tractor ride.  I really do love this place...

Giving Thanks

Last year we went out for Thanksgiving with Dave's mom.  We decided that we enjoyed it so much that it might just become a tradition...  This year we brought along Grandma and Aunt Cindy too.  The food was great and Thanksgiving was stress-free!!!

 The Kids were so cute wanting to take a picture with everyone at the table (except for me of course :) )

Emily and her Grammy

The famous Aunt Cindy!  She is somewhat of a celebrity as she was for my brother and I growing up.  I'm so glad my kids get to enjoy her as we did.  She always has some funny face, funny noise, or not so funny joke.  We love Aunt Cindy..

 I like Thanksgiving.  It is so nice to have a day to just focus on what is important and only that.  To thank God for where we were, where we are, and where we are going.

This has also become a tradition.  The Christmas card shot on the anchor.  This was right before Michael crushed his fingers while swinging from that big hook in the background. Good times :)

 Me and my Big girl who acted like and angel, said Grace for us and continues to surprise me... 

The Smoking Vocano... (From November)

I got slightly carried away with this one :)  It was so much fun to make and even more fun to see the look on his face :)

Thanks Dad for driving to Wallingford the afternoon of the party to get the dry ice!  And thanks to the ice man, who was not open, who left the ice out in the cooler and told us to slide the money under the door...  Some businesses are still run the way they should be :)

Michael, slightly excited about his new Thomas track...  Happy Birthday Big man...