I didn’t really know my great grandparents. All but one had passed away before I was born and my GG died when I was 2. I have one fleeting memory of her sitting in a chair in my grandparents dining room, but the rest I get from stories and pictures.
October could have been deemed “Great Grandparent Month” at the circus. My children are so blessed to have 4 living great grandparents in their lives today.
I got my love of sports from my dad. I can remember watching Pirates games at 5 when he was out of town, just to make me feel closer to him. In high school, my dad would take me to Penn State Football games to watch my cousin play in the Blue Band. I think my dad made sure that we attended every kind of professional sporting event at least once.
5 years ago this month, God took her home to heaven. Though the truth is, Alzheimer’s/Dementia took Grandma from us long before then. At first she’d just forget what time we’d be leaving for church the next day or when we’d be eating dinner. Later she forgot her grandchildren, children, and eventually even her own identity. Bit by bit the disease took more of her. I remember walking into the care facility the weekend Scott and I had gotten engaged.
So long summer 2010….
We’ll forever hold you close in our heart for you were the summer that we welcomed dear sweet, squeezable number 4 to our fold.
We enjoyed your lazy hazy days as we spent time playing in our back yard and splashing in our pool…
We enjoyed time with family
We caught our first keeper… and enjoyed time on Nana and Pop’s boat.
It’s been one of those days… please tell me you know the ones…took the circus crew to the pediatrician’s for my 3 yr old’s check up. One would have thought by the amount of shrieking that took place in the hall that we were attempting to tie her down and give her 30 shots, when really we just wanted her to take her sandals off and stand on the scale. From that humbling spectacle we were off to the grocery store.
I clearly remember the first baseball game I attended with Scott. A coworker had given him the tickets and since we had no plans, we thought, “Sure, why not?” As we drove into Baltimore and hit traffic, Scott was in disbelief, “Could this be game traffic?” He asked. “I had no idea this many people liked baseball.”
Yea… clearly, we aren’t big baseball enthusiasts.
But, thanks to my oldest son, my children are.
This weekend we were able to coordinate our schedules and have the opportunity to get together with my brother and his family for some play time.
What gathering would be complete without a light saber battle?
I loved getting to watch my nephew and nieces play and to observe my brother playing with my children. There is something quite special, and indescribable about watching your children play with your sibling.
When things didn’t work out for us to go camping this weekend as planned, we promised the kids a night of “camping-like” fun at home. Scott came home from work a little early and we cooked up hot dogs and baked beans (a fav here at the circus).
Then we spent the evening fishing on the river.
(more details on the fishing to come later this week)
Camping wouldn’t be complete without Smore’s so we roasted some mallows over the gas stove.
Alternate Title: How Your Army Looks When You Have 2 Younger Sisters
I couldn’t help but smile when I looked out the window and saw this scene…makes me laugh when looking at it on the computer as well. Quite a motley crew we have defending the fortress… the leader in his camo’s with his walking stick (or staff as he refers to it), his trusty sidekicks following in their fairy wings, and Uncle Jim covering from behind with the ever elusive fluorescent double barrel shot gun.
The kids had scattered to the backyard to play while I cleared off the dinner dishes. As I wiped down the dining room table, I couldn’t help but smirk as I looked out over a see of crumbs and wood that is faded in parts due to many a knocked over glass of milk or water. There is an ever present layer of grime that those of you with kids know exactly what I am talking about… something like syrup meets peanut butter meets oatmeal and it just cakes into those nooks and crannies around the edge of the table, giving it that “lived in” feel.