My last post was in April, and so much has happened in the last five months. I will try to cover as much as I can so I don't forget these precious moments...but I can't seem to put anything before Granny.
On the evening of August 29, 2014, our sweet Granny passed away peacefully. Even after 94 years, we didn't see it coming, and felt shocked to lose her. I still feel shocked that she's really gone, and I find myself drifting off several times a day thinking about her and all that she brought to my life and who she was to our family.
Her funeral was Saturday, September 6, 2014. It was well-attended, as she was "Granny" to so many. As her adoring family, we did our best to honor her whole life. Our wonderful friend Markus Lloyd was one of Granny's favorites, and he led the service with such grace, humor and dignity...she would have been so proud. As requested by Granny, we kept it simple with a quick but meaningful graveside service...and we didn't sing any songs (which she also requested).
It's been tough to say goodbye to her, and I struggle everyday to figure out who I am without her in my life. I feel her all around me, and I hear her voice in my head all of the time. I can tell it's going to take time to not be so sad...that seems to be all that will work. She was more than a Granny to me; she was like a parent in my life. My memories at her house throughout my childhood will be cherished now more than ever. The advice she gave me, the meals she cooked me, the lessons I learned from her, the card games we played, the many nights I sat and watched Wheel of Fortune on her couch, the peanut butter, jelly and butter sandwiches and chocolate milk she made me after elementary school everyday, the many times she told me the truth when no one else would, the lunches at the Merry Heart Tea Room on the square and endless times she went out of her way to help make my life easier will forever be in my memory - and I hope to pass at least a small portion of who she was on to my own kids. She brought a cohesive quality to our family that made us all feel connected, rooted and proud. It's now our job to continue that connection. Lots of family members sat around telling stories in her memory the week she passed, laughing about how she loved a good joke, didn't put up with anyone's whining, called us all out on our behavior when necessary and worked harder than anyone we know...but above all, she loved her family so deeply, each of us equally and without condition. It's inspiring to think of how committed she was to not let her own anger or pride or judgement get in the way of just loving us. I will aspire to be more like her for the rest of my life, and I will miss her every single day for the rest of my life. And, when it's my time to go, I will feel at peace because I will picture her face welcoming me to heaven...and I will run toward her and hug her for days.
Here are some great pics of my memories with her...love you forever Granny.
Granny on the beach, age 20
In Hawaii for the Pearl Harbor Symposium...she kept finding herself around the sailors. Coincidence? I don't think so...
one of my old faves...
At lunch in Fort Worth 2009
Another lunch 2010
That look...
In Boulder, CO walking around Pearl Street 2009
August 17, 2002
Fall 2013 before surgery
At the Gaylord 3D light show 2012 I think...love this pic of her.
In Steamboat Springs, CO on the gondola 1993
a long time ago...
At her house in Granbury with Gpa
May 2014 at Jennie's for Stephanie Perry's baby shower
Meeting Bodhi on July 21, 2009
Christmas 2009, holding Bodhi
Meeting Sawyer Hamilton for the first time after heart surgery, November 2013
Backing up to May...
Moab
We took our annual trip to Moab, Utah the first week in May for the Cruise Moab event (and more importantly it has become a family tradition with the Launais'!). This year, we were so happy to have The Perry Family and Uncle Erock and Tammy join us as well. It was one of their first opportunities to travel since Brielle was cleared in remission, and we loved spending that time with them.
We stayed at Moab Springs Ranch condos (no camping this year for us this year because of Sawyer, but the Launais' camped on their way from California). The condos are so beautiful, and have a lawn and creek running through it for endless, easy fun for the kids all day long.
It was really relaxing. We also hiked Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch. The weather was BEAUTIFUL!
The Belly
We also traveled to Texas to celebrate baby #3 for the Perry family. Last year was so rough for them with Brielle being sick,and we wanted to be there to celebrate a little light in their lives. Jennie and I hosted the baby shower at her house, and it was wonderful to see some old friends from Granbury. I love when people from each other's past can reconnect...regardless of how often you talk to them, there is a familiarity that doesn't need discussing. You just pick up where you left off, everyone knows where you come from and it's a warm feeling to go back "home" in that way.
The G-town girls reunion (we missed you Bookslammer!)
Goodbye PreK
Bodhi graduated Preschool at Meiklejohn after two years there. I have been on the fence about whether he was ready for kindergarten...but his preschool teacher assures me he would be bored in another year of pre-K...so we took the plunge! He's going to be a young kindergartner, so we'll see how it goes! We will miss you Ms. LaDonna...you were a wonderful teacher and gave Bodhi such a positive first experience with school!
Mother's Day
We had a wonderful Mother's Day this year...peaceful and so sweet with my boys. I spent the morning with them, and took the afternoon to myself. I also went to dinner and a comedy show with girlfriends the night before. They take good care of me around here...I'm proud to be their mom (and wife!).
No longer a cub...
Owen crossed over from a Tiger Cub to a Wolf in Boy Scouts. He was really proud, and we cheered for him as he crossed the bridge at the ceremony in Golden Gate State Park. Then, we did some fishing and enjoyed the beautiful weather with his den. Scouting is right up his alley and he's learning so much. It's teaching him how to be a good community member, basic survival skills and how to be a leader. I'm really proud of him and love watching him blossom in his element.
We spent a lot of time at home, and anticipated the sunshine and warm weather...which actually never came. It was such a mild summer. It was only hot enough to go to the pool once!
Kipper and Erik ran the Dirty 30 Trail Run in Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Bodhi played soccer with Hattie
We hung out with neighbors...
We watched this mama bird build this nest (began in March), then sit on her eggs forever...then the babies hatched and she brought them worms...and then one day, they were just gone. It was right outside our dining room window, and SO amazing to watch!
Sawyer discovered his favorite thing to do...
The Beach
Right after school got out in June, we headed straight to St. Augustine, Florida for a week at the beach with the Reid Family! It was one of those trips I will never forget...spending that time with my best friend and her kids is something I have always wanted to do. I remember being in high school, thinking forward to the days when we both have a family...and how we would meet in places like this and let our kids play together. This experience was living that dream. I want to do it more often...they are so special to us, and we don't see them enough.
The Rat Pack...minus Sawyer
Sand castles with Luke
These two...
On our way to tour the pirate ship! It was HOT.
Digging for crabs
One of many beautiful sunsets...
Happy Anniversary!
Touring the fort in downtown St. Augustine
Beautiful Jennie and sweet Lukey
We mostly played in the sand, went boogie boarding and worked on our tan...but we also got to celebrate Luke's 7th birthday and Jennie and Chris' anniversary. Good times...
NYC
The following week, Kipper and I were in for another treat. We headed to NYC for Chris & Sam's wedding...and a weekend away without kids! It was some much-needed alone time together in a city that makes everything feel exciting. We were only there Friday morning through Sunday afternoon...but we packed a lot in...yet, still managed to relax and enjoy ourselves. It's amazing how slow-paced life can feel...even in Manhattan...when you don't have your kids with you. We attended a cocktail party Friday night at a beautiful apartment right on Central Park West. Saturday morning, we woke up and walked the streets. We ended up in Rockefeller Center and had lunch in the shade, did some shopping, enjoyed some afternoon sushi and then headed to the wedding that evening. At midnight, we were starving and took a cab to Momfuku (delicious Ramen bar) with Naomi and Ian...and got in at 2am! Sunday, we had brunch and strolled Central Park before heading to the airport. We literally soaked up every moment of that trip together, and we felt so young and free! ;)
Central Park
The newlyweds
Ian and Naomi
Other stuff in June...
We celebrated Noah's 7th birthday
We went to the Museum of Nature & Science
We lived on our deck!
We loved on Macy...even though she is so stinky!
And we planted our gardens.
In July, we mostly stayed home and rode bikes with neighbors, went to get ice cream, bbq'd and just enjoyed some downtime at home.
We spend July 4th at home and hung out with neighbors in the cul de sac...
We had a backyard camp out...
Most importantly, we celebrated Bodhi's 5th birthday at Great Play. He had such a great time with his friends! HE'S FIVE!
We visited the Knox's down in their neighborhood...
We spent a week in August in Breckenridge, and it was BEAUTIFUL there this summer. Everything was SO green and vibrant in the mountains from all of the rain, and hiked all day everyday while there. The boys spent three days there with just me until Kipper came up to join us. It was such a memorable time for us to spend together in such a beautiful place.
We celebrated Sawyer's FIRST birthday while in Breckenridge. We made him a chocolate zucchini cake and he chowed down!
Our sweet neighbor Brian got me tickets to see the Indigo Girls at Red Rocks...it was one of the most awesome shows I've ever seen. They performed with the Colorado Symphony...and the music was beautiful!
"I do"
Jennie's little sister Lauren got married, and we traveled to Buffalo, Wyoming for her wedding with the Reid's. I love spending that time with them, and although it felt like it took 100 hours to get there...the wedding was beautiful and we were thrilled for the newlyweds!
We also got an opportunity to take a picture of our families together, which I'll always cherish.
Camping is in Tents
We were so happy to have Stephanie, Ryland and Gunnison come to Colorado for a week in August. We took the boys to the bike park, took Owen and Ryland white-water rafting in Idaho Springs and spent some much-needed down time together.
Then Mimi joined us for the last four days as well! We took them up to Monarch Park (Salida) Campground to camp for two nights in the mountains. It was beautiful,and the boys had a blast making bow & arrows, we built a tee pee and roasted marshmallows. We took a little hike up the creek from the campground, fished at the fishing pond right next to our epic campsite and cruised around in the canoe. We even had a beaver come visit us! We're so grateful for these memories with our Mimi, Aunt Stephanie and our nephews.
Bodhi drove us around on a canoe ride the morning of our 12th anniversary.
Taking aim at the deer
Steph and Kipper pitched the tent!
view from our campsite
They caught one rainbow trout...and we ate it for dinner (well, it was more like an appetizer ;)
School days...
After we got back from camping, the very next day with Owen's first day of 2nd grade, and Bodhi's first day of Kindergarten. The whole family walked over, and it was so special for all of us to be together for that.
Other fun pics...
Owen is the best big brother to both of his little "bothers."
Kipper continues to amaze me; he's such an involved, in touch, loving daddy to these lucky boys.
hike, Breckenridge
Bad Baby
Sawyer is starting to talk more...his favorite words are "bite," and "ball," and "dog." He signs "more" and could not love his daddy more. If he hears Kipper's voice, he instantly smiles and looks around for him. When I'm holding him, and Kipper comes into the room, he practically jumps out of my arms for Kipper. Both Mimi's always say that happens with their grandkids when the mommies walk into the room...and now I can totally relate! I've never seen a kid so attached to their daddy like this one. They are one...their connection is remarkable.
Sawyer is such a good baby. Not fussy or hard to please...unless we are traveling! When camping, I had to drive into the town of Salida both nights to sleep because he wouldn't sleep in the tent or car (even though we had a pack n play). He cried and cried...and when I finally got to the place we stayed, he fell right to sleep. He prefers his own bed...and when we're home, he's a dream baby! Needless to say, he won't be camping again until summer 2016.
His nicknames are "Soybean," and "Bad Baby." People probably think that sounds horrible...but it's actually just a name we all call him because it's so untrue. He is SUCH a happy, sweet, content little guy...so we tease him and call him bad. ;) Bodhi loves to call him that, and both big brothers love rolling around on the ground with him after school...they are so in love with him, as are we.
He started walking the week of his birthday...but then decided to crawl for a couple of weeks (because it's so much faster), and now he's practically running. He has six teeth...and more are coming every day!
Bodster
Bodhi started kindergarten, and it's been kind of a rough start. He says he doesn't like school..."it's boring and takes forever." He doesn't like waking up so early, and wishes he could stay home with Sawyer. It sounds like he's having a great time once he's there...and he only does half-day kinder (8:15am - 11:15 am), so I'm hoping his attitude will change soon. He is one of the younger kindergartners since he just turned five in July...so we'll see how the year goes and decide how to progress when that time comes.
He continues to love soccer, riding bikes, hunting for bugs (to keep as pets...he names them, feeds them, cares for them, etc.) and has discovered the video game Minecraft. He works hard all week to earn screen time to play on the weekends, and it works nicely as good leverage when needed. He prefers "snacks" to meals and still wants dessert constantly. That boy definitely got my sweet tooth. I have him believing that kale chips, sliced apples and brussel sprouts are good snacks...so he's still a healthy boy.
Bodhi loves so deeply, feels so strongly and fights hard when he's upset. He is going to be REALLY good at whatever he chooses in life because he puts his whole heart into everything he does. I'm proud of his big spirit, and I hope he keeps that in him forever.
I call him "Buggy," and "Little B"...new nicknames are always evolving. He's funny, loud, (it's true) sweet, so curious and so so so loving.
Owen
Second grade looks good on Owen...he's really into the whole thing. When I took him shopping for school supplies, he picked out a cool skater backpack and lunch box with "no characters on it." He has a vision for what "cool" looks like this year, and he's definitely putting his own personal touch on his style. He has homework every night, usually Math and spelling words. He doesn't love reading...but he's working on it. ;)
Aside from the occasional moments he is annoyed with his little brother, he is an amazingly kind-hearted young man. He doesn't have a sense of urgency about much, he is a deep thinker when he's playing, planning or doing homework, and he loves one-on-one time with Kipper. Those two can work in the garage all day/night building things, fixing things and inventing things. He loves Cub Scouts, just started taking piano lessons (already knows more than me after one lesson!) and is going to be in the Christmas play at church this year. He loves some good quality downtime, and would mostly prefer we don't make too many plans. He can easily crack himself up, loves to read through his practical jokes book and will play Minecraft if he's in the mood.
He has fewer nicknames for some reason...maybe because he seems so much more serious than the others. He is starting to feel like a mini-grown-up when we hang out. He can work the remote control better than me, and typically helps me navigate when I don't know where I'm going. Like Kipper, if he's been there once...he can get there on his own again anytime. He amazes me.
Other stuff...
As a family, we are making a conscious decision to be more outwardly grateful. We want the boys to know that noticing the world around you, and knowing to be grateful for it is the foundation for a happy life and contentment. My biggest fear as a mom is that my children will be entitled. It's important to Kipper and I that we work openly with them to say thank you in their lives, to be conscious of their many many blessings and to be proactive with gratitude. We discuss what we're grateful for at dinner every night, and it's my favorite time of day to hear what they love about their lives. Sometimes they love the simple things like our food, their toys, our dog...and then sometimes they say something like, "Thank you God for our family, and thank you for letting us be together," or "thank you for our home...we know some people don't have one," or "thank you for all of the beautiful nature around us." I'm so proud of them for thinking of others and sending love to those who go without.
Funnies...
Bodhi is very curious about Siri...the voice in my iPhone. He wants to know what type of robot she is...and what she looks like. He asked me, "Does she have a family?" and tells me all the time when I'm trying to figure something out to. "Ask the robot in your phone mom!" One day he said, "Hey mom, can you tell the robot in your phone to remind me that I want donuts for breakfast tomorrow?"
One day after just waking up, Bodhi said, "Here's mom, drink your coffee so your brain can wake up." (he's so right!)
That's all for now!
