Memory Making

With the very first paycheck I ever got, I bought myself a set of china. I was young (stubborn) and had "decided" that I wouldn't marry and therefore would need to start collecting things I would need when i moved out. Instead, I would live with my sister (who had also decided against marriage), have a dog, and drive a Dodge Ram. Okay, so it may sound crazy, but like I said, I was "young". Well, my life has taken a different direction (much to my delight) and I find myself happily married, two kids, no dog, and a Chevy truck.

Although I already had china, technically it's not wedding china. So a few weeks ago my Grandmother asked me if I would like to have her wedding china. Seriously!!! I am not sure if my jaw hit the floor or not, but I am sure it at least came close. I've always loved her china, and secretly enjoyed eating off of the plates more than actually eating what was on the plates. They are that lovely.

Well, these dishes have been on display for a few weeks in the china cabinet. So far I haven't used them, but I do walk by the cabinet and smile as I look at the delicate set. It isn't just china, there are a lot of memories with this set. I do so love enjoying things with memories and stories behind them. I am really looking forward to making many more memories with them.

Mom to Mom

When I was pregnant with our first, my very dear and best friend Jordi threw me a BEAUTIFUL baby shower. She made beautiful food, name tags, decorations, etc. I appreciated everything so much. She also made advice cards for me which I absolutely loved. Each mother at the party wrote down a few words of wisdom for me. I now wish I would have put them up on the wall so I could have seen them every day (their wisdom was very sweet and I cherish each and every card). Instead of putting them up in his room or in clear view, I put them in my box filled with precious little keepsakes (his silver spoon, his baby book, cards, hospital bracelets, shoes, etc.). Here is a picture of the cards and one of my favorite advice cards from Gayla. This one I should frame so I can often be reminded that I am not raising just a boy-- I am raising a boy to be a man.

Go Eagles!

Bill at the Eagles game earlier today.

Kat Nap

Ike

Little Kate

Ike's Halloween

As far as I'm concerned, holidays have become so much more meaningful now that we share them with our children. I took Ike out trick-or-treating last night and just couldn't believe how much of his joy I absorbed! It was an hour of pure merriment as he knocked on the doors and wished everyone (in his own words) a "Happy Halloween Time!" His face was non stop smiles as he knew that behind each door he knocked on there was a treat waiting.

When each treat was dropped in his little bag, he thanked the giver quite cheerfully. As soon as we were back to the street, he'd shine the flashlight Grandpa hooked him up with and would look at each treat. "NOT FULL YET!" he'd say with the hope that I wouldn't tell him we were done. We trudged on. It wasn't terribly cold so there was no point in ending the joy. Onward!

After about an hour, and one scary "ghost," Ike decided he needed to go back to Grandma's house. He knocked on her door, shouted "trick-or-treat", opened the door, helped himself to some m&m's, said thank you, and dumped out the loot. A few minutes later, Grandma and Anne took him back out to do another block!

Want to be blessed? Have children! Lots and lots of children!