Remembering.

It’s hard for me to believe it’s been an entire year since my Grandmother passed away. I really do miss her like crazy. I miss listening to her talk, and her southern drawl. I miss her competitiveness at games, even when she was just so tired. I miss going to visit her, and her proudly introducing all of us to everyone she came across. She was SO proud of her family. Every single one of us. I especially miss seeing her face light up as soon as she would see Addie. I just miss her.

I have a few things from my Grandmother. One is a secretary desk that sits in our living room. I love it, and it reminds me of her. She would be horrified to know it probably hasn’t been dusted since we moved it in. Perhaps I’ll do that to honor her tonight. Ha. I also ended up with her china cabinet. I promptly painted it tuscan colors, and put on our porch as a “Party Cabinet” to house our wine glasses, margarita glasses, pitchers, and my china (in the bottom half). I love it, everyone loves it that sees it. Once again, my Grandmother would be horrified. However, my most treasured thing my Grandmother has ever left me was a book my Mama had her fill out. She had my Grandfather do one also. I treasure them. (I actually have copies, and my parents have the originals) So, I thought I would leave an excerpt from the book she filled out.

What advice do you have for me?

“You show much, much promise and I believe with all my heart that you will grow up to be a fine person who will bring great joy to your parents. You will never disillusion your parents. They love you so very much that I can see that they put your needs ahead of everything else. They have made you know that you’re an important member of the family, and their love and efforts show in your disposition and everything you do. They have encouraged you. I hope Granddaddy and I live long enough to see the wonderful person which you are heading towards. Even if we don’t, we already know that our union has produced something very wonderful for the world. “

New Favorite Toy

Addie has discovered her new favorite toy. At least during these 100+ degree weather days we are having! The water hose. The girl can not get enough!

Ballet…Week 7

I can’t believe we only have one more week left of the summer ballet class! It has been a wonderful thing for Addie to get started in, and I just signed her up for their fall classes. I’m almost positive that she will be in the 2 year old class, and not the 2 1/2 year old one (because of where her birthday falls), which means she would have Miss Lori for an entire year. We would LOVE it if that was the case! She is seriously the most caring, patient teacher ever!

I wish she could stay this tiny forever!

Swimming with the GREATS

We had a fun morning with the Greats at Aunt Liz and Uncle Chris’ neighborhood pool. They have LUCKED OUT with this pool! It has a kiddie pool with sprinklers, as well as a very nice big pool. The best thing about it? It was practically empty! (of people..not water. Ha)

Addie and DaDa playing in the little pool

Isaiah and Uncle Ryan

Cory kicked back relaxing

Addie LOVES swimming, and really just wants to do her own thing. So we put her PJ on her and just drop her in the water, where she is perfectly content to swim around on her own.

Penny swimming.

Isaiah swimming

Iain showing off his kicking skills.

Penny requested Uncle Ryan go get her sunglasses for her so she could match Addie, he did. She then continued to thank him the entire time we were at the pool. That girl is polite!

Cory kicking around

My little fish.

This is where Iain decided he would jump off the diving board. Poor Aunt Allie treaded water (in the deep end) for a good 10 minutes trying to convince him he could do it. It made Aunt Jenna and I remember being kids at the lake house. We laughed as he stood there with his patient mama waiting for him to be ready. We laughed because we remembered standing up on the high dock having the same mental thought process as he did. Were we ready? Would it hurt to hit the water? Would we come back up? Would an alligator eat us? (okay, obviously this one wasn’t so much a concern for Iain being in a pool. HA) While we would be standing on the high dock, these thoughts running through our little heads, just as we decide there is NO WAY we are anywhere ready to jump off this platform, you feel 200 pounds of uncle coming from behind, knocking you off the dock, and dragging you through the air, under the water, and then finally back up to the surface with them. Did we think we were dying? Sure. Did it toughen us up? Absolutely. Would we have changed anything at all about those summers playing in the lake on the dock with our cousins and uncles? Not a chance. Anyway, long story short, Iain was lucky there was a lifeguard who would have probably yelled at me and Jenna had we taken him down unwillingly, Ha.

DaDa and his mini me.

Sweet Laina enjoying the kiddie pool.

And, a picture of all 6 GREATS!

I SOOOOO want to live in Atlanta so Addie can grow up even closer to these 5 babies!