ThankFULL

Last week I drove to Michigan with the kids. By myself. And it was worth all 17 1/2 hours both ways. For so many reasons. 

I went home because my sweet 99 year old great grandmother went to be with Jesus last Saturday. 

I knew/wanted to go home. She was such a wonderful woman, and she will be missed by so many people. I had to be there. I had to share in the celebration of her life and the legacy she has left. 

The legacy is us. It's my grandparents, my parents, my cousins, aunts and uncles, my children.

What better way to celebrate her life than to soak up all the love, and joy, and beautiful, messy chaos that I call family? 

I have a lot of pictures I want to share of this week. 

This week where the pain of death brought us all together.

To hold each other closer, and cherish each moment, and to give thanks for it.

Pictures are my way of documenting all that I am thankful for. 

All that I love, and cherish, and hold dear. 

I have so much to be thankful for. 

My heart is full. 

 This is my Great Grandmother holding Bea. When she died, she had 19 great great grandchildren. Simply amazing. What a life. What a legacy she has left. 

 I am thankful for self portraits of my 2 year old.

  I am thankful for a running vehicle, gas money, and children that for the most part are just fine on a car ride for 17 plus hours. 

  I am thankful for seeing the world through my daughter's eyes.

  I am thankful for sleeping babies in the car.

  I am thankful for piggy back rides. 

  I am thankful for this view out of the window at my parents. 

  I am thankful for this smile. 

  I am thankful for my grandfather. 

  I am thankful for the gift of a meal brought by others and the fellowship that eating together brings.

  I am thankful for this. 

  I am thankful for aunts and uncles who love my children and will watch endless episodes of Curious George with them. 

  I am thankful for cousins. 

For that eternal bond that can't be forced, but is just there. 

 

  I am thankful for healthy babies. 

  I am thankful for sleepovers. 

  I am thankful for this boy, and his ceaseless curiosity of all things.

  I am thankful for the joy a bath brings. 

  I am thankful for uncles. 

  I am thankful for late night grandma cuddles. 

  I am thankful for this girl and her love of hot chocolate. 

  I am thankful for her lack of fear and her love of snow. 

  I am thankful for this bridge and all the memories it holds. 

  I am thankful for my nieces. 

  I am thankful for grandpas who brave the cold to make her happy. 

  I am thankful for this place I grew up. 

  I am thankful for papas and yai yais. And sleepovers with all the grandbabies.

  I am thankful for their love for each other.

  I am thankful for this papa who colors with his grandbabies.

  I am thankful for my mom who kept the walker I used, so that my son can use it too. 

  I am thankful for endless looks out the window. 

  I am thankful for these girls. 

  I am thankful for this niece, the first one. The one who cries when I leave. 

  I am thankful for this niece. This silly girl who gives sloppy kisses on the mouth. 

  I am thankful for the giggles and cuddles and love these girls share. 

  I am thankful for grandfathers who let their grandchildren play on the table. 

  I am thankful for this serious face. This girl who loves all things monkey. 

  I am thankful for this woman. My grandmother.

  I am thankful for bedtime stories from grandpa. 

 I am thankful for these beautiful, lovely, precious children. 

 I am thankful that I am back home in Rhode Island.

 I am thankful for the man I call my husband, the father of my children. The man who cried when his daughter hugged him and told him she missed him. 

I am ThankFULL for all of these moments. These snapshots. These memories. I am blessed.

October recap

As I was looking through my 'October' file tonight, I realized how much we've done in one month. Here's the short recap in pictures.

Detroit Tigers made it to the World Series and then got swept by the Giants, disappointing the biggest Detroit Tigers fans EVER. (and the cutest)

 No, these two do not share a bed, but they do like to hang out in there together. I love how they love each other so much. Hopefully they will be this close and love each other for the rest of their lives.

 We've been to the park. A lot. Hopefully the weather holds off and we can keep going for the next month or so.

 Oh yeah, and my amazing husband ran and finished his very first marathon. I am so proud of him and can't wait to someday run one with him.

 His dad and brother flew in to surprise him. It was awesome!

 Bea FINALLY likes to cuddle, and we are loving every moment of it.

 Harper can ROLL!  Both ways. Crazy boy.

 Bea likes bounce houses now.

 Hurricane Sandy made a visit to Rhode Island. Thankfully we were very safe where we were and feel very fortunate that we escaped any damage or prolonged power outages. (Thank you Jesus)

 Halloween!  Elmo, the owl and his tree.

Waiting with dad to pass out candy. 

I can't wait to see what November has in store for us...oh yeah that's right, a visit from both sets of parents and someone is turning 2!  Whoooeeee!