Memories of my Father-in-Law

Yesterday was a tough day for us. It marks a year since Dennis passed away. It's hard to believe that a whole year has past without seeing him, talking to him, or having him in our lives. We miss him and Laurie tremendously, but we have also found a way to live without them, and move on with our lives. We hold our memories of them close to our hearts, and enjoy laughing and talking about them often. Every now and then something will remind us of them, or we laugh about what they would think of something, or how we do things because we know they would approve or do likewise. In those ways, they are still very real and a part of our daily lives and who we are.

I loved finding this little video from Dennis' camera that he took of Parker the week they came out to visit us last September. Parker had just turned 1, and wasn't quite walking yet. Instead she was scooting around on her knees. If she couldn't get there fast enough, she resorted to hopping on her knees. It was hysterical to watch, and of course, Dennis couldn't get enough of it. He thought it was the cutest thing! He took this video and you can hear the delight in his voice. He had such a funny way of saying things, didn't he? I didn't realize how much I missed just hearing his funny expressions or his giggle, but especially seeing my children through his eyes. I doubt he ever considered that any of his grand kids could every do any wrong. He loved each one of them, and treasured his time with them. What an example to us! I miss that perspective a lot.

I agree with what Dave said in his post. I think they are able to check in on us from time to time. I think they would be so pleased and proud of every last one of us. And I'm sure they miss us as much as we miss them. Even though they are far away, they are still in our hearts and in our minds forever.

Naughty Number Nine

Isn't that School House Rock song sooooo appropriate for this milestone?!? Ha ha!! Especially considering our mischevious, highly-independent, strong-willed Avery Jane?!? Ha ha again!!

Any-hoo, Avery celebrated her 9th birthday yesterday. That would be right on the heels of her 2 year old sis Parker. Now I know what the Duggars must feel like having multiple children with multiple birthdays and probably having birthdays that fall really close to each other. Wait, did I just say that?!? That I could possibly, ever relate to what the Duggars are feeling?!? Ha ha again!!

Avery started her birthday off by getting an extra hour to sleep in in the morning. That's right, I took her in late for her bonus birthday hour. I figured that was something that would bear it's weight in gold for her.

After school, she helped make her birthday brownies, and then opened her presents before we went out to dinner at her favorite Chinese Buffet.

She got presents from her sisters.





She got presents from both sets of Grandparents. One was in lieu of the Brown's. When the idea came to me, it seemed too good to pass up.



Money and a book from Grandparents Day...



And a Cleopatra costume from Grandparents Brown...Mark thinks that is the most perfect "Laurie" present ever...

And then she got the BIG GIFT from her dear ole' Mum 'n' Dad...something she has been wanting for years...something we felt like this 9 year old girl deserved after long last...her beloved DS 3D!! Yay!! She was so excited she started to cry. I just love that! Making my kids cry out of sheer joy! Priceless!





Anyway, we are so grateful to have our sweet and sassy Avery, and enjoyed another birthday with our (not so much anymore) little rubber-leg, square-mouth, round-faced, perfectly milky white skinned bundle of adventure!!

Parker Turns 2

Parker's Birthday celebration, narrated by the one and only, Miss P.

Cousins come house.



Dess beh-s (dress bears), pay socca balls (play basketball).



baby bwoh-w can-ulls...fire...{blowing sounds}.



{Parker, do you like your cake?} Yay! Cake, can-ulls, yummmm!



Cookin'!!



Pot, spoon, food, haygs (eggs), fyes (fries), yay!...{clapping}.



Because Erin and I are on the same wave length much of the time, we actually bought birthday presents within the same theme. We seriously didn't plan this, but it was perfect!! We bought her a play kitchen and a bucket of food, and the Griswold's got her a bucket of cooking equipment and a Strawberry Shortcake cooking DVD. Isn't that hilarious?!? She absolutely loves it, and hasn't stopped playing with it yet. Yes! I love toys like that!



It was a great birthday for little Miss P. Now instead of referring to herself as "baby", she now calls herself "two". She also loved hearing all of us sing her the "day" song. It was a great birthday. Parker can't possibly be any cuter. We love our {now official} toddler birthday girl!!