No Empty Chairs

My grandparents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year and my Mama gathered the entire family together for a surprise party in their honor.  She orchestrated the most beautiful gift: a family tree (drawn by Robyn!) with leaves that each member of the family stamped on with a fingerprint.  We all signed our names and took turns stamping prints for the few that couldn't come. I must have had a serious brain lapse that prevented my picture-taking, or as you can see above, I was too busy scarfing Brookie's always-fabulous desserts.

Speaking of Brooke, she worked hard to pull together a family memory video, "kid-history" style. Each family was assigned questions about Gram and Pappap like, "what was their favorite thing to do as kids", and "what's the thing you hear Gram and Pappap say the most" and then took video clips of their answers.  All compiled together, it was a funny and heartfelt video full of family.   

It was wonderful to celebrate my grandparents' life and love with so many from my family.  I know that their greatest wish is that their family be together forever, with no empty chairs, and it's a goal and a legacy that I want to fulfill for them.

Love you Gram and Pappap! Thank you so much for all your love!

Four Years to the Day

Happy Anniversary to my One-and-Only.

 

Four years ago today, this poor sucker agreed to honor and love me for all the days of my life, and as of this moment, I don't think he's regretted it.  I know I've never wanted to love or honor anyone else but Jeffrey. Loving him has been the greatest evolution of my existence, and I treasure seeing not only how we have grown and overcome, but seeing our greatest treasure, Sawyer boy, strengthen our family bond.

 

I love living out our happily FOREVER-after with you, Linguistics boy.

 

Beach Babes

There was perfect weather all week long.  Naturally, we spent all the time we could in the sun and sand and surf.  Our family stayed lathered up with SPF 50, especially our lily white boy who was practically dressed for winter he wore so many clothes (all summer breathable fabrics with additional SPF, of course!). The remainder of the clan got some lovely tans resulting in one little brown bear in European swim trunks, and one little polar bear in 1920s swim fashion. The boys dug holes and chased crabs, while the rest of the family built a sand fortress that Lincoln was all too happy to knock down.

We discovered that Sawyer loves chasing the ocean, but prefers to do his swimming in the sand. He will lay down and sweep his arms out in front of him then down to his sides while fluttering his chubby feet. 

He could not get enough of that soft beach sand.

The best discovery, though, was probably the beauty of creating a baby pool right on the beach.  Thanks for the tip, J! Pack along a shower curtain or large plastic table cover, dig a hole, line it with the plastic and bury the edges in sand. Then fill it with water. Oila! Portable, packable, beach-baby pool. 

Sun Daze

 

 

I may be biased, but I never see a sunset quite like the ones I watch from my grandparents' beach house back porch.

Morris Farmer's Market

 

 

 

Right off Route 12 there's a huge market we love to peruse each year on our way down to the beach.  There are dozens of tractors lined up all over the marketplace and, if we're early enough, we can catch Easy Merle singing Gospel and Blues.  It's not really a true farmer's market- not everything they have there is local and picked ripe- but it is all truly yummy, even if the grapes are flown in from California and the cantaloupe is packed up from Florida.  It has tractor churned, fresh ice cream which was a huge hit with the knee-high crowd, but what we really love most: SAMPLES! Everything, literally, E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G, has a taste tester. We always drink our way through a myriad of ciders, munch on salsas, and nibble all the fruits.  Then we really get down to business and head over to the sweet and spicy pickles and Texas bloody mary mix.  I won't confess outright, but they may have to re-load those once Krista and I have been through there.



{"gee Linc, that sure looks good. wontcha let me have some?"}

 

 

Carolina Bound

We're headed to the sweet shores of Carolina to have our cares bound up by the sea.

I have an 8 hour journey today - sans toddler, thank goodness and hallelujah! Jeff has graciously decided to bring Sawyer along with him when he flies out tomorrow morning, so I will have 8 hours all to myself! What will it be like?!  I can't remember the last time I had that much alone time.  I'm bringing along some catch-up work and Les Mis (ya know, a little light reading) and I plan on stopping at Cinnabon and doing whatever else my heart desires until my joy ride ends.  Well, really, the fun won't ever stop.  We are all elated to be spending a week together as a family, with our family, at the most glorious spot we know.  Good luck to all my flying family, and double the luck for all with babes.  The destination is worth the journey!

Happy Birthday Allison

 

 

  

 

Happy Birthday to my kind and generous Mother-in-Law today. 

Have a great year!

Weekend Mirths: Mother's Day

 

 

 



I love this last picture the most, because this is what motherhood is all about.  It's getting gussied up and then wrestling your babe, who doesn't give a darn that you're all trying to look nice today, all he wants is to jab his stick at the dog and she's getting away from him. It's tying his shoe because you're going to do whatever to keep him safe, nice dress or not. I love the ins and outs of motherhood.  They make every day a challenge, and every day a blessing. 

To all my "mothers" who have tied my shoes, cheered me on, cheered me up, and followed and supported me on my journey, thank you so much.  You will always be a part of my life. I hope you have the best of days today.