38/365: Spread

When we cook out, we do it right...hamburgers, hotdogs, sausage links, baked beans, and all the fixin's. Yum!

37/365: Dancin' Feet

My kiddos love to dance whether it's by themselves or together. Throw in a dj and a real dance floor and you've got a little show to watch.

35/365: Golden

Recently, we celebrated my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. While it was a great time for our family to reconnect, I also was moved by what we all were there to honor. The fact that there were so many guests attending was a testament to the fact that my aunt and uncle have touched many with their lives. Their four daughters, their sons-in-law, their many grandchildren, their numerous nieces and nephews, their siblings, their friends - they were all there to honor my aunt and uncle. 50 years has brought much to this couple's lives. They have seen much joy and much sorrow, but to watch them on this particular evening you could only see the deep love and devotion they have for one another. I watched a video slide-show that had been prepared and tears came to my eyes. Partly because off the photos with faces of loved ones that have already passed but also because of the legacy of love and commitment that had been modeled through the years. I don't believe they set out to be an example, but they are. They are an example of the joy that can come when you fill your heart with love, forgiveness, service and devotion. This day and age, 50th wedding anniversaries are getting rare. I am grateful for my aunt and uncle, for the legacy they have lived and will continue to live. They are a rarity. They are golden.

34/365: We Are Family!

These are the cousins. We recently came together to celebrate my Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. There are four cousins who couldn't be there. This was the first time some of us had seen each other in over 10 years. I love family. I love celebrations. I love recalling stories of when we were younger and the memories we have. I love seeing my cousins' spouses and children. I love that my children get to see my childhood family, the cousins that I use to play with (or tag along with) just as they play with their cousins now. I hate that it took this long for us to reconnect and I am making a commitment to myself that I will do my part not to let this much time go by until we are together again. We are no longer just a few hours away from each other, we are spread out all over the US and even beyond. But we have Facebook, email, texting, and dare I say it...phone and snail mail. I can carve out some time to stay connected. I can comment on a Facebook page, send an email, mail a card, shoot a text or even dial a number. Family is important.

We are family. These people represent a branch on my family tree and that of my children. I am proud of my heritage and the stories we have. This is who we are.

30/365: Memorial

Today was Memorial Day. The husband, kids and I went to the cemetery to take flowers and flags to the grave of my PawPaw. He fought in two wars including WWII. The kids enjoyed hearing stories of my memories of him and learning about his service to our country. He passed away when my oldest was only two years old and before my younger two were born. It is important to me that my kids know as much as they can about their great grandparents and the heritage they have. He is one of the reasons we can have the freedoms we so enjoy today. May we never take for granted those freedoms. We are truly blessed to be an American.

27/365: What's In Ned's Head?

This is perhaps the most disgusting game I have ever played. There are all sorts of gross items inside Ned's head including a dirty diaper, bird poop, Ned's lost lunch and other various things that would make one cringe. To play, you draw a card showing the item you need to find, feel around inside of Ned's Head (through one of the many holes he has - ie. ears and mouth) and the first player to find the object wins that round. Needless to say this is a family favorite. This preschool age game elicits squeals and "yuck" sounds from all of us when we play. Sure, we have all outgrown the difficulty of this game but the fun factor has yet to decrease. Everyone needs to know the feel of fake vomit every once in a while. This was our rainy afternoon activity today. Good times!