My Mother's Day gift to my Momma this year. I gave it to her in February, because I couldn't contain myself.
So thankful for my amazing Momma and everything that she did, gave up and worked at to be at home with us every day, all long. So thankful for my amazing sister and her sense of humor, elephant memory and tenacious stubbornness.
MJMJMJMJMJMJMJMJMJMJMJMJ every day....
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Reasons We Loved 2010: Visits with Nana and "How"
I am so very thankful for modern transportation. I can't imagine what it was like as a pioneer or a pilgrim, or even what it is like today for some immigrants or political refugees, to hug your family, tell them goodbye and know that you may very well never see them in person again. There may be communication via written form, but never again to be able to touch or hug or be in the same room with your family member. OY! I am so grateful that my Momma gets to know my daughter through the wonder that is Skype and to be with her OFTEN thanks to the mad driving skills of and abundant patience in the incredible man that Violet now calls her "How."
Violet was a very blessed girl at her birthday to have so much of her family present for her party. And on her actual birthday she got to spend the day at the Aquarium being doted on and carried around by loving Grandparents. Here Nana and How are pointing out the different Sting Rays to Violet:
I blogged about our wonderful, relaxing visit with Nana and How for my mom's birthday here. This is a ridiculous picture from that trip. You can't see Violet's face at all, but I love this photo so much because it perfectly captures how much fun Violet has with Nana and How and what great sports they are about just being SILLY with her:
Our next visit was on the very happy occasion of Mr. How and Mrs Nana Hughes' wedding. It was a summer full of weddings, this was obviously, for us, the best of all. It was a hot, Hot, HOT time of year to be in Pheonix, but we played at the mall, played at Target, went back to the mall and swam in the pool. Violet fell asleep during the ceremony (which is oh-so-very funny on film), but I loved that because of her visits, when she woke up Violet was perfectly happy to just cuddle with Nana until she gained her bearings.
Even though it was really only a few short weeks between the wedding and our next visit, all 5 of us were happy when Columbus Day weekend arrived and Nana and How came to So Cal for another visit. We had tons of fun visiting Descanso Gardens, playing Wii, and going to the park to feed the ducks and ride the swings. It apparently made a big impression on Violet because a few weeks later when we were preparing for their next visit, I asked Violet about Nana and How and she thought for a bit and said "Go duckies, put bread. Go weee weee so high?!?!" Violet loved to "show" Nana and "How" all of the interesting things to see at Descanso:
Our last visit for 2010 was my birthday weekend. It was a bittersweet weekend as I loved having more time with my family, but my birthday is also the anniversary of the first day of Jessica's hospitalization last year. I was so thankful for my mom and Hal's thoughtfulness in coming to spend that day with me and their flexibility and willingness to do whatever I wanted. We honored Jessica by having fun and enjoying each other all weekend, even through the tears. Violet is so lucky to have grandparents who are such great dancers:
Here is to a 2011 FULL of long drives between Green Valley, Arizona and Upland, California. Here is to many a meeting in between. And here is to buying stock in Skype to support those weekly play dates between a girl, her baby and a wonderful Nana and How!
Violet was a very blessed girl at her birthday to have so much of her family present for her party. And on her actual birthday she got to spend the day at the Aquarium being doted on and carried around by loving Grandparents. Here Nana and How are pointing out the different Sting Rays to Violet:
February
I blogged about our wonderful, relaxing visit with Nana and How for my mom's birthday here. This is a ridiculous picture from that trip. You can't see Violet's face at all, but I love this photo so much because it perfectly captures how much fun Violet has with Nana and How and what great sports they are about just being SILLY with her:
June
Our next visit was on the very happy occasion of Mr. How and Mrs Nana Hughes' wedding. It was a summer full of weddings, this was obviously, for us, the best of all. It was a hot, Hot, HOT time of year to be in Pheonix, but we played at the mall, played at Target, went back to the mall and swam in the pool. Violet fell asleep during the ceremony (which is oh-so-very funny on film), but I loved that because of her visits, when she woke up Violet was perfectly happy to just cuddle with Nana until she gained her bearings.
August
Even though it was really only a few short weeks between the wedding and our next visit, all 5 of us were happy when Columbus Day weekend arrived and Nana and How came to So Cal for another visit. We had tons of fun visiting Descanso Gardens, playing Wii, and going to the park to feed the ducks and ride the swings. It apparently made a big impression on Violet because a few weeks later when we were preparing for their next visit, I asked Violet about Nana and How and she thought for a bit and said "Go duckies, put bread. Go weee weee so high?!?!" Violet loved to "show" Nana and "How" all of the interesting things to see at Descanso:
October
Our last visit for 2010 was my birthday weekend. It was a bittersweet weekend as I loved having more time with my family, but my birthday is also the anniversary of the first day of Jessica's hospitalization last year. I was so thankful for my mom and Hal's thoughtfulness in coming to spend that day with me and their flexibility and willingness to do whatever I wanted. We honored Jessica by having fun and enjoying each other all weekend, even through the tears. Violet is so lucky to have grandparents who are such great dancers:
December
Here is to a 2011 FULL of long drives between Green Valley, Arizona and Upland, California. Here is to many a meeting in between. And here is to buying stock in Skype to support those weekly play dates between a girl, her baby and a wonderful Nana and How!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Beach Bums
I am so thankful for my one day a pay period that I get to "Flex" at my job. By working 9 hour days regularly, we are able to take one day off every-other week. This helps both the employee (less $ on commuting, saves a day of child care, weekday to conduct business) and the employer (extended service hours, decreases over-time, fewer time off requests). Robbie and I work really hard to make sure that we "take advantage" of my flex days and to make sure that I get to enjoy the extra time with Robbie and Violet.
Yesterday was one of the best flex days this year.....although it didn't start that way! We had to take Violet to get blood drawn for allergy testing and we went on my flex because neither one of us wanted to have to do it alone. She was SO good the whole time, even though they ended up sticking her twice. She sat perfectly still, and never tried to kick or hit, but the tears just kept rolling. Even the chocolate chips that we brought for distraction were met with a solid "Nuh!" Lots of hugs and kisses later, she recovered and was ready to embark on a better kind of adventure.
Shortly after we got home from the lab, Robbie got a call that Gramma and Grampa (his parents) wanted to drop something by on their way to the beach. What a perfect day for the beach! So, we crashed their party. The water was really too cold for swimming (or at least for the wimps we are), but we enjoyed watching the waves and building a giant moat. Violet would NOT set foot on the sand and would stand at the edge of the blanket and grunt because she wanted someone to come pick her up! I'm not sure if she just didn't like the feeling on her toes or if she was afraid of getting dirty!
With Gramma and Grampa...
Robbie's moat really did hold the incoming tide back for a bit...
Well, at least it's a good pic of me!
We topped the afternoon off with a trip to YogurtLand -- YUM! Just two weeks til I get to do it again! Any ideas for a great destination for next time?
Yesterday was one of the best flex days this year.....although it didn't start that way! We had to take Violet to get blood drawn for allergy testing and we went on my flex because neither one of us wanted to have to do it alone. She was SO good the whole time, even though they ended up sticking her twice. She sat perfectly still, and never tried to kick or hit, but the tears just kept rolling. Even the chocolate chips that we brought for distraction were met with a solid "Nuh!" Lots of hugs and kisses later, she recovered and was ready to embark on a better kind of adventure.
Shortly after we got home from the lab, Robbie got a call that Gramma and Grampa (his parents) wanted to drop something by on their way to the beach. What a perfect day for the beach! So, we crashed their party. The water was really too cold for swimming (or at least for the wimps we are), but we enjoyed watching the waves and building a giant moat. Violet would NOT set foot on the sand and would stand at the edge of the blanket and grunt because she wanted someone to come pick her up! I'm not sure if she just didn't like the feeling on her toes or if she was afraid of getting dirty!
With Gramma and Grampa...
Robbie's moat really did hold the incoming tide back for a bit...
Well, at least it's a good pic of me!
We topped the afternoon off with a trip to YogurtLand -- YUM! Just two weeks til I get to do it again! Any ideas for a great destination for next time?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Destination: Scottsdale
We had the pleasure and privileged of celebrating Nana's (my mom's) birthday with her this past weekend. It was a wonderful, low-key, relaxed time with lots of swimming, napping and family time. I am so excited for Violet to continue to get to have consistent time with her Nana and Hal, despite the distance - be it in person, on the phone or by Skype.
Violet's favorite part of the weekend was all of the "Ga-ga!" there was a small pond with fountains right outside of the condo we were staying in. She loved to crouch or kneel down and stick either a hand or foot in and splash around. Anytime she got bored, she would point to the backdoor and ask "Ga-ga?"
She also love going for a ride in her "Blo-lo" (boat) in the "Big Ga-ga." On our last morning there, we had a pretty scary experience when she reached over the side of her Blo-lo to splash just as I gave the boat a little push. The whole boat capsized and now her feet were sticking straight in the air with head pointed right at the bottom of the pool....and down she sank like a rock! Robbie had her in about 4 seconds, but man was she mad at her boat after that!
I think that my favorite part of the weekend was a full day of time with my Momma -- at the spa no less! The only gifts that she asked for were time with Violet (and Robbie and I) and a spa day with her daughter! Lucky me for having a Momma ask for something so nice for me to share in! We had body scrubs, massages, facials and a mani-pedi! Wow were we relaxed!!!
Now we are anxiously looking forward to our next visit with Nana and Hal during their wedding weekend in August!
Violet's favorite part of the weekend was all of the "Ga-ga!" there was a small pond with fountains right outside of the condo we were staying in. She loved to crouch or kneel down and stick either a hand or foot in and splash around. Anytime she got bored, she would point to the backdoor and ask "Ga-ga?"
She also love going for a ride in her "Blo-lo" (boat) in the "Big Ga-ga." On our last morning there, we had a pretty scary experience when she reached over the side of her Blo-lo to splash just as I gave the boat a little push. The whole boat capsized and now her feet were sticking straight in the air with head pointed right at the bottom of the pool....and down she sank like a rock! Robbie had her in about 4 seconds, but man was she mad at her boat after that!
I think that my favorite part of the weekend was a full day of time with my Momma -- at the spa no less! The only gifts that she asked for were time with Violet (and Robbie and I) and a spa day with her daughter! Lucky me for having a Momma ask for something so nice for me to share in! We had body scrubs, massages, facials and a mani-pedi! Wow were we relaxed!!!
Now we are anxiously looking forward to our next visit with Nana and Hal during their wedding weekend in August!
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