Arrrgh.

Grammy left tonight and Grandpa Lloyd leaves tomorrow. But it was sure great to have them here for a few days! I will treasure hearing Annalee say "Hold Me Grammy" and "Bum-pa Loid" and seeing the kids light up when my Dad is pretending to be a cat "meow" or when we are all giggling at the dinner table in corn-themed pirate voices. Grateful for these ordinary moments that seem so extraordinary because we are together.

Come back soon!

-Heather

Grand Day 2015.

I am saddened by the fact my paternal grandparents died while I was so young. Man, some of my cousins had so.many.years with them and I was less than a year old when my grandfather passed and only nine when my grandma passed away.

And really I was too focused on myself to take time to really know my maternal grandparents before it was too late.

Damn being the youngest.

Yet I am grateful I married into having three awesome living grandparents to know, missing out only on knowing Greg's grandpa by a couple years.

And this grandparents day, I am especially glad our kids have four wonderful people to call their grandparents. A strong heritage is something to be celebrated! And what a gift, truly, that each of them are present in our lives.

Happy Grandparents Day!

These four are Eli's grandparents, too, but you know I just don't have those all nice and posed like I had these from June!

-Heather

Two Today.

Maelee would have started kindergarten last week, friends. She would have been so ready to take on the world of school. Her little pink-ish backpack. Her dress and sparkly shoes. Five years and four months old, our firstborn would have been no more baby and all girl. So yes, she has crossed my mind as I think about that milestone this year and prepare for that for our boy next year.

You bet I loved the fact I could take these photos of our rainbow boy this morning. He had a year of two-day per week preschool last year and he started three-day per week this morning. Eli K (since now there is ANOTHER Eli in his class!), was roaring and ready to go back to school to see friends. And the new Eli? He wore a yellow shirt today. That's all Eli really could say. He painted and played and life is just grand at four, folks.

And let's not forget about this adorableness that is our Annalee. She has really gotten into a handful of stuffed animals, a few special ones get carried around. Puppy has stayed at the top of the charts, even after a week-plus hiatus in Buffalo (I mean even Puppy realizes it's a happy place and decided to stow away under the bed - thanks for the return Great Gma and cousin Mike!).

So there's our two today. One in the morning, the other in the afternoon in this very lovely fall day in ND.

-Heather

Halfway to 70.

My guy, he doesn't do birthdays. He isn't into the limelight. So even though I'd love to theme-up his day, I try let it pass with just a few specialties. This year it involved thai food, his favorite. We learned we have a food truck in town. They gave me free egg rolls for his birthday! Sweet lady, reasonable and authentic food that I didn't hate! Win!

Greg's mom made his favorite Apple pie. Big win!

Better watch out, I'm going to break out a giant over-the-top birthday party for him, someday. 

-wife

Flapper.

It's girls night in our house. Me and her while the boys watch football in Buffalo. I had a dress I wanted her to try on and she found mismatched socks she requested me put on. Then she puts on shoes and her own headband. Bam! Instant 20s era flapper! I better step it up for girls night (I didn't know we had a theme!!).  

This girl is fun! She just tried shoving a toy in my mouth as I type this to prove it. So I better go get some swing music on...

-Heather

Niece Love.

We have a handful of nieces (girl cousins for our kids)... of course we are smitten with them all. And all but one has a birthday in July, August, or September!

July 23 - Miss Ali, now 9 (and looking so like her mom!)

August 2 - Miss Alexia Maelee now the big 2! We had such fun at her GOLDEN birthday!

Halfway around the world, missed and loved!
August 26 - Miss Marian will be 8! (oh Vivi Hope, too, the only March birthday girl)

September 7 - Miss Lilli will be 8 (and she will be the first to say how excited she is for her parties and gifts)!

September 23 - Miss Ava Maelee will be 5 (and what a fun girl!) 

To each of you, we love you much and want you to know you are treasured, adored, and blessed. Don't waste life worrying about what others think, just care what God thinks. Life isn't always easy but it's always beautiful. You are loved dear ladies!

-Auntie H

Noted and True.

On Saturday we were driving together as a family and Eli stated a very true statement: "I think God created Annalee to love shoes."

Yes. yes He did. This girl. If there are shoes around, most likely she's got her feet in them. No matter the size (yes, even Grandpa's size 13/14 slippers she will try waddle in). 

So of course we are having a shoe-themed birthday party for our sweet girl, turning two in seven weeks. Here's a sweet photo from after church yesterday, enjoying my shoes. 

She's on a mission. Or a job interview. 

It's so fun to see her girliness and her fondness for certain things.

-Heather

Digital Short.

I'm just testing to see if I can upload videos on here easily...

-Heather

UPDATE - it worked! But now I'm too tired to find another short video so this is all you get...