Fortunate

We just got back from a few days up in Tahoe with my Parents and my Grandma. On the car ride back down the hill I started thinking about how fortunate I am to have spent that time with my family, how fortunate I am to have spent that time with my Grandma. How fortunate I am that Aiden got to spend that time with her. I know not everyone has that opportunity. I wanted to tell her, but I have such a hard time expressing my feelings out loud and I didn't want to get all sappy.

I wanted to tell her how happy I am to spend time with her - anytime, how happy I was watching her play with Aiden, listening to her hum him to sleep on the car ride up (and down), listening to her sing "twinkle twinkle little star" to Aiden and listening to him sing it right back to her with a huge smile on his face. How happy it made me hearing his little voice say "Hi Great Mama!" in the morning.

I wanted to tell her what a wonderful Grandma she was when we were little, and still is now that we are all grown up. I wanted to tell her what a wonderful Great-Mama she is to her little pack of Great Grandsons. She brings little toys for Aiden and Sara's boys every time she visits. More importantly, she gives genuine hugs, kisses and smiles to them. She loves her great Grand-kids with the same open heart and happy soul that she loves her grandchildren, and her children, too.

I want her to know all these things. I want her to know what an impact she has had on my life, on so many lives. And not just because she let us have ice cream for breakfast. But because she is kind and loving. She is silly and fun to be around. She is funny and appreciates a good sense of humor. She doesn't care if you cuss or have a few drinks and act goofy (she is likely to join in). She doesn't dwell on the bad things, she focuses on all the good things. She accepts her family just as they are. She doesn't judge and she assumes the best in people. SHE BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE. She is the kind of person I want to be.

I can go on and on about all the great things she can cook, how family members give up all diets at her house and beg her to cook them her famous chicken and noodles. About how every great family memory includes her kitchen. But the truth is, every great family memory includes HER - her great cooking is just a bonus. 

I want her to know how fortunate I feel to have her in my life. I am the fortunate recipient of her fabulous recipes and I am an even more fortunate recipient of a lifetime of happy memories that all include her. I am fortunate that she passed down her great parenting and grand-parenting skills to my mother, and hopefully to me. I am fortunate to have spent all the time with her that I have and I am fortunate that she is who she is.

I love you Grandma Marlys. Thank you for being who you are, thank you for being my Grandma!

P.S. When can you make me some chicken and noodles??? Just kidding, why don't you come over and I will make YOU some chicken and noodles ;)

Another Summer Essential

I know summer is coming to a close, but there is always time for ICE CREAM! It's definitely an outdoor activity at our house....I think you will see why.

Aiden loves his chocolate ice cream. After he is done, he gets immediately put into the bathtub and Jeremy immediately hoses off the back patio. I immeadiatly put stain stick on my clothes, his clothes, the dog (kidding). Oh Yes, even Sophie got in on it. And oh yes, she did get sick after licking up the drips. There were a lot of drips. 

I love that he loves it, it's a good, fun, messy way to get that kid some much needed spoon practice and much needed calories! What will we do in the winter?!?!?

A Reminder

I can't believe it's labor day weekend already. Summer seems to have flown by. There are certain quintessential summer activities that you do as a kid - barbeques, swimming all day, ice cream, and thanks to Aiden, I was reminded of another very important summer activity - running in the sprinklers.

Funny how kids just know that certain things are fun. Jeremy was doing yard work the other day and turned on the sprinklers for a bit. As soon as Aiden saw the water he took off running toward it. He had a great time running back and forth in the sprinkles.

Pretty soon, we all joined in. Because sometimes it takes a kid remind us how fun the things are that you "grow out of" when you become an adult. And they remind us of all the crazy, soaking wet, spontaneous, dirt filled, fun things we did as kids. I hope Aiden never forgets them.

  I can't even tell you how much I love this kid.

30 days of Instagram

Who has Instagram on their phone? It's a free app. It has fun photo filters. It has a news feed so you can share your photos with your Instagram buddies if you'd like. I have been having fun with it. For the past 30 days I have been using it as my "picture a day app", in my quest to get 365 photos - one of everyday of the year. I think the only reason why I am succeeding in taking a photo a day is because this little app is easy to use and I always have my phone with me. It also lets me write in a little caption for each photo to capture the day.

If you don't have Instagram, you should get it. If you do have it, you can follow me (hollymn) on my silly little quest or you can just wait for each month's pics to show up on the blog :)

So, it's not super exciting, but here it is, 30 days of my life in Instagram:

 He loves me phone, could watch himself for hours.

 My view from the office today...on my way home from SF to hopefully be able to spend a little time with the hubby since it is our 13th anniversary today :)

 11am nature walk at work. I remember talking walks in this business park with my grandma, grandpa and their dog Sidel when I was little.

 Anniversary roses from Jeremy, so pretty!

 My goal today is to play with Aiden all day. We build this doggy out of blocks and he gave it kisses :)

 On the way back from the park...too hot! He was happy to be in the A/C :)

 Getaway to San Francisco to celebrate our anniversary and hit a giants game!

 Told ya they would win!

No. I will not go to bed.

 It's summer, it's summertime! Playing in the grass and eating ice cream :)

 BLT with sweet potato fries...been craving this big time!

 Been carrying around these two trucks all day. And I do mean all day :)

 Crusin' Placerville on a Friday night with Aiden. 

 Sophie, the other woman in the house.

 Watching daddy mow the lawn, anytime Aiden sees wheels he says "wee"!

 Last softball game of the season...

 Night Night.

 About sums up my day, building towers, watching some gabba and reading with Aiden.

 Still asleep from the anesthesia - had a scope of his tummy done, he looks peaceful :)

 Playing in pasta and wearing hospital winnie the pooh slippers.

 Naptime. Sweet naptime.

My lunchtime visitor today at work!

 I love these plants. I abuse them by not watering for weeks. They seem to love it!

 I like fish. I like fish. Why does Aiden want to eat fishfood?

 Typical. Aiden eating only cookies and Sophie waiting for something to drop.

 Best burger I've ever made. Seriously.

 Playing in the hot summer sun!

Just like daddy.

Today's farmers market goodies! Heirloom tomatoes, squash, carrots, peaches, pears, salad greens, wild blackberries, lemon cucumbers, corn and fresh eggs!

 Life as we know it.