My Heart

Picture overload ahead:

Jenny Lynn Photography

Look how these cousins are holding hands.

Obviously I love my grandchildren.

But, you know what else I love?

I love that they are cousins.

I love that they live close enough to each other to grow up together.

I love that long after I am gone they will have each other....

......and the memories they made as children.

They have no idea that their afternoon yesterday was a memory.

But I did.

It Was JUST A Hotdog...................

Every Friday night, as the children grew up, we went to Zack's, a little *hotdog joint* to eat dinner. It was cheap and quick...the two things that are important when you have three hungry little ones. We did this for YEARS. So much so that the employees knew when we walked in what our order was.... and didn't even have to come ask us. As the kids got older, and ballgames, school dances and sleepovers began, the Friday night ritual slowly faded. I haven't really thought about it much in years. 

Fast forward to last night. My daughter sent a family group text that they were eating in a restaurant beside a famous coach. There were lots of responses back and forth between us all. Lots. But the one that sticks out in my mind was this one from my oldest son...who now has a 15 month old son of his own.

"Just said that to K tonight! 

I want Baby B to think about a certain food on Friday nights! 

Ours is pizza. Every Friday night! 

I remember Zack's when I was little like it was yesterday!!"

 So glad I have this picture. This is what it says on the back:

And all this time.

I thought it was just a hot dog.........

BEACH 2011 Part II

I took over 300 pictures on our family beach trip.

Mostly of them:

But we ALL had a great time!

Warning: Family pictures ahead!

Oldest son, DIL, Grandson

Youngest son, DIL, twin BOYS

Daughter, SIL, GrandGirls

Mom, Dad, Niece

Nonny, Poppy and The Littles

All 14 of us spent the week together at Holden Beach, NC.

Memories made.

Happy Times.

God is good to us.

We are thankful.

We are blessed.

The SECURITY of the Kitchen Table

Source: stylemepretty.com via Angela on Pinterest

I saw this picture on Pinterest (yeh, I'm hooked)...

Immediately I thought about the kitchen table...and how everyone had their OWN chair. You didn't dare sit in your brother or sister's seat.....it was YOURS. There is such security in knowing you have a place at the table. There was, at one time, some arguing and some complaining about the food. Hubs put his foot down one night and ordered no more complaining about a food you don't like. No thank you was sufficient. Also, you had to tell one good thing that happened at school if you were going to tell a bad thing.....That way, nightly meals did not turn into a grumble fest! We drilled Bible verses and Spanish words at the table. We made Valentine Cards and learned about where all the states were on the U.S. map (thanks Poppy). We addressed birthday cards there, and thank you notes. Wedding invitations were made and many punch bowls for baby showers have been there. We celebrated birthdays at that table and served lots of Super Bowl food. We read a bible verse out of a little box before meals...and we prayed. We celebrated making baseball and basketball teams and cheerleading squads too.  We served our meals out of bowls (mom said never sit the pots on the table)...and we sat there every night. No television. No phone calls. Nothing but family...and your very own seat. It was one of the few things that was sacred......that you didn't have to EVER share with your sibling.  

Memories were made there. 

Never underestimate the SECURITY of your child's place at the table.

Memories

Hubs, my kids, mom, (and some of the nieces) know what this is:

Found it today while cleaning out the garage. :(

Flash Back to the 80's!!!!!!

Cleaning out my attic.

If you grew up in the 80's

Or, are a mom/nonny of a girl who grew up in the 80's

You know what all of these are.

(The Care Bear was still in the washing machine when I took this picture!)

Does this bring back memories for you?