Memorial Day 2010

“There are stars who's light only reaches the earth long after they have fallen apart. There are people who's remembrance gives light in this world, long after they have passed away. This light shines in our darkest nights on the road we must follow.” -The Talmud


The lil' dude visiting the final resting place of her great-grandparents, for whom she is named, for the very first time.

Girl's Best Friend

Meet the Beagle.

Or, his furry doppelganger, that is. He is girl's best friend.
This stuffed pal was gifted to the lil' dude at her first Christmas- when she was a few weeks old. Her Grandma S. found him someplace, and knew she'd need a Beagle of her own. He's since sat in her basket of stuffed loveys waiting for his day.
And his day has finally come.


It should come as no surprise the force of affection this guy has bestowed on him by the girl whose room he resides in. It should come at absolutely no surprise because in real life, the Beagle takes up the most room in her heart. It's only natural his mascot would do the same. These two are fast friends. Naturally inseparable.


He's been to Target and the library and to Starbucks and the park. His white belly is full of grimy-love, as he spends his Sundays in the wagon in the yard. He has a leash tied to his neck for walks, fashioned out of a butterfly ribbon. The poor guy- he goes on lots of walks. He's been stowed in hot vehicles all day long. He likes shopping carts and handbags.
He belongs only to her.

And last night, as per usual at tucking-in time, I asked the lil' dude what or who she needed in bed. She was too tired for much thought or selection process- she had NaNa and the usual suspects, Monkey and Gloworm. We said our goodnights.

But as I peeked in on her for a final tuck hours later, there in her bed hugged close to her chest was her stuffed dog.
Rescued from who knows where.
And found in the dark.
To back where he belongs.

Wordless Wednesday

Grow

You squatted close to the dirt, your hair in your eyes, your toes covered with soil.
And I was too enamored to get my camera.
But, I promise you, the images of you helping plant the garden yesterday are forever ingrained into my soulful of memories.

I knew if I made the move to sprint for the camera, I'd lose the image anyhow.
Not lose-lose it, but you know.
It was definitely one of my most fun days of being a Mom yet.
How you asked to help, me pouring the contents of each seed packet into your tiny, sweaty palms for distribution, and as you filled each row appropriately, said, "that's enough", declaring it done.

You tried to eat a pea seed.
And called the summer squash bananas.
And spilled some carrots seeds into the cucumber row.

And you know what?
This year's harvest is going to be the best ever.
Simply because of how it came to be.
You're so big and so capable.
Yesterday took the sting out of you growing up on me.

Thanks for the help, bud.
I couldn't have done it without you.

That Only a Mother Could Love

I'm sure this topic will resonate with parents everywhere: the unfortunate task of making children come in at the end of long day spent outdoors. Oh, the drama! Last night I heard your wartime cry begin from the garage ... as I stood at the stove in the kitchen, preparing dinner. It was 6:45pm; you had been outside at home for over two hours. You were ... a hot mess.

I'll let the pictures do the talking.
I love you, by the way.

Wordless Wednesday

Cereal

My mom has said my first meal of the day as a child was lunch as I slept straight through breakfast.
The same went for my brother- we just loved to sleep.
But, not wanting to miss out on the most important meal of the day that is breakfast, we had cereal as a bedtime snack. Something had to fuel our dreams.

My bedtime snack, at two-and-a-half, in Grandma Pancake's kitchen, 1982.

And while I think most everything the lil' dude does, says, thinks, acts, looks screams her Daddy, there are some instances where she proves she is her mother's daughter.

Her bedtime snack, at two-and-half, in our kitchen last night.

Something has to fuel her dreams.