Family

When my parents are

Out of the Country

and right now, they are really far

Finland, Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Holland, Russia

and I can't call them when I want

which is a lot

I find myself checking each

morning and night

for at least an email

And then I get thinking about

when they aren't just

Out of the Country

but in Heaven

because I know that is where they will go

And then I think about before that

because That is what I am around everyday

The Aging

And I watch WHO takes care of WHO

And HOW they take care of the WHO

I don't have to wonder who will take care of them

My Parents

They will and then We will

I find so much peace in that

Rock On

This is about a year old, but my dear sweet friend Kristie just sent it to me.

Yes, we went to the mall and paid money for a Brett Michael tshirt

And, yes, I took a pair of scissors to mine.

Then we sat in traffic and walked really far for our seats and then snuck down

as close as we could get, and then we sang really loud and

jumped up and down and felt like High School Juniors again.

Then we left at intermission and were home by 10.

Rock

On

24 Hours

I love that my brother Tom can say

the day before

Lets go to the beach!

and I love that we could go with him

I don't think I have ever been to the beach

with my brother

Cannon Beach could not be more perfect

And in classic Tom fashion

We packed more in 24 hours than you usually 

would think is possible

But that is the magic of Tom

And to see his sweet family bond

with Holland

was magic

Tom, Hill, Addy, Elsie Bears, Cohen

We love you

And we will go to the beach for any

24 hours you have

Uncu Tom

Holland thinks she lives on a cloud

When am I going to break it to her that eventually

there will indeed be a month that cousins aren't here to play?

Uncu Tom and Auntie Hillary and

Elsie Bear and Addy Girl and Cohen Babes

are here visiting.

These pictures all happened in the span of 2 hours.

Yes, one, two.

We hunted for 451 pounds of clam shells, moon snails,

sand dollars, crabs, and star fish,

Played croquet, soccer, baseball,

cleaned those shells, ate dinner and chatted in the kitchen.

Because when Tom is around, time stops

and you somehow pack more than you can imagine in to an average day.

And yesterday, while I went to work,

Holland played Hookie with her Uncle.

They went on a bike ride, to the zoo,

to the wharf to watch the jelly fish and sea lions,

had clam chowder, went for another bike ride and

played at the park, then a little hide and seek, Charlie and Lola,

stories with voices included, and finally lights out!

As I said,

Holland is living on a cloud.

Happy children are a good thing.

And I love all these little cousins around.

Not to mention the fact that they bring their parents.

That is my cloud.

Love and Boston in the Spring

Oh how....

Wait.

First I have to admit, all the photos on this post and the next and the next and the next

were all stolen

from my amazing sister Jennifer Anderson

and from my amazing Mom, Joyce

I, was too busy assuring that my winter chub was well covered and

why bother taking pictures when they are around with their mad skills?

Oh how I love Boston.

I love Boston with my Mom and my Dad

I love Boston with my Sisters, their sweet Husbands, their cheeky kids

I love that I spent and entire day in the Public Garden with the first two, and of course the Little Miss

I love that we laid on a blanket, built a nest, fed the swans, played in the willow trees all with bag pipes in the background.

I love that Benny and her flock arrived just in time to climb on the Geese and the goslings

and to walk through the paths with us while the sun set

I love that my sweet Brother in Laws made sure I celebrated Mother's Day

at FENWAY none the less!

And brought me take out from my now most favorite place in Harvard Square, Veggie Planet.

I love that Holland played and played with her cousins and how special they made her feel.

I love that we walked the Freedom Trail and ate baked beans, Boston style.

I love that the Lakes busted a move with me at the Granary while we looked for Jaden, again.

I love that really it didn't matter that we were in Boston.

Just that we were all together.

Road Trip

We love having 2 aunties within driving distance

For one, we love these little cousins

For two, it means we get to see Papa and Gramma Joyce

Thrice the times if it were just us

And Moses Lake is the best place to take a little road trip

For one, there is nothing to do there (hee hee hee)

For two, Heather and Ryan are dream hosts

Letting us lay around and chat and nap and eat and play

For thrice, we have every reason to do what we love to do with

Papa and Gramma Joyce

Nothing

just be

On a last note,

How is it possible that two people have the ability

to make 7 children

and 18 grandchildren

feel like they are

number one?

By doing 

Nothing

By just being

Sundays

This is where we spend our Sundays

1960s Beach Cottage on the Bay

Here in the beautiful place we live

By the Harbor

We play with the twin dogs

We throw clam shells back where they came from

We fly our kite

We pick seed pods and wonder what kind of flower they will become

And we roast s'mores by candlelight

When the rains come

Because it is a given