I have created a new blog now that Holden is here.
www.crazyinthecleave.blogspot.com
I will not be posting here any more.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Reviving the blog...
I have not posted anything on here in a really long time. Life has just been hectic, but after a lot of “I sure miss the blog entries” and realizing I have not been capturing “those moments” for posterity, I have decided to try to get it going again.
I’m going to attempt to go back and highlight some of the major events since December. Specifically our trip to Disney, losing my Nana, finding a new home for our sweet Bama, Mae’s first dance recital, Holden's birth... So much has happened so far in 2009! I have a lot of catching up to do.
Now that we are blessed with two children, I feel like I need to rename the website. I’m not just maisonsmommy anymore and I know I don’t have the time or energy to keep up a blog for her and one for Holden. If anyone can think of a catchy title, please let me know.
I’m going to attempt to go back and highlight some of the major events since December. Specifically our trip to Disney, losing my Nana, finding a new home for our sweet Bama, Mae’s first dance recital, Holden's birth... So much has happened so far in 2009! I have a lot of catching up to do.
Now that we are blessed with two children, I feel like I need to rename the website. I’m not just maisonsmommy anymore and I know I don’t have the time or energy to keep up a blog for her and one for Holden. If anyone can think of a catchy title, please let me know.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Farewell
A few weeks ago, I got one of those e-mails where you are supposed to go through the list and put a check mark by all the things you have done. Skydive, been to Paris, eaten escargot. Give a eulogy... Today, I added another check mark to my list. I am posting the words I spoke here so that Maison and Holden will one day be able to go back and read about what Nana meant to all of us.
“Before I get started I’d like to thank each and every one of you for being here today. My grandmother was one of a kind and I know she touched each of your lives in a very special way.
I’d especially like to recognize our relatives, Martha and Suzie, from Chicago. Since none of the other nieces were able to make it, I can go ahead and tell you that you two were her favorite... just don’t tell the others, OK? Grandma was the last of the 6 DiMartino children and I know she is up there with Joe, Nick, John, Tony and Aunt Carm looking down and smiling that all of us cousins are together today.
I hope you will all bear with me through this as standing up here today is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. My family has always joked with me about being overly emotional and I am going to try my best to prove them wrong today!
There is so much that can be said about this feisty little Italian lady. She was full of fun, spunk and spirit. She told it like it was. Except for my cousins John and Mark, I think all of us at some point heard her say “Hey. You’re getting a little tubby!” And then she put another meatball on our plate. She used to crawl in the floor and play with us when we were kids. She spoiled us all rotten and she never missed a beat in any of our lives.
Grandma loved her God and her church with all her heart. I remember after she recovered from her heart surgery 14 years ago, she started going to Mass every morning. 7 days a week. I questioned her about it and her response was “God gave me another chance at life and I think I owe him to go to Mass every day”. Her faith could move mountains.
She dedicated her life to the people she loved. Her family was her top priority. When I look back at the significant events in my life, Grandma and my Grandpa appear in every photograph in my memory. All 7 of us grandchildren played little league baseball or softball. And I think I can speak for all of them when I say that looking back over those memories of the ball park, one of my favorite recollections is seeing Nana sitting there in her lawn chair cheering us on... and every once in a while giving the umpire a piece of her mind! She and Grandpa never missed a moment with any of us. From the trips to three different houses every Christmas morning to the first communions, confirmations, graduations, weddings and births of great grandchildren, they were both always there. I have said for many years that my cousins, sister and I are all truly blessed to have been able to share our entire childhood and a good portion of our adult lives with both of our grandparents.
Nana taught me a lot about being a great mother. I have a feeling that Liz, Jim and my mom will tell you that she meant business and never let her kids run all over her, but that they all respected her as adults because of it. She would love you and love you and love you, but she’d set you straight too. As an adult I have admired the respect, love and dedication I have seen Jim, Liz and mom give to Grandma. But I know she earned it many years ago.
My grandparents were married 67 years ago this April. Wow. That is amazing to me. My Grandpa worked so hard to build a great life for this family and my grandmother stood beside him every step of the way. I remember being 16 years old at their 50th wedding anniversary party and watching them dance together. I always dreamed that my marriage would turn out to be at least half of what theirs has been. Together, they experienced so much. War... Hardships of starting a new business and building a family, wonderful times of great success and achieving their goals in life, moments of pride in their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, heartache during times of loss, lasting friendships that have crossed generations of our family with generations of other families. It has been quite a full 67 years that should be a model to us all. And I promise you, Monsignor Rohling, that this is one love story that will be told.
In our family, Grandpa is the rock. He is the patriarch that has provided for all of us over the years. But, Grandma, she was the glue. She kept us all together. She made sure everyone always knew what was going on with the others and on holidays, birthdays and just random Sundays, she broke out that spaghetti sauce pot, whipped up a feast and made sure we all showed up. There were times during my teenage years that I will admit I thought I had better things to do, but what I’d give now for just one more of her Sunday lunches...
I know that my children will know exactly who my grandmother was because I will teach them all the things she taught me. I learned so much from her... how to make pasta and that you should never turn down dessert. She taught me that the Chicago Cubs are the only team in baseball worth cheering for and that Parisian was the only place to shop. Playing in her closet, I learned how to walk in high heels. She showed me that you love your children unconditionally, but you get on to them when they need it... same goes for your husband! But most importantly, she taught me that you should go to church and love your God and your family. Without that, all the other stuff does not mean much.
I know we are all hurting today... so saddened by the thought of not being able to pick up the phone and call her or stop by her house for a visit, but I am also so happy for her. Because I know that she is not suffering any more. I know that all the ways that her body failed her have been healed and I know that she is so very happy to be reunited with her parents and her siblings. And I take great comfort in that... all because over the years I have witnessed that faith I mentioned earlier... faith that could move mountains. Today she is reaping the benefits of every rosary she ever prayed.
So, thank you Nana, thank you for loving us all and for being the glue. We know you are not gone because there is a little piece of you in every member of this family. You have just gone ahead of the rest... I’d like to think to get heaven situated to your standards before we all get there! Mom and Michelle always tell me I am going to be just like you... I sure hope they are right. Rest well. We will miss you so much, but we love you even more.”
“Before I get started I’d like to thank each and every one of you for being here today. My grandmother was one of a kind and I know she touched each of your lives in a very special way.
I’d especially like to recognize our relatives, Martha and Suzie, from Chicago. Since none of the other nieces were able to make it, I can go ahead and tell you that you two were her favorite... just don’t tell the others, OK? Grandma was the last of the 6 DiMartino children and I know she is up there with Joe, Nick, John, Tony and Aunt Carm looking down and smiling that all of us cousins are together today.
I hope you will all bear with me through this as standing up here today is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. My family has always joked with me about being overly emotional and I am going to try my best to prove them wrong today!
There is so much that can be said about this feisty little Italian lady. She was full of fun, spunk and spirit. She told it like it was. Except for my cousins John and Mark, I think all of us at some point heard her say “Hey. You’re getting a little tubby!” And then she put another meatball on our plate. She used to crawl in the floor and play with us when we were kids. She spoiled us all rotten and she never missed a beat in any of our lives.
Grandma loved her God and her church with all her heart. I remember after she recovered from her heart surgery 14 years ago, she started going to Mass every morning. 7 days a week. I questioned her about it and her response was “God gave me another chance at life and I think I owe him to go to Mass every day”. Her faith could move mountains.
She dedicated her life to the people she loved. Her family was her top priority. When I look back at the significant events in my life, Grandma and my Grandpa appear in every photograph in my memory. All 7 of us grandchildren played little league baseball or softball. And I think I can speak for all of them when I say that looking back over those memories of the ball park, one of my favorite recollections is seeing Nana sitting there in her lawn chair cheering us on... and every once in a while giving the umpire a piece of her mind! She and Grandpa never missed a moment with any of us. From the trips to three different houses every Christmas morning to the first communions, confirmations, graduations, weddings and births of great grandchildren, they were both always there. I have said for many years that my cousins, sister and I are all truly blessed to have been able to share our entire childhood and a good portion of our adult lives with both of our grandparents.
Nana taught me a lot about being a great mother. I have a feeling that Liz, Jim and my mom will tell you that she meant business and never let her kids run all over her, but that they all respected her as adults because of it. She would love you and love you and love you, but she’d set you straight too. As an adult I have admired the respect, love and dedication I have seen Jim, Liz and mom give to Grandma. But I know she earned it many years ago.
My grandparents were married 67 years ago this April. Wow. That is amazing to me. My Grandpa worked so hard to build a great life for this family and my grandmother stood beside him every step of the way. I remember being 16 years old at their 50th wedding anniversary party and watching them dance together. I always dreamed that my marriage would turn out to be at least half of what theirs has been. Together, they experienced so much. War... Hardships of starting a new business and building a family, wonderful times of great success and achieving their goals in life, moments of pride in their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, heartache during times of loss, lasting friendships that have crossed generations of our family with generations of other families. It has been quite a full 67 years that should be a model to us all. And I promise you, Monsignor Rohling, that this is one love story that will be told.
In our family, Grandpa is the rock. He is the patriarch that has provided for all of us over the years. But, Grandma, she was the glue. She kept us all together. She made sure everyone always knew what was going on with the others and on holidays, birthdays and just random Sundays, she broke out that spaghetti sauce pot, whipped up a feast and made sure we all showed up. There were times during my teenage years that I will admit I thought I had better things to do, but what I’d give now for just one more of her Sunday lunches...
I know that my children will know exactly who my grandmother was because I will teach them all the things she taught me. I learned so much from her... how to make pasta and that you should never turn down dessert. She taught me that the Chicago Cubs are the only team in baseball worth cheering for and that Parisian was the only place to shop. Playing in her closet, I learned how to walk in high heels. She showed me that you love your children unconditionally, but you get on to them when they need it... same goes for your husband! But most importantly, she taught me that you should go to church and love your God and your family. Without that, all the other stuff does not mean much.
I know we are all hurting today... so saddened by the thought of not being able to pick up the phone and call her or stop by her house for a visit, but I am also so happy for her. Because I know that she is not suffering any more. I know that all the ways that her body failed her have been healed and I know that she is so very happy to be reunited with her parents and her siblings. And I take great comfort in that... all because over the years I have witnessed that faith I mentioned earlier... faith that could move mountains. Today she is reaping the benefits of every rosary she ever prayed.
So, thank you Nana, thank you for loving us all and for being the glue. We know you are not gone because there is a little piece of you in every member of this family. You have just gone ahead of the rest... I’d like to think to get heaven situated to your standards before we all get there! Mom and Michelle always tell me I am going to be just like you... I sure hope they are right. Rest well. We will miss you so much, but we love you even more.”
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
A day I have feared for so long...
Today, a little piece of me died. On the way to take Maison to daycare, Mom called to tell me that my precious Nana is gone. I knew it was coming. I even knew it was soon. Mom and I talked about it. When they started pre-planning her funeral, I even told her that I wanted to be the one to speak at the funeral. As soon as the phone rang that early in the morning, I knew why. I thought I had prepared myself for this. The last time we were in Birmingham, I had said my peace with her. Made sure I looked her in the eye and told her I loved her. After each visit over the last few months, I knew that each time I drove away would quite possibly be the last time I saw her alive. But those words... “Melissa, she’s gone”... like a ton of bricks they hit me, sucking the air out of my lungs. I tried my best to hold it together until I got Maison into the daycare. Thank God for Denise and Paula. They saw the look on my face, scooped her up and got her in the classroom.
I got back in the car and couldn’t breathe. I was gasping for breath when I called Trey. Then my motherly instincts took over and forced myself to calm down. Holden needs me to stay calm through this. How am I going to make Maison understand this? And for that matter, how am I going to make myself understand? She was supposed to live forever...
I got back in the car and couldn’t breathe. I was gasping for breath when I called Trey. Then my motherly instincts took over and forced myself to calm down. Holden needs me to stay calm through this. How am I going to make Maison understand this? And for that matter, how am I going to make myself understand? She was supposed to live forever...
Friday, December 12, 2008
It's a...
BOY!!!! The Clampett's invaded the ultrasound room today and found out that our precious little bundle is a he! It was really quite amusing. I think it was the first time in my life that I have had an entourage. Literally. Mom, Dad, Mom, Sissy, Joe, Aunt Patsy & Uncle Dave. Plus me, Trey & the Ultrasound tech all crammed in that tiny room staring at that tiny screen to see that tiny you know what. (I'll probably get scolded by Daddy for calling it tiny!)
I think I had the best vantage point in the whole room. To lay on that table surrounded by the people in this world that I love the most and watching the sheer joy, excitement and emotion on all their faces was awesome.
After the ultrasound, Dr. Sams came into the exam room and asked if I was "the one with 26 people"... It sure is great to be that loved, huh?
I think I had the best vantage point in the whole room. To lay on that table surrounded by the people in this world that I love the most and watching the sheer joy, excitement and emotion on all their faces was awesome.
After the ultrasound, Dr. Sams came into the exam room and asked if I was "the one with 26 people"... It sure is great to be that loved, huh?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Creating a Monster
Alabama Football has been awesome this year. Our Crimson Tide is 11-0 going into the off week before the Iron Bowl.
Over the course of the season, Daddy has taught our daughter what it means to truly love the Tide and to eat, sleep and breathe it for 4 months of the year.
She knows that Coach Saban is the coach. She can even pick him out on Sports Center. Ask her who her favorite player is and you will hear "Julio! Number 8!" She can even point him out on the TV screen. Big Al is her best friend. And just last week she finally understood that you don't just say "Roll Tide" during kick-off... It is "RRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL!"
I have visions of that little girl in the movie "Remember the Titans". She is going to be 8 years old calling penalties and questioning play calls.
Now, if we can just teach her the "Rammer Jammer" song, I think our season will be considered a huge success!
Over the course of the season, Daddy has taught our daughter what it means to truly love the Tide and to eat, sleep and breathe it for 4 months of the year.
She knows that Coach Saban is the coach. She can even pick him out on Sports Center. Ask her who her favorite player is and you will hear "Julio! Number 8!" She can even point him out on the TV screen. Big Al is her best friend. And just last week she finally understood that you don't just say "Roll Tide" during kick-off... It is "RRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL!"
I have visions of that little girl in the movie "Remember the Titans". She is going to be 8 years old calling penalties and questioning play calls.
Now, if we can just teach her the "Rammer Jammer" song, I think our season will be considered a huge success!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Text from the Teacher
Text from Miss Paula to Mommy: U should be very proud of MAE... We were sayin our morning prayers and today I asked them each to tell God thanks for something he has given them... After all the other kids went and thanked Him for toys and baby dolls... She looked at me and said... Thank you God for my mommy and daddy... AMEN! I was so happy to hear that.
Text from Mommy to Miss Paula: I am crying.
Text from Miss Paula to Mommy: I was about to... I’m glad a kid sees there is more than material things to be thankful for
Text from Mommy to Miss Paula: She is a good baby.
Text from Miss Paula to Mommy: She really is... Ya’ll are so blessed!
Text from Mommy to Miss Paula: I am crying.
Text from Miss Paula to Mommy: I was about to... I’m glad a kid sees there is more than material things to be thankful for
Text from Mommy to Miss Paula: She is a good baby.
Text from Miss Paula to Mommy: She really is... Ya’ll are so blessed!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Text from the Teacher
So today I forgot to turn my phone off before work and my sister called.... her ring tone is all summer long by kid rock.... Mae heard it and started freakin out! She was screamin... its my Alabama song... its my Alabama song... She was jumpin and screamin she was so excited I had to let her hear the whole ring tone...
Text from the Teacher
I’m playin Halloween songs for them to dance to and I start hearin this noise that sounds like wind blowin through the door... I get up and shut it to make sure it completely closed but I still hear the noise I look over at mae and she is smiling real big suckin and blowin air out of her toothe hole while chasing Maison k around the room... I would have never thought she could make such a noise... lol
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Little Daddy
Last night after bath time, I planned to relax on the couch, maybe even cuddle with Maison until bed time. She had different plans. She wanted to fix my hair...
Maison: Mommy I fix you hair.
Mommy: OK. (Laid my head on the sofa arm because I was so tired!)
Maison: Not like that, Mommy! Like this! (as she jerks my head up off the sofa arm)
Daddy: Yea, Mommy! Not like that!
Repeat this 4 or 5 more times. Daddy finally intervenes sensing that Mommy's nausea medicine induced grogginess is keeping it from being physically possible to keep my head off the sofa arm...
Daddy: Maison, why don't you come fix my hair?
Maison: Daddy, you don't have a lot of hair like my mommy! (I mean, duh?)
Daddy: I don't?
Maison: No, but when you get bigger and bigger, you will. You're little. (Goes back to torturing Mommy's head)
I appreciated the effort, honey. When you get big like me, maybe you will get some more hair!
Maison: Mommy I fix you hair.
Mommy: OK. (Laid my head on the sofa arm because I was so tired!)
Maison: Not like that, Mommy! Like this! (as she jerks my head up off the sofa arm)
Daddy: Yea, Mommy! Not like that!
Repeat this 4 or 5 more times. Daddy finally intervenes sensing that Mommy's nausea medicine induced grogginess is keeping it from being physically possible to keep my head off the sofa arm...
Daddy: Maison, why don't you come fix my hair?
Maison: Daddy, you don't have a lot of hair like my mommy! (I mean, duh?)
Daddy: I don't?
Maison: No, but when you get bigger and bigger, you will. You're little. (Goes back to torturing Mommy's head)
I appreciated the effort, honey. When you get big like me, maybe you will get some more hair!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Guess what?
Maison Ann is going to be a BIG SISTER!!!!!!!!!!! Trey and I went to the doctor today and saw the baby's heartbeat. Doc Sams says everything looks great. The official due date for our new bundle of joy is June 5, 2009. Seems so far away, but I remember time flying when I was pregnant with Maison.
This pregnancy has been extremely different than the last. I have been sick, sick, sick... Everyone seems to think it is a stinky ol' boy this time.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Text from the Teacher
"So we are sittin talkin about Adam and Eve... Goin through the whole story of God tellin them not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge... After we finish our mini lesson i asked the class what did we learn from this story... Maison ann in the most serious voice i ever heard from her says... We don't eat apples. And I just ate one for a snack.... I laughed so hard at her... So now I had to explain that it is ok to eat apples... lol"
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Snaggle-Toothed Princess
Back in late June, maybe early July, Maison fell off our bed and whacked her front teeth on the corner of the nightstand. As I picked her up, I saw a perfect imprint of her 4 front teeth in the brand spankin' new furniture. When I got her calmed down enough to inspect her little mouth, her front tooth had a chip in it. Ugh... I was devastated. Took her to Dr. Jason and after x-rays, he told me what to watch for and pretty much said time would tell us the fate of the tooth.
As we were getting ready to leave the beach house yesterday, something about Maison's smile looked odd to me. I pushed her little lip up and touched the chipped tooth. It wiggled. I knew then that she was going to have to lose it. I called Dr. Jason after we got home and we went in this morning to see what was up. Another x-ray showed that the trauma from the previous fall had killed the roots, severed the blood supply and caused the tooth to separate from the root. It did, in fact have to come out. So, my poor little angel, had to put on the gas mask (which I could not see any calming affects whatsoever), get a shot in her tee tiny little gums and have that tooth snatched out of her head. And my job through all of this... hold her down while Dr. Jason used those big scary pliers to yank the tooth out. I remember crying the first time I got a shot at the dentist. I think I was 19 years old. So as my two year old lay on the table with the big shiny light in her face and the mask that blocked her from seeing the person in this world she trusts the most, I held her little arms and laid across her legs listening to her scream and cried right along with her. Maybe it was a good thing she could not see my face because I could not control the tears that were running down it. She quit crying about 36 seconds after it was over. All it took was a trip to Dr. Jason's prize box and she completely forgot what just happened. Mommy, though, cried for the next hour. The phone calls to Daddy, Bella, BeBe, my office and the daycare only prolonged the tears.
I might be a little biased, but even though she lost a tooth (and will not see a permanent one until about age 6), I think she gained some cutie patootie points...
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
2nd Annual Family Beach Trip
September 5-10, 2008
Seagrove Beach, Florida
Mel, Trey, Maison, BeBe, Poppa J, Bella, Wiz, Andrea, Allie, Bubbie, Auntie Rach, Sissy, Joe Joe, Scott, Andy, Unk and Aunt Passy all headed to the beach for the 2nd Annual Family Beach trip. Good times, great weather, an awesome house... Can't wait until next year!
Maison and Allie building sandcastles... actually, Allie is building and Maison is supervising... someone does not like to get their hands dirty!
When Andrea and I were little, there was this doll called a "My Buddy" and the commercial had this song... "My Buddy, My Buddy, My Buddy and me like to climb up a tree, My Buddy and me we're the best friends there could be!" This pictures reminds me of that...
Cutie patootie strawberry swimsuit from Aunt Patsy...
Two Toddlers + One Beach House + Sharing toys for 5 days = Lots of time with noses in corners
Monday, August 18, 2008
The Things Kids Say
Over the weekend:
Sunday lunch at Sassy's with Maw Maw, BeBe, Uncle Doug, Aunt Linda, Griffin, Mommy & Daddy.
Maw Maw: "Maison, would you like some of my baked beans?"
Maison: "Yaa-ya" (Yea has two syllables in Maisonese)
Maw Maw dips her out some beans onto a little plate and passes them over to Maison.
Maison: "Thanks, Maw Maw. Dat is so sweet."
I almost spit my tea across the table. And Maw Maw laughed so hard I was afraid she would fall out of her chair. Every time Maison shares anything, I tell her that is so sweet. I guess sometimes she is listening to me.
Sunday afternoon I was in the flowerbeds pulling weeds. Maison decided she was hungry and wanted a biscuit, so Daddy took her in to cook them. After supervising him putting them in the oven, she came back out side with me and very matter of factly started the following conversation:
Maison: "I gonna have sauce on my biscuit."
Mommy: "Butter?"
Maison: "No, Mommy! Sauce!" (stated in a tone that actually made me feel unintelligent)
Mommy: "Jelly?"
Maison: (lets out a an exasperated sigh) "No, Mommy! Panny-cake sauce on my biscuit!!!!"
Mommy stifling laughter: "That is called syrup baby!"
After a ride in the pasture to check on the cows Maison comes running back in the house.
Maison: "A cow is a gwirl, bull's a boy!"
Daddy stands behind her beaming with pride. Paw Paw is smiling down from heaven. All is right in Vancleave today.
Sunday lunch at Sassy's with Maw Maw, BeBe, Uncle Doug, Aunt Linda, Griffin, Mommy & Daddy.
Maw Maw: "Maison, would you like some of my baked beans?"
Maison: "Yaa-ya" (Yea has two syllables in Maisonese)
Maw Maw dips her out some beans onto a little plate and passes them over to Maison.
Maison: "Thanks, Maw Maw. Dat is so sweet."
I almost spit my tea across the table. And Maw Maw laughed so hard I was afraid she would fall out of her chair. Every time Maison shares anything, I tell her that is so sweet. I guess sometimes she is listening to me.
Sunday afternoon I was in the flowerbeds pulling weeds. Maison decided she was hungry and wanted a biscuit, so Daddy took her in to cook them. After supervising him putting them in the oven, she came back out side with me and very matter of factly started the following conversation:
Maison: "I gonna have sauce on my biscuit."
Mommy: "Butter?"
Maison: "No, Mommy! Sauce!" (stated in a tone that actually made me feel unintelligent)
Mommy: "Jelly?"
Maison: (lets out a an exasperated sigh) "No, Mommy! Panny-cake sauce on my biscuit!!!!"
Mommy stifling laughter: "That is called syrup baby!"
After a ride in the pasture to check on the cows Maison comes running back in the house.
Maison: "A cow is a gwirl, bull's a boy!"
Daddy stands behind her beaming with pride. Paw Paw is smiling down from heaven. All is right in Vancleave today.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Happy Birthday, Joe Joe!
Today is Uncle Joey's birthday. 29 years ago, this world became a much more "special" place...
Happy Birthday, Joe Joe! We love you!
Happy Birthday, Joe Joe! We love you!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Sweet Home Alabama Day 2
My grandparents have had the same kitchen table for over 40 years. It is a pretty large oval shaped table that has a pedestal base. There is a platform on the pedestal that, according to my grandmother, became a play place for children starting with my oldest cousin, David. The 6 of us that followed him sat under this table eating snacks, hiding, giggling with each other. My cousin closest in age is Andrea. I have memories of sitting under the table with her as a child. Andrea has a daughter named Allie that is about 3 and a half months older than Maison. Let's just say that the next generation of our family has discovered the kitchen table and all the fun involved in crawling under it.
Maison was all about Paw Paw on this trip. She did not want to be anywhere but upstairs with him. She helped him read the paper and showed him every little trick she could think of to get his attention all weekend. That was one happy little old man!
When it came time to get in the car to leave, Maison threw a fit. She cried and screamed that she did not want to go home. "I stay in Bir-min-ham with Nana PawPaw!" Next thing I knew, I had a crying toddler and a crying 88 year old lady on my hands. I sure felt like the bad guy strapping her in that car seat and pulling out of the driveway.
We got to have a quick lunch with Chuck, Kari, Lucy and Charley before leaving town. It warms my heart to see my child loving the children of someone I love beyond words.
Maison was all about Paw Paw on this trip. She did not want to be anywhere but upstairs with him. She helped him read the paper and showed him every little trick she could think of to get his attention all weekend. That was one happy little old man!
When it came time to get in the car to leave, Maison threw a fit. She cried and screamed that she did not want to go home. "I stay in Bir-min-ham with Nana PawPaw!" Next thing I knew, I had a crying toddler and a crying 88 year old lady on my hands. I sure felt like the bad guy strapping her in that car seat and pulling out of the driveway.
We got to have a quick lunch with Chuck, Kari, Lucy and Charley before leaving town. It warms my heart to see my child loving the children of someone I love beyond words.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Sweet Home Alabama Day 1
Maison and I traveled to the Ham this weekend since Daddy is in the Big Easy for a bachelor party. I was a little nervous about the trip because this was the first one with a fully potty trained toddler. Plus, it was just us girls. MAE did great. We made two pit stops on the way up and she stayed awake the entire trip never getting cranky.
We got a chance to go see some cousins we have not spent time with in a while. Maison met Bunny and Harry at Sissy and Joe's wedding, but it was quick, she was only one and there were about a gazillion other people around. After our visit this weekend, I think they will be BFF. Not only did they buy her a new Disney Princess cell phone, but Bunny loaded her up with sugar while we were there. I think Maison ate her weight in donut holes! Bunny and Harry's son is named Tres and he is married to a sweet, sweet lady named Lisa. I remember as a "tween" thinking my cousin Tres was the coolest thing since sliced bread. He was a big bad football stud and I thought he was what every high school boy should be! Then when he went off to college and met Lisa, I thought she was the coolest girl I had ever met and I wanted to be just like her when I got to college. She even let me borrow a dress for a middle school dance. I made sure everyone there knew I was wearing a dress that belonged to a "college girl". Now, Big Bad Tres and Super Cool Lisa have two sons. Brent, is a sophomore in high school and Brandon is about to start college. Brandon and Brent came by to see us on Saturday and I was just amazed at how awesome they were. Two teenage boys should have no interest in spending time with long lost cousins, but those two were so nice and polite, you would have never thought they would have rather been somewhere else. I almost fainted when Brent called me "Ma'am" and then realized that to a 15 year old boy, I was a "Ma'am". I've got to give my cuz some credit... he raised two mighty fine boys... which says a lot for teenagers in this day and age. It gives me hope that, if parents do their job, kids can grow up to be good and decent. So, Tres and Lisa, you might be getting some phone calls for parenting tips from me in the future...
Bunny had a special surprise for me too. My Paw Paw passed away about 6 months before Trey and I got married. He was awesome. And I miss him a lot. It makes me sad that Maison won't know him except for stories she hears from me or my sister. And I wish he would have lived to have been able to see where I ended up. He might have moved in with us if he had ever seen the cabin. There was one item of his I always wanted, but never got my hands on. Turns out, Bunny had a copy and gave me this:
That is Pat Dye, my Paw Paw and The Bear on a hunting trip. I know that most of you reading this blog did not need me to tell you that. I don't know what year it was taken but it was at Paw Paw's hunting lodge. The first place I went upon leaving Bunny and Harry's was Target to get a frame for the picture. It now sits in it's place of honor on top of the armoire in our living room and has been added to the list of things that must be grabbed as we run out of our house should it ever catch fire.
Thank you, Bunny. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have no idea...
We got a chance to go see some cousins we have not spent time with in a while. Maison met Bunny and Harry at Sissy and Joe's wedding, but it was quick, she was only one and there were about a gazillion other people around. After our visit this weekend, I think they will be BFF. Not only did they buy her a new Disney Princess cell phone, but Bunny loaded her up with sugar while we were there. I think Maison ate her weight in donut holes! Bunny and Harry's son is named Tres and he is married to a sweet, sweet lady named Lisa. I remember as a "tween" thinking my cousin Tres was the coolest thing since sliced bread. He was a big bad football stud and I thought he was what every high school boy should be! Then when he went off to college and met Lisa, I thought she was the coolest girl I had ever met and I wanted to be just like her when I got to college. She even let me borrow a dress for a middle school dance. I made sure everyone there knew I was wearing a dress that belonged to a "college girl". Now, Big Bad Tres and Super Cool Lisa have two sons. Brent, is a sophomore in high school and Brandon is about to start college. Brandon and Brent came by to see us on Saturday and I was just amazed at how awesome they were. Two teenage boys should have no interest in spending time with long lost cousins, but those two were so nice and polite, you would have never thought they would have rather been somewhere else. I almost fainted when Brent called me "Ma'am" and then realized that to a 15 year old boy, I was a "Ma'am". I've got to give my cuz some credit... he raised two mighty fine boys... which says a lot for teenagers in this day and age. It gives me hope that, if parents do their job, kids can grow up to be good and decent. So, Tres and Lisa, you might be getting some phone calls for parenting tips from me in the future...
Bunny had a special surprise for me too. My Paw Paw passed away about 6 months before Trey and I got married. He was awesome. And I miss him a lot. It makes me sad that Maison won't know him except for stories she hears from me or my sister. And I wish he would have lived to have been able to see where I ended up. He might have moved in with us if he had ever seen the cabin. There was one item of his I always wanted, but never got my hands on. Turns out, Bunny had a copy and gave me this:
That is Pat Dye, my Paw Paw and The Bear on a hunting trip. I know that most of you reading this blog did not need me to tell you that. I don't know what year it was taken but it was at Paw Paw's hunting lodge. The first place I went upon leaving Bunny and Harry's was Target to get a frame for the picture. It now sits in it's place of honor on top of the armoire in our living room and has been added to the list of things that must be grabbed as we run out of our house should it ever catch fire.Thank you, Bunny. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have no idea...
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