May 28th 2012
Everything is more fun with a baby! Okay, maybe not long car rides, church, extensive graduation ceremonies, trying to make dinner at a decent hour, taking a shower, business meetings, camping…So, basically most things are less fun with a baby but holidays are not one of those things. In fact, even a semi-small holiday can be so exciting when seen through new eyes.
This year Memorial Day was a little different for me. While
I have had numerous family members serve in the military, those times are now
the things of legends. I was never
directly affected by it and I have never been a part of the culture. Days like
these are very abstract to me. Thank you, ambiguous, unknown, faceless soldiers,
for fighting for my freedom. It’s not that I’m not grateful. It’s just not
something I have thought a lot about before. So, why is this year different? My
sister Aubrey just married a Marine and that’s weird. Now that soldier has a
face, he has a family and I am part of it. Now when he gets deployed, I will
worry and pray till he is home. Now when the news talks about Marines, I will
listen. Now, I am a part of this strange culture that I still don’t understand.
Of course, I am still on the outskirts of it and its only just starting but I
was a little more thoughtful and a little more grateful for all those who have
served our country. This year was not all about the cookout for me and I hope I
can teach Penelope to see what I am beginning to see.
Bathing Beauty |
Aubrey is soo tired of the paparazzi |
We used a different part of the hill this time with less
than spectacular results. You had two choices: Fly off the slip and slide
halfway down the hill and shred you legs with grass or make it all the way down
and pray you did not die when you hit the fence. I use the word choice loosely,
it was kind of like the first time you go bowling. You know the laws of physics
are totally dictating the outcome but you are still getting gutter balls. Chad came to the rescue by padding the fence
with his VMI “hay” or mattress and bedding. It saved us more than once,
although on the last time down Hannah managed to avoid it and hit the fence
dead on. She takes after her mother whose goal is always to “make it” to the
fence. AKA: Hitting her shoulder so hard it completely reversed the weeks of
chiropractic appointments she had just completed. Awesome Mom. In our family, it’s just not a successful
event if no one goes home wounded. The number of wounds was probably higher due
to the fact that Justin’s goal was to tackle everyone down the slide at least
10 times. I believe he exceeded his goal. We all settled down afterward for
some TV and a fistful of extra strength Tylenol.
Slip and slides require all participants to be at the peak of physical fitness and wear really tight shirts |
Penelope is not quite ready for daredevil status so we
parked her with recovering chemo patient and she got some time in the kiddie
pool. We forgot to pick up some little swimmers diapers for her so she had to
go commando under her swimsuit. It was fine, except for when Dad was holding
her and she peed on him.