Monday, May 27, 2013

Memorial Day...

"And I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me."
   -Lee Greenwood

Today, since it was Memorial day, Warren and I went to South Park Cemetery to remember those who have fallen in defense of our country.  My main goal was to see if we could find Chris Sander's burial site, and to photograph all the flags put on the veteran's graves.  It was a moving sight to behold.


 We did find Chris's burial site too.  Actually, Warren did.
Front of the memorial stone.

At the very bottom, it says,"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for  one's friends."  John 15: 13

I wanted Warren in a picture since Chris was his patient, and his mom, Warren's nurse.  

The back unclose.  Chris and his wife and two children.


The whole back.  He has a ton of awards.  I wish they were readable.

I liked the way they added the photos on the memorial stone.  I told Warren to make sure mine had pictures on it.  He said I had better tell the boys because he would probably be the one who dies first. 

We, also, visited David, Warren's brother's grave. He was not a veteran, but he is a hero in our eyes.  

And then we went to find my mother's grave.

My mother.  I wish I could remember  more about her.  I was too young.  
This is my father.  I like this picture in front of the flag.  He was in the Marines.

Flag flying over South Park.

Thank a Veteran today.  

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Holly's world...

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful,
we must carry it with us, or we will not find it."  -Ralph Waldo Emerson

While Holly was away on a trip, her wonderful husband took photos of their many flowers just in case she got home too late to enjoy them.  She sent me some of the pictures, and they were all breath-taking. I am always looking for photo opportunities, so I asked if I could come over and take some pictures of things in their yard.  I felt like I was in heaven.  Everything was so beautiful.  Here are a few of the flowers.




I think these are sweet pea vines, but I am not sure.

Loved the deep color of this Hollyhock




Mexican buttercup not quite open.

some kind of grass.

Lovely reflections

Sunset...

Gate to paradise
They have two Canadian Geese living on their pond, a male and female, who have set up housekeeping.  The male swims about while the female sits on the nest.

The male was keeping his eye on me making sure I stayed away from the nest.


Here is the female dutifully sitting on the nest...

While her mate swims around.  

Monday, May 13, 2013

My Mother's Day Card...

"Motherhood is...difficult and...rewarding."  -Gloria Estefan

Mark sent me this e-card with a note saying he thought it would bring back memories.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Alone...with twins...

"There are two things in life for which we are never truly prepared: twins."  -Josh Billings

Warren left on Monday morning, hence began my solo flight with these two little guys.
Picture of innocence...
Luke's house is tri-level.  That in, and of itself is a huge challenge when both are just beginning to walk.  The stairs were the first major issue. They crawl up pretty well, but I found I had to keep Tate on the side next to the wall.  If he is by the stair banister, he grabs hold, and stops peeking out between the rails.  He doesn't like to be bodily removed.  Coming down the stairs:  I do not trust myself to carry two active toddlers down the stairs at one time.   I taught them how to come down on their tummies.  They have to be sort of dragged down.  I get them down two steps, they go back up one.  It takes awhile, but it works...eventually.   Once down, a gate had to be in place to keep them from going back up.  They both want to help me get that gate in place.  Their help has a lot to be desired.

Taking them for a walk in the double stroller was another challenge.  At least, getting them to the stroller, and in the stroller.  The stroller lives in the basement level of the house.  The basement stairs are very steep, with a turn in them.  At the bottom is the cat box.  Okay, how to get both down, and in the stroller without the other wandering away, or playing in the cat box.  Worse, the stroller is folded.  Somehow, I got them both in the stroller with no disasters.

Sunday morning (thank goodness Warren was still here), Tate had a major blowout: from both ends.  I knew it was bad when Warren said he was going outside to shake out the bedding.  He had already given Tate a bath.  The bug Tate had hung on for a few days...3 to be exact.  We had one more morning of a diaper blowout.  Warren was not here to help.  I wish he had been.  I repeated the washing of the bedding, and Tate.  I left Sawyer in bed while I did this.  He was not happy about that.  Tuesday afternoon, while Tate was playing, he threw up again.  Mega blast all over a speaking book, the floor, and himself.  I grabbed him, and took him to the kitchen sink.  While we were at the sink, Sawyer decided the mess left behind looked like a good playground.  Now, they were both messes.  I put them both in their high chairs, while I cleaned up the mess.  Then we went upstairs where both had another bath.   The good news: Sawyer did not get the bug, and in spite of the book being washed, it still works.   The bad news: Mimi caught the bug.  Yesterday was my bad day.

More good news: today, Thursday, we are all back to normal.

In their room, they have a window seat with a cabinet under the seat.  They love getting into the cabinet to play.  While I was getting Sawyer ready for bed (on the changing table), Tate threw open one of doors...it came unscrewed from the top hinge, and dropped off the frame.  Thank goodness I was just about finished with Sawyer.  When I went to inspect the damage, I noticed Tate had something in his mouth.  I opened his mouth, and found he was chewing on the screw that had come out of the wall.  I fished it out of his mouth.  I got them both ready for, and in bed.  I went to look for a phillips screwdriver to fix the door, and twine to tie around the door knobs, so this could not happen again. Mission accomplished.

All in all it has been challenging, fun, and I am still on a learning curve.    I love seeing how the boys interact with each other.  They talk to each other, love on each other, and wrestle with each other.  They are very sweet and loving boys.  I am so glad we are all better and back to normal.  Fun times are here again.

They love doors.  Give them a door and they are happy a very long time. (Tate)

Peek-a-boo...(Tate)

Sawyer and Tate...one on each side of the door...so much fun.

Sawyer and his "Raffie."

Listening to the planes that fly overhead.

Bye for now...





Monday, May 6, 2013

Wonder...

"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator. -Gandi

I wanted to end the evening with the twins in a manner that would be calming as well as soothing to try to relax them before bedtime.  I went to YouTube, and searched "Kid Videos" and found a plethora of material.  It kept them mesmerized for at least an hour.  The video is not visible, but you can hear it.  It is one of many we watched.  Their two favorite were "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."  We must have watched those two about a dozen times each.

There are a lot of low windows around Luke's house.  They serve as one of the favorite activities of the twins...window gazing.  They go from window to window, bang on the panes, and talk to one another in only a language that the two of them understand.  Tonight they watched the sunset from their bedroom window.  They cried when I made them get down.
Sawyer

Tate

Sawyer and Tate.  Expanding their soul and maybe  thinking about "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
A nice end to a nice day.  Admiring the creation of the creator.  God is good!  I pray these boys have an early relationship with their creator, and that He use them mightily.


Saturday, May 4, 2013

North Carolina...

"In my mind, I'm going to Carolina.  Can't you see the sunshine, can't you feel the moonshine."  -James Taylor

Warren and I are keeping the twins for awhile.   We went to McDonald's in keeping with the McKelvy tradition of going there to eat breakfast on Saturday morning.  The boys loved it.  They immediately recognized the food because Luke has taken them several times.  They shared a Big Breakfast, and ate most of it.  We were very impressed.

McDonald's...keeping up the tradition.  There is a lot to look at, and take in.

Is this a stare down?  Love the look!

Notice the my flat hair.  We got up, got dressed, got the boys dressed, and headed for McDonald's.  Little boys stomach's cannot wait very long in the morning.  

Sawyer happily waiting for his food.  Such a cutie.

Tate is the serious one.  He must be thinking of the good food that is to come.
With the boys, fed and full, we braved the grocery store.  Thank goodness there were two of us.  I put Tate in the grocery cart seat, and Sawyer in the actual cart...with the groceries.  He loved playing with all the groceries.  When we left, we had a nicely chewed box of guacamole, and little finger dents in the hamburger meat.  I am definitely going to have all my grocery shopping done before Warren leaves.

Warren took these with his iPhone.

Sawyer hanging on to my legs.

Tate at the refrigerator
Sawyer is learning to walk.  Lately, he has preferred walking over crawling.


Tate is not far behind Sawyer in the walking department.  Today, he tried walking more.  I tried to get it on video, but failed.  Maybe tomorrow I will get one of his walking skills.

Pawpaw and Mimi.  Happy they made it through day one.

 
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