In Memory

My dad, grandpa Bea and Uncle Alan

It has now been over a week since we returned from my uncle's funeral. My dad's youngest brother, Uncle Alan, had cancer, but passed away sooner than we all expected. My mom, dad, brother and I traveled to Springfield, Illinois -where my dad is from - to be with friends and family and pay our respects. It didn't make sense logistically to bring Lily, so Greg stayed home and enjoyed a few days alone with her.

While he is in a far, far better place than we can even imagine, it's still tough for us to grapple with the loss. So much of my childhood is filled with memories of visiting with our cousins and spending countless holidays and summers together. I took for granted that my good old Uncle Alan would always be there - making jokes with a little twinkle in his eye...and a funny impersonation ready at any moment. It was a difficult time needless to say, but the healing came by being with the ones we love.

None of us know when our time here will be over. There can never be enough reminders to take time out to let those around you know how much they're loved. It also puts into perspective the things that really matter.

On a side note, my Uncle Alan had really good taste in music. He may have heard of the Canadian Tenors...I'm not sure. He'd laugh that this was on Oprah, but I'm certain he'd really like the song they sang. Uncle Alan, you will be missed!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tubL9EaiztM

Also, here's a video Uncle Alan created that I'm sure only our family will be interested in. There are so many great old family photos on here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJiuK4CrqKE

Like mother, like daughter...

I had wispy hair until I was 3 or 4. There are funny pictures of me and my best friend Melanie where Mel has long braids and I just have these blond wisps. There's even a picture my parents had taken where you can actually see a piece of tape in my hair to hold a bow! Lily is falling in the footsteps of her momma! We notice her hair is getting longer and will say "wow, look at how long her hair is getting!" I think other people would laugh because to anyone else it looks like she barely has any hair!

Anyway, when I was little I'd put towels or t-shirts on my head and pretend it was my long hair. I got a few of the cutest videos of Lily playing with a shirt on her head, just like I used to do! And in the video she actually positioned the shirt on her head with no assistance from me.

Lily's New Friend

Katherine Grace at 4 weeks old

Most of Lily's little friends are boys, so I was excited when my friend Kristen recently had a baby girl! I visited little Kate when she was just born but Lily had to wait for a few weeks. While her daddy was doing work on their house, little Kate came over for a visit with her big brother Jimmy! Lily was excited to meet her new friend, but not as thrilled when I held her.

Big brother Jimmy

Showing Lily that she can "touch her toes."

Kate waking up!

I'm excited for my new friend!

Our Favorite Subject

I haven't had a lot of photos to post because we were shopping for a new camera (the old one still works but not all the time). Here are a few photos from the last couple days.

We let her have free reign of the books on the bottom bookshelf. She takes full advantage of it!


Some light reading before bedtime.

Such a happy girl.

Her favorite new toy - the flashlight.

"oh, it's bright!" We'll hold our hands over our eyes if she shines it towards us and she imitates that motion all the time.

Another family member that shares an affinity for flashlights! Grandpa gave her a new flashlight to add to her collection.

Shine it up there, grandpa!

Fun on a Snowy Day!

Opening her present from the McFarland's!

We don't normally let Lily watch TV, but hanging out with Daddy and the Simpson's is just too much fun to pass up.

Playing amidst the toy explosion!

Somehow she finds the string and attempts to pull the entire bin towards her. Oh, the fun things we find to do on a snow day!