Memorial Weekend

This past weekend I was able to spend some time with my family. Because my brother Brandon lives in Phoenix, it is not often that we have all 4 siblings together...it usually happens only 2 or 3 times during the year. Brandon flew in for the holiday weekend, and we had full intentions of going camping up to my parents' property in Idaho. My dad was worried about even getting the trailer up to the property with all of the snow that lingered this year, but he got it up there last week and we thought we were all set to go camping. However...Mother Nature decided to throw us a curve ball (as she often does when Brandon is here in town!). An inch of rain fell at my parents' property. We could have braved the weather and headed up there, but then there would have been 7 adults, 1 baby, and 4 dogs all huddled in my parents' trailer. It's a big trailer, but not that big. So we decided to have a campout in my mom and dad's backyard! My cute grandparents came over, and my dad cooked dutch oven ribs and potatoes (yummm! My dad is an AWESOME dutch oven chef!). Here is my cute dad. Then my dad built a "campfire" in the fire pit of their backyard and we roasted marshmallows for smores. From left: Brandon, Mom holding Anna, Grandpa Steve, Grandma Bonnie, Cody, Laci and Justin. Can you believe that my grandparents, in all of their 70+ years, have NEVER had smores? Geez...it's not like they have never camped before! We made them roast their own marshmallows and eat their first smore. Their faces were priceless. We sat around the campfire for a while, playing with the dogs and, of course, playing with Anna. The fire was very entertaining to her (I hope I am not raising a pyro!). She sat in this chair next to me and was fascinated... My dad also set up the hammock. Anna loved to swing! Anna and I swinging in the hammock.There was even a little guitar playing around the campfire towards the end of the night. I love to listen to my brothers play. I keep saying that someday I will learn the guitar... The next morning we awoke to dad cooking again...this time a very scrumptious breakfast (pancakes, eggs, hash browns, bacon and sausage...my dad always goes all out!). Anna was a big fan of the pancakes, even without syrup!

That afternoon we went over to the cemetery and saw Dave and Trina's graves. I can't believe it has been a year since Dave left us so unexpectedly. The cemetery looked breathtaking with all of the flowers and other decorations in tribute to loved ones. We headed back to my parents' house and hung out for a while, and then Cody, Laci and Brandon had to leave. Since I had no one to go home to, I stayed at my mom's for another day.

This next pic captures my mom perfectly. All weekend Anna and the dogs fought for my mom's attention. Can you tell they all LOVE my mother? I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual.
My mom teaching Anna to play the piano...I hope my mom has passed just an ounce of her amazing talent down to my daughter!I love this picture! My two favorite girls!When we got home, I put Anna in her crib and she had nothing but great big smiles. She was so happy to be home! We played peek-a-boo and I had her laughing. Of course, with Anna being so cute, I had to take a few more pics...Look at those TWO bottom teeth!
She wanted so badly to play with the fringe on her afghan, but I don't want her to ruin it. What a mischievous grin!Side note: My Anna turned 8 months old on Memorial Day! I can't believe it how fast she is growing! Just in the last week or so, she has started to reach - when she wants to get out of her jumper, or be picked up off of the floor, or to go from person to person - it is the cutest thing to see those little arms reach toward me! She is rolling all over the place, but not interested in crawling yet. She thinks it is fascinating to wave at people - not just with her arm, but she also curls her fingers in and out in a cute little wave. She loves to click her tongue and blow raspberries. She is now starting to clap her hands by herself. She babbles "mamama" but usually only when she is tired. She is generally a very happy baby. I love her so much! I just wish time would slow down a little bit...