A beautiful memorial

At my dad's church, every year they have a Christmas memorial service for everyone that has lost loved ones. You purchase an ornament and at the ceremony, every person is called up individualy to pay honor to their special someone and place the ornament on the tree. I hung the ornament for my sister Leslie, Michael hung the ornament for his dad and Mikayla hung the ornament for my mom. It was very special and a very touching ceremony.

For my sister I said, for my sister and best friend, this is our second Christmas without her and we miss her very much.

Michael said, for my dad, he's been gone six years and he was a really great and fun loving guy. I miss him.

For Mikayla I said, this is for her grandma, this is our third Christmas without my mom and our third Christmas with Mikayla. We miss her very much.

Mikayla hung the ornament and was so cute and intent while doing it. She has asked me before where my mom is and where Aunt Leslie is (because I talk about them and there are pictures in the house). I tell her they're in heaven, a couple of weeks ago when we were talking about Leslie and she said, "you know, I'd really like to go see her." It made me so sad.

I really wish they were here to be with us too. Here is the memorial tree. It's just a cell phone picture but it really has such special meaning.

Christmas Crafting

I have been working hard, some things I can share here.... and some I just can't. But here is the latest creation. It started out as your ordinary cookie sheet. Now it's a 25 days to Christmas count down creation. The snow flakes across the top are magnets to mark the days. I can't wait to do this with Mikayla.

Down at the boat!

We went down to our boat last weekend and we've been having a north wind which blows the water out of the bay so we couldn't go out, it was too big of a risk of getting stuck out there. The water was down at least 2 feet in our slip and we were almost on the bottom in there so we just got to hang out and play for a change. We all really had a great time! (oh and it really wasn't that cold but she wanted to wear the hood..... LOL )

ta daaaaa!!

My little swimmer!!!

I was able to take Mikayla swimming this week and boy did she have a great lesson, she was really showing off for me :) I loved every second of it. I wish I could take her every week!!!

Here are some pictures, please note the shoes in the first pic..... she wears them EVERYWHERE!!! I love it, she is so happy when people comment to her about them. She very proudly says "thank you" and we go on our merry way.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We have had such a wonderful weekend. Spending all this time with Mikayla was the best part of the whole time!!! We have had fun, I attempted to shop on Friday and ended up leaving empty handed and went to Joanns and came out with about 4 inches of paper :) I just can't help myself.

Here are some pics of my favorite gal!!!

A much quieter celebration

Today is my Mom's birthday, she would have been 70. I'm sure we would have had a party and gifts and fun and laughter. Instead we quietly remember how special she was and always will be to us. We will always remember.

Also my darling Leslie's birthday was November 3. We didn't have access to the computer then but I wanted her to be remembered too. She would have been 41 and happy and shocked that she was now in the 40s. We would have gone out to dinner and had some wonderful presents and celebrated in style!!! I know I would have had to have embarrassed her a little bit at the restaurant though and have them come sing to her.... she would have loved it even though she would say she did not, the smile on her face and the blush on her cheeks would tell me otherwise.

Always remembered - never forgotten!!!!

My Birthday Girl!!!!

We celebrated Mikayla's 3rd birthday last Saturday. What a great time we all had. She in particular had a blast. She was a little overwhelmed at first but then jumped right in!!! I can't believe my baby is 3 now. My goodness the time flies and what fun it is. We have learned to enjoy and cherish it because who knows how long we have it. We are so thankful and so blessed!!!!

Her party was as a local jump :) 7 of her closest friends were there and most of the adults that love her were there too.

(I had a blast making her cake too) :)