Sunday we were able to sleep in a bit and relax in front of the TV once everyone was up. After a full night of partying, it was needed. Especially since we had another full day of parties to get too! We had brunch with GG, my family, and my Uncle and his girlfriend to celebrate my grandma's 70th birthday. It was a nice brunch, and nice to be with family as we all grieved for the loss of my Grandpa. Thankfully, birthdays help keep things lite and we had fun.

GG was able to show us her new car. This BMW isn't quite as sporty as her other one, but it does have the back seat which the kids were excited about. They can't wait to go riding with GG in her convertible and I can't help but laugh at this picture that for some reason makes me think of a beauty pageant float in a parade.

After saying our goodbyes we headed over to Grammy and Dido's to join Dusty's family in celebrating Rosie's Sweet 16th Birthday. 

It was nice to get a chance to kick back and relax as the kids were able to just run around and play with their cousins and the rest of the family. Max was even fortunate enough to get some presents for his upcoming surgery this week. (It's tomorrow, send me some good thoughts.) I haven't allowed him to open them, telling him they are for after his surgery, and hoping this little bit of excitement will help with all the anxiety he is having. You guys are awesome in helping with this!

Taylor's 30th birthday party was a surprise party that my sister had planned with the help of his sister and family. The kids and I got to help Auntie decorate which meant buying BALLOONS - the greatest thing ever apparently! Both Ta-Ta and Grandma came over beforehand to have dinner and hang out which was also quite a big treat. Max and Rory were having the greatest day ever!

Bopa met us all at the bar and there a fierce Foosball battle ensued with Ta-Ta and Max playing against Grandma and Rory. (Bopa is secretly helping Rory out and hidden by the server here.) Yes, Grandma did ram one of the bars into Max, thanks for wondering. I wanted to be sure to put that little story in here for all eternity. (Hee hee hee, love you Grandma. And Ta-Ta you are no longer the favorite for geeking out while my son was in pain.)

Some of Taylor's friends bought a round of Jello shots. The bar did a nice presentation, don't you think?

Later that evening a DJ setup his booth and the kids danced away! This was, of course, 10 p.m. Please feel free to judge me, I had my kids in a bar at ten at night dancing to a DJ. I'm over it.

We left after a good half hour of dancing and everyone was sound asleep within 30 minutes of being home. Happy 30th Birthday Taylor!

The past couple weekends we've been doing yard work and we've been accumulating quite the pile of yard clippings with all our work. The kids have been promised a bonfire repeatedly as they've been busy helping us work. Unfortunately it's been so dry, with so little rain, that there has been a burn ban preventing us from following through on this promise. Instead, we've just been piling up more and more stuff on our bonfire pit.

Yes, my son can now unhook and re-hook the little trailer on a hitch. That's obviously common knowledge in 4-year-old circles. You knew that, right? Anyway...Friday evening, after a whole day of rain, we were able to finally have that fire!

By we, you do realize that I sat inside, curled up on the couch reading a book and stuck my camera out just a couple times to document their fun? I mean, it had rained all day and was cold! Plus? ALONE TIME! It was a perfect evening; the kids got their fire and S'mores, we got rid of all the brush, and Mommy got a break.

I prefer to keep my blog as a sort of diary, with events in a chronological order, but at times that just isn't possible. This weekend we celebrated a 30th birthday, a 70th birthday, and a sweet 16 birthday. In the middle of all of these celebrations my grandpa passed away. Memorializing my mom's dad is the first thing I want to do this week so we're going a bit out of order. Hopefully it doesn't get all that confusing for you.

Grandpa passed away Saturday evening. The last few years of Grandpa's life he's been living in an assisted living home near my mom so she was able to help him; cleaning his apartment, grocery shopping, and taking care of his bills. About two weeks ago he was admitted to the hospital for some health issues and it was discovered that he was on the last weeks of his life. My Grandpa had become a very private man over the years so I have not written about his deteriorating health, nor have I talked much about it with family and friends. It's hard knowing where the line is on discussing my Grandpa and his health so I chose not to.

I'm the only grandchild that my Grandma (GG) and Grandpa shared while they were married. I don't remember it, but at the time I was born they were not getting along all that well and they'd take turns fighting over me. Grandpa would bring me downstairs to watch TV with him, than Grandma would steal me back to do things upstairs with her. I don't remember ever seeing them married, but knowing them as I do, I can envision them both trying not to yell in my presence and getting jealous of the other one playing with their grandchild! 

Later on in my childhood, Grandpa had found Jan whom he was with for 25 years, and they loved to gamble. On occasion my parents would take us kids to the dog track with Grandpa and Jan where they'd let us take turns betting on a dog. We had so much fun and would even sing/yell along with the announcer to "HEEEAAARRR COMES WISHBONE!" I can assure you that I did not develop a love of gambling from these experiences, I hate going to casinos now, but it sure was fun when we were little. (And using Grandpa's or my parent's money!)

With adulthood comes separation. My Grandpa became more and more private as his health decreased and I became more and more busy with my marriage and having two children. We still kept in touch, his apartment had photos of us and the kids which I'd send, and he'd have my mom give us all cards for holidays and birthdays. When it would work out we'd pay a visit where the kids would try not to step on his oxygen cord that was on the floor in his apartment. I can still see their faces as they'd navigate around that cord.

We won't be having a service for my Grandpa, these were his wishes. So hopefully these few memories will show you the man he was and how he was a part of my life. He will be missed. 

Max is a wild and crazy four-year-old boy. I have such a smaller amount of photos of him lately and it isn't for a lack of trying, it's because the boy is always in motion. Catching him sitting still, working on something quietly, is few and far between. Catching him playing quietly with his sister? Even more difficult. Most of the time I just quietly try to engrave the image into my mind because if I do pull the camera out? Max is likely to turn away, run away, or even get angry with me. My photo taking is important to me, so I try not to make it a power struggle with my kids, and so we've had less photos of Max lately.

Yesterday I brought the camera out while we waited for the school bus. Thankfully, Max was too excited to mind and I was able to capture my boy, even with a smile! Of course, that meant letting him run his little 4-year-old self wild, but I'll take what I can get.

Yes, Rory really does follow after her brother the majority of the time. I mean, he just looks like he is having so much fun, how could she not?

If you are by chance outside with Max it is inevitable that he'll ask you to play frisbee, baseball, soccer, catch...seriously just about any sport that requires you to play with him is something he'll want to do.

And when the bus gets close? We all get hugs and kisses goodbye! Rory sometimes requests an additional one, because she's going to miss him.

Yes, that wild and crazy boy is still my little love bug, and I'm thankful for that.

For my second post of the day, Max wanted me to take a picture of his new Spiderman back pack. I figured we'd hang it with his Toy Story back pack just so you can see how homely the boy has been for the past week, thanks to Maya. (Notice the bottom pocket is completely gone and the top is torn open?)

He is very excited to go to school today and show off Spiderman! His Buzz Lightyear back pack was dumped into the garbage right after this picture. There is no sentimentality in that boy...

I planned to have a cute post today with photos from dinner with my family as we planned to celebrate both my mom and my dad's birthdays at dinner last night. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we had to cancel our dinner plans and I have no cute photos.

I still wanted to put a quick post up to wish my mom a Happy Birthday (yesterday) and to let her know, we love you. Can't wait to reschedule our dinner plans, the kids are looking forward to it!