Where Do They Get That From?

                       At a young age I learned that laughter promoted good health!

Later in my late teens, 

I lost my father.

Quickly, 

I adopted a healthier life style that involved 

good eating, aerobic exercises, yoga, meditation

AND...

Silliness! 

Lots of it!

I'm happy that not only did this make me happy, 

but others as well.

Influencing my own two kids.

  

My kids on Mother's Day several years back.
I simply wished for a nice picture of all three of us.
Instead I got the BEST pictures/selfies EVER...

I remember saying
"oh please smile you two"

       

And I just decided to join in!

I LOVE THESE PICTURES
And Memories!

As i'm getting older
I look back at these moments
and find such joy in remembering just how
blissful our days were
 filled with laughter and so much love!

And now,

as a
 Grandmother

My children are happy adults and embrace silliness.

BUT
The one thing
(well two actually)
things that make my heart sore...
knowing (and seeing)
this silliness legacy
passed along to my grandkids!!

And even when apps aren't used, there is silliness!!!

My grand son sporting a nice stash and beard!

My grandson in the 'infant'
stage of
stash and beard!

My grand daughter
I love that she (my daughter)
uses these silly apps with funny faces..

Me

A Silly Video for My Grandson...

The Birthday boy!

Silliness runs in our family!

Saying Good-Bye Is Tough!

Military Life...

My son and his girlfriend came over for a visit today...

He will be flying out today
heading towards his new duty station
which he'll arrive at tomorrow!

So for today,
we will relax in the sun
and enjoy good conversation
and family/loved ones!

I'm really going to miss my son!
But
I look forward to visiting his
tropical island
where he'll be stationed for the
next two years!

He's gone now,
on the road towards the airport.

I already miss him...

He's in the Army Now...

I spent all of Saturday
with my son.

We went through the few items he had
left here at the loft.

Then we started packing the box
that will be shipped to his new duty station.

Afterwards we sat down and spent a few hours looking through family treasures...

My kids started traveling at a very young age.

Pictured here are my kids baby brag books & passports from youth.

A pictorial reminder
 of all the loving moments,
adventures
 AND
 the ever chaining stages of our lives…

Saying good-bye will be hard.
I will look forward to visiting him
during the holiday season!

I Am...

Gardians of the Galaxy
movie was AWESOME!

I saw this with my son & my mate
yesterday!

I really didn't know what to expect at first
but was so happy after!

If you're a Marvel fan
and want a fun movie
this is the one for you!

A Wonderful Day with My Son in D.C.

I spent most of yesterday
in Washington D.C.
with my son
who is on leave...

We drove around D.C. a bit
snapping a few pictures

The weather was wonderful
especially for a summer day
in July!

Once we finished driving around
we parked and headed over to
the
National Archives Museum

(Click on links throughout this blog post to visit ALL the exhibits I mention)

We had just finished viewing
 the
Declaration of Independence,
 Constitution of the United States
and
Bill of Rights

in the Rotunda

I really enjoyed looking through the

Making Their Mark exhibit

Then we walked over to
 the Smithsonian
National Museum of Natural History

My son takes good
iphone selfies!

There were ALLOT of kids at this museum
and
ALLOT of noise!
Especially at the African Elephant permanent exhibit!

Hey look who stepped into my selfie!

The Hope Diamondin the Mineral Sciences Exhibit

Sadly, I had no gum for

Moai Stone Figure!



Now we headed over to the
Smithsonian
National Museum of American History

We spent allot of time at this museum.

I actually remember going thru
Jack's drive-thru
when it looked like this!
Wow! I'm too young for memories
that are sparked by photo
in Smithsonian Museums...

This pictures above are from the

 FOOD: Transforming the American Table1950-2000

exhibit.
Click link above to see the exhibit online.

Very cool stuff here!



In the Flag Hall
(not pictured)

The Marine Corp String Quartet was playing

in front of

The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem

 We felt very fortunate
to have arrived during this
wonderful performance.

While viewing the flag,
we listened to live patriotic music.
It was deeply moving!

Sadly, I forgot to take a picture of the performers.
But I found

 their Facebook page

 full of pictures!

We spent a good amount of time
in

The Price of Freedom:Americans at War

exhibit

Part of the Berlin Wall

Upon exiting
look what I spied
in the

Artifact Walls - You Must Remember This

Harry Potter stuff!

It's All About Family Today!

How my kids & grandson spent their holiday
in shades!
(not pictured is my son-in-law, he's deployed at this time)

I'm such a lucky lady!
I have a wonderful little family!!!

And the Degree Arrives

My kids won't be able to attend my graduation ceremony tomorrow
so when my degree arrived in the mail today
I thought I would open with them, while we
all face timed together…

What a silly and fun moment that
technology provided for us!

Remembering My Dad

After thinking of my Mum yesterday,
I began thinking of my Dad.

Pictured here, my Dad and I at easter time
(funny how we take spring photos on this day, allot in my family)
I think I was 4 years old.

My Dad passed 33 years ago.
I think of him nearly everyday since.

Remembering My Mum

Happy Mother's Day!
This photo was taken many years ago on easter morning.
My Mum was holding on to my son
so he would not drat off
as he had done several times prior to this photo.
My daughter was clearly being her typical silly self.
The dress she is wearing was designed and sewn by my Mum, her Nana!
Hard to believe this year marks 10 years since my Mum's passing. I miss her! 

What Life Must Look Like...

Through the eyes of a child

I can only imagine
 what my Grandson
might have thought
sitting here
upon his Daddy's shoulders
while he
ambles about
the top of this hill...

I can only guess
what he feels when looking out at this
field of children playing.

Oh what life must look like
through the eyes of my Grandson?

He's not yet speaking
so he cannot express
 with words
what he thinks or feels
so
it remains a mystery
for now...

Happy Asparagus!

Empty basket…

When my kids were younger
we would decorate eggs
and gather together
to make and share
a delightful meal,
most often it was a ham with
various seasonal veg and fruits.

Now days,
my kids are grown adults
they have their own paths
and I find that I scale down
every holiday.
So today,
the day after
I sit here and realize that
somethings stay the same.
I made a ham with mac-n-cheese side
with amazingly fresh asparagus.

Happy Spring!

Where Does Time Go?

My son and I back sometime around 2001

My daughter and I
once again
sometime around 2001

Where does time go?