Service for Solomon

Last week was my sweet nephew's 5th birthday. Solomon was born with a heart defect and only lived to be 18 days old. Each year his family celebrates "Service for Solomon" by inviting others to do small acts of service over a period of 18 days (November 12th-November 30th) in honor of Solomon's short life. With Becky's permission I am inviting you to do the same. Feel free to leave anonymous comments on Solomon's blog.

I love that someone so small has had such a significant impact on so many lives. I love that Solomon's parents have turned what most would consider a tragedy into a wonderful blessing. I look forward to this celebration every year and would encourage you to read Becky's post about things their family has learned through this experience. I couldn't help but feel grateful for my blessings. Read it. It will make you feel grateful too.

Sunday Dinner

Is it any wonder why Big D loves Sunday dinner at my mom's?

My brother's kids give him constant attention. Here all four of them insisted on helping snap his pants up.

Ian and Davis.

Chunky Monkey seems like an understatement
 right now...

Grandma Mary-Ann and Grandpa Lynn

I won the lottery when in comes to great in-laws. I know I sound like a brown-noser and I fully admit to being one. I'm still trying to earn points back with my father-in-law since I made fun of him at the family reunion for his Christopher Walken impression during a heated game of Celebrity (my team beat his...just sayin'...)

In all seriousness, I count Lynn and Mary-Ann as two of my family's greatest blessings. They are wonderful examples of how to treat others with love and respect and they are super parents and grandparents. Plus, they are fun to be around, which is just an added bonus.

Mary-Ann is rarely seen without at least one grandchild in her arms.

This picture is more than a year old but I love it because it captures just how Maddie feels about her "Gwamma Maweee-Annnn." She runs to her with open arms every time she sees her. And the fact that she usually has her cupboards stocked with Dora fruit snacks just endears Maddie to Grandma all the more.

Mary-Ann has always been available for me and my family. There was a time not long ago when our little family needed some extra help and she immediately dropped all her plans and drove to Iowa to be with us. She stayed with us as long as we needed her. I get teary-eyed every time I think of that sacrifice that she made for our family, which to her probably seemed small, but it still means so much to me. I feel like I can count on her for anything.

The back light is a major distraction in this photo
 but if you look close you can see the sheer joy
on Davis' face as Lynn plays with him. 

They even have the same expression on their faces here. I know I've said it before, but could any two people who are 50 years apart look more alike than these guys?

I am grateful for a father-in-law who is such a great conversationalist. I can talk to him about a thousand different things from politics to food to religion. He is great about not just going through Ryan to find out how the kids and I are doing--he actually calls me as well. He is a big planner and is always got something fun in the works for his family and grandkids. 

Ike vs. The Treadmill

Isaac picked a fight with a treadmill the other day.
The treadmill won. The picture doesn't come close
 to doing justice to the damage that was done. His
 face was really beat up and his poor knuckles
were rubbed raw.It is the most pain I have
 ever seen him in. We're really lucky he
wasn't hurt more.
 It could have been a lot worse. 

Maddie kept looking at him over and over yesterday and asking, "Isaac, what happen your forehead?" 

He just gave her strange looks until finally he said to me, "Mom, Maddie thinks I have four heads!" 

It was then that I took him to see his reflection in the bathroom mirror so he could understand what sister was talking about. 

Pictures from Grandpa Hancock's Funeral

Mary-Ann and her sister, Rose, just before the funeral began. It was neat service and a great tribute to a wonderful man. 

Carson and Natalee are always a big help with my kids. Isaac begins at least one sentence a day with, "When I'm big like Carson..."

All of the great grandkids who could attend the funeral.

That empty space on the couch is where we wish Ryan could have been sitting next to us.