Mothers Day in our Family

We started a tradition with all the girls in our family on Mothers Day and its really been fun. I wanted to share it with you and maybe you would want to also do this in your family. Its the traditions and times together that we cherish. This was our Third year doing it. We meet at a Restaurant. This year we went to Zoes Kitchen. It was really good and perfect weather to sit outside. Each of us brings a gift to exchange that has something about our own Mom's. We all wind up learning something we didnt know about everyone and laughing and sometimes even crying a little.

Emily got my gift about my Mom which was a pair of big dangly earrings and a sign. The reason behind them was my parents wouldn't let me get my ears pierced until I was 15 and then, I believe it was only because I begged for atleast 10 years! But, when I did I couldn't wear dangly earrings and then when Mother was 60, she finally got her ears pierced but, she won't wear dangly ones! And the sign is a song she always has sung to all the grandkids!

Mother got Gayles Gift about Grannie Creel which was a bag of sugar, a scoop, tea bags and pretty pitcher. I didn't know this but, Grannie always had a pitcher of tea in her fridge but, never drank tea herself. Cool memory!

Kiera got Rachels gift about me. It was my favorite candy...snickers! A package of sharpies cause I'm the sharpie addict. I rarely write with a pen that's not a sharpie. 3 Cd's of 80's music cause that's what I like! Some tylenol and lotion because of my recent back surgery.

Rachel got Emily's gift about Gayle. It was a beautiful serving tray and a serving dish and snicker bar. The reason was that her mom is always serving everyone. I say amen to that! Love my Auntie Gayle! And snickers are her favorite! ( must run in the family)

Gayle got Catty's gift about her mom, Maw Maw. It was a plate that had a saying on it that Maw Maw used to say all the time and a chicken to decorate the kitchen with cause Maw Maw raised chickens and did the things we don't like to know about like kille em, pluck em and fry em up for dinner!!

I got Kieras gift about her Mom ( and she included me also) which was bath stuff with beach smells! Her mom loves the beach and a nice relaxing bath. It smells so good and the candle is beautiful and the salt scrub is awesome. I love it!

Mabry Lynn got Isabellas which were Frozen books and Frozen painting book because Isabella says she likes her Mom to read with her and do crafts with her. And Isabella got Mabry Lynns gift about  her mom, Emily...which was a play camera and some teeth ice cube molds because her mom is a photographer and she likes to clean teeth! Its so sweet to teach our little gals about appreciating things about their moms!

They took turns taking pretend photos of each other! It was a wonderful day!

Last year we met at Chick Salad Chick. I really liked it but, have never been back. Whats wrong with me? Isabella wanted to share the story of the sand dollar with everyone while we were all together. It was sweet!

I always make sure the girls have a little something to do at the restaurant since we are usually there a long time.

This is Catty with her gift.

Kiera was about to cry about the sweet things that Isabella said about her .

These two cuties!

Isabella with her gift.

Kourtney with her gift.

Emily with hers. Someones mom has a sweet tooth!

Me again with mine. A basket of pasta to cook and enjoy! We did!

Kiera and her gift. Someones Mom like nail polish but, I'm not saying.....:)

Rachels and her gift which was a bling ring!

Aunt Gayle with her gift which was an apron and a harmonica. She didn't wear that to the resturant! Whew! :)

All of us again. Funny thing, I was in so much pain with my back that day that I had to stand up the whole time! Funny now......not, funny then!

Since it was Our Grannie Creels birthday we released 2 helium balloons to her and Gayle was telling the girls why we were doing that but they just wanted to keep the balloons!

Gayles girls....minus Kelsey.

Catty's girl and my girls.

This was the first one at The Broken Egg. It was super crowded and not much room to do gifts so I didn't get any gift photos but, I do remember Kourtneys was the funniest!

Cousins playing and having such a good time !

How cute are these brown eyed girls!

Alot of catching up to do!

 Well, I totally failed at my new years resolution to blog more! But, it's okay. I forgive myself. And we have been so very busy. A lot of happenings with our family. I'll share a few and maybe get myself going back to blog world more regularly. The photo above is our Granddaughter singing LEAN ON ME at her preschool graduation. Oh we were so proud! No doubt we have a rising singing and dancing star on our hands!

She also got to wear her first cap and gown. That day was so special that my face actually hurt from all the smiling I did. Four year old kids in cap and gowns... just doesn't get much cuter than that.

 This was her preschool boyfriend. They plan to marry one day. We shall see if that works out.  They were too cute together!

 Then she had her second ballet recital which was another one of those occasions where my face was hurting from smiling so much. Her group did a tap number and then a ballet one. It was just awesome! We were so proud and you can see by her flowers, she has lots of fans!

 Here we are. My hubby and our grandbabies. We couldn't love them anymore! They are such a God send to our lives and we love every minute we get to spend with them!

 Uncle Kebo sent her this beautiful dress so, we said...lets go out in the yard and take some photos! She's always willing to let me photograph her and my camera is just obsessed with her and her brother!

 Can you believe she will be five soon? Wow! This time has flown by. Kindergarten here she comes!

 On Fathers Day, we ate at my parents and she was snuggley with Mother. It was so sweet, I had to snap a picture.

 This is my Daddy! I love this picture of him! We had an awesome treat this year. Our picture was in our local newspaper for a tribute to Dads!

 Here were our Dads on Fathers Day!  We were missing Zac.:(

:)

 And have I introduced you to this most handsome Hanselman??? This is one of the reasons I have been so busy! Helping take care of my grandprince! This is him!!

 He's five months old! Way strong! Way big! And getting all over the place on the floor. If he sees something he wants, he can get to it! He is the sweetest little fella I know!

 He likes to bite his lower lip. Looks like a tooth is gonna be coming in any time now. He's a great drooler. Loves his cereal and baby food. Loves his bottles. Has a great screaming voice . But, really doesn't appreciate a ride in the car seat for any reason!

Look how happy! Look at that dimple! Our lives are so blessed by our grandkids. There have been a lot of changes for our family in the last 2 months and there are more to come. I guess sometimes they aren't so easy to talk or type about. But, I'm gonna try. Hope you enjoyed catching up with me for a minute. Happy 4th of July!

Because of Who You Are

Well, it's a new year and I have already broken a resolution. That was to blog once a week. Not for your sake but, for mine. I feel I have always strggled to put how I feel into words and I want to work at more and more.

This is a blog I really didn't think I would be doing.

A blog in memory of someone.

Someone dear.

Someone close.

Someone who's not with us here on earth anymore.

Someone who gave me the greatest gift besides Jesus I have ever recieved, My husband.

That someone is Dorothy Hanselman.

My husbands mom. My Mom in law.

I remember the first time I met her. She was a teacher of Missionettes at our church. And we were at a weekend away and there was a silly fashion show and I was picked to be the silly model ( imagine that!) I believe I was about 10 years old maybe. And I wore her dress and they were all laughing as they made me up into this model and I walked out and posed as everyone laughed and someone described my outfit.

. The Hanselmans attended the same church as we did and I always knew all of them.I was more friends with Ray's younger brother and sister because of our ages but, I knew Ray a little bit.

But, things change and kids grow up.

Fast forward about 6 years and Ray and Jana are a couple now.

On Friday nights the Hanselmans always and I do mean always had steak and fried potatoes. Well, that was our date night and sometimes we would go out to eat but, mostly we would go to their house and eat steak! And I remember eating my salad and it would have things in it that I didn't like. For example...tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, etc. I pretty much used to eat lettuce and croutons back then. How silly.

But, she noticed that I picked those things out of my salad.

So, she started doing the salad like a salad bar.

One big bowl for lettuce and a lazy susan type of things for all the different vegetables. And you know what? She did that just for me. And she continued that until now. Once I told her , I like everything in the salads now but, she just kept on just in case one of the Grandkids didn't like something.

That's how she was. If she knew you liked something or didn't, she did what she could to make your life easier about it.

I could go on and on with many examples.

She was a lady who was always smiling and giggling though, life had thrown her quite a few curve balls and pain.

Every important event in all our lives, she has been there. And every important day in her life, we were with her too.

She and I even gave birth on the same day with a few years in between. That was a special bond.

Last year on her birthday, we have her a little Wizard of Oz Birthday dinner. It was my grandaughters idea. Since Grandmas name was Dorothy.

We had no idea that just a few months later she wouldn't be here anymore.

On December 18th, at 9:58 in the morning she left here. She left all the pains and worries and hurt here. She entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we all gathered around her. I cried hearing Ray say...it's okay Mom, we're okay...go on to be with Jesus and see Dad. She had such a love for her husband George and living the last 15 years without him has been hard.

She loved her family more than life itself.

We were never together that she wasn't bragging on what someone else in the family was doing.

She didn't like facebook.

We were never together that she didn't have something to say about that also.

He hee....I have to make sure I added that.

She was one of the most healthy and clean and modest ladies I have ever known.

She made the yummiest pot roast with carrots and potatoes.

She had a green thumb.

She loved taking pictures of her family.

She loved her church and teaching Sunday School.

She was a voluteer at our hospital.

 She was a pink lady and a cuddler for the preemie babies.

She lost a baby, Joseph, over 40 years ago and cuddling those babies was a special part of her heart.

This Christmas was special. But, she was missing and it just made it seem almost unreal.

And this next year ahead, all the firsts of her not being here will be hard.

But, I tell you this.

I know exactly where she is.

I know who she is worshipping!

I am thrilled for her!

I know she is reunited with so many loved ones.

About one week before she passed away. Ray was staying the night with her and he was playing music for her on the computer.

She asked him to play the worship song, BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE.

He did and he said he looked over on the couch. She was lying there on her back with her precious hands raised up worshipping Jesus.

That is one awesome memory for Ray and for all of us.

That's the song that was sung at her funeral.

I thank God for the life of Dorothy Winnie Haseltine Hanselman-York.

She lived 71 years here but, she lives on forever

in eternity with Jesus Christ!

I will see her again!

We will see her again!

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Baby Boy

A baby shower for a very special little man who will be born soon.

My beautiful daughter in love who is so sweetly carrying him in her tummy and quickly running out of room!

Her friends threw the cutest shower with all the cute details!

There were little bowties and mustaches everywhere for this little man!

Even play staches for Auntie Rachie!

Isn't that so cute? We are so excited about this little "BOY"

Delicious cupcakes with the cutest toppers on them.

More yummy sweets.

Delicious strawberry punch.

 The Mac and Cheese shooters were delicious.

So was the spinach dip.

And so was the grape salad, the b-b-que sammies and the crossaints filled with chicken salad.

Everyone had a mason jar decked out with a mustache to drink from. I love it!

Even special little straws. They thought of everything!

This is Karah and Camaray. They gave Kiera the shower and did such a fantastic job!

Such sweet, pretty and creative friends!

There was even a craft for you to make these adorable onesies for the little Mister!

Kiera and Katie. Special friends!

All you had to do was iron on some bowties to your onesie to make these one of a kinds!

Ohh....goodies for baby boy Aaron Maximus.

These are all the onesies and bibs all decorated.

Now , isn't that the cutest thing?

He will look so cute in these!

What wonderful and giving friends!

Little bowtie cookies to take home.