Mother's Day

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Woke up Sunday morning, Mother's Day, and left Cleveland around 8:30am. Mom & Dad stayed back to spread Grandma's ashes in Lake Erie. Though I wish we could have stayed, it was not physically possible with such a long drive in front of us.  It was such a bitter-sweet Mother's Day for me...completely fortunate to spend it with my 4 girls and my mom... but the first that my mom had without her mother.

I was anticipating at least 10 to 10-1/2 hours to make it home so you can imagine my surprise when we made it in 9-1/2! Thanks to some AMAZING kids & an amazing husband/driver :)  we were home by 4:15pm. Though traveling 1500(+) miles and being in a vehicle for more than 24-hrs in a 4-day time span throws a person out of whack (and behind) I would not have traded one-minute of it for the world. It was such a special visit with so many family members... Chris & I both agreed it was definitely worth all the work that went into it.

That evening I tried to get a pic of the girls on the porch swing...
Lauren 7, Lindsay 5-8mo, Lydia 2-1/2 & LeaAnn 14-1/2mo

but someone... after realizing she can walk, loves it so much that she doesn't want to sit still!

"see-ya later mom"... who can blame her, right? ;)

Grandma's memorial

Saturday, May 12th, 2012

Avon Lake Country Club, Avon Lake, OH

After naps for everyone :-) (yes, all 6 of us managed to fall asleep in one hotel room for a nap (?!) we started the process of getting ready for the memorial service. Fairy painless as there was plenty of entertainment around, i.e. Mimi, Pap, Uncle Donnie & all the cousins! 

Mimi told me earlier that the Grandma Rita & Grandpa Bo were members of this country club long ago AND this is where Mom & Dad's wedding reception was!  I thought that was a neat touch. Overall it was a gorgeous reception ... visiting with family we never get to see, beautiful place, beautiful weather, more people than mom & aunt Jill had anticipated, great appetizers that were adult & kid friendly, and free drink for everyone. The only thing that could have made it better was if Grandma would have been with us.

Pictured here are the gorgeous flowers that my co-workers/friends from work sent! Absolutely stunning...

Enjoying the food...

The biggest & smallest ;)  Lauren 7 and LeaAnn 14-months

walking!!!

and adorable outfit from Godmother, Kris for her birthday :)

and finally we meet special cousin, June!  My 1st cousin, Kate's daughter. Girls had a great time playing with her :)

Lydia 2-1/2 & June just turned 2! Took Lydia a little bit to warm up... imagine that!

Elle having fun with this little girls too :)

look who's a walking fool?!?

This was so much fun to take picture of! They totally looked like Marilyn Monroe :D  So many face expressions I did not capture (when they first stepped on the vent and realized what was happening ;) They were priceless.

Mom, Aunt Jill & Uncle Jim did an amazing job describing Grandma & paying tribute to her life. Learned that she stopped dancing in her chorus line because of WWII... not b/c of Grandpa as I had always assumed!  Made me realize I should have asked more questions...

All the kids did great during the dedication, could not have asked for more. After they were done, LeaAnn led me to this impromptu photo shoot! I was fairly pleased ;)

How big is LeaAnn?!

So big!

LOVE

ADORE... such a LeaAnn face.

and here is LeaAnn's turn standing on the vent...

She was so enthrawled with it :) so cute...

big, big blue eyes... Jim just asked me last night after seeing my newly colored hair that is super dark, "what would you have liked to be born as?" And I responded by pointing to LeaAnn :D However, I am proud of my brown eyes... both of my Grandma's had brown eyes so I'll take 'em ;)

oh she has the most kissable cheeks!!

and who can resist this face!?!  Miss LeaAnn Claire at her best :D

EVERYONE loved the pictures... and the girls loved that they were pictured on the boards too w/Grandma.

And those dance pictures that the girls were amazed with... I remember being just as amazed (and still am) as they were... one of the reasons (I think) that I continued to dance all the way through high school.

Lydia hiding with Carson :)

and we tried family pictures... with success I think!

Mimi & Pap's whole gang...

Pap and a few of his girls :) I couldn't remember which one Mimi liked best, so I included all 3 ;)

The six grand-kids... not too bad... LeaAnn just ran out of steam ;)

My cousin Kate, her husband Mike & June at 2... and baby-to-be in October! Doesn't Kate look gorgeous?!  Completely adore her necklace...

I love it when I get to capture these moments... just wish I had a crystal clear picture to go with it.

and moments like this... the 'in-laws' laughing together... which they do quite often :D

Miniature Donnie ...

The Koontz Family

Carson 5-4mo & Lauren 7

After the memorial at Great Aunt Jill & Uncle Brian's house...

and then swimming again once back at the hotel! Pap was such a great sport and got in the water with all of them :D  At the moment... here is Pap's #1 fan!