from the reel

unfortunately i clipped half of henry's precious, smiling face out of some of the shots but self-filming while playing puppeteer proved challenging i suppose. some great baby laughs, though.

he also thinks it's hilarious when i say "aaachoooo!" he seriously has the best laugh-out-loud baby giggle.

he is really starting to move with purpose...seeing something/somewhere he wants to be and crawling to get there. sometimes i can even get him to follow me into a room just by voice. he's getting a little workout here in this clip, the last 20 seconds is the payoff.

great grandma minnie

my grandma.

it has been two years now, to the day, since my grandma's departure from this earth. there's so much more i want to share about her than what i'm able to post tonight but i couldn't let the day pass without a remembrance.

grandma in her kitchen...i loved that old wood stove.

my grandma was strong.

my grandma's laugh was a cackle.

my grandma was a fine cook and baker.

my grandma was particular.

my grandma was diligent.

my grandma was a quilter.

my grandma loved.

my grandma is loved.

my grandma played scrabble with me.

my grandma said divan instead of couch.

my grandma showed me the boonies.

my grandma taught me to make cinnamon rolls.

my grandma adored babies.

my grandma was ornery.

my grandma was vivacious.

my grandma called the cows by yelling soo-wee

my grandma had grapevines.

my grandma grew peonies and roses.

i remember easter egg hunts at my grandma's house with all of my many cousins.

i remember big family christmases at grandma's.

i remember grape soda and bugles. 

i remember dress-up.

i remember sleeping on the cot.

i remember showers in the carport.

i don't know why this is such a vivid memory for me with my grandma but i distinctly remember an overnight visit at my grandma's house...it was just me without my sisters or cousins. my grandma and i were taking a walk down her country road and she asked me what i wanted to be when i grew up. at the time (i think i was approx 10) it was a lawyer. she asked me if i wanted to be a good lawyer or a bad lawyer. i was confused by here question and answered, "good," of course. it wasn't until years later that i realized she was likely asking me whether i wanted to be a prosecutor or a defense attorney.

there was at least 10-15 years throughout my teens and twenties where i failed at maintaining a relationship with my grandma. i took her time for granted and wasted too many years and opportunities to spend time with her to get to know her as an adult. but i am so grateful that i woke up and made the effort during her last few years. yes, i could have done more and wish that i had but i made some precious memories with her. i loved visiting her in the morning...she was so full of life early in the day. i spent a day baking with her...we had planned to make cinnamon rolls and butterscotch pie. i remember getting to her house by 8am and she had already started on the dough because daylight was wasting...i guess i should've gotten there by 6am. ha ha ha

marianne and her great grandma minnie.