Sunday, September 4, 2011

Snippets of Summer

Summer Snippets 
Fragments of Time Spent Together
Small Treasures Stored 
As Precious Memories 

Time spent in Colorado with Grandma and Grandpa wouldn't be complete without

sliding down the big rock in Manitou,
trying some Manitou water,
and eating ice cream in Old Colorado City.
These times become very special memories to treasure.

Once everyone gets to Grandma's and Grandpa's house, there is only one thing on our minds:
"Let's go jump!"

Trampoline time with the cousins is always so much fun.
The trampoline is a place to share special conversations, a place where cousins can catch up on things.
A place to perfect new tricks.


The trampoline is where the kids go as soon as they crawl out of bed in the morning.

Bed is a blow-up mattress in the living room.
Three cousins can fit on it sideways.
Hannah opts for the couch.


It is almost a ritual.
Get up.
Walk out to the trampoline.
Once everyone is in place,
grab hands,
and jump.

Good morning, world!

Now let's go make some pancakes.
Mason, master chef, is teaching Gillian how to make pancakes from scratch.
Mason was born just 36 hours before Gillian.


This summer only two siblings were able to be together
at Mom's house.
They spent a few days at their sister Amy's before coming down to Mom's.
Amy had to work, so she missed all the fun, 
or maybe she just had some great peace and quiet.


The patio, built by Jon, in Julie's Garden
is designed to be a nice place to rest between jumping times on the trampoline.



This year, the nest on Grandma's front porch is a huge attraction.


The babies hatched just in time so Mama Bird could show them off to the grandchildren.


The two youngest grandchildren,
born a month apart,
received matching bears on their first Christmas.
Guess which one has been half way around the world twice.


Way too soon, the few days we had together were over.
Jonathan, Samantha, and Atticus posed for a family photo before heading back to Boston.


Soon after they left,
Keicha packed up the car so she could drive back to Utah.
Cousin time wasn't quite over yet.
She took Hannah and Mason to Utah with her so they could spend the week with their other cousins in Utah.  This year Grandma didn't come along.


My husband has a saying when it comes to visits from the grandchildren.
"The headlights are always wonderful,
but the taillights are even better."


Teary eyed, after hugs all around,  with my head full of wonderful memories, I head back to the house towards mountains of laundry!  That keeps me busy for a few days. 
 I then remember something my father always said, 
"I'm not wired for kids anymore."  
He was right.
The visits are grand.
It is also good to know that my children are now adults with lives of their own to live.
I have snippets of  summer caught in wonderful snapshots 
to remind me of those precious times we have together.

I'm amazed at how much the grandchildren have grown and grateful that we've all come so far since last year's Bittersweet Summer.

*Many of these beautiful photos were taken by my daughter Keicha.  Others were taken by my husband.  Thanks for capturing the memories.

23 comments:

  1. Wonderful, Sally!!!!! You are fortunate to have so many grandchildren whom you can spend time with.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. What a fun post! I am so happy you had the Grandkids over and now those those special Memories are yours forever to look back on and treasure. That Trampoline looks like so much fun. I wish I had one in my back yard! The pictures of the kids jumping are awesome!
    Blessings, Joanne

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  3. What wonderful memories you're providing them as well as you. It's a tribute to your family's healing and the assurance that it will continue. Time with you, time with their cousins- sweet.

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  4. I think your husband's expression is very apropro. I chuckled when I read it.

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  5. What a wonderful post, filled with great pictures. And I also love your new header, Sally. That's a funny but very appropriate quote about the headlights and taillights.

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  6. Lovely family photos for us to look at today, and I enjoyed them. It's good when cousins get to spend time together like that. I loved the quote from your husband about the headlights and tailgate lights! Hee Hee! All these memories are to be treasured, because they grow up so quickly.

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  7. Great summer memories being made there. I still think fondly about my own summer times spent with cousins at the grandparents' house. It's nice that they are close in age to enjoy the same activities.

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  8. I understand your joy in the memories that were made and I understand your exhaustion as you recall them. It's great that you got so many pictures. It looks like they all had a great and memorable visit with Grandma and Grandpa.

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  9. Wonderful times spent with your grandchildren, captured in the photos; memories forever.

    Lovely post Sally.

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  10. What a wonderful visit you had and just think how exhausted you would have been with out the trampoline to use up boundless energy.
    Loved that well worn bear. It has been rubbed thin with love.
    Now, catch your breath.

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  11. I loved this post, Sally! Thanks for sharing such wonderful snippets of your time with your grandchildren. You're very blessed. And it's so great that you appreciate your children's adultness and competence. I'm sure that makes for a lot of family harmony. I loved your husband's comment about headlights and tail lights! So true!!

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  12. Ooh, I would love to have that trampoline! What a wonderful way for the grandkids to interact, exercise, burn off some energy, and form lasting memories. Wonderful post.

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  13. Looks like it was a wonderful family for all of you. Too short, though, I suspect.

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  14. Sally, you've posted such wonderful photographs to aid us in enjoying with you the gathering of your family this summer. As did many of your commenters, I loved the line about headlights and taillights.

    Next weekend my cousin and his wife will be visiting for three days. A week later, a longtime friend is visiting for several days. I'm sure I'll rejoice when I see their headlights---and I'll collapse on the couch and take a long nap when their taillights fade into the morning mist.

    I'll remember your post when all this happens.
    Thank you.

    Peace.

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  15. Sally, this is such an evocative post. Love the ritual of the trampoline, the many activities, and Grandma's delight at their arrival as well as her fond farewell at their departure.

    I'm not wired for kids anymore, either. Know JUST how you feel!

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  16. There memories will be as sweet as yours. A very important thought.

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  17. So glad to hear you had this wonderful time with your family, and now have such an abundance of happy memories to warm the winter to come.

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  18. what fun and so happy you got to spend time with family

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  19. Sounds like a perfect summer. I hope my grandchildren have cousins someday. Do you use the trampoline? I always wanted one.

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  20. Your words and images captured the joy of grandchildren beautifully. And I got a chucle from your huband's and father's comments!

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  21. You made some wonderful memories, Sally! Perhaps I have to teach you the Peace and Quiet Dance.

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  22. Thank you for sharing wonderful photos and beautiful memories. You are right when you say they are to be treasured. Indeed, they will grow so fast! But it looks as though these are indeed wonderful moments to keep in your heart!

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