My new tattoo and the story of us

Three years ago we lost my grandma.  I think about her every day.
That sounds so cliche.
Which is weird because when she was here, I didn't.  I took for granted that she was here.  But man do I miss her.  In fact, I think I miss her more than is normal. 
But who can gauge that? And since when do I care about normal? 

About a year ago, I started to think about it getting a new tattoo in memory of her.  I wanted one of memory, beauty and the comfort of closeness.  Maybe something that just we shared. 

She always called me Angel Katie.  And I'd always say "you just think what you want Grandma" or "if you only knew".  She'd just laugh and say you always will be my Angel. 

That's what it would be. The word Angel.  In her handwriting. 

But I couldn't find that in writing anywhere. 

Grandma always wrote very detailed descriptions on the back of photographs.  Name, date, age, description of the even.  Sometimes she would even write it on the front of the picture, if it was a long time ago. 

But I was missing a box of pictures. 
I couldn't find it anywhere and I knew it was in this house. 
I knew I could piece the word together, but wanted the whole word. 
Angel.

So I stared looking anywhere that had greeting cards.  I know where most things are in the house, but couldn't find that box.
Inside Ella's box of baby cards was one random card.  Angel Katie it said inside.  I started crying so hard.  Like it was just in there for a reason. 

So here we are.  Close at last.  

My all-time favorite picture of her.

Let's get crackin!

Hope you had a great weekend! It was an awesomely warm weekend (well, Saturday was). Here is a little photo recap of our weekend.

This was a fun idea until I needed to take my make-up off...

  

made for windows...

Not for mouths...

   

Here we are getting ready for a little egg cracking. It's a Armenian tradition that I've been doing my whole life.  Here is more info on it. I look like I'm missing an upper tooth. I'm not. And have a crazy curl. Sorry bout that.

My violent 5 year-old did this.

If you can't be near family, have pieces of them with you. 100 year-old glasses NEED mimosas in them. And china deserves to be used.

By the end of the day we looked like this. This is considered a weak moment.

How was your weekend?

Winter tubing trip

We decided to head out on a little family get away (1 hour is a get-away right?) on Saturday.  We went snow tubing.  In MN, you have about 3 minutes in the summer if you want to go water tubing, then it turns back to winter.  So, snow tubing it was!


Looks harmless right?  It's a hill with Crisco on it.  In my mind.

Me and my goose.  Before she left me in the dust to do it by herself.  I'll remember that.

The real us.

My family!

Are you tired?  Buck up, we have another hour to go.  :)  Or maybe it was the 1lb bag of fruit snacks you just had.

Want a snack?  hmmm.

 

We think this is when the fever set in.  Time to go.

In closing (lol), it was a blast.  This mom wanted no spin (thank-you sir), no fast lanes and a snack in between.  That's how I roll.


What winter activity is your favorite?  If it involves a beach because you are in CA, lie to me.  ;)

Katie

Tell Your Story {a link-up}- Surrounded Yourself

Back story.  About 13 years ago I moved away from my home in MI for my "job".  I moved for a job transfer.  To be near the boy I loved.  Ok, it was for the boy I loved and it just so happened to work out for a job transfer.  :)

It worked out.

That's him below.   He's mine.  ;)

As we settle in to our "perfect for us" life, I have learned ways to help from missing my family so much.

Granted I have Facetime and the phone, I still love having this collection of my family around me.  I have learned to surround myself with family items passed down to me from family members. {I can't say that I would have wanted any of this "stuff" when I was in my 20's}.  But I love them now.  They make me feel closer to the family that is states away or no longer with us.

Whether its a family recipe in my grandma's handwriting or in a frame, I try to surround myself by the things that have been loved by others.  Things that are now mine to share.

An old milk jug

Some of my beautiful Grandma Pat's jewelry. Including button bracelets!  So fun!

I put old family and wedding pics around the house.  

Some newly passed down stemware.

My great-grandma's hot chocolate pot.  Um, how cool is that?

Our newest old addition.  Ollllld skis from a great-grandparent.  Or great-great. ;)

I never would have imagined feelings for these old items when I was younger.
But I'm so lucky that I have items to go along with awesome memories and support.


How do you keep from missing your family?

I am linking up with Andi from The Hollie Rogue. Share your story with us and link-up!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.thehollierogue.com/category/tell-your-story/" title="The Hollie Rogue" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7127/8167428313_179e1da51d_b.jpg" alt="tell your story new" alt="The Hollie Rogue" style="border:none;" /></a></div></
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Grandma Pat's chocolate chip cookies

 

I thought I would share my beautiful Grandma Pat's chocolate chip cookie recipe.

I think she would want you all to have it. :)

 

 

 

 

Preheat the oven to 350

1 box of yellow cake mix

1/2 cup of butter softened

2 teaspoons of vanilla

2 T of water

1 12oz. bag of milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup of nuts (optional)

 

Mix away!

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT.

Get two spoons (scoop with one and use the other to push off the spoon).

Scoop about a tablespoon size dollop onto the pan.

If you try to roll it in your hands, you will cry.

It's super sticky.

 

 

 

 

Cook for 12 minutes.

 

 

 

 

Let them cool a little, pour some milk and enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Friends who stopped by!

 

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Just Listen

As I listen to my dad spend time with my daughter, I can't help but wish I had taken in every moment as a child. His patience with her is more than mine is on most days. Together they are like good buddies.

She asks questions about the tools in his workshop.

About how many fairy houses he has made.

Will that noise be loud?

He answers and teaches. He is happy to have someone to hang with and that it is her.

 

I thought the workshop was his hideaway when I was younger. A place to hide presents or to do weird things that I didn't understand. He was always in there tinkering away. Making something that I didn't care about...unless it was for me. I didn't appreciate his tinkering then.

Turns out he can make anything and everything.

 

{ Making the secret fairy house...shhhhh! }

 

I hear them singing a Christmas song together while they work. I immediately was to document it some how. Take a picture. Make a video.

But I don't. I just let the moment be.

I soak it in.

I appreciate it.

 

I listen to their funny conversations.

"Don't forget to tell people that these are fairy windows because they are round!"-dad

Hola!- Ella to grandpa. Hola!-Grandpa to Ella

I'm thirsty. Can I have orange juice? Can I have cranberry juice? Can you carry me? I'll close the door so you can have "privatcy".

 

I find myself being overwhelmed watching them.

I think we live so far away, they won't know each other. They see each other a few times a year.

But I don't need to worry.

The time they spend together is quality time. And filled with love and fun. A time of memories that they make and decide on.

 

It's their time.

And I am greatful.

 

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Blessed

We live far from our grandmas and grandpas.

She is so in love with them

Any little together activity, I try to document.

 

We are lucky. And in love.

 

 

 

My heart swells.

 

 

 

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Lightbulb moment

Ever think your heart might explode with love for your child? Or for someone you love?

Me. I have.

We had seen a little kids choir sing carols at school on Saturday morning. A little spark went off in someone's head.

P.S. NOTHING is cuter than a kids choir.

The next night, Ell wanted to sing a song for us. 45 minutes later, her show ended. She had sung/sang?/danced/pranced thru the whole Disney princess cd.

I have never felt so much love for her.

We weren't there.

She was just being Ella.

It was just us. Her favorite people. Our family. 3.

 

 

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