This month my parents,
Mammy and Trixie,
Graham,
Alan and Kiely,
Ashley,
and
soon to be
myself, Todd and Tony
(along with 7 others)
are in the traveling mode!
My parents went to SC to a tennis tournament at Easter and
then headed to FL to see Chad and Becky.
I wish that I had some photo's to insert here but no one took any :(
Easter weekend Mammy and Trixie came
to Fishers to stay :)
Saturday we went to Wabash to watch Graham play tennis.
It was pretty chilly out there as a spectator!
I was so glad that Mammy got to visit Wabash AND see Graham play!
The next day was Easter.
Alan and Kiely celebrated with his parents.
Kiely sent me this picture in a text saying Happy Easter!
Vera's first Easter!
Evan and Ashley celebrated their first Easter as husband and wife
with her Dad and Dad's family.
(please ignore the winter centerpiece…It's gone now! Ha!)
After our dinner Graham played the guitar for Mammy before she left.
She loves hearing him play...
...and so do the dogs!
He serenaded them to right sleep!
Something else that can serenade one to sleep is hearing
the creek travel over the rocks into the lake!
It filled up quickly after days of rain!
This is a shot continuing on around the back.
I've not seen it so full!
It sure was pretty to listen to and watch.
Next on the list to travel was Graham.
Again, for the third time, the team went to Ohio
to play tennis…
…and this time they came back to Wabash as the most winning tennis team in history!!!
This was the tweet that proclaimed the title!
Super bunch of men!
I'll miss this team.
They sure know how to have a lot of fun!!
Alan and Kiely know how to have a lot of fun too!
Their travels took them to Sedona, AZ for a few days.
This is what they woke up to everyday!
Our country is so beautiful!!
Their first full day out West.
They were ready for an adventure!
I got this picture in a text one day!
It stopped me in my tracks…
I just couldn't believe how much she looked like her Momma!
They were headed up in a helicopter!
Kiely said that she knew why her brother loved to fly them.
These were taken after they hiked to the top of Cathedral Rock.
She has always loved to hike!
The last full day they went to the Grand Canyon.
They got these pictures and then after fifteen minutes the fog rolled in and that was it!
I'm so glad she got these beautiful pictures!
While they were away I traveled my little buns over to their house for the week
and stayed with Vera!!!!
She was cutting her eye teeth…which everybody knows what a joy that is!
Poor baby :(
We went without the usual pretty bows this afternoon
and just took the day as it came.
She still was in the mood to explore!
Bath time was her favorite time of the day that day.
She played for about twenty-five minutes in there.
I just kept warming up the water and blowing bubbles :)
She went to town brushing her new teeth!
I think that toothbrush was the best teether of the day! ha!
She's still exploring even while brushing her teeth :)
(yes, there are electrical covers on the outlets!)
The following day I realized at bath time that I hadn't taken any pictures!
Shocking I know!!!
Vera loves to put all of her letters etc. into the bath.
This is her getting ready for her bath.
Letters are also great for teething!
She was standing up and taking all of her letters out.
Bath time was over for a second night :)
Brushing those new pearly whites.
I let her play in her room while I picked things up.
Those little legs…I can't even!!!!!
Giving goodnight kisses to everything in the basket :)
This was my Instagram post that night.
I wrote,
"You bring color to my life!"
And she does :)
The next day we got up and dressed in our Wabash colors!
We were going to go with Grammy to cheer on Graham
but,
she was just too stuffed up and had a cough that I thought it best
we not upset her routine.
And,
she REALLY does NOT like her car seat!
The last thing she needed was to be confined for an hour and a half!
I had jeans on that had holes in them and she LOVED them!
After I put Vera down for the night I hung out with Alan and Kiely's other precious girls
Mercedes and Molly.
I just love them so much!
This was the Instagram post for that day.
I tried to always put something on there so her Mommy and Daddy
could see her and hopefully not miss her as much :)
I tried really hard to get a few good selfies with the flowers and Vera…
I said I TRIED!
We would run home everyday to let the poodles run outside.
This particular day these were in bloom and Vera was wearing yellow
so,
I had to get some pictures!
She's my little daffodil!
The last day with my sweet girl!
She was feeling better but her nose was still running really bad :(
I must have wiped it a million times
and
put about a gallon of Aquaphor under her nose and on her cheeks.
You can really see those eye teeth popping through in this picture!
Vera had a lot of visitors this day.
Grammy Kay had visited twice in the week
and then this morning Evan and Ashley surprised us!
I think it's safe to say she liked their visit!
Still chewing on anything that would ease the pain.
But, she bit down a little too hard on the end of this toy :(
All and all she had a much better day and played a lot.
Before nap time
I had to change her morning outfit because she spilled water on the top.
She was ready to play after lunch.
Look at those precious DIMPLES!!!
That evening Tom and Karen came for a visit.
That crazy Tom!
He grabs her bunny ears...
…and puts them on.
Oh boy, watch out Tom!
Ha! She will have none of that!
So sweet :)
Who knows what Tom was doing to get her to smile
but,
it worked!
It was such a fun day!
Alan and Kiely made it so comfortable to stay there.
Kiely stocked the room I stayed in with goodies and made some awesome meals for me!
What a wonderful reflection of their parenting I see in Vera.
I treasured every moment I had with her :)
A couple of days after
Alan and Kiely were back home
Kiely said she snapped this picture after saying,
"Do you miss your Aunt Holly?"
I melt!
I also notice her right hand telling everyone that I'm number one! ha!
She sure makes life FUN!!!
The first day home from Alan and Kiley's
I cleaned the back screened-in patio
and got the cushions out!
I wanted to just sit out there and take in all of the smells, sights and sounds of Spring!
The poodles were so happy to have their spot back!!
We literally sat out there all day and into the night!
That was a week ago…
…the doors have been shut ever since that beautiful 75 degree day
because it has been so cold and rainy.
I am really tired of the 55 degree days and rain
but,
April showers sure do bring
"May" flowers!
These flowering crabs in the front are so pretty this year.
Even from the inside!
This tree I can enjoy as I fold laundry in the downstairs laundry room.
And this tree Todd enjoys from his den.
I didn't use any filter on these last two pictures.
It's just all of God's artwork!
Speaking of artwork,
Ashley makes hair/braids look like a piece of art!
She traveled to Florida with these ladies to shoot the
Dottie Couture Look Book.
Here she is styling the models hair.
This is one of my favorite pictures! :)
They were in Seaside FL for this photo shoot.
She is so talented!
and
is also very photogenic!
She was asked to model a few pieces for the
Spring Look Book.
The pool shots were done where they were staying at
Panama City Beach.
They really did have a blast!
So proud of you, Ashley :)
The next traveler on the list is my niece in SC, Sarah!
I love her caption,
"Yay for driving alone!!"
I really can't believe she is old enough to drive.
Be safe out there, Sweetie!
Pretty soon her sister,
my other niece in SC, Sophie
will be driving!
For right now she will just have to be satisfied with driving the soccer ball into the goal!
So thankful for social media at times like this.
I don't get to see these two much so I'm thrilled to "see" them through IG posts.
Love and miss them to pieces!
Another person I love and miss to pieces is my sister, Lori.
She died nine years ago April, 25.
The days leading up to her death date almost seem harder than the actual day itself.
Just remembering her struggle and all of the uncertainty that filled that time period
still is just too much to handle.
However, the day she died all of that uncertainty was gone.
For, I am certain about the place that was prepared for her,
and whom prepared it, and where she went.
Kiely went over to Mom and Dad's this April 25,
(I'm so glad she did!)
and took some precious pictures
that I asked if I could share.
Vera just loves my Dad, her Pappy!
I look at her here and she reminds me of Lori so much at that age!
And,
Lori was always Daddy's girl :)
Grammy"s back porch kisses are the best!
But, just wait Vera!
You will have some of the best back porch conversations with this wonderful woman
when you are growing up!
I know this first hand :)
“The question, O me! so sad, recurring -
What good amid these, O me, O life?
That you are here - that life
exists and identity,
that the powerful play goes on,
and you may contribute a verse.”
Life does go on indeed!
Vera exists because of Lori
and
Lori lives on through Vera :)
And,
Lori through Vera definitely
"contributes a verse!"
Well,
the final travelers of this month are myself, Todd, Tony and seven others.
April 30 we will be heading to
ITALY!
I still cannot believe it!
I am not a world traveler and I am apprehensive.
But,
I pray that I will be able to push all fear and doubt aside
because I truly want to enjoy this blessing!
ARRIVEDERCI!
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