Christmas Eve

Haley is sooo excited...it's Christmas Eve and it couldn't get here fast enough as far as she is concerned.
I remember what it was like as a kid and I got excited too.

There is something about about Christmas that is just so magical and some may say the magic comes from all the gifts but you know, looking back, my memories are not about the gifts (though I had plenty) the memories that stand out most in my mind are of other things like the way things smell .... the smells of Christmas, LOL
For real though...Christmas wrapping paper doesn't smell like regular wrapping paper, not to me anyway LOL Chrismas has it's own distinct smell. (So I'm a dork, you all knew that already.)
I love decorating the tree and turning off all the lights and drinking hot chocolate, I love the music and driving around looking at Christmas lights, I love making Christmas crafts out of weird things like baby food jars and making pine cones look like little Christmas trees. It's all the little things that make the holidays special.
For me...Christmas is about love and laughter and coming together like at no other time of the year, that's what I remember when I think of Christmas and I hope when Haley is older this will be what she remembers most as well.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all good things for the year ahead.

Model is Miss Haley

BlogUpp! | the blog: Sometimes Less is More

BlogUpp! | the blog: Sometimes Less is More

Goodbye Grammy

Goodbye Grammy

Well Grammy died Saturday evening.

 Haley was there visiting (her dad Dave lives there too) but she was in her room when Grammy passed on. 

Thinking it was best, Haley's dad called me and I went to get her.

After being told that Grammy just died Haley didn't show any reaction at that time, she continued on with what she was doing as if nothing had happened. On our drive home I stopped for gas and I adjusted my mirror so I could see her, as soon as she made eye contact with me, she broke down, the tears just start to fall. We both sat there for moment and just cried together.

Grammy has been another parent to Haley her whole life. She would take care of Haley while her dad would work during the week that he would have her. Haley spent a lot of time with her up until this last year. Grammy seemed to be getting tired more but at 78 years, that was expected.

Less than a month ago Grammy went in for not feeling well and looking jaundice, now she is gone. Grammy refused chemo as they said it would only buy her 2 more months to live, she chose instead, to return home and die. Hospice provided her care.

On Saturday when Grammy passed away it became overcast, with dark clouds looming over, the day prior was around 90 degrees. Yesterday it rained for a while and then the clouds began to break up with the sun poking through. Haley and I went outside, she took her umbrella in case it started to rain again.

I had my camera as always and when I glanced over at her she was just standing there looking as if she had been left behind. That is when I took this photograph. She was trying to play but didn't really have it in her. Instead we talked about Grammy. We decided that the reason the sun was coming out was because Grammy made it to heaven.

Grammys name is Marlys Brown

Goodbye Grammy