Nana...

My Nana passed away today.  This picture is the last time that I saw her nearly 11 years ago.  And it was a great visit.  We laughed and Nana loved holding Connor.  And I remember coming back from the bathroom, or maybe I just looked away for a second.  Anyway, Nana had a funny twinkle in her eye as she was holding an empty straw.  Yes, she was giving my 6 month old Coke through the end of the straw.  Yup.  Nana and PopPop were traditional grandparents that gave grandkids things that they definitely were not supposed to have!  But it was so funny. This was right before Scott came home for R&R from Iraq.   We can't remember exactly how this worked.  I flew from Alaska, to New Jersey, then to Florida to meet Scott.  But the New Jersey trip is a blur.  This is when Connor met Nana and also Grandma Brock for the first and the only time.  Gram passed away not quite a year after this picture when we were in between Alaska and Spain.

I am so happy that Scott found this picture tonight. I could visualize the picture in my head but now having the digital copy and can finally print it out. I am terrible with pictures.  I take a lot of pictures and never print them.  Now I am going to go through and organize and print pictures.

Some of my favorite memories with Nana were sleeping over at her house and watching Dallas and Falcon Crest!  Isn't that funny?  I definitely don't think I was old enough to be watching those shows but I guess I turned out ok ; )
(uh-em, Clyde and Columbo, Flash and other shows to be named!)  And walking down to the Avenue in Kearny to go shopping. One of my absolutely favorite things to do with Nana was to count her money.  I had no idea that Nana and PopPop really didn't have much.  To me, they were rich.  Nana was a waitress and I used to count her tips.  How I loved counting those dollar bills!  I have nothing but good memories of my Nana. And while I know she is in a much better place now after years of declining health,  right now, I am sad. 

Gram on the left, Nana on the right
 1997

Nana is sitting in between Aunt Marie and Kay.  I haven't looked at these pictures in year.  Oh, Kay.  She was the absolute kindest person on earth.  

Matt and Nana walking in to our welcome back to the US/wedding reception that was in October 1997.

Not sure what I was going to do...but this is what I came up with on a whim and it looks apple themed, right?

Now to make the napkins apple themed...cut paper towel rolls and painted green. I need a little apple sticker or something ...hmmm

Apple paper plates for Amelia's Apple Centers at school on Wednesday ...super cute! Thankful for the Internet and easy, crafty ideas!

Soccer and Shake Shack Sunday!

Sunday evening swim with daddy doo

We introduced Daddy to Donut King today😊 it's the halfway point to Granny and Clyde's house 😊

Connor and Scott went for a hike yesterday. They did not join the crazy people in the water for a swim!!!

Amelia went to a friend's birthday party today...it was really cute and standing on the podium with a medal was a highlight!

Amelia had more fun playing inside the hotel suite! What a cool room! This is inside the bedroom...sliding doors to the tub!!! She was playing and taking orders like it was a drive through!

A few pics from the hotel swim at Bay Lake Tower where Granny, Clyde, Carol and Bobby were enjoying some luxury DVC time!

Popthsy drove all the way to our house to clean Bonnie's cage because we have ants and I can't talk! Lost my voice halfway through school today...told him that I could do it but he came anyway...Daad!

Yesterday was a donuts with parents morning for PreK and Kindergarten. It was an Aloha theme 🌺

Amelia made this card for the Instructional Assistant in her class, Ms. Adele...amazing!

Picture day at school...we got home late last night so I had to give Amelia a morning shower so she her hair would be nice and fresh for her pictures today! That's a 5:45am shower for a 5 year old...she did so great and didn't complain about getting up earlier!

A quick picture with Tink on our way out 😊

Keys to the Kingdom with our tour guide Nick!

Soccer day for Connor today...they lost but he played really good!

Amelia and her friend Hannah in Science lab today!