Saturday, September 27, 2008

Week 8 - A week of remembering and family

Week 8 started out fairly quiet. Monday was a normal day of school. Here is Kristen working on her math. When she finished up with her work for the day, she left to help Gran Julie with moving.

Aaron had a little hands on learning.....ummm, mechanics class?


The weather was nice so the kids really wanted to be outside. Here is Momo doing her math on the couch in the garage.

After mechanics class, it was time for Aaron's lawn maintenance class!!



Tuesday we had some more fun for history. We learned about the Minoan Civilization. They played a game called bull leaping so we played leap frog!








That lead to just some fun playing in the yard.

Or....bucket sitting in the yard!


After that, since we had also learned about Stonehenge, the kids attempted to make a perfect circle. Kristen stood in the center and held one end of the string while Aaron, Morgan and Ian dropped golf balls around using the string to measure out the circle. It wasn't as easy as it sounded but they did a pretty good job!







All done!!



Wednesday we decided it was not a day for school. Sept. 17th marked 4 years since my mama passed away. I was not in the best frame of mind for schooling and the kids weren't feeling like it either so we took the day off. I did get the house cleaned up for the company we had coming the next day and we went to church that night. Thursday morning while I was at work, the kids did some schoolwork. That afternoon, our company arrived. Aunt Trina, Uncle Tony, Asha and Nicole came for the weekend. There was plenty of ping pong played the next few days. Here are Randy, Tony, Carroll and Aaron playing one night.


Momo and Ian were just being cute!





Friday, we just spent the day hanging out and visiting. We got up Saturday morning and began our full day of family fun. We had planned a cookout so Uncle Bobo, Aunt Dawn, Chelle, Linzy and Lil Rob, and Uncle Johnny, Aunt Erin and Trey came over. Mema came over too for a little while. That afternoon, the Cockrell family also came over for a while! I was just enjoying being with family so I didn't take a lot of pictures. Here are a few though.
Mema, Trina, Johnny, Momo and I visiting while the guys played ping pong.
The best Mema in the world!!!
Here is my nephew, Trey!


Like I said, there was not a shortage of ping pong!!
Uncle Johnny and Aunt Erin....( and Lil'Scooter in the belly!!)
After lots of food and some softball, horseshoes, playing and of course more ping pong we all headed out to the cemetery. This is something we do every year usually on the 17th and usually it is just our family. Since we were having the cookout this year, and the 20th was also the day of Mama's funeral, we decided to do it together. We went out to Mama's grave and the grand kids all release balloons to send kisses and hugs to Grandma. The kids did the same thing at her funeral. It was right at dark when we got there but it was still a special time. The two little boys chatting at the headstone while Robert filled the bird feeder.
Just some special minutes......
Robert and I handing out the balloons.


Almost ready to release them...........
Lots of love and kisses headed to Grandma..........
Watching the balloons disappear......

Just some quiet minutes remembering together.......

Asha and Nicole......




It is so hard to believe 4 years have gone by. It still seems unreal but yet the pain is still so fresh for all of us. Mama was so very special to everyone that knew her. We will always keep her memory alive. I know she was smiling down on us that day as we spent the day together, remembering her.....that is exactly what she would want us to be doing. We love and miss you so much Grandma!

2 comments:

Rhonda said...

Aww I remember the releasing of the balloons for your mom last year too. Such a wonderful thing that your family does for her remembrance. I know that those days get rough for you. HUGZ hon.

Mama Teaching 3 said...

I think the balloons being released is the sweetest thing ever. I have never heard of it...beautiful!