Old & New

On last week's visit to Mema's, I loved seeing the difference in hands as Mema helped Carter with a puzzle.

Mema's 96th Birthday!

Personally, this was the best birthday yet. Mema's 96th birthday will always hold a special place in my heart. Just two or three months ago, we were on a spiralling down course, after a couple of major falls, she had. We have all worked hard to research and find the best options for her and be diligent to do whatever we possibly can to keep to keep her living independently, what she wants so badly.

After a bit of a roller coaster the past few months, Mema is looking and acting the best she has in six months and we couldn't be happier to help her blow out her 96th birthday candle this past Sunday.

Carter (4.5), Mema (96) & Addie (3)

A Trip To Mema's House.

For more than twenty five years, Mema has lived in these same apartments. There is something comforting about the routine we have during our regular visits. Some of my earliest memories near Carter's age were in her apartment. She would pan sear me a bacon wrapped fillet with green beans and I would eat it on the very same coffee table that is still in the center of the room.

 The sound of the metal latch unlocking. You can more than likely always look to the right and see a filled up bird feeder attracting dozens of birds that Mema can watch out her window.

 By the time you put your hand on the brass screen door handle, she was across the room, getting ready to stand up to greet us, each and every time.

 Her blue ottoman is her favorite spot where she can see everything going on in the apartment complex.

 Always big hugs!

 You can always count on peppermints in Mema's house at all times. 

 The kids keep busy by ringing the small bells she has all around and looking at the dozens of framed pictures.

 This particular visit, they took a tour of her kitchen. Carter was probably trying to score some yummy sweet snacks she has around. I remember as a child, she LOVED making angel food cakes for us.

 Being nosy in her bathroom.

 This visit, we took down a picture of myself, from when I was around Addie's age and had fun showing Addie what I used to look like...

7.31.11

What a great Sunday visit.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt At The Lake.

The girls got dressed up in their Easter best and paraded out the front walk to the awaiting John Deere tractor and hay ride. The Easter Bunny conveniently comes every year while we are on the 20 minutes ride around the neighborhood.

Then the Easter Egg hunt was on!

After the hunt of over 200 eggs, it was time to find a comfortable place in the shade, to go through all the loot...

Carter seemed to find a lot of the "golden eggs" with cash this year.

Addie was fascinated with the balloons in the eggs and wanted to blow all of them up...

My favorite of the day...

What a relaxing and low key Easter weekend.

Mema's BIG 95th Birthday Party!

This is the birthday girl on the right and her little sisiter, Miram at a young 88. This was the first time they had seen each other in nearly 5 years. Miram spent the night with Mema that night and they said they stayed up talking until midnight. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall taking pictures of that night!

This picture is just of the family that came from ALL parts of Texas, Abeline, Vernon, Dallas and Washington State, to help Mema celebrate.

Many of the lady cousins all together.

There was lots of champagne to celebrate such a wonderful lady!

 A few weeks before the party, I mailed a letter to each and every guest asking them to mail me letters to Murph/Mema uncluding funny stories, memories and pictures. Everyone came through beautifully and we were all able to present  her with a book of all of them put together on her special day!