Category Archives: In-laws

The great group of relatives I entered by saying “I do!”

Family Christmas ~ Round Two

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With inclement weather in the forecast for the following day, we decided to head northward late Saturday night, following our Christmas get-together with my family.  The darkness and snoring from the backseat made it a little dicey to stay alert, but we managed to down a few Coca Colas and keep each other talking….until I too succumbed to the slumber about an hour south of the bridge.

The first few days of our arrival found me feverishly typing away to finish our Christmas novelletter and the festive atmosphere and family fun provided the perfect breaks!  Growing up we always spent Christmas Day with my mom’s side of the family and while the fun used to take place at Grandma and Grandpa’s it’s now moved to Aunt Meri and Uncle Jeff’s house.  And, as I’ve learned over the past seven years, our “tradition” is in being non-traditional.

I recall my mother-in-law showing me a picture of Garth’s second Christmas.  Not only was I struck by the adorable toddler, but also by the place settings with crab salad and either pineapple or tomato juice.  Even if the red table cloth hadn’t given it away, the meal would have signified Christmas. 

The fact that our kids get to grow up with both the long-standing practices of Garth’s family and the ever-changing ways of mine gives them a very unique opportunity.  Having a full two weeks of break this year was great!  It allowed us to spend a full week up north and still have a good amount of time to come home, recover, and ring in the New Year with my family.  We still battled some sleepless nights again – but this time they were courtesy of our newest addition.  We’re already looking forward to relaxing evenings of next year when both kids will be consistently sleeping through the night!  (I know, I’ll likely be eating these words 12 months from now!)

Here’s a whole host of family fun, U.P. style!

Christmas Morning 7

Papa and Grandkids

Kegan and Grandma

Holiday Smiles

Smile Pretty Klaire

Gretchen and Deacon

Family Fun 2

Family Fun

Christmas Table

Emily and Papa

Dad and Seneca

Sweet Lily

Concentrating on Presents

Christmas Fun

Lily

Kids

Happy Birthday, Dad!

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Grandpa

There are many words I can think of that would describe you well.  Energetic.  Determined.  Hard-working.  Generous.  The list could go on and on.  I cannot tell you how thankful I am to be part of your amazing family.  I’ve learned so much about life and love.  I remember turning pens, cutting cedar shakes, documenting the dismantling of a barn, garden tours, and International travel just to name a few. 

I always love the intense laughter around the kitchen table and the way you dream of a project and then plan it to perfection.  I love watching “the guys” work and play together and can only trust that the caliber of Garth’s character is a testament to the way he was raised.

I’m not sure I’ve said it to you, but sometimes I wish there weren’t as many miles between our families, so we could visit more – especially now, with the kids.  Yet, at the same time, I wouldn’t change anything about “the resort” because it’s always such a welcomed change.  I can already see the little ones enjoying countless summers wandering through garden rows, and roasting marshmallows over the fire before camping out in the cabin. 

With all the memories left to make, I hope this birthday and the coming year offer you every happiness!

Just like Dad

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I’ve always been a pack rat, saving ticket stubs, boarding passes and other momentos that tell “my story” – even if they end up packed in storage tubs or tucked away in dresser drawers and jewlery boxes.  When Garth’s folks came to visit Seneca, they brought alone a large portfolio envelope that housed several works of art from Garth’s childhood.  (I’ll try to snap a few pics of my favorites from the collection!)

Then, a couple weeks later, we made our way northward to visit them in the U.P. and Mom excitedly said she had a shirt for Calder, and she pulled out this…

Daddy's Shirt

Perfectly frayed along the bottom and somewhat thin, my heirloom-loving heart soared at the sight.  Here’s the story as I understand it.  Sometime when Garth himself was a wee one, he was given the nickname of Garfo Q. Tucket (I believe by Grandpa) and it stuck enough that he was given his own special shirt.  Now, it’s not something that he’s called on a daily basis…but it does have a nice ring to it, don’t ya think?

Watching Calder toddle away in his daddy’s shirt gave me that little lump in my throat and made my eyes tingle.  It also challenged me to keep track of a few treasured items (blankie?) as the years fly by…

Happy Birthday, Mom!

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Mom C

It seems perfectly fitting that your birthday falls right at the beginning of the school year.  Your years spent as a teacher, elementary principal, and now school board member have taught you so much, and as I’m in the early stages of my teaching career, I love “talking shop” with you.

Yet, your teaching didn’t begin or end in the classroom.  Each day I spend with your son, I’m amazed by his kindness, thoughtfulness, attention to detail and his integrity to name a few of his exceptional qualities.  As part of your family, I’ve come to know that these are traits that are highly valued and that you (and Dad) have instilled in him over the years.

I’m so thankful to have been blessed to become part of such an amazing family, and to be able to call such a fabulous woman “Mom.”  I look forward to seeing you tomorrow as you come to visit!  I wish you a very happy birthday and a terrific year ahead!

Ready, set…sleep!

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As promised, I hopped rolled out of bed this morning to get the final items packed so we could begin our journey northward to visit with hubby’s family.  To be honest, I was mildly disappointed by our 6:11am departure time…I really wanted to be out the door right on time.

Calder was a magnificent traveler, yet again, and my sweetheart was one heck of a chauffeur!  Our stop about an hour in was necessary on many levels – stock up on the much needed baby food and give G. a chance to wake up seeing as how the three of us in the car (mom, baby and dog) were all snoozin’ very soundly!

We’ve had a lovely day of laughter, treats (someone please move the cookie tray away from me!), family and fun!  Did I mention we had a few treats too?  Seriously…I brought several to add to the mix and there were plenty already here!

After our marathon nap on the drive, I highly doubted a great afternoon nap for Little Man.  Yet I was pleasantly surprised.  Following the lunch bustle, he settled in nicely for a good 2 hours.  I assumed my position on the couch with the good book from my stocking and made it a whopping 3 pages before I too gave in to sleep!

I even missed good-byes with Gretchen who will be living in the DR again until July!  Hopefully she’ll forgive me!!  It must have been needed because I’m feeling pretty great tonight!  Maybe that’s the answer to coping with the stress of teaching…a daily nap!  I’ll let you know if I figure out how to work that in!