LMYR

Happy Birthday Dad!

For your birthday post this year I thought it would be fun to list a few of my favorite memories with you.

• Julia and I laying on the guest bed with our wet hair hanging over the edge and you sitting on a chair next to the bed pointing two blow-dryers at our heads on a Saturday night.
• Neil Young concert. Daddy-daughter date. The year 2000.

• You saying, "I bet I can make you smile," every time we were cranky or upset while we were growing up. You always could.
• You whispering that I'm your favorite daughter, and then turning to one of your other daughters and whispering the same thing.

• You playing the guitar for Franny when she was 18 months old. She loved that.
  

• You holding Franny the night she was born, sitting in my armchair all night and listening to Neil Young.
• You playing your guitar and singing "Blackbird."
  
• When we were sitting at dinner, and you used to pound on the table with your fist and scream "SILENCE!!" (But only when we begged you to do it.)
  
• The first time I called you for help and advice when I would have normally called Mom, and afterwards you said, "How was this? Did I do alright?"

I love you Dad. Thanks for being so wonderful.

Happy Birthday! Long may you run.

Grandma's not here

This is my Mom on Christmas morning not last year but the year before. She wouldn't like me posting this picture, but she'd hate me for posting the one I had from last year and so would Maggie. I think she looks really cute in this picture.

It was hard without her. Just like I thought it would be. It's not something I really want to write about apparently, since I started this post nearly a week ago and just can't seem to finish. But I also didn't want to just ignore it here on my blog.

Franny noticed she wasn't around often and made sure we were aware of it, too. Every now and then I'd hear her say, "Grandma's not here." I'm so glad she misses her grandma. My mom loves her so much. Once I even heard her pick up Sophie's toy cell phone and say, "Hi Grandma. I miss you."

I am so glad we went to California to be with the family though. It was definitely the best decision. It felt good to be together, and we laughed and enjoyed each other and played guitar hero and saw Juno and ate strawberry waffles and did the things we all used to do together. My Dad is amazing. I don't know how he managed to find the strength to decorate the house with all 9 boxes of Christmas decorations and buy everyone thoughtful and generous gifts and just be there for us all. One of my sisters was having a hard time and I was trying to comfort her when my Dad walked in and saw her crying. I was so touched by the look on his face. He walked right up and gave her a big hug. I was so glad I got to witness this small and simple thing. We are so blessed to have him as our father. I think my mom must be really pleased with how well he's handling their family. Man, my kids have it bad for their grandpa. They just love him.

I miss her.

Here's some pictures of Christmas this year.