Memorial

It is fitting that Memorial Day weekend is about remembering, about stopping to thank those who so selflessly and proudly put their lives on the lines so we can make...

memories of us.

One last CityFest, even if we missed most of the free food. All of us scavenging through our cars to come up with snacks, learning lessons about waiting in line for the littlest among us, playing hard with friends, and making it nearly a quarter the way through the movie that began at dusk because one of the best lessons I've learned is... try to leave while everyone is still having fun. Otherwise, you may be the proud owner of three worn out, crying babies who were practically just fine about thirty minutes ago.


One last cook-out with neighborhood friends who are just a bike ride down the road. Eating way too much good food, finding out they intended this celebration as a sweet send-off for us, and gathering around a big bonfire to the tune of sticky s'mores and laughter over the best roasting contraption. Ignoring the rule above, but knowing the short commute will pretty well compensate.


One of the last times to enjoy our backyard, a place that we have loved over the last three years. Breaking out a slip and slide I'd been saving, watching the girls get braver with each new running start down the slippery plastic, and getting to be great big kids ourselves. Some afternoon errands kept us from getting to enjoy another round of s'mores with friends, so we decided that a late evening trip to Sonic would have to do.

Sisters chasing each other after a coveted item. Maddie getting a riot out of Hope's outrage. Oh yes, classic backyard memory for sure.

Alysse could only get tiny tastes of that strawberry milkshake, but you could never tell from her delighted squeals.

Thank you to all of those who have risked their lives to give my family and I this chance to enjoy the beautiful country we live in, this chance to fill our tank full of more memories. Though it hardly seems adequate enough, we stopped that weekend to do something important...

to remember you.

~Katrina