More on the Birthday Hat

Justin felt like I shortchanged Duncan by not showing a picture with him wearing the Birthday Hat. Boys around here are just so fickle about their hats. I whip out the camera, and the hat comes off.


Here's a picture of Duncan running away from me, not very happy to have the Birthday Hat on.




And the hat comes off.




And I just threw this one in 'cause it's cute!

The Birthday Hat

On my birthday (that's January, folks) back in 2006, I took Evan to Old Navy for some shopping. I was spending a gift card I'd received for Christmas that day. I felt that it was like giving myself a birthday present. I was a little over halfway through my pregnancy with Duncan, and feeling like a beached whale. During that little trip I developed a bad headache. So, I was pretty much just trying to hurry up and get out of there and get a Coke! Evan spotted a silly hat that he wanted. I put it on him, and had to get it. We left and I got my Coke and eventually felt better. Evan didn't seem as interested in the hat once we got home. But every once in a while he'd pull it out, plop it on his head and say, "My Birthday Hat!" I guess he called it that, because we got it on my birthday. Or maybe just because it looked festive. Toddlers are mysterious that way!




Evan wore other hats from time to time, but mostly for dress up or going outside. He was Bob the Builder in his construction hat. He was a knight in shining armour in a funny little Viking hat at Poppyaya's house.




He was a heroic firefighter for Halloween and a cowboy when visiting friends.



I never did get a picture of Evan in the Birthday Hat. But recently Miranda found it and decided that she likes it and must wear it for hours on end! If it falls off, she comes to me to help her put it back on! I'm thinking of starting a new Birthday Hat tradition. And my birthday is coming up. I think Evan would approve.

To Grandmother's House We Go

We went to Grandma and Grandpa's house (also known as my parents) for Thanksgiving this year. The kids stayed with them for a couple of nights to have a Granparentacular week. Which, of course, they did.



When we got there Duncan wanted to go outside and play, even though it was a bit chilly. Kids are pretty resilient when it comes to cold. But pretty soon it was time to eat (Thanksgiving dinner at 12:30! Who woulda thunk? It was almost lunch!)



Miranda, my good eater, ate. Her favorite? The chocolate cake with beets in it. Beets! It's one of those things you add for color and moisture, and doesn't impart any flavor to the cake itself. And yeah, it's good. Justin was too much of a chicken to try it.



Duncan, my not so good eater, did not eat. His plate, seen here before the feast, looked about the same after. Except he actually ate the roll. Then he went back outside to play some more. He was outside for a good two hours!



Miranda worked on the crossword.



We tried to get a picture in for a potential Christmas card photo. Besides looking like I'm going to strangle Duncan, and Miranda looking like she's about to escape, I think it turned out pretty....pretty bad. So, we'll have to try again. Oh well.

Mamaaaaaa!

Remembering Evan

Last week was a busy week. It was an emotional rollercoaster with Evan's death anniversary on Tuesday and Thanksgiving on Thursday. Tears were always threatening, and Evan was (and is) always on my mind. After asking some friends for ideas, I finally made some plans for how I wanted to spend time remembering Evan last Tuesday. Since the backyard was too muddy for planting, we (my parents, my mother in law, Justin, me, and the kids) stayed inside and painted rocks to go in Evan's Garden.



I didn't realize when planning this activity that it was going to be a more than a day long process. So, we basically got started Tuesday, and I've been finishing the rocks up since. This is Evan's favorite bear, "Bear Bear."



And some cute bugs.



I also decided that I liked doing the balloon release so much last year, that I'd like to do it again. Miranda was very pleased with this decision!






We wrote notes to Evan on the balloons and gathered together outside. And let them go.




And then we watched them float and spin on their journey to Heaven.

Mud Pies, Anyone?

After my previous post, my mother in law and I talked about Tuesday. She suggested we wait and see about the weather, and then decide. But after a little playtime in the back 40 on Friday, I already knew what the answer would be.



I mean, everybody likes to play in the mud. What's more fun than making mud pies? Ummm...staying inside and being clean? (Notice my facial expression as I watch Miranda get beyond dirty in a couple of mud puddles.)



Cute, but Yuck!



Today it rained alot. And now the weather prognosticators are predicting a chance of rain on Monday and Tuesday. Not more than 30 percent, but it seems like any possibility ends in rain here right now. So, we may just have to celebrate Evan's life indoors this year.




Because even though my heart is heavy with Evan's loss, I am so very grateful for the time I had with that little boy. Just wish it had been longer.

Disappointed

I had plans to work in Evan's Garden on Evan's death anniversary this coming Tuesday. I was hoping that the recent rains we've had would mostly dry up by then. Of course, I've been hoping that since late September when the major flooding occurred.




And even though we've had many sunny days with spring like temperatures, the puddles remain. And rain is in the forecast for this weekend. I don't tend to complain about the rain, since we had so many years of drought, but I have to admit, a few weeks of dry weather would be a nice break!




I'm sure my volunteers (my parents and my mother in law) may say they wouldn't mind getting a little muddy in memory of Evan, but I think it's asking a bit much. So, I guess we'll be having a lunch gathering instead. Sigh...