IT'S ALL ABOUT FAMILY

It's all about family!! I don't have a big family by any means. Sometime's I consider my friends my extended family. This year my family has become closer than it ever has in the past. I do believe after the birth of my nephew it made us all look at our relationship and say "We all need one another" I grew up with a handful of my cousins. We were closer to The Boyd family than anyone on either side of my parents family. When they lived in Moline we had Easter and many holidays over at their home. I can remember it very clear. My cousins are all older than my brother and I but that never stopped them from sharing in their fun with us. My Aunt Elle and Uncle Bob moved their family to Naples Florida when Brian and I were still fairly young, so after the move we were back to being 4 along with my grandma Jordan and Aunt Tootie. Our holidays were shared with them. We still have remained close to Becki, Scott, Bret and Lori throughout the years and I am thankful for the relationship we do have with them still today, but it has been extra special for the 4 of us becoming closer this year.

Today My brother and his family made the trip down to the QCA to say goodbye to my parents as they head to Arizona for 6 months. It was Bryce's first trip to his father's hometown. Of course their first stop was Happy Joe's. I invited friends to come out and meet Bryce at the Milan Happy Joe's and we had a good afternoon and then headed back to my parent's at Hidden Lake.

Brian and I have always had a good relationship but I have never respected him more than I do today. After he became a father 4 months ago he has let his softer side show. I love watching him as he holds his son. I enjoy that he is having fun in his life with both his wife and son and I know it has only begun for him. He has many planes and star war toys to share with him in upcoming years. Even though someday Bryce will know that his Aunt Lisa can still take down his father and he will have to call for his mom to save him. After all Brian is mom's favorite. Just look at the next picture as she leans on his shoulder.

<----Isn't that the best?? Brian and I were lucky we had great parents, a great childhood and in the end they taught us some great life skills. Although at times then and now we don't see eye to eye we will always respect them and will forever be grateful for their wisdom they passed down to us. I am sure Brian agrees that we hope we can raise our children the same way, with hopes of being able to give them more.

Aunt Lisa is loving the newest WAEYAERT to join our family!!

So I guess my challenge today was to simply ENJOY!! Enjoy my family who in a few days will be miles away from one another and with spring will reunite again. Everyone will change by then. Bryce will be nearly a year old and will have changed the most. I hope my brother breaks out the camera and keeps my parents updated on his growth. I will have the pleasure of seeing him more often. After all in the past week I have seen him twice and they live 150 miles away. We are all getting older and that means our parents are as well. Some of my friends have already lost their parents. So please take the time after reading this blog today and connect with your family members. Say HI if you haven't in a long time. Send a email, card or make that phone call to let them know you are thinking of them. After all we are only given one family and we should cherish it.




These are the people who made me an Aunt--->