"It's like a time machine, I'm going back so far"...a.hoopes

I'm copying a friend's title because it made me laugh and it's quite fitting for my post today. I have not yet metioned anything about our fabulous Grannypalooza trip that we had this summer. We celebrated my beautiful Grandma Gaskell's 95th birthday at a wonderful weekend in Washington DC. There is nothing in this life that can touch the love and kinship that abound at family gatherings. Everyone from my mom's side of the family was there. I hadn't seen my cousins in years. It was great to reconnect, laugh, and enjoy time together.

One thing that I miss, living out west, is the chance for my kids to know their cousins better. But, like it is with my cousins, it only takes a minute, and you start out where you left off.

Amelia, Mallary, Elizabeth & JacksonEmma, Sam, Clay, Amelia, Mallary

We flew to Ohio then drove to DC. On the way we met Aaron and did a little kid swap for riding in the car. I thought it would be fun for the kids to have something to do in the car, so I bought some beads at a Target along the way and Mia, Emma, and Mallary each made a necklace with 95 beads each for Grandma. She loved them and wore them the whole time we were there. That made me smile. And then grandma humored us by wearing this great balloon hat. She's such a good sport.

I'd put more pictures, but I'm having technical difficulty.

I LOVE my family!!!!