A memorable Memorial Day celebration

Greta and Lincoln had a fabulous time in Syracuse with Grandma Vickie and Grandpa Larry. We arrived at 1:30 on Sunday afternoon, just in time to help Grandma plant tomatoes in her garden.

Then the cousins arrived, first Ryan, with Aunt Chris, and then Matthew, Allison, and Emily with Uncle Abel and Aunt Colleen. It was the first time we'd all been together since Christmas 2005 (according to mom, it was the best birthday present ever)! Ten-year-old Ryan entertained everyone with his magic tricks: making a coin float, performing various card tricks, and tearing up a piece of paper and making it whole again.

Grandma's backyard provided hours of fun, running obstacle races, playing "What time is it, Mr. Shark?" and rolling races down the hill. I hadn't laughed so hard in a long time... especially when I rolled right over Greta! (She was fine and giggled as loud as me!)



The BBQ was scrumptious, with four yummy homemade birthday pies to choose from: coconut cream, strawberry vanilla cream, chocolate pudding, and lemon meringue! It seemed very wrong that Grandma Vickie made her own birthday desserts, but she wouldn't have it any other way. Lucky us! Greta enjoyed two pieces of strawberry vanilla cream. After dessert, we hurried to the the Watchfire
at the Fairgrounds, to honor our veterans and participate in the ceremonial retirement of hundreds of Old Glories. Despite the late hour (it didn't end until 9:30!), Greta and Lincoln both stayed awake and were awestruck by the site as well as the heat and Grandpa Larry's moustache.

On Monday, Greta enjoyed going to a local parade with Grandma and Grandpa while Linc joined me and his two aunts to spruce up Grandpa Bob's grave in Ellisburg, N.Y.. Now sporting a new yellow rose bush, two silver mounds, a hollyhock, and oodles of purple pansies, it looks great. When we got back to Syracuse in the early afternoon, Greta and Grandma were sound asleep... exhausted from a day of fun in the sun: gardening, feeding fish, making flower bouquets. Greta even enjoyed a dip in the hot tub!

Tuesday and Wednesday brought lots of time with cousins Allison and Emily. It is a little scary to think of how much trouble the three of them are going to get into together in five years or so...

All in all, an awesome time... only thing missing was Daddy! We promised Grandma it won't be another 2 1/2 years before we do it again.