What were you doing on November 1st this year?  So many of my friends were huddled by fire places, dressing in layers and keeping dry from the rain.  I don’t mean to brag, because trust me this summer has been hot, but on November 1st I was getting a sun tan!  I’m wondering if winter will ever come because, well, I do love our 2 days of winter and I’m hoping my blood will thicken up before we go to Canada in December.

So here we were on November 1st with the family at Grammy’s pool…

Noah takes swimming twice a week at school and while we know he’s holding back on us and demanding his swim floats we got to see him floating on his back a few times, for the first time.

The only caption I can think of for this is – “Oh, no you didn’t!”

Motorboat, motorboat, go so slow…. motorboat, motorboat go so fast…

Kate is our daredevil in the water.  She’ll try anything!  Noah is just the opposite.  Here’s Kate taking a break from diving under…

Future cheerleader???

At Kate’s birthday party a few people commented on how happy Noah was.  We were surprised because even though he’s quiet and shy in public, and while he’s never been particularly outgoing or overly friendly – he’s a happy kid.  Here’s the Noah we know -

Silly, sweet, Noah…

And this is my RIDICULOUSLY gorgeous niece, Julia!!!  Can you believe she’s 12?  12 going on 25 maybe.  The blue tongue is from these crazy Cheetos.  They are giant, yellow Cheetos (like we all remember) but they turn blue in your mouth.  What will they think of next?!

  

Kate’s other love…

November 1st wasn’t all fun and games.  It was also a very somber anniversary for my family.  My grandfather passed away 21 years ago on this day.  I felt like I knew him so well, I have such vivid memories of him and our times together.  We visited them (in Clearwater) often and he was always so special to me.  I didn’t realize it at the time but I was a bit of a strange kid.  He always made me so happy though and would go out of his way to make sure I was having a good time, no matter how annoying and awkward I was.  I spent countless summers at my grandparents’ home and I have such fond memories of him.  I always sat on his lap at night, in his great big lazy boy chair, shelling roasted peanuts.  In the mornings we would all lay in their bed, just hanging out.  I’ll never forget the long pajama pants and button down, matching shirt he slept in – like old men do.  He was the love of my grandmother’s life and the hero in mine.  Noah’s middle name, Thomas, is in his honor.  Although I was only 10 when he passed I think of him always, talk to him often, and miss him so dearly.  May you rest in peace, Papa!

Excuse the 80′s… my grandfather is the tall guy on the right.  As a child I always thought he was so super tall but looking now he’s not much bigger than my afro dad.  I am the one in front trying my hardest to ruin yet another family photo.  It’s a miracle my parents let me live past 10!

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