We started going to graveyards on Memorial day years ago. It is meant to be:
“a holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. … Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971″
WE have taken it to be a day to celebrate and remember the important people in our lives who have died. So it has become tradition to go and visit Grandma Denny and Grandpa Johnny on that day. Aunt Jackie is also there, as well as Grandma and Grandpa Sucker. Another interesting point, this is where Mom and Dad own plots eventually end up…right where they are standing below…
Dad thought it was funny, mom was having mixed feelings.
We saw a sign for free soda and headed that way. Just kidding, we had planned on meeting Kelly, Cam, and the kids at the cemetery Memorial day presentation, and they missed it. We on the other hand were there for the whole thing.
It was kind of like an outdoor, day time, fireside, and it was warm that morning. We huddled in the shade. Dad was excited about the bagpipes.
My cousin Jared appeared with his children and we had a nice chat was we listened to the music.
As we headed back to the graves, hoping to see Cameron, who instead bumped into: Aunt Janet!!
AND Uncle Dave, AND Cameron and the kids.
Meanwhile Jared and his kids arrived and it turned into an impromptu Barainca family reunion. Even from the other side, Grandma Denny is bringing us all together.
Everyone chatting and catching up, putting flowers on the graves and remembering those people we lost.
Mom and Janet took one with Grandma and Grandpa and then one with Jackie.
Kelly, as always looking fabulous, and grandma taking time to love on the kids. This moment lasted maybe 20 minutes, but it was nice, it was saying hello to the people that connect us, and remembering them for a moment together.
Back at the house…we celebrated in a different way: BBQ! We got the slip n slide out and the kids had a blast running up and down the yard, and in and out of the pool.
Everyone was there. We had Kebabs, and fruit and even a Jello pole cake.
It was so great to get the kids together, and so nice to have everyone over!
Resse’s birthdays the NEXT day, so we cut him a special piece of cake, and sang him happy birthday.
Cameron said he really liked my cake.
Grandma and Grandpa of course had gifts for Reesey, and he was SO happy to open them for everyone to see.
The kids could have swam forever, and we grown ups were happy to sit in the shade and watch them.
All this time, sweet Ashy had been asleep, he almost missed the whole party! We forget how little he still is. Baby. 🙂
After Cam and Kelly and the boys went home, we had some real fun! KP arrived, and got Mirah her birthday gift: Harry Potter Lego!!! For the Switch! KP and the kids sat and played for HOURS! And they were all happy and having fun and it made me so happy to see them enjoying time together.
IDK, that was a pretty freaking incredible day.