Duke Gardens - Feb.19, 2011

Laying in the sun after a picnic lunch.

My big 6 year old! Such a cute one, he is!

Brothers standing tall up on a rock!

The blossoms were beginning to bloom! In case I don't have a photo of it, there is a cute little story about Gabriel and the blossoms. We were in the car during the time that all the trees were beginning to blossom around here and to keep that cute little mind occupied, I would point to the blossoms on the trees and tell Gabriel how pretty they were. I learned from a speaker at our Mops group about thanking God for the little things in life and teaching your kids to do this too! So, we would find all the blossoms on the trees and say, "Thank you God for the blossoms!" This lasted as a past time in the car for a good 3 or more weeks! Loved it! :)

Here are Granny and Gabriel out front of the Duke Chapel on campus. It was a beautiful day!

Valentine's Day, Feb.14, 2011

Here's Ayden with his loot from his day at Kindergarten! Of course all the stickers, candy and trinkets kept him busy for a part of that afternoon after school. Right around the same time of year they were celebrating "100 days of school!" The school made a big deal of it all around. On the track out before the 100 days celebration, we were supposed to do some special worksheets for it and decorate a home made shirt with 100 of anything we chose. Ayden decided to draw with fabric pen, 100 smiley faces!

Unexpected Trip to CA, Feb. 4-6. 2011

On February 2nd of this year, I was so saddened to receive the phone call from my Dad that my Grandma Jean had passed away that day. I remember bursting into tears because I didn't really see it coming or at least so soon. I had talked to her perhaps a little less than 2 weeks prior to that phone call while she was in the hospital with breathing issues. I remember that she sounded positive and upbeat, like her usual self. I didn't know that in the couple of days before her passing, her health declined quickly (she had Emphysema). I wish that I had known so that I could fly out and give her one last hug and tell her how special she was to me. It makes me cry today, a few months after, just to write about it. I didn't really have any closure and that is what makes it so hard. Just like with my other Grandma, Grandma Pat, I have to imagine what I would say to her and then just speak it out in my thoughts as though I am talking to her up in heaven. I imagine what she would say to me and somehow, this all helps. Grandma Jean, you will always be an inspiration to me! You were a strong and vivacious woman, a wonderful matriarch of our family who always held dear the importance of family and good friends! You will forever be missed and will always be remembered!

These photos were taken on the trip out for Grandma Jean's family gathering to celebrate her life. I couldn't resist getting a few group shots of my four adorable Lukacs nephews!!

One quick snapshot of me and Grandma Gayle before I left for home! :)