Zoo Lights 2013

This year was the second annual Zoo Lights put on by the Jacksonville Zoo. I had never heard of it before a few weeks ago, but it seemed cool enough.  Especially seeing Grayson's eyes when going to look at Christmas lights.  Being able to see all the lights and have room to roam=an excellent day in his eyes!  We strolled around a little, but he was so amped up, he wanted OUT of the stroller after about 50 feet.   We also took the train around the zoo, which was really neat.  All kinds of light decorations on the perimeter. The above "selfie" is from the train.

 This little nook was really neat....all kinds of purple lights.  So cool.

 Mini photo op with Daddy and Mommy.  Too bad the lights are so much more impressive in person!

 This was our view for pretty much the whole night.

 Thumbs up for Hanukkah!

 Merry Christmas from Flipper!

 Wish he was smiling, but what a face!

 Last stop...the carousel!  He LOVED it.....We just planned our first trip to Disney for the end of February.  I think it will be great once the rides actually start.  The waiting in line and waiting on the ride for it to begin......not so much.   But the smiles that followed when the ride began were priceless.

 A stolen kiss.....one of my favorite pictures in a while.

McGahee Visit 2013

We had a great visit with the McGahee family this past weekend.   We wish they could have stayed for longer, but we made the most out of the time we had.  We loved playing the drums together.  They are pictured many times on this blog..but notice the different outfits.....

Love this picture.  I was singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider to try to get some smiles from my man and they both kept looking up.  Thought it was hysterical.

And then we were just super smiley.   Look at the pose on the hand and the ankles crossed.  James is still looking for that pesky spider on the ceiling.

"Grayson I am right here.... look at me."

Some quality play time with the shape sorter.

Introducing Baby Luke!   Just chilling on the play mat.

Three cousins.

Post nap time playing.  AKA Grayson sitting nicely trying to steal James' Fruit Loops.

Three cousins at snack time.   Well...G and J are snacking.....Little Lukey is just eyeing the bag.  "When do I get some of those?"

We took a trip up to the park to do a little swinging and sliding.

Walking home from the park.  Too exhausting for the big kids....they have their own transportation.

The Motley Crew-all the boys.

While on this trip Jennie and I had decided to get tattoos in memory of our mom.   We both took sayings that she had written off of cards or letters to us and had the tattoo artist trace them on our wrists.  Now it forever looks like she signed us.  

I had such a cool moment while getting my tattoo done.  Punk music was on the Pandora station of the radio.  When it was my turn to get in the chair, the song finished, and on came Dion and the Belmonts "Teenager in Love."  This was the song that would play when my mom and I would go to our favorite arts/crafts festival in south Florida called Woodstock.  Anytime it was on the radio she or I would call the other to listen to it together. We were all speechless as it was so different from the music that had been playing for the entire hour that we had been there.  We knew my Mom's spirit was there with us.  What an amazing day.

The finished products.  Jennie's on the top, mine on the bottom.

Hanukkah 2013

 So this year Hanukkah fell VERY early. With all that had happened in the month of November, I was not at all prepared for celebrating Hanukkah when Thanksgiving rolled around.  That being said, we couldn't let the holiday pass us by without getting any presents for our little guy.  Above is this year's holiday card.

 Grayson sitting with all of his wrapped loot.  This year I decided to try something different.  I used wrapping paper, tons of it, last year, and he couldn't have cared less about what was inside.  When I would get his attention, he would have trouble even getting the ripping started and would lose interest.  So, I decided this year I would use tissue paper. Much easier to get into.

Got him a travel magna doodle.  Here he is with Daddy showing him how to work it.

 This was the hit of the presents.  8 strings of colored beads from the Dollar Store.  Little things in life.

  He did so well with the tissue paper.  He was engaged and was able to get into the gifts with ease.

 Working with a new puzzle.  Showing off his mastery of matching!

 Being a goofball with his beads!  Great smile!!

 He likes to do this move all over the house.   The floor, the couch, the crib......

 Ripping into another present.....out comes, a blankie!!

 Connecting beads makes him happy.  Actually the sound they make while hitting them together makes him happy, but whatever!

 Playing with his new drum set his godfather, Lucks, got him.  

 He is going to be a drummer.....melt all those ladies hearts.

Our annual drive to enjoy Christmas lights.  He was so attentive to them this year, looking up in amazement as they stretched across each street.

Thanksgiving 2013

 This was an interesting year for Thanksgiving for many reasons.  This was our first major holiday without my Mom.  Thanksgiving, Adam's birthday, and the first day of Hanukkah all fell on the same day.   Like I said in my last blog, I am doing things that I know my mom would have wanted me to do. As many of you that are married know, you typically rotate holidays so that everyone gets a fair chance to celebrate each holiday with you.  This year was not technically a Rubin year, but we made it one.

My mother was the glue that holds this family together.   She makes all the holidays so that all of the older generation has somewhere to go to celebrate.  I do not take that lightly.  It was my mission and my purpose this year to cook Thanksgiving for them.  So I threw my 2 year old, my newly 35 year old husband, complete with IV in his arm to receive fluids to prevent dehydration, in the car and drove 325 miles in order to do exactly that.

I had never made a full Thanksgiving before.  I was always my mom's assistant and helped with a part of each dish.  So with my mom's recipe cards, thank goodness for my sister, I attempted it.  The turkey came out phenomenal.  I was so impressed.  The other sides, stuffing, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole were not exactly like they were when my mom made them, but nevertheless they were yummy and were gobbled right up. I definitely have improvements that I can make next year.

 My mom's main goal and priority in life was family.  I am here to continue that tradition.  The day was a beautiful one.  The weather cool and crisp, sunny, and breezy. As I looked at everyone who surrounded our Thanksgiving table I smiled knowing this was exactly where I was supposed to be this year.  I had a few moments, during cooking, where I wished my mom could have been there. But then I remembered that she was.  She was not in pain or suffering and she was enjoying the holiday just as she would have any other year. I hope her heart was smiling as she watched us try to carry out the delicious meal that she always prepared so flawlessly.  Here is a shout out to my lovely assistant, my dad, who followed every direction I gave him, even though he tries to take credit for being the executive chef.

My dad always wears these Hawaiian shirts for main holidays.  We thought it would be funny to get Grayson an equally "spirited" one.   You will also notice that this green ball was the main hit of the trip.    It appears in every picture taken.

One of the first days we were there, Gramps and I took Grayson down to the beach to play.  He "was" in full clothes, and I use the term was loosely.  One rogue wave came and sent him toppling down and he was soaking wet.  So no skin off his back.....we stripped him and he had a great time running around the shore in his diaper.

My parents have AMAZING friends that don't live in the building year round.  They were so generous and offered for us to stay at their apartment over the last 6 months during all of our visits. The unit faces oceanfront and to say Grayson loved it out there was an understatement.  He would spend all day running around on the balcony, looking at the water, or spinning in the chair.  (Notice our green ball again.)

 Only in South Florida, would we go to the mall and see this set up for photo ops.  Of course I couldn't resist snapping one since we all know I would not have any such opportunity here in Jacksonville.  Looks like a mug shot I know.  He did NOT want to be standing there.  (but he has his green ball!)

 One of his ABA tutors sent me this photo this week.  He had climbed onto the trampoline to sit.  He doesn't like to jump.  He would prefer that others do all the hard work and he just reaps the benefits.  So he would tap this little girl's shoes every time he wanted her to jump. She would oblige. Already quite the ladies man.

Our beloved Grammie

 I am so thankful to have so many pictures of my mother with Grayson.  I tried to choose a few of my favorites to share.  Even though she was only physically able to be a part of Grayson's life for 2.5 years, the love that she had for this little boy will still carry through to him even though she is no longer here.  She lived and breathed for her children and grandchildren.  She lost her battle with lung cancer on November 7, 2013 only a short six months after being diagnosed.   It makes me sad to think that he will  not grow up with his Grammie there supporting him in everything he does like she did for me.
 
I can not put into words how much we will all miss her, but everything I do, as a mother and in all other capacities, is done with her in mind.  What she would think still means everything to me. I feel her around me everyday and I hope that never changes.  I can hear her telling me to do things, and of course I do them.  People say things to me and I know it is her trying to come through.

I am hopeful that I can be a great mother to Grayson, after all, I had the best role model.  She was the most selfless person I have ever met.  If I needed her, she was here, no questions asked.  Most times, she would come without being asked.  We were lucky that we got to see her so much, we never let more than a couple of months go by without seeing each other.  She was such an active participant in our lives.  She was on the floor playing with Grayson, dancing, doing arts and crafts, reading, and loved nothing more than having him fall asleep in the "Grammie chair."  She was the true definition of what a  grandmother should be.   The world suffered a great loss that will never be recovered.

Enjoy the pictures.  Like they did for me, I hope the memories make you smile.