making memories

These two were able to go hunting for the first time together this trip. Owen was so excited to get to go hunting with his daddy. David could not get over how quietly he sat and Owen of course asked lots of great questions. 

Gammy just doesn't seem to change. She is the same woman that sat and played with me. Listened to me and invested in me. That's why we have the relationship we do. She was present and always interested in whatever was important in my life. 

She is this way with everyone. So when she sits and listens to Owen talk about his patient Snoopy who is having a doctor visit. She is all in that moment. I just happened to walk around the corner and have a camera in my hand to capture that little memory.

We soaked up family this trip. We were thirsty for them.

Owen even shared a special treat Gammy. 

Gammy used to talk about how when she was a little girl they would have bottled cokes and put peanuts in them.

So for Christmas we gave Gammy this favorite childhood treat.

And her great grandson got to share it with her. 

 Papa adored this little guy. I kept seeing him scoop him up and Collin loved Papa.

Papa wanted to play a game with Owen that he played with all of us. 

 Papa gathered some items and placed them in the paper sack and got Owen to reach in and guess what the item was. Owen did a great job and Papa was impressed. 

 I think every one of us has taken a bath in Gammy's sink. 

Babies in a sink are simply adorable. And Collin just may be the cutest I have seen!

Uncle John was sweet to sit and read with Collin while we were all glued to the television watching home movies that Papa pulled out the last night we were home. 

It was a perfect way to end our trip. He randomly pulled a tape from his closet. It happened to be Christmas when Dock and I were little. I was probably 4 or 5 (close to Owen's age). I watched Christmas memories right before my eyes. There were Riley and Ernestine sitting on the couch as they always did. Uncle Walter and Tom sitting at the table during dinner. We saw Aunt Elizabeth come to visit and bring lots of gifts. 

Riley and Aunt Elizabeth were promoted to heaven in the weeks before Christmas.  I have wonderful memories of them. What a gift it was to get to see some of those special times that night and how lucky we are to be making more memories each time we are together.