The Twins

IMG_0046, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Yes it is another blog post this week! I'm not going to say that I'm getting back into the swing of things with regular posting just yet though. I am however enjoying having a computer that will allow me to do a post without wanting to pull my hair out.
Today is another photo taken while we were back home that has just sat in files. Meet the twins! Cute, sweet, playful little guys that they are. One looks more like a twin to their older brother than his actual twin. I found it interesting watching all of the older kids with these two. Funny to watch the one who were once the babies at the house stepping up to offer help and care of the ones that are. These two will probably be the last of the baby's till the current younger generation decides that it is time for them to start their own families. Just thinking about it makes me wonder if the house is big enough to hold us all once they get going. Oma and Opa might need a bigger house, or at the very least yet another room for the kids table!

I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful Tuesday!

Simple Monday Morning

IMG_0067, originally uploaded by torri_g.

With the transfer of pictures done I can finally post a photo from our whirlwind trip back in August! This is much like the picture of the crew in Waterloo, but for this one it started with Grandma sitting in the middle of all of the kids. Once again I think that it is ironic that the one hold onto the youngest in the photo was the one being held in the last one. Much like the other picture there is one girl missing, and for this one there is one nephew not in the picture. Still good to get most of the crew lined up for photo.

I hope that everyone has a good start to the week and that it isn't to busy for anyone.

The G Boys and Girls

The G Gang, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Several years ago while we were home visiting family we lined the little G gang up for a photo in Oma's front yard. If I am remembering correctly at that time there were 7 of them. A couple of them were very difficult to keep in the shot because they were little and didn't want to stay still or be touched by older siblings who were trying to keep them in place. That original group has grown up, 4 have been added (if I am remembering right Panda wasn't in that picture yet was he Connie?) and I find it funny that the two holding the twins were the one's having to be held themselves for the last photo. We did have one missing though because she had to stay in Arizona for work, but I'm going to see if I can do some photo magic and photo shop her into the picture.
It is amazing when all once little ones tower over you! They are a wonderful group of young ladies and gents and just for good measure we still have a couple of those very little ones in the group to enjoy.

I hope that everyone has a great Sunday spent with those you love, because those are the moments that make your heart smile.

A family night out

Out to dinner, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Tonight we went out for dinner as a family to MBFG. It was something that all of us really enjoyed. Tons of laughing went on while there tonight and we were all so full the thought of needing to be rolled out to the car to go home was actually talked about. I can say that Binky Sue works at a great place, and all of the people that waited on us tonight were wonderful! Our server now has a best friend named Little Bug because with that NY style cheese cake with baklava, our sweet server brought out a small cup of very rich chocolate to drizzle over it. OMG!! Trust me rich isn't even a word that comes close to describing it. WOW...oh so good, but only something that I could have one bite of.

The reason for dinner out tonight? Well, the girls wanted to celebrate their Daddies retirement from the Army. Only about 3 more hours left of him being active duty. When he wakes up in the morning he will be part of the retired Army ranks. I know it really has been twenty years, just like us being married for twenty years this year. It just seems like it passed so quickly. Which sitting here thinking about some of the years just doesn't seem like they could have passed quickly at all. There is a new journey about to get started here, and I look forward to making every new step not only with my Army Guy, but with all of our girls.

I hope that everyone has had a great and safe Halloween!

Graduation!

IMG_5473, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Well, here we are one week after graduation. Now don't go into shock just because I posted a picture with the whole family. I mean it was graduation day so odds were good that there would be at least one picture with the whole family in it. I still prefer being the one behind the camera though.

I mentioned the other day that Binky Sue started contemplating just how quickly the last four years had gone while sitting at Little Bugs 8th grade promotion. The fact that four years had passed so quickly and she was just hours away from her high school graduation, really kicked in the nerves and anticipation. She spent a good share of the day talking to me about how it really hadn't passed as slowly as she felt it had at certain points in time. As she got dressed and ready to go, she made the comment several times about this being it. She looked very beautiful, and oh so very grown up. (Oh for Aunt and Uncle C & C I have some other pictures that are more close up to send to you so that you can see your gift to her better. I will try to get those sent in e-mail hopefully here today.)

There are lots of things that I could sit here and type about for that night, but then this would end up being one heck of a long entry. I think biggest thing that I will never forget will be the fact that with over a thousand people on the football field looking for their family, my Binky Sue seemed to know just where I was and came flying across the field with a huge enough hug to make us both lose our balance and a simple "I love you Mommy". By the way through all of the emotion of the last couple of weeks it wasn't until that very moment that I cried, and boy did I cry!

I will post a couple more pictures of the graduate and her very beautiful party cake, and maybe a couple more stories in the next couple of days. Right now I feel the need to mention that Disney Land should probably look out because there are two charter buses filled with graduates heading your way for the all night Grad Night party tonight, and the 36 hours of non stop partying on the road between here and there and back again. Let's just hope that the chaperons can hold on for the wild ride that I'm sure it is going to be. I'm sure that come tomorrow night come 10:00 that I'm going to be picking up one very worn out Binky Sue. But her sister will be glad that they will no longer have to hear about "I'm going to Disney Land" anymore.
I hope that everyone has a great day, and that anyone on the road traveling back home from being out here, or Binky Sue on her wild adventure has a safe day of traveling.