Moments from Memorial Day

We have had a relaxing, fun Memorial Day weekend.  We stayed home from church yesterday since I hadn't been feeling well.  The aching went away but I still have a sore throat.  I'm thinking and hoping it's allergy related, but I'm also hoping that the rest this weekend has helped.  Ned worked on Avery's surprise most of the morning, but it was not ready before her nap.  She sat with me for a long time before lunch and started falling asleep.  She then took a super-long nap, and I had to go in and get her at 4 so we could get busy on our fun.  First on the agenda was her big surprise.

Toys R Us had their playhouses on sale this weekend, and the deal on this cottage was too good to pass up.

I've tried and tried to find a used on but couldn't.  She loves the houses at Jennifer's, so I was happy to find this one, which was a little cheaper because it's smaller and has more open space.  Ned did not enjoy putting it together in the heat yesterday, but this smile made it well worth it.

We pulled her away from her cottage and headed to Lolli and Poppa's.  Poppa had gotten Avery a John Deere tractor toy, but the plastic chair Lolli picked up for the yard kind of stole the show.  We assured Poppa that tractors remain one of Avery's favorite things.

We had a good dinner, then Ned and I took a ride on the Ranger to see the trees Ned planted on the farm.  I routinely think I'm dying when I ride on something with him, but I don't think we were going that fast.  I'm sure he's not used to having to stop, look, and listen at the railroad crossing, but he did last night.  We put Avery in her pajamas and left at bedtime, but she stayed awake the whole ride home.

Avery was up at 7 a.m. this morning despite going to bed an hour late last night. We hung around the house this morning, watched some Regis and Kelly, and Avery took care of some paperwork on the steps.  Ned played golf until after lunch.

We also played outside before it got too hot, and the playhouse showed it was worth every penny.  Avery had so much fun playing in it and running around.  Felix escaped when we tried to come in, but he came back to me easily and Avery stayed still while I was getting him.  Felix is going to stay trapped up if he continues trying to escape.  We are on a corner now with not much space between our house and either road.  We continue to tell him it's much better inside.  After all that stress, Avery and I decided pizza would be delicious.  We ordered Dominos online and watched each step in the progress tracker.  We both enjoyed our pizza party.  Avery calls pizza tata and ate 2 slices without crust.

We cooked out tonight then played inside since it was still so, so hot.  Avery is wearing her outfit from 4th of July last year.  It fits fine, but she certainly looks bigger.

In all our fun, we do stop and remember the importance of the day.  The Pioneer Woman had some beautiful pictures on her blog, and The View had a wonderful story of an artist who paints pictures of soldiers who do not return home.  I also love this Billy Ray Cyrus song and heard it today.  It's very old but carries a great message, and I like how this YouTube version included pictures from 9-11. 

Although never far from my mind, I'm reminded of all the things we need to teach Avery.  I want to instill in her an appreciative spirit so that she will grow to be thankful for her freedoms when she is older.  It is a good lesson for me to remember as well.

We hope you had a fun and safe Memorial Day.  Let summer begin!