9/11 Memorial Stair Climb 2016

With this year being the 15th Anniversary of 9/11, Rebecca wanted to participate in the annual stair climb that they do in downtown Greensboro each year. The memorial climb honors not only the first responders that gave their lives that day, but also the 911 operators who handled the thousands of calls that came in, not only from people on the street, but people trapped in the burning towers. Before the stair climb began, they played a moving song/montage of recorded 911 calls from that day and many of them were trapped people asking the operators to pass along final messages to their loved ones. 

This is Sandy, Rebecca's kick-butt fitness instructor (she literally kicks Rebecca's butt every week...) and also a 911 operator. She's the one who talked Rebecca into doing the stair climb, not that it took much convincing. :)

In order to equal the climb that the firefighters had to make on that fateful day, the participants had to make 12 round trips. They had to climb these stairs, cross the top of the parking deck and then come down the car ramp on the other side.

 The kids were blown away by how big the flag was.

 The older three decided they wanted to participate, so when we went to register them, they were each given a firefighter's name and company info to pin to their shirts.

 After a number of heartfelt speeches, they had a trumpeter play Taps.

 And then it was time to go.

 The Greensboro Fire Department started everyone off. It amazing how they were able to do that in full gear! It was not a cool day and I can only imagine they were much hotter than we were.

 The kids watched as the first folks slowly made their way to the top.

 And then it was their turn! They all went up with no problem.

 Olivia was the first down.

 Followed shortly by Mama and the boys. At this point the boys dropped out. Olivia went a couple more times and then we walked to the new playground they built downtown while Rebecca finished her remaining trips.

That way, even the littles got some great exercise. :)

The kids know what happened on 9/11, but we've never shown them the footage of that day. When they're older, we definitely will.

Goodbye, G'ma

I love you G-ma. Thank you for your legacy. You were so smart and caring. You always looked at things for bright side and you were always interested in others. You mothered your family so well. I pray that I will be the kind of mother and grandmother that you are. Thank you for my family legacy and I look forward to passing it on.

My beautiful grandparents, Carlos and Mona Baldwin:

My precious G-ma left this earth for heaven Aug 25th. She has been in pain for many years and her health had been declining such that it was very hard for her to get around or get out of her home. In recent years her spine was so bad that she couldn't look up at all. It is sad for those of us here but I am so glad she is pain-free for the first time in so long and that she can look up. When I called her or visited, she would always put on a positive face in spite of her challenges. She would admit that she hurt or was having a rough day but she would take the time to talk with me and keep a positive attitude. She always asked about our family and her great grandkids. She would even admit when she was starting to forget little details between my kids but always wanted them to come close and talk with her. And they were comfortable with her. She was always encouraging me to take care of myself. She wanted to know that we had what we needed and would often help with clothes or things for my kids. My kids really love my G-dad and visiting their home as well. They set up a swing set and a zipline and made sure they had toys for the kids. My G-dad even gets down on the floor with them.

G-ma loved me and encouraged so much through the years. She had high standards and I always wanted to please her. I could always feel how much she cared for me. You know when you feel totally accepted and loved for who you are? That is how I felt with my grandparents. And their home is one of the most comfortable places I know.  My grandparents are such a funny couple. My grandma is as honest as they come and my granddad loves to tell stories and often spins tales if you know what I mean. :)

(2013)

(2014)

Below are some pictures from her memorial service, mostly of my cousins and their spouses, and sweet baby Callahan (Pat and Emily's first child). They played Clare De Lune by Claude Debussy, her favorite piece of classical music. She almost always had a radio in the kitchen and her bathroom that played classical music. She loved cats. Throughout the years she had Siamese cats. Prior to the memorial service we had a viewing for family only. It was very hard but it was also such a special time where we shared memories of Grandma. There were lots of tears but lots of laughs. Olivia wrote my Grandma a letter as she processed her grief and I think she summed it up well.

Grandpa and the kiddos

It's hard to resist putting up a great photo of Grandpa and the kids. :) 

This is another good one with Grandma, too! :)

Treasure Mountain Youth Camp 2016

The whole family went to Treasure Mountain Youth Camp again this summer and had a blast!

 The theme for this year was "Do All For The Glory Of God." I think the kids certainly did their best to live out that theme in everything they did.

 They did team-building exercises (get your whole team across the lava!)

 had team competitions (who can dress their counselor in the best toilet paper suit?)







 Did art projects

 Got to know each other

Played crazy games

sang silly songs
 
did some hilarious skits

 and made their own music.

This year, we had the added blessing of Rebecca's Dad, Scott, with us. He helped manage the kitchen...
 

and the little ones whenever he could. :)

 One of the highlights was the water day. They played a whole bunch of games like picking up marbles from the pool with their toes and bringing them back to a bucket.



 Then they had to fill a bucket by passing a cup with holes in it over their heads to the back of the line.

 Another one was to stick as many cheese balls to the head of their partner

who was wearing a shower cap covered in shaving cream.

 Of course, it eventually devolved into an all-out shaving cream war.

 No one was safe.

 The casualty count was high.

 and some got it worse than others. :)
We had made plans for a second water day that involved a redneck waterslide, but the weather didn't cooperate. it rained a good bit this year, with one day seeing more than 6 inches of rain! Good thing we were at the top of the mountain! :)


 But fortunately, the skies cleared and we were able to have a fire on the last night.

 I mean, what's camp without marshmallows, right?

 Right!

Swimming Lessons

This summer, we decided to put all the kiddos into swimming lessons at the pool across the street. Olivia's had lessons before, but the rest of them had never had formal lessons. Our goals were to have the boys out of their floats and swimming on their own and the littles to be more comfortable in the water so they would be more independent in their floats. For Olivia, we wanted her to get some more technical practice with strokes.

In the end, we were really, really happy with the results. See for yourself!

(Love the sneeze :)

 Both Gabe and Ezra were very comfortable and happy to swim without their floats. Ezra, in particular, loves to do flips in the water.

We are so impressed with how Emma did. Understandably, Irene wasn't interested in going that far with it, but she wasn't scared to be in the water and was brave enough to jump off the side if someone would catch her.

Our biggest concern was whether they would continue to be so brave when they weren't in class and they have been. We've been going to a friend's house where they have a pool and the boys are till doing great and both Emma and Irene are really excited to get in the water.

If you live in Greensboro and are considering swim lessons, we highly recommend the lessons at the Lindley Park pool.