Memorial Day 2011

While you're eating your hot dogs and hamburgers, watching your parades, and enjoying what is considered the official start to summer lets not forget what today is all about. Remembering those who we lost fighting for our country. And I want to say a special thank you for the families who are left behind while their loved ones are deployed! It takes a very special person to deal with that day in and day out and I will forever be grateful for all of those sacrifices.

Memorial Day Parade

So as usual I'm behind on things. I have pictures from the Memorial Day parade. I thought Kaitlyn was going to be in it. And actually she probably could have been. We were told the soccer club was in the parade, but we should find out if our team was marching. I couldn't get a hold of Kaitlyn's coach though to find out if they were in it. And then I saw two of her teammates in it. Oh well, it was nice watching the parade with all of my children.

Eastern High school marching band

The clarinets (this could be Natalie some day

Some clowns

Our friends daughter helping out the clown on stilts

CJ happy to see the Fire Trucks

The fire truck

High school color guard

Our friend's daughter playing the trombone in the marching band

It was a very nice parade. And we had a beautiful Memorial Day too.

Memorial Day

Let us not forget those soldiers past and present who have made it possible for us to have picnics and parades this weekend. Have you thanked a soldier today?

My kids wearing their red, white, and blue today

I'm proud to be an American!

Memorial Day Activities

Joe had to work in the morning on Memorial Day. But when he came home we drove up to the Veteran's Cemetery where his parents are buried to put some flowers. After that we took the kids fishing because it was such a nice day. Here are some pictures from the fishing trip...

Sweet baby boy

CJ

Natalie caught a carp

Natalie fishing

Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn's small mouth bass

Duck

Kaitlyn and CJ

First Picnic of 2009

So on Saturday my friend invited us to come down to the park with her and her family for a picnic. Not having anything else to do on the holiday weekend and with Joe having a rare day off on a Saturday we accepted.

Here was our day...

Kaitlyn

Hi CJ!

Happy Boy

Natalie getting ready to play catch

Such a cute face

Catch!

Playing

Daddy strangling Kaitlyn (all in fun)

Mikayla's turn

For two kids who claim to not like each other these two were always together. If you wanted to know where Natalie was you just had to look for Noah and vice versa.Natalie and Noah playing catch
CJ loves the ball




A little trouble at the skate park. A boy broke his arm and three ambulances and fire engines came.Taking him to the hospital

Noah up at bat

Joe playing wiffle ball

Batter Up!

Made it to 1st base

CJ's playing ball

Muahhhh

Mikayla's up

We had lots of fun. The weather held out for us too which was great. A nice kick off to summer. Even though we still have 3 weeks left of school.

Memorial Day 2009

Today is Memorial Day. Many view this as the beginning of summer. A nice long weekend to have cook outs and picnics. But lets not forget what this day is all about. A day to remember those who have died in combat. Something that dates all the way back to the Civil War in our American History. So take a chance to remember a soldier or thank a soldier for providing us with the great privilege of freedom.

Forestville Memorial Day Parade

We went to the Memorial Day parade today. Natalie and Kaitlyn were both in it. The schools art teacher was this years Teacher of the Year so she invited all the children who did well in the PAWS program to be in the parade with her. The PAWS program is an incentive that is done at the school where the kids are given "paws" if an adult in the building catches them doing something to be considering Playing fair, Acting kind, Working hard, or Showing respect. Each grade level has to collect a certain number of "paws" to get their picture on the board and then earn a "P", "A", "W", and "S". Natalie and Kaitlyn have both earned their "W". This means that Kaitlyn has been caught 12 times doing something to earn her a "paw" and Natalie being older has earned 20 "paws". So they were on a horse drawn wagon with other O'Connell School students and their Teacher of the Year. Unfortunately when they went by me at the parade they were on the opposite side of the wagon from where I was sitting. I did get a picture of them though at the end of the parade on the wagon though. They had a great time. CJ did pretty good with all the noise too of the parade. He got a flag which he refused to let go of for most of the day. So here are a few pictures of our Memorial Day parade. It was a beautiful day for a parade.

Memorial Day 2008

Memorial Day is generally viewed as the kick off to summer. We have parades and BBQs and fireworks. Fun in the sun for everyone. But lets not forget what today is all about. Remembering those who have fallen to give us those freedoms we take for granted. So while you're spending time with your family today enjoying the sun and the parades and the picnics and the fireworks remember those lives that were lost so you could do all of this with your family today. Don't forget those who are still overseas fighting for freedom. Thank a soldier today for all they have done! Thank you soldiers and your families for making such a great sacrifice for our country!

Memorial Day
by Michelle R. Christman

As we stand here looking
At the flags upon these graves
Know these flags represent
A few of the true American brave

They fought for their Country
As man has through all of time
Except that these soldiers lying here
Fought for your country and mine

As we all are gathered here
To pay them our respect
Let's pass this word to others
It's what they would expect

I'm sure that they would do it
If it were me or you
To show we did not die in vein
But for the red, white and blue.

Let's pass on to our children
And to those who never knew
What these soldiers died for
It's the least we can do

Let's not forget their families
Great pain they had to bear
Losing a son, father or husband
They need to know we still care

No matter which war was fought
On the day that they died
I stand here looking at these flags
Filled with American pride.

So as the bugler plays out Taps
With its sweet and eerie sound
Pray for these soldiers lying here
In this sacred, hallowed ground.

Take home with you a sense of pride
You were here Memorial Day.
Celebrating the way Americans should
On this solemnest of days.