Before we headed home, we stopped by to see Poppa Jim. I don't go over to his house very often, because honestly, it is just still so sad without Grandma Jean there. I know that it is something I need to do more often though. Even though it is just Poppa living there now, it will always be "Grandma and Poppa's House" to me. I had intended to just stop in for a few minutes, and we ended up staying for nearly an hour. I really enjoyed being there, amongst my Grandma's things. It really felt like a part of her was there with us. I also realized that it is important for me to take the girls there to see Poppa. I also want them to experience and know that this was where Grandma Jean lived. I am so thankful that they have such a wonderful Great-Poppa Jim! He loves the girls very much. As soon as we got there, Mackenzie went right to her "spot," a little cabinet filled with tea sets, just for her to play with! Actually, Grandma collected miniature tea sets, and there are about 20 of them that will be for the girls someday. They played on the piano, ran around in circles from the front room through the bedroom & kitchen and back, played with all kinds of breakable things, and looked at pictures. It was almost like dejavu being there again. I remembered skating through the house before they got new flooring, the smell of Grandma's peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, watching her iron in the kitchen with a sheet on the ground, spending the night and sleeping in the waterbed with Grandma and Poppa, playing Nintendo, having my hair washed in the sink, playing outside in the sprinkler, having garage sales, wonderful Christmas Days, countless delicious Sunday dinners, and always being welcomed with "Hi, my Darlin'! and a hug! Really, there are endless special memories. My Grandma Jean was, and is one of the most important people in my life and I will always miss her dearly. I like to think she must have been smiling down on this day, with her Great-Grandbabies playing the piano in her living room! (I know that may be silly, but it is comforting to me and so I will think it if I want to !) These are precious, precious pictures that I will always treasure.
Just before we left, Mackenzie found this tiny little picture of Grandma Jean & asked Poppa if she could have it. When we got in the car, Mackenzie said to me, "Mommy, if I miss Grandma Jean, I can just look at this picture and I won't be sad anymore." Yes, baby. That's right, you can! This picture is one of a kind...a picture of Mackenzie & Madison with their Great Poppa Jim & their Great Grandma Jean. (In a tiny little frame by Mackenzie's cheek.)
It makes me so sad to think that Grandma Jean didn't get to know Madison, and that Madison didn't get to know her. She would have simply adored her.
I can't help but think of Mackenzie's first Christmas, when we sat her up on the corner of the piano and took a picture, just like my mom did with me when I was a baby. Such special memories this house holds!
Poppa has told me that one day, this piano will belong to the girls. That is very special to me, because it was very special to Grandma Jean!
They played & played & played on the piano! Poppa reminded them, just like Grandma would have done, about playing on the rain side, instead of the thunder side! Why is it that the thunder side is just more fun?!
Poppa Jim let them run all over the house, collecting "treasures" to play with! (anything they wanted!) I was afraid they would break something, but he wasn't worried about it. Grandma would have loved that they were playing with her things!
Poppa went and found this picture & asked if it was me or Mackenzie! Well, it was me, but it looked exactly like her! We even held it up and asked Mackenzie who it was and she said, "That's me!" She is my little clone!
Well, I didn't mean for this post to become so heavy...it just kind of poured out once I started. I really didn't even realize the gravity of these pictures until I put them on the computer and started looking through them. I am so glad I took the 10 seconds to run out to the car for my camera that day. Time is so fleeting...you think things will remain as they are right this moment, forever, but that is just not how it works. So all I can do every day is love the Lord, love my family & cherish every moment!
Wow...it is amazing how people react when a snowstorm is coming! I can't blame them too much, because I am standing in that line, just like they are! This was my second trip to Wal-Mart in the days before the BLIZZARD came. It was CRAZY! I couldn't help but take a picture of the lines! I was just glad I only needed a few things...and still I waited in line for over 20 minutes. The girls were so good and patient while we waited. I love, love, love getting snowed in at home with my family! Time just kind of stands still and we get to enjoy being together. Good food to eat, movies to watch & books to read, lots of toys to play with, daddy gets to stay at home, we get to stay up late & sleep in late...this should happen more often!
Can it really be 70 degrees in January?! Well, yes...for a few days anyway! Then it was back to FREEZING COLD and snow! We definitely enjoyed the pretty weather while it lasted. The girls love playing outside. Madison will just stand at the door and point, waiting to go out. Mackenzie is really into dressing herself and picking out her own clothes these days. (As you can tell!) I love her creativity, and let her have at it most days! 
Well, we were very excited when the weather caused a snow day and postponed pajama day at ELP to a day that Mackenzie could be there. We were planning to go to OKC for a youth ministry conference on the Thursday that pajama day was supposed to be on, but that didn't happen due to snow. The weather has been crazy around here lately. So, a week later, it was pajama time! This was perfect timing, because Grandma Baldwin just bought Mackenzie 4 new pairs of pajamas! And she knew just which ones she wanted to wear...a nightgown, of course! I told her that was fine, as long as she wore leggings underneath. Out came my camera, and the posing began! This little girl is a hoot! What a fun day at school...they got to wear pj's and houseshoes, watch a movie & eat pizza! I was wishing for a pajama day too!
The girls are very good to play and entertain themselves when I have to make cookies. This week, I did Thomas the Train cookies for a little boy's 2nd Birthday party. When Mackenzie saw them, she said, "Awwwww, Mommy those are ADORABLE!" She is so sweet! I decided to go ahead and do some Valentine's cookies too, so I could make a flyer. Of course, the girls are rewarded for good behavior by getting a cookie! Madison stands at my feet much of the time and says, "Cookle! Cookle!" I love my little cookie monsters!
These were a lot of work, but they turned out so cute!
Candy heart cookies!
Valentine's Cookie Bouquets
