Memorial Day

We spent yesterday reflecting and remembering and spending a lot of time being grateful for the freedoms we have and the brave men and women and their families who have sacrificed so much to protect them. Throughout the day our hearts were swelling with thanks, and we made a point of carving out time to remember and celebrate the members of our armed forces.  The Hubs has done a great job making things like Memorial Day a priority in our family, and he got us up bright and early to hit the Memorial Day parade in town.  We want our kiddos to know there are brave people who make our freedoms possible, and we want them to know days like Memorial Day are days to slow down and take a beat to remember those who have been lost and those who are currently serving.

Newbie was thrilled about the parade and was so excited when his daddy stopped at the store on the way to pick up a flag just his size to wave while the band and the firetruck went by.

(Hello, little family of four!)

When the soldiers walked by in the parade, Newbie asked: "Daddy, da soldiers beat da bad guys?" ...just about anything boils down to good guys and bad guys for him these days.  It was a neat opportunity to explain that the soldiers help keep us safe.  And he waved his flag even harder on his daddy's shoulders.

(36 weeks now, Miss Mowgli!)

Once the parade passed, we scrambled to the car to meet the crowd following the parade up at the cemetery where they held a Veteran memorial.  We parked and walked up to Jubilee's place just in time to watch the parade go by and the crowd that followed it up to the hill just beyond Jubilee's spot.

We stood for a while by our girl and watched, and though we couldn't hear anything, it was good to stand with our girl while the crowd walked by and gathered up on the hill.  Its usually just us there, and it warmed my heart to see the community gather in a place that is so close to my little family.  Newbie sensed the reflection of the moment and snuggled into his daddy's neck.  He may be three, but sometimes this kiddo really gets it.

And then he was ready to roll. =)  He played the drums for his sister with some sticks he found in the grass, and we sang her a song before heading back to the car while the ceremony on the hill continued.

We left with hearts full of gratitude.  Newbie left with a new found love for bands and parades.  He got Buzz and Baby Mickey in on the action as soon as we got home, and he directed a parade through the house for a good half an hour before lunchtime.

*****

An enormous and heartfelt thank you to the brave men and women of our armed forces and the families that support them.  We are so incredibly grateful for all you do and have done to protect our freedom.

Happy Tuesday, friends!