Memorial Day Weekend

I love Memorial Day.  I love living in Alton on Memorial Day.  I love the symbolism, the patriotism, the coming together of families for BBQ's and fun--basically I love everything about this day with no presents or trees or costumes or candy!  Here in Alton we have the longest continuously running parade on Memorial Day--145 years!!!!  I grew up walking to the parade and sitting at the corner of College and Main--right by the laundromat--and that is where you can find the family and I on Memorial Day still. 

Walking to the parade is a tradition in and of itself.  I have almost always lived close enough to walk--Clawson, Brown, Spaulding and Jackson. This year while walking, Tristan wanted to know if we would be at the same spot as "always."  When I told him we would because that is where our family has "always" sat he was relieved, letting me know that we "always" had to sit there for every parade, every single year!  Gotta love that firstborn who loves tradition as much as his momma!

"The Girls" waiting patiently in the heat for the parade to begin.

Clara, with her cute little pigtails, watching the flag pass by.

Of course the parade was not the only event of our Memorial Day weekend.  Even though Dustin ended up having to work both Saturday and Sunday I was bound and determined to make the most of our time.  Of course, when I am "bound and determined" it never seems to come out quite the way I imagined it.....

Saturday I enlisted the kids help in cleaning the basement with the promise of a fun evening to follow if we could whip the basement into shape.  Everyone started out great but the labor force quickly fizzled to me, and "Tiny" trying to "help" by taking out whatever I put up.  Dustin came home dead tired, the kids had lost sight of the goal and mommma was frustrated.  The night however still proved to be salvagable, so after some encouragement from my husband and some re-motivating for the kids the basement got cleaned and the fun could begin! 

We made homemade, individualized pizzas and played Disney Universe on the X-Box!  The kids had pepperoni and bacon pizzas while Dustin and I went a bit gourmet with an alfredo sauce, provolone, grilled chicken, bacon and basil pizza-YUM!

 Other highlights of the weekend included learning how to set up Dad's pop up camper for our upcoming trip to Maryland, enjoying an afternoon BBQ with most of the family on Memorial Day and learning how to take the camper back down and hook it up to our vechicle.

Happy Memorial Day!

A special thank you on this day to my brother Nathanael Rayborn serving in the Navy and my cousin Matthew Golliday serving in the Army.