CI Photo Blog

I am the oldest of 6 children in my family…not that any of us are children anymore.  In fact, half of the gang has their own kiddos now.  Along the way, we learned that the only way to survive is to be there for each other, through it all. 

I am extremly close to my family.  I love my brothers and sisters, each and every one of them!  Heather, Lee, Ashley, RaeAnn and Tommy, my heart teems with love for you.  We have been through a lot together, and we share some amazing memories.  While some memories are of painful times, they are almost always followed by memories of triumph.  Other memories are preceeded by chaos, but they are nearly always followed by memories of family togetherness.  And the silly memories filled with laughter, they live on stronger than any other.  Just so that you know, I cherish the time that we spent together as kids.  You made me yell; you made me cry; you made me smile; you made me giggle; you made me belly laugh; you made me pee my pants with laughter; most of all, you make me proud. 

My dad has been absent from our lives for quite some time.  When he left our family, he took along nearly all of our childhood photos.  So, when he came for a visit a couple years ago, you can imagine how elated we were when we discovered that he had brought hundreds of photos with him.  I could not have been more thankful to him for that.  All of a sudden the lost memories came flooding back.  My sister took the time to scan a number of photos that he brought, and she forwarded digital copies along to the rest of us.  She just reminded me of how cool I was, by posting a couple shots on Facebook.  I don’t know whether I should be laugh or be mortified.  Frankly, I love these pictures, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

I remember this day vividly!  We were at my Grandparent’s old farmhouse in Cedar Hill.  My Dad came for a visit.  I was wearing his sunglasses, and check out my matching socks and jacket!  What do you think about my 80’s ipod?  Ah, the good ol’ Walkman!  I think that I had Bon Jovi’s cassette tape playing…”Livin’ on a prayer.”  My sister, Heather, was rocking the flip-flops before they were rad…she still lives in them, just a bigger pair.  And, Lee it’s funny to see you looking a little short and round…Ah, the memories!  We were the cool kids, for sure!

That’s me at the top.  Here, we are hanging with our cousins in our Sunday’s best.  Lee and Heather are on the far right.  Heather & Lee, you may have been the two cutest kids on the earth.  Heather’s button nose and tiny freckles were to die for, and Lee was the prettiest boy I’ve ever seen.  He still has those pretty red lips and eyes that pierce your soul.

Ashley, RaeAnn & Tommy, you’ll have to wait…I’ll find some pics of you, too.  I’ll start my search through my old photo boxes soon.