Leap Day, "Good Old Rolls" & Family

Family Picnic, Cameron brought as
much joy to them, as these ladies
brought to us!

My Grandpa in the middle!

The whole clan, my sisters and I remember
this one, my Grandma, always squeezing
someone tight (on the far right).

Leap Day, that extra day that comes every 4 years, that same day that I laugh of when I think how close my cousin Tiffany was to having a Leap Year Bday (Feb. 27th!).  As the world is hash-tagging, #DayItForward, I attend the celebration of my cousin, 85 years, as we lay him to rest.  We were never the family to say "great cousin, or great great grandma, or 5th cousin removed" when we spoke of one another.  A Cousin was a Cousin, a Grandma, a Grandma, an Aunt or Uncle, exactly that.  (Except GodMother, now thats GodMother & I personally do have the best one!)

Celebrating Rolly
(& his love for the Casino!)

I just love this one!
 My dads grandma with her sister.

My Dad loved fishing & gambling
with this guy!  Thanks Rolly
for some fun times.

Anyway, I attended the funeral today and as sad as it is saying goodbye, it was also a celebration on how lucky we were to not only know this man but to have the fond memories that we do spending fun times with him. We looked through old photos, finding ourselves deep into different generations.   My parents and I were fascinated with such history, love and fun!  Photos of my own grandparents, my dads grandparents, how they resembled some of our kids today and such a great trip down memory lane for a lot of the family members that haven't seen each other in a while.  Exactly how lives should be celebrated, bringing family together to remind us how blessed we are.

Mom always smiling with
her grand kids (Mia!).

Rolly with my Hubby & Dad.  

Besides all these great pictures and memories, we were also reminded of how much time has changed.  I find myself blogging on funeral days because it is a reminder for me of how precious life is and most of all how precious time with family needs to be.  As cousins of many generations on both sides of our family. we always got together for picnics or parties. Time together today, with so many of us, with my own children, seems rare. Busy activity schedules, work, baseball, church, the list goes on, and who has the energy to be the party planner?!   But making time as a family, not just in my house, but growing up with cousins and spending that valuable time with grandparents needs to be a must.  My mom, dad & aunts still do their best to keep us all together as much as possible & I love how my hubby does his best to bring the cousins together as much as he can when vacationing.

Family is family and never take it for granted, TAKE the time to MAKE the time! Learn & hear stories from past generations, that time with them, may be the last.  

Learn to celebrate one another, not just tolerate! 

(I find that one really funny!)

And for goodness sakes, when a photographer in the family wants to take your pictures, LET HER :) because it may be the only piece of memory that brings smiles to so many faces when its time to say good bye to another dear relative.  (yes, by this I mean, I don't take No for an answer when photographing you :))

Our love for Delores, Heather & Zoe!

Aunt Martha enjoying Mia!

Rest In Peace Rolly, enjoy your beautiful bride, LaVerne, whom we all miss so much, and thanks for always reminding us, 

"Who the hell cares what they think!  Do what makes you happy and live a hell-of-a-life because of it!"

Digestion Fun with Apple Cider Vinegar & More!

While watching Angie & many others take Apple Cider Vinegar everyday and listening to people ask & talk about it, we read up on many more benefits & wanted to share our experience and research with YOU!!!! Please be sure to do your own research and choose what is best for you & your daily routine to good health,  Angie and I just like to share our personal experiences and what works for what we know best. Enjoy our video below!

Well... after viewing our fun video together of Apple Cider Vinegar, you could say a little Lucille Ball may have been with us!!  Haha!  I loved watching "Here's Lucy!" with my Mom & Nana all the time and OH! How they cracked UP!!!! at the "Vitameatavegamin" Episode!!!!  If you remember it, you know what I'm talking about!!!  This may not be Lucy's "Vitameatavegamin", but the AppleCiderVinegar has so much more to offer!!!!   Here's just a few more tips found & links to products mentioned in video...

To order your BRAGGS Apple Cider Vinegar "Angie-Style": 1 Case of Apple Cider Vinegar
For more info on the Strawberry-Kiwi Aloe Mentioned: Strawberry Kiwi Ultimate Aloe Link
For more info on the Digestive Enzymes Mentioned: Isotonix Digestive Enzymes Link
For more info on Digestive Health Kit: Digestive Health Kit

#Appreciate365

Appreciate the world around you 365 days a year.  What you are wishing would change, someone else is wishing they could have.  Appreciate the people around you and most of all, share it with them.  Do they know how much they are appreciated? or how little that act of kindness really meant to you?? How your universe would change, just by seeing the glass is full, not empty.  Either way, the glass can always be refilled!!  Tag your friend, family, a new acquaintance... tag them online and follow it with #Appreciate365.  Lets see in  just 1 year, 365 days... how many smiles we can bring to one another.  #Appreciate365 #TheMomsDiet

How my appreciation for life has changed at year 3-9.
Life is simpler when the little things kinda made my day...

1. Your license renews by midnight and you start your day off at the DMV!
It only took 6 minutes...vs. an entire day (8 yrs. ago)!
2. You get an email alert from Starbucks to pick up your FREE Coffee &
don't waste a second to use it.
3.  You get a close parking spot at the mall, only there to redeem your $10 cash coupon at your favorite store.
4.  Your awesome friends take care of your back you just threw out on a Sunday!
(YIKES & THANK GOODNESS for amazing (& Medical) friends!!!)
5. You still get excited when mom & dad bring over a Birthday Cake!!!! (Never too old for cake!!)
6. You love all the "I LOVE MOM" notes everywhere in the house.
7.  You could care less about the mess in the kitchen that was made from your cuties preparing your frozen waffles to start your day.
8.  You smile at every "Happy Bday" text & Facebook Message & absolutely love the personal cell phone messages of Happy Birthday being sung to you.
9.  You can't wait to snuggle up in comfy clothes in front of the fireplace with a glass of wine (or water!).
10.  The best hubby in the world can't wait to take you out for dinner to wish you the happiest of birthdays.