We were some tired, groggy Joneses Monday morning but once the kids got outside they were ready to rally. Grandpa picked Emily this yellow rose and she carried it with her all morning...
After lots of fun playing in the backyard we headed to the cemetery...
Grandma took the kids for a stroll while we waited for the service to begin...
Emily stuck right by Auntie Mary Lou while the gun shots rang...
Then they all scurried out to collect the shells...
We attempted a picture of all of the kiddoes with Great Grandpa Jones...
Then spent the rest of the time visiting with family and paying our respects to those who have already made their way to heaven...
The kids began crawling through the goat door and into the barn...
There were THOUSANDS of people all around..
The service man carried the flag to the flag pole and together the men lifted it into the air...
Pigeons were released and flew in circles above us...
Then we made our way to find my grandpa. The kids placed their flags into the dirt and we sat next to the grave while the event continued...
My great grandma and grandpa...
Three jets made a few fly overs...
Jack thought that it was pretty cool that HIS name was written on the headstone. One day he may realize that he is named after his Great Grandpa Moore just as Charlie is named after Great Grandpa Jones...
After the cemetery we headed over the Judy's for cinnamon rolls and coffee. I don't think Emily even made it inside...
I LOVE this next series of pictures...
By the time we had to go the kids were literally COVERED in mud (and maybe a little poo) and Charlie's little white kitty looked as if it had been dipped in chocolate. It took some teamwork but we managed to strip each one of them down (in the street) and changed them into their second pair of Memorial Day clothes. When all was ready, we headed on over to Green Acres in Ferndale to watch the festivities and honor my Grandpa Moore.
This was our first year attending the Memorial Day service since my grandpa just passed last year. Bryan and I had heard that it was a big event but we had no idea how AMAZING it would be. We only stayed for about 45 minutes of the 3 hour event but we definitely didn't feel like we missed a thing. As soon as we got there a helicopter landed and a service man arrived carrying a flag...
My heart ached a lot this afternoon, missing my grandpa. It is funny the things that remind you of someone special to you...a scent, a funny phrase repeated by a stranger...but seeing it all slapped right in front of your face is sometimes the hardest. The sound of "Taps" echoing through the air and my own little Jack standing and admiring his name was a little more than I could handle this afternoon. But as quickly as my tears began I was overwhelmed with a sense of fullfillment and gratitude. The entire weekend, one that I had been disappointed with before it began, turned out to be one of my favorite adventures ever. And while I may still get the urge to do a little camping next year on Memorial Day there is something to be said about the time we spent and the message our kids recieved from spending our time honoring their great grandfathers and all of the other service men and women in our country.
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