Family Visits and Family Photos!

This weekend, Justin and I were able to visit both of our families. I could not wait to see my parents. It had been nearly six weeks since I had seen them. My sister had suggested we come to lunch at the restaurant first. The last time we had eaten there, she had introduced us as "my sister and my future-brother-in-law". We couldn't help but smile as we both remembered this. Afterwards, we went to my parents house. It is a wonderful welcoming feeling to drive up my parents driveway. The dogs come to stare, studying the car as Justin slowly drives forward. As soon as we walk through the door, we are overwhelmed with the warm scents of spiced candles or my mother's cooking. The house is warmly lit. The only thing to wake me from the old feelings that come sweeping over me is the greeting of Nicholas.

Nicholas- my sister's dog

Nicholas hates most people, and warms to no one- not even my husband. There is an equal dislike between them. Efforts have been made to make them friends, but Nicholas will not waver. Once, Justin brought a peanut butter treat with him. Nicholas jumped at his hand, causing him to toss the treat. The little tyrant only paused to snatch up the snack before returning to his barking. He is impossible.
Thankfully, my family is not. They push little "Napoleon" to the side and welcome us with hugs! :)

Sunday night, we went to Ma and Pa's (my husband's grandparents). They had begun a tradition years ago of ordering WrestleMania on tv. This year was no different. Ma made dinner for all of us before we settled into the living room. I had brought a book that my sister had loaned me and had planned to read it during the show (no, I'm not much for wrestling). My husband remembered something that I had asked him weeks before. He asked his grandparents if they had any old pictures of him as a baby. It took Ma about three seconds to find two big boxes of old pictures. They were not just the couple of senior pictures of Justin's that we have seen. There were baby pictures of my husband, of his daddy, and of his uncle. There were pictures of Ma and Pa when they were first married, in front of their home, playing with their babies. My husband had never seen them. In between fights (and during a few), my husband would take pictures and pass them to either Ma or Pa to find out who was who in the pictures. Then, while I was just beginning to finger through the first box, Ma insisted I take some for our own collection. I was careful only to take from the duplicates of Justin. I could not help but become wrapped up in the images.



This one in particular, Justin had to have.

So many of he and his Daddy had never been seen by him and he was quick to point out a few that he wanted. I, on the other hand, knew that I wanted to have them for future reference. Growing up, we used to love looking at the few baby pictures we had of our parents and trying to figure out who had what from each of them. To be honest, it was too hard. Like many couples, my parents had grown so much that they had even begun to share the same traits, making the pictures wonderful to have but impossible to pick through. I would like our children to be able to enjoy the same.

This one was one of my favorites. Those eyes- those precious, sweet little eyes!

This was a close second though. He just looks so sweet- uncomfortable, but sweet!

I couldn't help but study each photo. Some of the looks he held as a baby, I still see now- eyes wide with interest, studious, or that mischievous, playful smile.



With his daddy




With Pa in their fort!

 

He was just too cute!



Okay, so one of my husband's favorite stories to tell are those of his "Rambo" days. He had watched it when he was very young. At three or four, he loved to act out Rambo for hours in the park. It appears, Ma and Pa took pictures of this for us!

Of course, this little Rambo had red hair...

baby cheeks...

and stood at about two feet tall. Frightening, wasn't he? :)

Kindergarten Graduation

He told me that he moved SOOO fast that the camera caught multiple blurred images of him. Riiiiight!

Senior 2002

His Daddy and he at our wedding- October 19th, 2013

All four of us spent more time looking through pictures than watching the show (not that that was particularly hard for Ma and I to begin with). I, of course, can not stop thinking of the pictures that we now hold of my husband. I can look at him and see that certain traits he has now have always been with him. His past seems less a secret...and I might look at them and wonder what our children will look like too. :)
Justin has spoken of the pictures a few times since we have brought them home. He is amazed that he has not seen them before. He is surprised by what he has been able to see as well. It is nice to see him so excited.
It is amazing what pictures can bring to light. They can tell a different story. At first glance, perhaps any story can be believed with any picture, but a truth always lies somewhere deep within it if you search for it. You can find it in a smile, in a hold, or, my favorite, the eyes. I blame my mother. She never failed to speak of pictures except in the highest respect. We lost so many of our own family's old photos amidst pains and heartaches, sadly enough that were caused by our family. My mother has spent years since scouring the antique stores for pictures that others cast aside without hesitation. I do the same now; carried away by each story left untold by its original possessor and yet silently willingly itself to be understood. We found ourselves with quite a few stories this weekend, and are both very happy for it.