#295 - Remembering Mimi

My grandmother, Mimi, passed away last weekend.  She lived a long life.  A blessed life.  She was a wonderful woman, a devoted mom, and the kind of grandmother that every little girl deserves.  I will miss her terribly.

I got to spend some time with Mimi over the last few weeks of her life.  And, just two days before she passed away, I had a conversation on the phone with her that will be forever etched into my memory.  What a gift that was, and I knew it at the time, for which I am so thankful.

Mimi and I had a special bond.  Despite a 54 year age difference, we were alike in so many ways.  We both loved books, loved to read and learn, to enjoy the beauty of nature, and our families.  We loved the University of Florida, and we were both sisters in the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.  In college, I spent many weekends driving from Gainesville to Brooksville to visit her.  When I moved to Atlanta, I spent many more weekends driving over to Sapphire Valley, North Carolina to visit her.  Those visits, when it was just the two of us, are what I remember most about Mimi.  The two of us talking or just sitting on the couch watching TV.  We'd eat Lil Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls and catch up on what everyone else in the family was doing.  She told me about my mom as a young child, what it was like being married to someone in the military, and her adventures traveling back and forth between Florida and North Carolina.

My mom asked me to speak at her funeral.  I was nervous and a bit overwhelmed at writing Mimi's eulogy.  But, once I sat down, and started typing, my fingers couldn't stop.  The words came quickly with the memories flooding my mind.  On Wednesday of this week, I stood before our family and friends and read it aloud.  When I sat back down, I realized what a gift it was to be able to honor my grandmother in such a way.  If you'd like to read the eulogy, click here.

This is the poem that was included in Mimi's service.  I think it is was so appropriate for our family.

One Mother

You can only have one mother,

Patient kind and true;

No other friend in all the world,

Will be the same to you.

When other friends forsake you,

To your mother you will turn,

For all her loving kindness

She asks nothing in return,

As we look upon her picture,

Sweet memories we recall,

Of a face so full of sunshine,

And a smile for one and all,

Sweet Jesus, take this message,

To our dear mother up above;

Tell her how we miss her,

And give her all our love.

#294 - Swim Lessons

Owen has gotten so much better in the water, but as we entered summer, I knew I wanted him to get some more swim lessons.  I've always believed that knowing how to swim properly is an important life skill.  So, we enrolled him in lessons at the Habersham YMCA after recommendations from friends. 

Well, that experience was a disaster in many ways.  First, the Habersham Y is across town, and lessons were daily at 5:30pm.  We literally spent more time in the car getting to and from the lessons than Owen did in the water.  And, 5:30 is a terrible time for swimming in Savannah, as we typically get afternoon rain showers including lightning and thunder, and two of our lessons were cut short due to lightning.  Finally, the worst part were the lessons themselves.  Owen was in a class with nine other children, most of whom had little swimming experience, and only two teachers, who clearly were overwhelmed.  On the fourth day of lessons, I timed it, and Owen swam less than 5 minutes of swim practice, while spending the other 40 minutes hanging onto the pool edge waiting for his turn.  I was pretty upset, and called the Y manager, who graciously agreed to refund our money, and then I withdrew him from the class.

Then, I signed him up for private lessons in our neighborhood club, which is less than 2 minutes from our house, and it was the best decision ever.  His swim teacher was extremely professional and clearly knew what she was doing.  It was 4 different 30-minute lessons, and the progress he made in one week was amazing.  He was doing freestyle, breaststroke and a little bit of backstroke by the end.  See the videos below.

Owen loves the water - he's pretty fearless, but does know his limits.  He could spend an entire day in the water and love every minute of it.  I'm definitely looking forward to seeing him enjoy our week at the beach when he will get lots of pool and beach time!

#293 - Catching Up

Sorry it's been a while since I've updated the blog.  Now that the Tylutki's have joined the decade and have smartphones with texting capabilities, I end up texting many pictures and updates.  But, I know I need to keep this page updated.  After all, I hope to one day make a scrapbook out of this site, and that won't be possible with years old texts!

So, here's a quick update of what we've been up to using pictures I just uploaded from my phone:

Last Sunday, Lou had to work, so we stopped by Krispy Kreme to grab a dozen hot doughnuts to take into the hospital for him and his co-workers.  The boys got to watch doughnuts being made.  You can see the assembly line behind them through the glass window.  Those doughnuts were good too.  Owen had two chocolate-covered sprinkled doughnuts!

My sweet boy right before bedtime.  Notice where his hands are?  Yep, my 4-year old is turning into a 13-year old boy who can't keep his hands away from "the stuff".  I don't know what it is, but I hope he moves on from this phase quickly. 

Hanging out at Barnes & Noble this past weekend.  It was just too hot outside to go to a park, so we headed to the bookstore where the boys and I spent a few hours reading books and playing on their train table.  

A super cool dude

I spent a lazy Sunday afternoon on the catch engrossed in a book (on my Kindle).  I got up to change over the laundry, and came back to find Benjamin in my spot "reading" like I had been.  

Trying on uniforms for Kindergarten!  I love getting ready for school!

Goofballs running around the house without their shirts on.  They look even more alike without clothes, don't they?  Both skinny minnies as I like to call them!

Benjamin still just adores Mickey Mouse.  Here's a picture of him napping, holding onto his stuffed Mickey, and laying on top of the pillow case made for him by his prima Grace and Abuela Isa.  And what you can't see is that he's wearing a Mickey shirt and shorts too.

Craft time!

A picture taken at bedtime while we were reading books.  Lou was working late, and I snapped this to send to him at the hospital.  It's getting a little awkward to read books with 50 pounds of little boy on my lap!

More craft time!