gomommyblogger: Memorial Day's with Tumbles and Songs, President Lincoln and HoneySuckle

Demitri is four-years-old and trying desperately to keep up with our neighbors, which include a set of seven-year-old, boy/girl twins and their older sister, who are 10. Both of the girl neighbors can do flips on the trampoline-
full,
off the ground
in the air
circular motions.
The type which make my hear quicken and skip.
The type performed by Olympic gymnasts...and tumble tots.

Admittedly, he is not as well-performing as the girls.
He has never had a lesson, and I am so very thankful that his ability to tumble and toss is only as great as every other, sloppy, four-year-old boy. This is good for my racing heart.

Inside the house, Big Strong Man and Zeplin take a nap on our bed.
Our bed: the adult bed.
This is the best bed in the house, for it can fit all five of us, nice and snug.

In the next bedroom, Thatcher sleeps with his legs sticking out of the blanket and surrounded by all his current loves: a Mickey Mouse doll he affectionately calls "Mouse", a soldier bear, a Miles from Tomorrowland figurine, and a book about ears.

I love today.
We slept in.
We ate a yummy, Chinese lunch (although the boys all make faces and complained).
We will soon be heading-out to the Memorial Day parade where we are told President Abraham Lincoln, Himself will be awaiting the festivities

But more than any of that, I am thankful that today is a day to remember how grateful I am that we live in a country where we can pursue gymnastics, or be perfectly content to simply tumble and toss.
Where we can sleep-in and still take a lazy, afternoon nap.
Where I can write and read and have my much-desired "down time" in the middle of the day.
Where Big strong Man gets the day off, and Zeplin has no school, so the entire day is ours, entirely.

I am thankful for men and woman

who have sacrificed greatly

so that we can have these freedoms.

Fought, so we can rest.

Died, so we can live.

What a great country we live in where these men and women do not have to sacrifice in vain.
In disgrace.
But in honor.

Current, future, and past militia, we thank you.
Whenever possible, thank a Vet.
Regardless of the war.
Regardless of the rank.
Regardless of your convictions about war.

Many served out of duty and many out of need.
Some served frightened.
But all have served, and it is to our benefit.

From President Abraham Lincoln, to Big Strong Man and those he served beside, to every other:

Air Force

Air Force Reserve,

Air National Guard

Army National Guard

Army

Army Reserve

Marine Corps

Marine Corps Reserve

Coast Guard

Coast Guard Reserve

Navy

Navy Reserve

Your service, your bravery, your commitment to us and our country is something for which we will always be thankful.

When Big Strong Man and I were still dating, he decided to wear his Army fatigues to the park where my father's side of the family has our annual family reunion.
It was his way of introducing himself.
As a tradition, my family and I always rode the little train through the woods as the last ride of the day.
We did this since my childhood.
That year we waited in long line with a youth group behind us.
Nearing the end of our wait, the youth group broke into song singing and thanking Big Strong Man for his service.
They were rewarded with people clapping all through the long line and as BSM and I boarded the tiny train seat we were sharing, the clapping was aimed at us.
Really, at him.
I felt like royalty, sitting there, upon his lap, he, receiving such honor and thanks.
He earned this.

All of our men and women who have served deserve this respect.

We appreciate you.
Thank you for your great sacrifice...
for our great country...
our innumerable freedoms...
and our lives.
We salute you.

-Family Mcfive
p.s. We ended our day with a firepit and cookout at our neighbors house...the neighbors with the trampoline. The children had way too much sugar and got one another wet with squirt guns and water hoses. At one pint, we discovered honeysuckle.

Here is our day in pictures: