Day 24

"Life is full of beauty.  Notice it.  Notice the bumblebee, the small child, and the smiling faces.  Smell the rain, and feel the wind.  Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams."

~A. Smith

Grateful for life

This is maybe one of my favorite pictures of the family.  This is in Hayward, and after being sick of "posing nice" for the annual Christmas card for Grammie and Grampie, this is what you get.

It's perfect.  It shows "life" in every one's faces.

Back row left to right.

Rylee: It was her 10th birthday, and she thought the "peace out" sign was the thing to do.  She's 10 days younger than Mary and 6 mos. older than Max.

Gannon:  He's a cool cat full of piss and ginger as Dad will say.  He's busy giving "rabbit ears" to Rylee. He's 6 months older than Regan, and 4 days younger than Cecilia.

Austin George: Laughing at his favorite cousin and best friend Brennan, even though B is probably pinching him in the rear.  Austin and B are 6 mos. apart.

Brennan: The eldest of the bunch of 11.  He's a good kid who will do anything for his friends, but really watches out for Austin...and makes him laugh like no one else.  (That's awesome.)

Mary: Turned 10- 10 days before Rylee.  She's quiet, she loves bubblegum, and loves the word "like."  She has the rabbit ears up for her brother Brennan and "peace out" sign in the other hand.

Maxwell: Three peas in a pod with Mary and Rylee, although he is doing the "double peace out" sign, I think he sticks his tongue out in protest cuz he's a boy.  He laughs like an asthmatic (he is), and he sounds like Chunk on the Goonies.  Love this kid.  He also reminds me of Russell on UP.

Cecilia: The freckled wonder, cute as a bug...quiet, but not too quiet Cece.  She is the "forgotten middle child" of the Berg family...I relate to her.  :)  She's 6 months older than Regan, and her, Regan and Gannon will usually triple up at the cabin.

First row left to right:

Regan:  The blond haired blue eyed little ball of energy, giggles, and fun.  She is the "forgotten middle kid" in our family, and her and I are a lot alike....I see a pattern already with school, the unstoppable giggles and everything else.  Grammie probably told her not to make a silly face...so this was what she came up with.

Grammie:  Herself.  Her Highness.  Her Majesty.  Momage.  THE number one, the head honcho.  The best hash-slinger ever.  She has my Gram's eyes.  Irish smiling eyes.  She is mean if she needs to be-I think I learned how to talk through my teeth from her), but she is best at loving each and everyone of us.  Her on-going wish for Christmas presents?  "Oh, I don't want anything...I just want peace, love, and harmony in the family."  (ooh...but i DO like this ipod!) The best Mom I could ask for.

Kailey Kathleen: The youngest and claimed by her sisters to be the most loved and the princess.  She is 6 months older than Erin, 6 months younger than Jackson.  She is a 30 year old in a 7 year old's body.  She also sees dead people.  (totally serious.)  **freaks me out like you would not believe**

Erin:  The youngest of the Bergs.  She is a ball of fire.  She is silly, she is bubbly, she is her own little fashonista.  Usually she's in a get -up that could ONLY be created by herself.  And...she has spongebob teeth.  I think Grampie is tickling her here. 

Grampie: THE GRAND PEE.  The Grand Pubah. The story teller.  The fish liar.  The best friend my Mom has ever had.  He gives the best hugs, and you can always count on him.  Adopted and has quite the story.  Ask him sometime...its amazing.  He's the rock, our strength, and he is one hell of a guy.  He spends his days in Hayward making pancake breakfasts, fishing (and baiting many hooks)...and pulling the kiddos tubing and skiing.  He loves it.

Jackson: The youngest of the White Boys.  He is his own little person.  He has an extra tooth.  He loves his Mama...and he loves and looks up to his big brothers.  He's a feisty little turd, tho....and will jump right in with no fear when he has to/wants to.

This picture is full of LIFE.  Full of LOVE.  Full of people who I would do anything for.  NOTICE the smiles, the lake, the surroundings.  THIS is LIVING.  Love you all.  <3