My poor neglected little blog...

ANOTHER crazy month for the Barrows Family with some more big changes and lots of busy days. I am finally down to working part-time so hopefully will have some more time to get some backlog of blogs caught up.

But, until then...because the only way to get back into blogging is to not think about it and to just do it...here are a couple of pics of the boys (because what else would I put up here?!)

It's like pulling a bandaid off in my world. I worry about what to write about for days when I've taken a break, so then I post something random and hope that it gets me motivated again to post! Here's to another one tomorrow night :)

Saying Goodbye to Grandma Tracy

Those that have been reading this blog for awhile or those that know us will know that Jim's mom Tracy passed away on Easter Sunday of last year, less than two months before the birth of her newest grandson, Jordan Douglas. She was so very excited to be a grandma again and absolutely adored James. She would have been very happy to know that Jordan's middle name was chosen out of the utmost of love and respect for her late father and Jim's amazing grandfather Doug. 

I did a blog post about her passing and one that was filled of photos of her life in the month after her death and have looked back on both of those posts many times since.

Anyone who knows me knows that Tracy and I were never close, and only in the previous few years had I spent any real time with her. She lived a troubled life and I often found it difficult to communicate and relate to her but I was so proud of the changes she had made in the few months before her death. She had made a choice to get sober and had made a commitment to herself and to Jim and she had stuck to it. The day she phoned to tell Jim of her new life I will never forget the extreme pride and pure joy on my husbands face. We were so excited to see the new Tracy, but sadly she died before we got the chance to do so. 

Jim and Tom wanted to wait to spread her ashes until the spring following her passing and with Jim's new job taking him away for much of the time, a date was chosen over a year later, on June 22. 

We headed to Nanaimo with plans to spread Tracy's ashes on a bridge around Westwood Lake where we had gathered almost 6 years before to spread her father Doug's ashes. We met Tom, the boy's Grandma, Auntie Bonnie, Bonnie's husband Greg, Jim's cousins Cody, and Dayna and Dayna's two boys and started the walk to the bridge only to discover that the water wasn't flowing enough to do it there. A new plan was made to head out to this beautiful spot Tommy knew about somewhere near Lantville. So we headed off in a caravan and met there a little bit later.

Tommy was right, this spot was beautiful and I think in the end it turned out to be absolutely perfect. I didn't expect to feel emotional but there was something about all of us being together in the water, with the tide slowly coming in, a beautiful bird next to us and the flowers floating towards us that we left for her that I found extremely peaceful and full of love and life. For many many years Tracy may not have had a lot to give to those around her other than her love, but she always did so, completely and freely. 

On that day, surrounded by the people that loved and supported her most in the world, I know her spirit was felt by all of us there as we said goodbye to her.

RIP Grandma Tracy

The start of a new year at Busy Bee's - Preschool Year 2!

So yesterday was the start of a new year for James as he headed off to Busy Bee's for his final year of preschool. I can't say enough amazing things about Laura and Janet and I'm already sad thinking about the end of the year when he's done there and headed off to kindergarten at this time next year. I'm ready for time to slow down just a little bit now.

Here he is as we left Nana and Papa's house to head home to get his yearly first day of school photo.

Had to take it in the same spot as last year so I can compare how much he will grow between now and June. I couldn't believe how much of a difference it was through the last year.

He literally ran across the driveway to get to the van. So excited!

We pulled up and the first person he saw was his little friend Katie.

Great picture of him in front of the sign. I've seen many of these on FB the past few days!

Totally random moment where he leaned down to kiss me...awwww!

Big hugs for Janet!

His new spot for his backpack

Washing his hands and getting ready to run away without even saying goodbye!

Playing at the new train table with Katie

Attempting to get a jumping photo of Katelyn and James but it didn't quite work.

I couldn't pick a favorite from this bunch so I posted all of them because they are just too adorable!

This pretty little lady is just getting too big too!

He was pretty darned excited that he got to be the meteorologist on the first day back to school. I bet if Laura and Janet wanted a quiet person to do it then certainly wouldn't have chosen James because the scream he let out when he heard he got to be the weather person was almost deafening!

So, that's it for the first day of school photos. With how fast time flies these days I know I will barely blink and I'll be posting the end of year photos here too. Love you James and I really hope you enjoy your last year of little kid school before the craziness of all day school hits you next September.