So my buddy Mark sent me this video file and I thought you might want to check it out:

The Griswolds have nothing on these people! Check out this lighting display. The song in the clip is “Wizards in Winter” performed by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Coincidentally, I was going to rig up the EXACT same display on our house this year… then I happened to stumble onto the FAA web site and read their regulations about lights strobing to music within a 1 mile radius of the airport… darn!

– Doug

Molly and I traveled out to South Dakota over the weekend for my Grandpa Robbins’ funeral. On the drive out there, I had a lot of time to reflect on my favorite memories with Grandpa and what he has meant to me.

Grandpa Robbins was the quintessential grandfather. I remember him as a kind man of few words who loved to go fishing and play cards with his grandkids. He would take us out on his fishing boat and even let us “steer” around the lake! I fondly remember fishing in Grandpa’s creek with my cousins and we caught over 80 bullheads… poor Grandpa was busy taking fish off our hooks and putting new bait on for us. I also remember once he let us grandkids hop up in the combine to see the machinery. Grandpa was also very adept at playing dominoes and “crazy 8′s”… but you had to be careful because he would peek at your cards if given the opportunity!

Grandpa was always there for my important milestones in life… my baptism, confirmation, high school graduation and my wedding, among others. Thankfully, Doug and I traveled out to South Dakota in July and Molly got to meet her Great-Grandpa Robbins while he was in good health. Those memories have comforted me many times this week.

While at the visitation and funeral, I got to catch up with my cousins and relatives… we all have very fond memories of family gatherings and especially of our Grandpa Robbins. May his devotion to family and legacy of love live on in our families.

- Erin

So what is it about babies that makes everyone get all mushy and happy? It’s so fun to take Molly out with me to run errands… before, people could be really rude and not even notice each other. But when you have a baby with you, random strangers will come up and smile and start talking to you. I love that! Maybe it’s the chubby cheeks, big doe eyes and toothless grin that does it, or maybe babies just have an innocence and joy that draws us in. Whatever it is, wouldn’t it be great if people still reacted that way to babies even when they grew up? Just imagine!

It’s been so cool to watch Molly discover the simple things in life… chewing on a wooden spoon and splashing in the tub delight her to no end! I wonder if our parents had the same reaction watching us grow up. And I was a twin, so my parents must have had twice the fun… and trouble! Everyone says “enjoy these moments, because they grow up so fast!” And they were so right! We take lots of pictures and video so we don’t forget a single moment.

~ Erin