A GRAND Memere

Today we said a final goodbye to Memere, the matriarch of the Roy Family.  I met Memere shortly after Lee and I began dating, more than seventeen years ago, and from that moment on, she always treated me like I belonged.  She was a warm and generous soul, always quick with a smile or a joke.  She was a nurturer, always “pushing” food when you visited, preferably sweets.  She was a very funny lady, a trait that stayed with her even as her mind slowly deserted her.  We always visited her when we were in New Hampshire and she just loved spending time with the girls.  Last year, during our Christmas Eve visit, the girls showed her their autograph and photo books from our Disney trip.  Even though words failed her, the smile on her face and the delight in her eyes was unmistakable.  I am so grateful that the girls had a great-grandmother, for however brief a time.  Cheers to Memere, loving mother of seven children, grandmother of twelve, and great-grandmother of ten.  May you rest in peace.

October 2001

October 2001 - one of my favorite pictures of Memere. 

May 2003

August 2004 - holding Elizabeth for the first time, her first great-grandchild!

October 2004 - Elizabeth's baptism

December 2004 - first Christmas as a great-grandmother! 

January 2006 - dancing with Lee at Josh & Natalia's wedding.

June 2006 - holding one week old Emily 

October 2006 - Emily's baptism 

December 2006 - holding baby Nolan on Christmas Eve

December 2007 - hugging Elizabeth at her 80th birthday celebration. 

Uncle Andy toasting Memere on her 80th birthday in December 2007. 

80 years old! 

Memere and the girls on her 80th birthday 

December 2008 - Memere and Emily on Christmas Eve 

January 2009

Easter 2009

Christmas Eve 2009

Christmas Eve 2010 

Christmas Eve 2010 

Christmas Eve 2010 - one of my favorite pictures of all time. 

Christmas Eve 2010 - proudly wearing the necklace that Elizabeth made her.

Christmas Eve 2010 

Christmas Eve 2010

Easter 2011 

Easter 2011

Christmas Eve 2011 

Christmas Eve 2011 

Christmas Eve 2011 

Christmas Eve 2011 

Christmas Eve 2011 

Easter 2012 

Easter 2012

You Are Loved

This week, we lost one of our favorite family members - Uncle Andy, who was a loving husband and father, beloved brother, and cherished uncle and grand-uncle. Our lives, although better because he touched them, will never be the same. He was featured often on our blog - and as much as our girls loved him, he loved them more. Rest in peace.

Christmas Eve in New Hampshire

On Wednesday afternoon, we drove to New Hampshire to join Grammy's family for their annual Christmas Eve celebration. Elizabeth and Emily were beyond excited - they could barely contain themselves! We all had a wonderful time and thanks to our incredibly generous family, the girls returned to Connecticut with a truck-full (literally) of Christmas presents. More pictures from the family gathering here.

The girls with Grammy (above) and Elizabeth with Grampy (below).

Opening their HUGE gift from Uncle Andy and Aunt Denise.

Kisses for Aunt Denise.

Family Visit

Uncle Mike, Auntie Kelly and Felix made their first family trip to New England a few weekends ago. We visited them at Grammy and Grampy's house for an afternoon and then hosted them at our house the next day. A bunch of aunts and uncles came to meet Felix, which was an added bonus for the girls (and us) because they had the chance to visit with so many family members. We miss the Santa Fe LeBlancs but we hope to see them again soon.

Here is Elizabeth, acting silly!

Felix (so thoughtful)

Fishing is one of the only activities in which Elizabeth shows patience.

Emily and Aunt Denise

Uncle Andy and Felix.

Uncle Mike and the rest of the boys toss around the football.

Grammy, Elizabeth and Uncle Andy, hoping to catch a fish.

Auntie Kelly and Felix

We thought that it might be a good idea to take a family picture (because we don't know when we will all be together as a family again). Felix was apparently the only one willing to go along with the plan....