Alexis's Side

My parents, Lisa (Meemaw) and Russell (Grandpa), live five minutes away and have a great relationship with Mason and our one year old nephew, Bryson. My parents watch both Mason and Bryson while we are working. While I was teaching, my parents watched Mason three days a week so they spend a lot of time playing together. Now that I am at home, my parents take him on Mondays so they can spend the day together and Mason and Bryson can play. Mason looks forward to it every week and asks frequently when he gets to go play with Meemaw. They are some of the biggest supporters that we have in our lives. Meemaw and Grandpa are so close that they see Mason almost daily! We have frequent family dinners and adventures together. They never miss one of Mason’s events, they are at every soccer game, school event, Disney trips, doctor appointment, anything mason is part of we can count that they will be there. 

My mom is a retired high school assistant principal and was a high school early childhood teacher and a preschool director. She is truly the best mom in the world, and I feel so lucky to have her in my life. We have such a special bond that I cherish more than anything else. My mom and I are extremely close, I tell her everything. She is my go to person for advice, venting sessions, fashion tips, really anything at all. We share so much laughter and love. She has always been there for me no matter what, through thick and thin. She has always been my biggest supporter, encouraging me to follow my dreams and be the best version of myself. She always knows exactly what to say to make me feel better and has a way of making everything okay.One of the things I love most about our relationship is how we can talk about anything and everything. We share so many of the same interests and have the same sense of humor, so we always have a good time together. Whether we are watching a movie, going shopping, or just hanging out at home, we always have a blast. My mom is also my biggest comfort. When my twins died she came over at 3 AM to help Adam take me to the hospital, she stayed with me after, she came over every day and still calls every day to check on me. Her support and strength keep me centered and balanced. She is my inspiration for the relationship I hope to have with my children. If I can be half the mom my mom is then my children are in great shape. 

My dad was a Phoenix police officer for 35 years but is now a fully retired grandpa. My dad is one of the most humble and kind people there is. He is also one of the hardest workers I have ever met. He is willing to help anyone and will drop anything he is doing for his kids and grandkids. His love for our family can not be matched. Growing up, my dad was always there for me. He taught me how to swim, play catch, and encouraged me to pursue my passions. Even though he worked long hours, he always made time for me and showed up to all of my events, big or small. As I got older, we bonded over our shared love for music and movies, and I always felt like I could talk to him about anything. Now that I'm an adult, we still have a close relationship and talk daily. My dad is also willing to always go on an adventure with me. Recently my dad helped me chaperone a field trip to Washington DC with my students. If that isn't hard work, I don't know what is! He is my go to guy when I need my car fixed, I am feeling sad, or I just want to talk. One of my favorite memories of my dad was when I had shoulder surgery and I could not drive or do anything by myself for a month. My dad came to Flagstaff with me, drove me to college, stayed in my one bedroom apartment, and even did my make up for me. We had a lot of laughs over those few weeks. When I lost my twins, my dad was the first person I called and told. My dad was there for me in the hardest time of my life. I'm grateful for everything he's done for me and the role he continues to play in my life. He's not just my dad, he's also my friend.

From the moment my son was born, my parents have been such an important part of his life. They have been there for every milestone and have showered him with so much love and attention. I am grateful that Mason gets to grow up with such wonderful role models in his life who have given him a sense of security and belonging. My parents have always made sure to be present at every important event in Mason's life, from his first steps to his first day of preschool, every soccer game, anything he is in they are there. They have always been there to cheer him on and provide words of encouragement. Mason absolutely adores his grandparents and I can see the joy on his face whenever they are together. One of my favorite things about their relationship is how Mason has learned so much from his grandparents in just a short amount of time. They have shared stories about their own childhoods, teaching him about love and importance of family. I love watching Mason learn and grow through his interactions with them. We feel incredibly blessed that Mason has such a wonderful relationship with his grandparents. It fills my heart with so much happiness to see the bond they share and the love they have for each other. I know that Mason will always cherish these memories and carry the lessons he has learned from his grandparents with him throughout his life. I also know that my parents have so much love to give and they will make the best grandparents to any child. They love unconditionally and love with their whole hearts. 

Austin and Mason have a really fun special relationship. Austin did not have experience with children prior to Mason, but once Mason was born the two of them became best friends! It's really something special to see the bond they have developed, even though Mason is only three years old. Austin is such a great uncle, always willing to play with Mason and make him laugh. Mason adores him and always talks about "Uncle Austie" when he's not around.

I think what makes their relationship so special is that Austin has a way of connecting with Mason on his level. He gets down on the floor to play with him and is always coming up with new games and activities to do together. Mason loves going to the park with Austin and playing ball or playing cars. They also have a shared love for learning and animals. Mason loved getting to go on vacation with Austin when we all went to SeaWorld when Mason was two. He still talks about that trip! Austin is willing to do anything for us. One day when I was so sick and Adam was working I was not going to be able to take Mason to soccer. I called Austin to let him know (it was 6 AM) and Austin dropped everything to come pick Mason up and take him to soccer and hang out for the day. He truly is the best uncle and never wants Mason to miss out on anything. Austin will be an amazing uncle to any future children too. He's just so kind, patient, and loving with kids. I feel so lucky to have him as my brother and to see the wonderful relationship he has with my son.

Another special relationship is between, Mason, and his Aunt Jordan. Jordan has always been such a kind, caring, and loving person and I am so grateful to have her as a sister-in-law and aunt to my child. Mason absolutely adores her and lights up whenever she comes to visit. She's like a second mom to him, always playing with him, teaching him new things, and showing him unconditional love. One of the things that I love most about their relationship is how much Jordan encourages Mason's imagination and creativity. They'll spend hours playing together, coming up with new stories and games, lots of times with his cars. They also love swimming together, we spend a lot of time in the pool. Jordan is always so patient and engaged with him, really listening to his ideas and making him feel special. I know that these moments will be cherished memories for both of them for years to come.

It's really heartwarming to see the bond that they share, and it makes me excited for the possibility of Jordan being an aunt to any future children we may have. I have no doubt that she would be just as wonderful and nurturing with them as she is with Mason.

But the sweetest, best relationship to see is between Mason, and his cousin, Bryson. Mason is 3 years old and Bryson is only 1, but they have already formed a special bond. Mason is such a great cousin and loves to help and play with Bryson. They have so much fun together, whether they're exploring outside, playing with cars, dancing around the house, or going to the zoo. Mason is so gentle and caring with Bryson, and watching Bryson light up with joy when Mason is around is just precious. Mason loves to make Bryson laugh and feel included in everything they do together. I know that their bond will only grow stronger as they get older, and I'm excited to see all the adventures they'll have together.

I feel grateful that our family is so close and that our children have the opportunity to build such meaningful relationships with their cousins. It's so important to me that they grow up knowing the importance of family and the joy that comes from sharing life's moments with loved ones.

My grandma and I have a very special relationship. She is truly one of my favorite people in the world. My grandma is always there for me no matter what, whether it’s to give me a hug or a listening ear. She is one of the most caring and loving people I know, and I feel so lucky to have her in my life. My grandma watched my brother and I almost every day while my parents worked, it really helped shape our special bond. We have always been close, but as I've grown older, I've come to appreciate our time together even more.

One of my favorite things to do with my grandma is go shopping. We love to go to the mall and browse all the stores, trying on clothes and picking out outfits for each other. It's so much fun to see her try on something she would have never thought to wear, and I love watching her light up when she finds something she loves. We always end up laughing and making memories that I will cherish forever.

Another thing we enjoy doing together is playing games. My grandma is always up for a game of cards or a puzzle, and it's so much fun to see her competitive side come out. She always has the best stories to tell while we play, and I learn so much from her wisdom and experience. One of my favorite memories, is every time I was "sick" from school my mom would drop me off at my grandma's house and we would play Go Fish and Old Maid. It became a tradition through high school even! After my miscarriage, my grandma came to stay with me one day, she brought the games over and even during the hardest time in my life we still laughed and had fun playing the games that I played as a child. My grandma has always been such an important role model in my life. She has taught me so much about kindness, generosity, and how to live life to the fullest. I know that I can always count on her to be there for me, no matter what. I love her more than words can express, and I feel so blessed to have her in my life.

My grandpa and I also have a very special relationship. He is one of the most important people in my life. He has always been there for me, from the moment I was born, and I know that he always will be. One of the things I love most about my grandpa is how much he makes me laugh. He has a great sense of humor and he always knows just what to say to put a smile on my face. We both are extremely sarcastic and fast thinkers when it comes to sarcasm, so we spend a lot of time laughing. He is so generous. I also love how much he cares about me and my family. He is always asking how we are doing and making sure we have everything we need.

My grandpa is also really good at teaching me new things. He loves to tell me stories about his life and about our family history. I have learned so much from him and I am grateful for all the knowledge and wisdom he has shared with me over the years. One my favorite memories with my grandpa was actually more recently, when I was pregnant with Mason I was near their house and I was so sick. I decided to stop by to play games with my grandma, but she was not there. My grandpa was there and he and I talked for hours about everything and anything. Although, I have had many great days with my grandpa that was one of the best days just spending time with him. 

But most of all, I love my grandpa because he loves me unconditionally. He is always there to support me, no matter what. Whether I need a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on, he is always there for me. I feel so lucky to have him in my life and I cherish every moment we spend together.  also love to crash trips with my grandparents. Growing up my grandparents took me to the beach many times, New York with my grandma, shopping in Palms Springs, Yellowstone, and even this year my grandma went with us to Legoland!  I love getting to spend uninterrupted time with them. 

My grandparents are also extremely close to Mason. They are always so eager to hear about his day and listen intently as he shares his latest adventures.. The love and wisdom they share is truly invaluable and it's clear that they hold a special place in each other's hearts. Mason and my grandma (Gigi to Mason) have a very special relationship. Gigi always has a hot wheels car in her purse for Mason to play with, and is the best playmate. My grandpa, Bill, (Bills to the great grandkids) is an extremely generous and kind person. He is always ready to play and cuddle with the great grandbabies. They do not miss Mason's events. They come to every soccer game, all holidays, and every school event. Mason always looks forward to visits and hugs from his great grandparents, and I feel so blessed that they have this special relationship in their life.

Unlike Adam, I have a small extended family. My one cousin, Tyler, Aunt Kim and Uncle Andy (my dad's brother) also live about an hour away from the family. Although we don’t see them as much as we would like, we always spend birthdays, holidays,  and special events together. My Aunt is a Montesorri preschool teacher. My Uncle owned a mechanic shop for many years, until he recently sold it and began working in a furniture store so he would be able to spend more time with his family.  They are very much involved in our lives and Mason’s.

My mom's brother, Jon, lives in Spokane Washington with his wife Michelle. They have three children together. My Uncle Jon actually adopted his oldest two children, they are my Aunt Michelle's children from a previous marriage. My uncle is eight years older than my mom. My Uncle Jon is a truck driver and is frequently on the road. We only get to see them every few years but they always try to come for big events (weddings, births, my grandparent's anniversary etc.). We always joke that my Aunt Michelle is a baby whisperer. 

My Grandpa and Grandma Doll (my dad's parents) were also very present in my life. Growing up we knew my grandparents would be at every volleyball game, baseball game, and birthday. We had frequent sleep overs and lots of laughs with them. I always could count on my grandparents to send us a card for every holiday with five dollars inside. My grandma started the tradition of serving lasagna every Christmas Eve. Now that I have taken over Christmas Eve, I still serve lasagna. My grandpa was the worlds best pancake maker. He used to make shapes out of the pancakes for us and would try for every request we had. I remember one morning after a sleep over, my brother asked my grandpa to make Mickey Mouse, my cousin asked for a smiley face and I asked for barbie. I ended up with as my grandpa called it "body building barbie." 

My grandma was the fourth of six girls. She grew up in Gilbert, Arizona and even attended Gilbert High School. Her family was extremely close knit. My grandpa's parents immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s from Germany. He grew up in Colorado, then moved to Kansas before he moved to Arizona. My grandpa was a legitimate cowboy, and one of the hardest workers I have ever met. He also served in the Army after being drafted. 

My grandparents eloped on my grandma's graduation night from high school, my grandma was 18 and my grandpa was 21, being from a small town with a large family everyone knew my grandma. My grandma's dad (my great grandpa) was the police chief of Gilbert. The priest called him the night of their marriage to get approval before he married my grandparents. My grandparents went on to be married for 63 years, until my grandma's death in 2019. My grandma truly loved Mason with all her heart, as she was suffering from dementia she always remembered Mason. The very last words my grandma spoke out loud were "I got to see the baby." After my grandma's death, my grandpa continued to build his relationship with Mason. We made a point of taking Mason to see him at least once a week. Mason absolutely loved his Great Grandpa Alvin. My grandpa died in September of 2022. We still talk about my grandparents frequently and embrace their memories, traditions, and teach Mason about the love that they had for our family.