Memories restored!

On Caroline's 1st Valentine's day, we buried Bart's grandmother, Nanny.  A week before Caroline was born, my grandmother, Nana, died.  Both were very much missed as we started our family and we wish to this day that our children could have known them.

On that Valentine's Day in 2001, Caroline wore the sweetest dress to Nanny's funeral.  It's still Bart's favorite.  When we returned home from the church and Caroline was opening a valentine, I snapped this picture:

This dress was hanging in a garment bag along with her First Communion dress in our master closet.  On Saturday morning, it was one of hundreds of items returned to us from the restoration company.

Seeing that truck pull up was like Christmas morning times 100.  The fact that all of these items were solid black when they left our house and now are returned clean is nothing short of a miracle.

The American Girl dolls slept soundly in their make shift pillow bed.  I think their hair still smells like smoke and they should go to the American Girl "spa", but their "mother" is in a panic about that so that argument is for another day.  They joined Sprinkles the big pink dog and Pearl the Mermaid, all safe and sound and stinking like a strong floral deodorizer that is making our house smell like a retirement village.

Back are Owen's Corwin the sheep and Maria the yodeling goat, still yodeling (wait, who is that crazy that jumped in the picture?)  Also "returned from being cleaned" were William's friends, including blog favorite, Mimi the Chipmunk.  All new of course, but the little owner doesn't know that.

Sorry your bed is toast Mimi.  I'm sure you can lobby for a new one once you have a room to put it in.  And speaking of rooms, here is an updated picture of our house:

This is standing in Caroline's room.  Don't you love what we've done with the place?

Tomorrow's post will be in tribute to the generosity of our friends and family.  I"ll highlight some of the incredible gifties that we have received (that means you Cook Kids Club!)

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone.  Hope it doesn't stink!