Memorial Day Weekend

So each year on Memorial Day weekend, we take the kids to a National Cemetery and decorate a few graves that no one came to visit. This year we decided to head up to Riverside and see the grave of a WWII hero named Richard Kudrle. We don't know for sure if there is any relation. So this year we pack the kids up and we don't tell them where we are going. When we got close, Justus asked us where we were going, to which we replied, "We are going to see some heroes". That settled him a bit, until we got there and he didn't see anyone! So we explained to him that here is where the bodies of heroes are. We explained that there comes a time when our body stops working, and if we know Jesus our spirit goes to spend eternity with Him. We explained (for the first time) that this is what happened to Ruthie. And since our body doesn't go to be with Jesus (because He has a better one waiting for us) we need a place to put them, so they go in the ground where we can come and pay respect to these great people. He understood and asked no questions. We explained to him that the people buried here gave their lives so we could live as we do. It was a great chance to explain to him that not everyone in the world gets the great freedoms that we do: freedom to worship Jesus, freedom to raise our family, freedom to have a business, work and honest wage, and provide for ourselves. We told him that without these men and women, America might be a really bad place to live. He got, and it is awesome to see those mental clicks in a little kid. We took the kids and began to decorate the graves which for us, consists of flowers, flags and time in prayer for the families left behind to live without these great heroes. I hope that you will take time to teach your children about these great heroes, moments like these are very tender for Brian and myself.

While walking through the graves and finding names we knew and people from the same service as Brian, we stumbled upon a tender grave for both of us, "Emily Ann Beloved Daughter" only one date, birth date and death date the same. Bringing us to tears, we knew all too well the pain this family went through in burying their daughter, and took great comfort that Ruthie went to meet this great Emily Ann and we became certain that they must be great friends. It was as if God showed us this to remind us, "I saw you, and I still see you...I have not left you or forsaken you." Here are a few of our photos from this great day of instilling tradition, respect, and honor into our children.

Brooke putting down her flowers

Justus staking in his flag

Justus and Brian praying for the family of Mr. Kudrle and for the many families represented there that must live without, so that we might have.

Brooke saying her prayers

Brooke had flowers for the graves

Justus had flags

Richard Kudrle...not sure if there is any relation

We found a fellow Coastie

...And a fellow Quackenbush (Brian's Mom's maiden name).

Justus taking his time to soak it all in.

Waving his flag proudly!

Medal of Honor Monument at the Cemetery. One of 4 Monuments in the Nation.

The only Coast Guardsman to have been awarded the Medal of Honor: Douglas A. Munro

Playing at the March Airforce Museum

This plane is called "The Gnat!" and is Justus' favorite

Piggy Ride on Daddy!

No more piggy ride = Stinker-Roni This is what a "Stinker-Roni" looks like...very NOT HAPPY!

They got a kick out of hearing their echoes

OK, so here in the Kudrle home, we have a reward system called the "Sticker Chart". When the chart is filled with stickers, we pack up that day and go to the toy store. Stickers are awarded for completing all assigned chores during the day (mostly clean up from play time, meals, naps, laundry etc.) but a "bonus sticker" can be awarded if they are good for the baby sitter. This is a victory day: Sticker charts complete! Off to the toy store!

Brooke only has 20 days of stickers...only because that's how many days ago she asked for a sticker chart

Brooke's toy: You guessed it...a stuffed animal!

Justus' toy for completing 50 days of chores!

Every once in a while, Brooke like to snuggle into her pack and play with all of her friends and sleep. She will ask for it. Well, we put her to bed...and walked in about 20 minutes later to find her decked out in headbands saying, "Pretty hair! Pretty hair!"

Not thrilled with all these photos...