Gilmer, Texas

Lucas had a few days off of school so we decided to go see my Mema in east Texas. My grandmother, who I call Mema, lives in Kelsey, Texas, but the nearest town on the map is Gilmer. She lives in a very rural area where the boys can roam free. My childhood was filled with memories of exploring around her house. I want my boys to have the same experiences:


Four generations of hands - Sam, Mackenzie, Great Mema, Mema (my mom), and Lucas:


We had a great time playing at Great Mema's house:



She let the boys help her build the fire and roast marshmallows on it:



She bought donuts for the boys in colors they had never seen:



The boys played with her toys, many of which I played with as a child. It was fun for them since they were toys my boys had never seen:



We played on her porch swing, where I spent a lot of time as a child:


My mom got to look through some of her father's belongings. Ray died when my mom was a teenager.


This was a Hershey box from World War 1:



This is my Mema's bathroom. That license plate and wall paper have been there for as long as I can remember:


Great Mema took the boys out to saw wood for the fire:



We visited with Uncle Ronald (my mother's brother) across the street:




The boys played in this hamper, which I played in as a kid too:



I wanted to go to the Kelsey Cemetery and see some of the headstones from relatives. The boys have never been to a cemetery before. Lucas had a lot of questions and at first was pretty uncomfortable, but after awhile, the boys went and explored on their own:


Lucas found a headstone with his middle name on it:





We visited with Aunt Lana (my mother's sister):


Then we went to her house to see all of her chickens, guineas, and peacocks:




My cousins - Brian and Nathan (Lana's sons):


The Heaps met us at Mema's and that was so exciting. Lucas and Alex were inseparable as usual:


Cheryl (another cousin) came to see us too with her darling daughters:


We all took a trip up to the old schoolhouse that Great Mema owns:





Great Mema has made the inside of the schoolhouse into a museum, all about the history of Kelsey, Texas. The history there is pretty amazing. Kelsey was home to the first Mormon settlers of Texas and many pioneers in my family:


We visited with Aunt Linda (mother's sister) and her daughters, Summer (pictured) and Misty:


Aunt Linda made her famous cobbler:


All of the kids played for hours (Lucas, Layla, Aiden, Sam, Rocco, Alex, Aiden, Kasie):



Sunshine (another of Linda's daughters) came to visit with her family:




Sam was worn out:


We spent the last day at Mema's house:






Lucas and I played this game, which we played at home when I was younger. It's a question/answer game and it was very fun:


My cousin, Toye, came to visit us as well. I hadn't seen her in a long time!


We said our goodbyes and drove home.


It was a wonderful trip. I am so glad we were able to make it there before the baby arrives. Doug was working, so he stayed home, but my mom went and helped me with the boys (since I am supposed to be resting). We made some priceless memories while we were there. I hope we can visit often and I hope my boys will love it as much as I do!