Guess who was my very first best friend? When I was 15 months old my parents presented me with my first playmate-my brother David. All of my earliest childhood memories include him. I’m still sort of bitter than I had to start going to school and grow up, causing some differences between us that hadn’t been there before! Obviously, this is written with a smile on my face, because David and I will always have a special bond. “Shanda and David”, our names were always linked like that as children and it still sounds so natural to me.
David and I walked the kids to the haybarn that my Grandfather built himself, using lumber that he sawed himself. It’s a piece of family history, and the scene of other happy (and not so happy-think injuries and scratches all over) childhood memories. When we moved next door to the farm, I gained another playmate-my aunt Colleen, and the 3 of us played in the hay whenever we could.
Good to be Home 
Love the last picture of the barn. This makes me remember all the time I spent with Grandpa in that barn, and filling it up with all that hay. Thank you so much Shan.
I have such wonderful memories of my grandpa’s barn ~ the cows and pigs, the grain bins that we played in, the dank, warm smell of the hay, jumping from the rafters into the loose hay and getting in trouble every time we got caught, making mudholes for the pigs, spending hours out there just playing. Ah, you have made me so nostalgic already this morning! Love that last picture, by the way. So peaceful ~ looks like it needs a bright star overhead! 🙂
I always loved playing with you two. Before you moved next door I only had my imagination to play with. I know I had at least 2 imaginary friends when I was really young. I always loved it that us three were at the kitchen counter for all those holidays. Those were our seats. I almost brought a stool to my house just to remember that, but I really have no place for it.
My kids love to hear stories about Rog and I growing up. I told them about the somersault contest in the hay-barn. They were awed that their mother would do something like that!
Thanks for the memories. Love You!
What great memories!
The blue of this last one is incredible. but the picture that really should be framed and viewed every single day is the one of David and Caleb, I suppose it would mean more if it was David and David, but “Yourbro” looks so big and strong and Caleb looks so itty bitty!
What a sweet reminisence! It sounds as though you have an amazing family. Have a great day!~ Laurel
What a sweet post. Sent me down memory lane, too. My brother and I were “Tim and Teresa”, and we had this neat old barn with a little loft that we’d play in. We were the youngest of 6 kids, but there was a gap between the 4 oldest and us 2, so we grew up together.
What a wonderful memory. What treasures siblings can be!
The pictures are lovely. That old barn is building new memories! 🙂
I found your site on married christian women. Hope you don’t mind me stopping by. I too collect fiesta ware! You’re a stay at home mom huh? I love finding stay at home mom’s…Mary Kay made that possible for me this year..it’s been wonderful!!!
RYC: I’ve got 9 place settings and a few “extra pieces” (water pitcher, gravy dish, sugar bowl, relish tray, serving bowls). I’m not even sure what colors I have…I have 9 differnet colors…rose, red, turqoise, shamrock, yellow, orange, etc…not sure all of htem. My MIL got me started 2 christmas ago…
I love this blog Shan! Great pictures and story!
I’m glad you took the picture of your two boys up on the hay stack, so we could see the roofing lumber your grandfather cut. Sweet post
Glad you can share all those memories with your children and the best part is not only telling them the stories but reliving them
I don’t know which is more awesome … the wonderful “Walton-type” times you regularly share with your kids or the sweet, tender ways you verbalize these precious moments.
Hey Shanda! I have fond memories of that barn also and I love the fact that you could remind us all of those “times” with a simple blog entry. I have to admit though, the last picture put tears in my eyes! I miss being a kid sometimes and right now is one of them. The barn looks so different…………………….LOVE NATE
I love the pictures, as always 🙂 What a great bond you and your brother have, that’s so awesome. I love the pictures of the kids, I never get sick of looking at family pictures 🙂 Take care.
Lovely memories to share and great pictures!! I want my children to have great memories such as yours.
Once again a beautiful site!
That was beautiful, Shanda. And does the 1st “a” in your name sound like “a” as in “father” or “a” as in “cat”?
How special it is to have such sweet memories and now be able to share them with your children. These pictures are priceless. Love them all.
That is soo special!!