Dad's Side of the Fam

Today’s Tribute goes to my Dad’s side of the family, updating what I wrote ten years ago! ❤

I call Dad and his siblings “The Muecke Bunch” because there are three girls and three boys. =)

Aunt Nancy (Claire) is Dad’s oldest sister, and I get my awesome middle name from her!  She is warm, creative, and loving.  She values preserving photos and memories like I do!  She teaches kids Sunday school and leads women’s Bible studies, and she does calligraphy and all sorts of cute craft projects! ❤  Nancy’s husband, Gene, is one of a kind and always entertaining!

Their kids (my cousins) are Justin, Ashley, Amber, and Jayme.  Justin married Anna and they have three kids: Jake and Mitch (twins) and Ree.  Ashley is married to Colin.  Amber married David, and they have three kids: Eden, Rook, and Trinity.  And Jayme married Zach this summer.

Aunt Charlene is the middle sister, probably the aunt I feel closest to and most comfortable with although we have the least in common – life works that way sometimes. Lol  She works for my Dad and lives close to my parents, so we see her pretty regularly for movies or Sunday lunches or random dinners.  I’m happy to have another single woman in the mix, and I always love hearing her stories!  She has a great sense of humor and is very tenderhearted.  She’s known for her blunt honesty, being ultra-detailed when she tells stories, and eating slower than everyone else! Lol ❤

Her kids are Heather, Kristin, and Al.  Heather is single. Kristin is the cousin I am closest to, so you probably remember her... She is married to Frankie and they have four boys: Anthony (in heaven now), Diesel, Nash and Wesson (twins).  And Al (Mom’s favorite of her nieces and nephews) is engaged to Hilary.

Aunt Georgia is Dad’s youngest sister.  She also works at Dad’s SF office.  She is thoughtful and organized, always remembering to send out holiday and birthday cards to everyone.  She bakes tasty chocolate cakes and sugar cookies, and she usually cooks the turkey and dressing at Thanksgiving – and she (like me) is ultra-cleanly and semi-germophobic, so I’m always happy to eat her food. Lol  Finally, she loves cute little dogs (Katie and Gracie)! ❤ Georgia’s husband, Alan, is a hard worker and an easygoing, funny guy.  He has helped out with every big move and painting project I’ve had, and he and Brian installed the sprinkler system at my house.  He and Dad play golf together a lot, and he also joined them on Dad’s birthday riding the rapids!

Alan had Tracy and Brian before marrying Georgia.  And together, they had Brandon, who is married to Whitney and raising Dallas and a friend of his who they have recently adopted.

Uncle Havno Naime is Dad’s oldest brother.  He never married or had kids. He was originally named Bill Muecke, but he had it legally changed just for fun…  (nope, not kidding). It doesn’t ever strike me as weird to call him Uncle Havno until I have to explain it to someone else. Lol  My main childhood memory of him is that he would throw coins into the pool for us to dive in and fish out, and we’d see who could collect the most money - we thought it was the best game! ❤ (Havno fought in the Vietnam War and lost several friends, and Dad says it really changed him. He had a stroke a few years back, and he lives with Gus and Marilyn now.)

Uncle Gus is the middle brother (my Dad is youngest).  He has a lot of quiet wisdom and is very involved in their church.  He works as a physical therapist, and their family lives in Texas. They used to stay at our house when they would come to visit, and we would always stay up late watching movies and chatting and catching up on everything!  ❤  His wife, Marilyn, is very involved with their church in Texas.  She cares about people and has a lot of Godly wisdom to offer.  She has been through a pretty traumatic loss and came out stronger and closer to God, and I really admire that.

Their kids are Mandy and Michael (to us), but they go by Amanda and Mike everywhere else.  Mandy is single, and she’s been kind and encouraging to me. Michael is married to Melissa, and they have a young daughter named Gracie (yay for a new Muecke girl)!

And then, of course, there’s Dad (the youngest boy) who married Mom and had me and Rachael! ❤ I'm single, as you likely know.  Rach married Josh (who already had Triston and Carter), and together they had Jace and Kyndal Faith. =)

Some favorite memories with Dad's side of the fam include:

• Making up synchronized swimming routines, lip sync music videos, and fake commercials with the girl cousins!  
• Justin and Brandon entertaining us quoting SNL and Rush Hour and Tommy Boy and so many other movies!
• Ashley's dramatic acting in our Neosporin and Olympics preview commercials! lol
• The annual Christmas letters detailing the highs and lows of their lives through the past year (from Charlene, Nancy, Georgia, Gus, and Dad).
• Playing spoons, hand and foot, spades, Scattegories, Apples to Apples, Catchphrase, Mad Gab, Nertz, etc. at our family get-togethers… always fun!
• The sisters singing random songs and laughing so hard they all start crying! Lol
• Lots of American Idol nights and movie nights with Charlene and the fam.
• So many summer swim parties and cookouts at 9121! =)
• Anthony’s first birthday party!
• Being at the hospital for the birth of Deisel and the twins!
• Going to the Beth Moore conference with my aunts!
• Visiting the Texas Mueckes and eating at Babe’s!
• Playing Dirty Santa at Christmas so that everyone could just buy one gift!
• Nancy's fun photo booth props for 4th of July, Christmas, and Thanksgiving pictures! =)

I have all sorts of fun memories with these aunts and uncles and cousins!  As time has gone by, I’ve become more aware of what a blessing it is to have a large extended family that I still get to see pretty regularly.  I am thankful that we have remained connected enough to love and support each other in hard times and grief, and for all the laughter and fun memories we have shared!! ❤

Happy Friday, everyone!! =)