Almost full circle.
We spent last weekend at my aunt and uncle’s farm. They recently bought some land and built their dream home.
And?
It sure as shit ain’t Old McDonald’s Farm.
As you approach the house, you pass the final resting place of the Jacomini’s.
A chapel, with four trees around it. A tree for each of them. Biggest is Tommy’s tree. Smallest, Vivi’s. Growing each day, more and more, from their ashes buried beneath.
Inside the chapel are four headstones. If you are sitting in front of Vivi’s stone, you can look out and see her tree. And so on…
The ceiling was made out of stained glass by my uncle, Susie’s father.
It’s a wonderful, peaceful place. Somewhere we can go to be close to them. To talk to them. It’s strangely calming.
The weekend was great!!
So relaxing to be out there, in the middle of nowhere.
Lots of swimming.
And of course, the kids dropped trou.
My aunt and uncle have owned a player piano since before I was born. You know the kind? The piano that tickles it’s own keys. My sister, my cousins, and I spent so much time on that thing throughout our childhood.
And now?
Our kids are doing the same.
So bizarre.
My eyes filled with tears as I was taking this shot with my iPhone.
We have come full circle.
Except our circle will never be complete.
There will always be four people missing.
*Apologies for the bad iPhone pictures 
Lori Dyan
Beautiful pictures and story…love the fullcircleness (sp? ahh, who cares…)
Holly {ArtistMotherTeacher}
Beautiful. Makes me want to hug you.
Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing]
me first. i will tackle you.
allisonzapata
I will tackle YOU!
allisonzapata
thank you! You can hug me in two weeks!!
Melissa
Hi Allison!! *waves furiously* Remember me? You follow me on Twitter now, and I said hi at Becky’s place.
Just wanted to tell you that your IPhone photos are AWESOME. Way better than my coolpix camera, and I havent even USED my cell phone camera yet. It ALMOST makes me want to get an IPhone, except I am on my family’s business plan, even though I dont work there. And its Verizon, and my asshat little brother used my upgrade and my sisters upgrade to get himself a droid, and us crap ass phones. PLUS my family’s company pays for it.
Also, that pool is awesome. Can I come over when nobody is home? I wouldnt want someone seeing me in a bathing suit. Also, if nobody is home, I could drop trou! Unless of course you have security cameras. Umm, never mind.
Nice to see you!
*waves bye furiously*
allisonzapata
hey!!
I can turn the cameras off for the night 
if you are ever close by, call me, I will totally let you drop trou in the pool
Also? are you a cop?
I haz scared
Thanks so much for reading!
Melissa
Not a cop, last name is Copeland. I just dont want to be googlelable. <<I like that word.
I live in the NYC Metro area, specifically North Jersey.
Melissa
Now I see you live in TX. Sigh.
Selina
I live in Texas! I’ll take Melissa’s invite and send her pics from my crappy crackberry camera. Not of me dropping trou though…well, unless you’re into that
Beautiful blog Miss Allison and have fun at Blogher.
Ofelia
Love the pictures Allison and wonderful blog! Loved reading it!
admin
thank you!!
Bodacious Boomer
It was so great to meet you last night. Your kids are absolutely gorgeous as is that “farm”. I just read your story of the Jacomini’s. How tragic. You wrote about it beautifully.
admin
thank you so much! It was awesome to meet you as well!! XOXO
Pammer
I love your Big Girl site! May you enjoy the ever loving hell out of it! xo
admin
Thanks friend!
amber
Love the new site, first of all. We can be big girls together!
Also, those pictures are fab. It looks like an awesome time!
admin
YAY!! Thanks!
elz
I love friends and family with Texas ranch property. It’s our favorite thing to do-find friends with ranches and then go be big mooches.
I had no idea the Jacominis were part of your family. I remember reading their story in the Chron and thinking what a shame it was. I guess it is good for those of you left behind to have a permanent reminder of them in a place they loved.
admin
its fabulous out there!!
yep. Susie was my first cousin….miss them more everyday.
Nancy P
A beautiful touching post.
admin
Thank you!
Mrs. Call Me Crazy
What an awesome place!
admin
It’s paradise!
Kaye
Love the pool and the view behind it, LOVE the chapel and stones and trees. That is very cool when you see your child doing the same thing you did when you were little. Congrats on the new site!
admin
Thank you!!!
Hannah
OH Allison, this made me cry. I’ve never read you posts about your sweet family. What a beautifully special memorial to them.
and holy crap, that’s an awesome pool.
admin
I just saw this comment.
Thank you, friend.
XOXO
Momma Chaos
New reader here but you have pulled me in.
First of all, I love the place! And the pool? O.M.G! Fabulous! Unfortunately I live a very long way from Texas and have been there twice in the past year- I ain’t coming back again so I wont try to get an invite
The whole chapel, stones & trees is such a beautiful thing. I went and read the Jacomini’s story and wanted to say how very sorry I am for your loss. The only consolation is that at least they all went together but I can’t imagine the pain to those they left behind. {{{hugs}}}
admin
thank you so much for your hugs and sweet words….and for reading
so nice to meet you!! XOXO