Happy 90th Birthday Jean-O!

My last living "Great" relative turns 90 tomorrow and we celebrated her and that generation today with a birthday party at her apartment complex.  We prepared just what she requested - hot dogs and potato salad (homemade not the mushy store bought kind) and I think that she had a great time seeing everyone that came today.

She doesn't see too much anymore, I would say pretty close to 100% blind these days.  And, she can't walk much farther than from her kitchen to the bedroom.  Some days she seems to be all there and some days it seems that the conversations are far from the present time and the confusion of her mind has taken over.  We still talk, I still listen and just offer the 'uh-huh's' and 'oh that's nice's' that she wants to hear.  She loves to hear about my children and I wish that they could hear her tell the stories that she used to tell me about Maggie Magee.  I used to call her just to hear a story and I can remember spending the night with her and listening to her stories.

Some days she is really nice to be around and other days it is tough.  But, you just have to keep going as Mom says - we are all she has - and I believe that is true.  She looks forward to Wednesdays when my Mom goes over to take her shopping even though she doesn't leave the apartment too much.  Just a face at the door brightens her day.  I am not sure how many of those days she has left so we just take it one day at a time and enjoy the little moments as much as we can.  Today was a joy, a moment to celebrate a generation and recognize a woman that has lived almost a century!  Happy Birthday Jean-O, we love you!

Preschool is Over (for now)

We had a blast celebrating with Sarah's class this past Wednesday.  Sarah absolutely loved adored her preschool teachers, Ms. Roxanne and Ms. Rachel. She loved the kids as well but Ms. Rachel was the highlight of Sarah's day every Monday, Wednesday and Friday since January.  We had to make sure that Ms. Rachel was there to get her out, give her a hug, we had to buy her candy and special treats for each day and just Ms. Rachel's smile will make your day.  We have been so blessed by DUMC's preschool and totally loved it.  Sarah, of course, loved the social interaction and gave me a play-by-play report each day.  She learned a lot in the few short months that she attended as well.  Scripture, numbers, letters, writing, recognition, colors, days of the week, months, animals and the list goes on and on.  It is so hard to let go some days but when you know your little ones are loved so much it makes it that much easier.  Thank you Ms. Roxanne and Ms. Rachel for loving Sarah this Spring.  We look forward to the Fall when Sarah will be in preschool 5 days a week (not sure how I feel about that) and boy is she ecstatic!

 Sarah and her sweet friend Haydn

 Sarah and Ms. Roxanne

Sarah and Ms. Rachel

Nana.

20 years ago today Heaven's gates flung wide open as a true saint walked into paradise.  It is so hard to fathom that 20 years have passed since Heaven's gates opened for my Nana, but today marks the 20th anniversary of that day.  I still remember it so clearly as I stood on the top of my parent's staircase with my Mom at the bottom arms outstretched and she just simply whispered, "She didn't make it".  My Nana gave it a good fight and by the time she died she really wasn't the Nana that I held in my memory.  What follows are the things that I remember.

She was the warmest, loving woman.  She raised six children with four children being raised on her own after her husband passed.  She was positive, had an infectious laugh and loved to sing even though there were no offers beating down the door for her to perform.  I distinctly remember Nana and my Dad signing back and forth to one another from the upstairs to the downstairs - loudly in an operatic tone.  She would walk me to the end of the driveway in her nightgown to catch the bus and we would sing to the birds as we walked.  She was also at the end of that driveway when I came home.  I cannot begin to count the days that I got in trouble because I would sneak downstairs and sleep with her instead of alone in my room.  She was cuddly and always had extra room on her pillow.  I can even remember back to when I was in half-day Kindergarten and she would always have a snack for me waiting, generally some homemade goodness, and we would sit and watch game shows until the "big kids" came home.  Her cooking was divine, comforting, delicious just the kind of food that you would want at the end of the day.  There was not a person that walked in the door that did not like her and there was never a baby that passed her graces that did not get at least a smile and a wink if not a hug.  She loved kids and they loved her just alike.  My Mom and grandmother had the perfect friendship and I am so blessed to have that with my Mom today.  I only had 11 years with Nana but I feel like I had 100 and I truly wish I did.

And oh, oh how I would give anything in this world for my children to be able to cuddle with her.  Jump up in her fluffy lap and rub her ears.  She had the floppiest lobes on the planet and she would tolerate me rubbing them all the time.  I know they would adore each other and I also know that she walks with me daily.  Some days I can feel her, some days I think I see her but I know that every day she is present with me.  One day I will have her chicken and dumplings again and we will have a big old cup of coffee and something delicious for dessert maybe over a scrabble game or two.  Until then, I know that she is rocking those babies in Heaven with a smile on her face.  I know that she is with her 7 brothers and sisters that have gone before her, her husband and the many other relatives and friends that have gone before us. One day we will again share an embrace and I will flop her ears :)

I love you, Nana, and I hope that I have made you proud!

Tom and Ashlee

I had so much fun taking pics of my brother and sister-in-law who are expecting a little bundle in a couple weeks.  I love taking pictures - maybe one day I will have a new career :)

Love you guys!  And cannot wait to meet the peanut :)

Rockies Team Pictures

Tonight we had team pictures for the Rockies.  It was a cold, rainy and just plain nasty night.  Tyler knew that he did not have to play a game that night so when I told him to get dressed he had a meltdown, a complete meltdown.  After 20 minutes of sitting in a laundry basket crying  wailing we made it to the church for our pictures.  I just told him that when everyone else is so excited to play in the Spring to just remember the laundry basket and not to ask for us to sign up (not that I think that is even a worry at this point)!

Lucy Jane

Sarah loves Lucy Jane and I deeply wish that the feeling was mutual from Lucy’s side.  Lucy was our third cat and by far the tiniest animal that I have ever owned.  She fit in Chad’s shirt pocket when we brought her home and we nursed her with a little dropper for a couple weeks until she was old enough to eat.  She has always loved Chad and I but has equally hated noise and other people.  I think Lucy has been in a hibernating state since we had Tyler and then Sarah and now Mack and Molly have just put her into a tailspin.  Nonetheless, Sarah is in awe of this animal and here is a moment when Sarah actually caught Lucy to “play” with her.

Playing at Nana & Pop's Creek

Tyler and Sarah love playing in Nana & Pop’s creek.  There are all kinds of critters, plants, rocks and water – cold water.  Every time the kids are there for more than 20 minutes they are asking to go to the creek.  Tyler likes it more than Sarah but they both like to walk down there.  In fact, this was the first time that Tyler coaxed Sarah to walk in the creek for more than 5 steps.  And, when she got wet she still played which is unheard of for her!  It brings back so many memories of all the times that we played here as kids. We love to just be outside for a breath of fresh air and the feel of cold water in our toes.