Happy Birthday Jack

Happy Birthday Jack! We hope you had a great birthday with lots of presents, yummy cake, and lots of friends and family to help you celebrate. I can't believe that you are seven years old. How did you grow up so fast? It seems like only yesterday that you and grandpa were taking a nap together.

Grandpa seems to have a special way with putting grand babies to sleep. He did such a good job he even put himself to sleep.

Where's grandpa?

When you went to visit Auntie Lisa and Uncle Ryan, Uncle Ryan let you drive his boat.


I remember when you and Kristen came and stayed with grandpa and I in California while daddy and mommy went to a meeting. We had such a fun time together. We went to the beach in San Francisco and on the way we stopped at a vegetable stand on the side of the road and bought a big bag of fresh green peas. You and Kristen loved them!!! And kept asking me to give you more. When we got back home we had fun playing together. You liked the bubble gun and had a fun time blowing bubbles in the front yard.

Jack likes to share with others and that includes sharing his lunch with his doggie friends, Carl and Calvin.

Cool, huh!!

Kristen and Jack having lunch together. Jack loved his lawn mower he got for his birthday when he was two years old.

Kristen giving Jack a ride on grandma's tricycle on the patio in California.

Such a handsome little guy!

Jack and his cousin, Madeline, running together.

Jack is such a happy boy. He's suppose to be ready to go to bed, but he looks like he has other ideas.

Jack and grandma!

Your sister wanted to name you Jack Percy, but mommy and daddy talked her into a different middle name. I kinda liked Jack Percy. But I like your "real" middle name better. Thanks for always being my helper boy when I come to take care of you and your sisters and brother.

Can't wait to hear all about your birthday celebration. See you this weekend.

I love you, Jack.

Grandma

Happy Birthday Sacagawea

From the first time we met you what a joy you have been to your grandpa and I. We love your sweet personality and beautiful smile. Grandpa loves to put his arms out to you and have you come running to him. And I love it when you ask me to tell you a story. Grandpa and I are so glad that you decided not to run away from home. We would have been so sad to come and visit and not have our little girl to come out to welcome us. We hope you had a fun birthday. We love you and miss you lots!! Happy Birthday Sacagawea.

Potluck Sabbath

Today was our three church Sabbath and I always enjoy having potluck lunch at one of the little churches that we visit once a month. However, today, I stayed home with Madeline since she is recovering from her surgery. Shannon was here too and we spent the day together while Bob went about his travels to the three churches. Today Madeline could eat ice cream and pudding. Her favorite ice cream is chocolate and her favorite pudding is chocolate. She definitely is related to her grandma.

After breakfast, we all three went out and sat on the steps of the porch and petted the dogs and watched the birds. We saw the yellow finches, the tree sparrows, and the hairy woodpecker all eating at the various feeders we have in the yard. Madeline is feeling much better. It's amazing how quickly she has recovered.

Madeline wanted to play hospital this morning, so Shannon pretended to be the patient and Madeline was the nurse. She wrapped Shannon's arm up like hers was and laid her hospital gown on top of her and put all the stuffed animals that she received while in the hospital all around Shannon so she would feel better. It was interesting when Madeline was in the hospital, because she asked if she could have her hospital gown, and of course they said they thought they could working something out. Then when they took out her IV, she wanted the board they had her hand taped to and she wanted the gauze too. They were treasures to her and she enjoyed wrapping her mom's hand up and making her lay still so the (pretend) needle wouldn't come out, because if it did, then they would have to put it back in and that would really hurt.
Then Madeline wanted to play with the play dough and make pretend cookies. She had a great time and the cookies looked almost good enough to eat. Remember I said, almost . . .

Then we went outside and walked around to look at all the pretty tulips and daffodils that Bob planted last fall. They are so beautiful I couldn't decide which pictures . . .





Then Madeline wanted to cut some flowers and take them in the house. So I went in the house and got the ceramic pitcher I painted last summer at Camp Cherokee to use as a vase. Madeline had a great time picking out just the perfect flowers.

Then Shannon suggested that we pick some white tulips and put them in water with food coloring to see if the flower would change colors.

Madeline put blue food coloring in one jar and purple food coloring in another jar. The flowers in the jar with the blue food coloring have turned blue, but the ones in the jar with purple food coloring haven't changed color yet.

Then I washed Madeline's hair and put these curly-q's in. When my girls were young, their grand-grandmother made these type of ribbons in every color of the rainbow and more and my son, Ryan, remembered his sisters wearing them and has for several years been wanting me to make some for Hannah. I had no idea how to make them, but when I mentioned it to one of my friends, she remembered making them for her daughter and thought she still had the pattern. A few days later she called me and gave me the simple directions. While I was with Madeline at the hospital I made several sets. Madeline loved the purple ones and wanted them. I wasn't sure they would work in her hair because it is so short, but we put them in today and they look really cute. Shannon says it's sentimental to have Madeline wear them. She remembers wearing the curly q's when she was a little girl.

She looks so cute!

Then it was time for supper. Friday Bob picked asparagus from the garden. Our first harvest of the year. So, I made creamed asparagus on toast. Madeline was able to eat the cream sauce and Shannon and I enjoyed the fresh creamed asparagus on toast.

Our first harvest of asparagus for the season.


Creamed asparagus on toast!! Yummmm!!!

A Note From Liesel

I just received the cutest card and note from Liesel. The card has dogs on the front, three of which are doxies, just an adorable card and on the inside a note;

Nanny,

I wanted you and Bob to know that I miss you and love you. Say hi to Punkin and Lola for me. Love, Liesel

P.s. I'm trying to be good!

I love this card!!

Appendix - Out!

Thursday morning I was awaken to a telephone call. Lisa called to let me know that Shannon had spent the night at the emergency room with Madeline and the test results confirmed that Madeline needed immediate surgery to remove her appendix. I immediately jumped out of bed threw on my clothes and left, hoping to make it to the hospital before she was taken in to surgery. Unfortunately, I was just a few minutes late, but waited with Lisa and Shannon in the waiting room. Prayers were said for this precious little girl that was afraid and crying out for help. Lisa and Shannon waiting while Madeline is in surgery.

Madeline has just come out of surgery and recovery and being moved to a hospital room.
Shannon comforts Madeline.
Madeline wanted to be held.
Her first trip to the bathroom after the surgery.
The doctor wanted Madeline up and walking in the afternoon. She did really well, but she held her heart pillow on the incision and walked bent over a little.
Madeline had lots of visitors. This is her school teacher and two of her classmates. All the students made cards and sent little gifts. Madeline had three of her neighbors come to visit, several church friends, the teacher's aid, the bus driver sent a card and gift, her physical therapist, and lots of friends and family.
This morning, the nurse let Madeline help her take out the IV. She was a brave little girl.

Madeline can only have clear liquids and jello. On Saturday she can include ice cream, pudding, and apple sauce. On Sunday, she can have soft food. She just told me that she is really hungry. I feel so sorry for her. I've got to go and make her some jello for later this evening.

Madeline got to go home after lunch today. I brought her home to my house and Shannon will come this evening after she finishes her classes.

God answered our prayers. Madeline is doing great. Still a little sore, but doing really well.

Happy Belated Birthday to "M"

Here you are in grandpa's arms. You're much to big now for grandpa to pick-up and hold. It has been a joy and blessing to watch you grow and mature into the young man you are today. It was so thoughtful of you to wait until we could come out to visit before you were baptized last summer. We enjoyed being part of this special occasion and witnessing your commitment to the Lord. It was thrilling to hear about you preaching at church one Sabbath. I want you to know that your grandpa had a big smile on his face when he heard the news. Your talents are many and we pray that you will continue to use them for the Lord.

You are the oldest of our seventeen grandchildren, soon to be eighteen, and we are both so very proud of you! We hope you had a great birthday celebration. Happy Belated Birthday, "M".

We love you.

Grandma and Grandpa

Thank You!

What a nice surprise to have a new face lift! Thank you to my daughters for keeping me updated. I love the look!!

Moving

Have you ever moved? I remember moving several times. Three of the moves we had the luxury to have a moving company come in and pack, load, and unload. The other moves were not as convenient. Packing and moving a home with six children running all around was an interesting experience for the movers, I'm quite sure. I remember one hot and humid summer in August when we were moving from Oklahoma City to Chicago. We turned the air conditioning off since the doors were propped open while they moved furniture and boxes to the truck. Natalie was just three years old and was busy playing with the water-hose. She was keeping everyone cool that came within water spraying distance. The movers kept coming into the kitchen from the garage asking me what was to go and what was not to go. They just didn't see the treasures in the garage that I did. I told them many times, everything goes. Still they would come in and ask, "Does that pile of bicycle parts go?" Of course. You never know when the kids will need spare parts. Finally, I was exasperated and told them, "Everything goes that is in the garage!" So, they loaded everything in the garage into the moving van. A few weeks after our arrival in Chicago, the boxes from our move, labeled garage, were still in the garage unopened. But, there was something that smelled really bad in the garage and we couldn't figure out what it could be. Then we started opening the boxes and surprise!!! They had packed our garbage that was on the side of one of the walls in the garage in Oklahoma City. I had told them to pack everything, I just didn't think they would pack garbage.

Anyway, the point to my blog today is that Lisa's parents have moved. Or, I should say are still moving. It's not just a simple houseful either. It's a whole dairy farm, including the cows! The cows are scheduled to be moved tomorrow right after they have been milked. The cows have to be milked twice a day without fail.

Yesterday, just as I had started my commute home, Lisa called asking me if I could come and pick-up the girls at her parents new farm? When I got home I changed my cloths and gave Lisa a call to find out if they had had dinner yet. They hadn't. So I told them I would run by and pick up supper for them and come over to pick up the girls. Some of the help they thought would be there to help unload the semi, weren't going to be able to come, so I gave my cousin, Tony, a quick call to see if he would run over and help them out. He was home and went right over to help. He only lives about a mile from the farm. When I arrived there were kids running everywhere. Lisa's sister and her husband were there with there two children. Lisa and Ryan were there with their four kids, and Lisa's parents have two little boys of their own there. Everyone was busy unloading vehicles, trucks, and the semi. That is except for the children. They were having a grand time playing in the barn with the new kitties they found. The former owners left all the cats and kittens. The girls had spent most of their day playing in the barn and they looked like little barn children. Smudges of dirt on their sweet little faces, dirty little hands, muddy "people boots" and lots of excitement and hugs and kisses for grandma!! I loaded up Madeline, Hannah, and Gracie in the backseat of my car and headed for home.

As soon as we walked in the house I started running the bath water and added Mr. Bubble. They needed a little soaking, so all three got in at the same time. They had a great time splashing and it was amazing that all that dirt soaked right off!! They were squeaky clean, again!!!

Lisa had sent home a basket of clothes, but there were limited clothes for the girls. Most of the clothes were for the boys and Ryan and Lisa. I had some extra diapers in one of the dressers in the little girls room, so I put one on Gracie. I found a t-shirt in the basket of clothes Lisa had sent, so I put that on her, but her little legs were cold. I found a pair of white thick knee socks in my sock drawer, so I put them on Grace. The heel was at Gracie's knee and the top of the sock came to top of her thigh. Perfect! Hannah and Madeline had equally designing night clothes, but all were happy to go to bed. Ryan, Lisa, and the boys arrived soon after the girls were put to bed, and the boys were so tired, they didn't even take a shower, they just climbed into their beds dirt and all.

I know it was a busy and stressful day for everyone that helped with the move, but I had a great time with the girls and it was so much fun watching the children play with the kitties in the barn. The kitties are really cute.

It's a big old farm house.

Gracie waiting for me to put her in the car.

Lisa's sister's little girl and one of the barn kitties.

Madeline looking for more kitties.

Lisa's dad estimated that there was 9 tons of household belongings on the semi. They're fortunate they have their own semi and that Lisa's dad is licensed to drive it.

Playing in the barn with the kitties.

Madeline.

Little Ryan is on the left and Ryan is on the right. I think little Ryan is catching up on height with his dad.

This is Lisa's little brother, Johnny. He is such a sweet little boy. He likes the new farm.

Lots of helpers.