CHRISTMAS 2008

What a wonderful Christmas it was! All snowy outside and cuddly inside. All of our 8 great kids and 14 of the best grandchildren in the world :-) We had several celebrations actually starting with our "family" Christmas on Sat. Dec. 20. That's when we opened all our presents and had our traditional Taco dinner. Then on Christmas Eve afternoon most of us went to Kevin and Lori's for another present opening ceremony! On Christmas day we were all at our house with many other family & extended family members. Some of the kids and adults went outside sled riding!! Gramma handed out ornaments and we had our pinata fun too! That was another story!! All in all it was a fabulous day and a wonderful way to celebrate Jesus' birthday! Grampa & Gramma were worn out!!!!

SIXTY YEARS YOUNG!

Okay, I don't know how I got here. I remember being 3 years old sitting in a pumpkin patch with Michael and now I'm 60!!! How often do I have to say, "where did all the years go?" I don't feel 60, so they say you're only as old as you feel :-) Happy Birthday to me, the sextaganarian!! Isn't that a funny word!!!!

GRAMMA'S FAVORITE HOLIDAY!

You all know that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, right? We usually spend the holiday together but this year Eric, Tonia, Cameron, Clarice, Chandler, Cailee, & Caden are celebrating the holiday at their other grandparents house in Toledo. That's okay, but we will miss them!! We know they love being there too! We will celebrate with a great dinner and all the trimmings, including our traditional shrub! And we won't play any games this year family, honest :-) I thank God for the tremendous privilege of mothering and grandmothering my wonderful family!!

LIFE IN FLORIDA!

We had a great vacation. It was great to be with family. Family is so important. We have an outstanding heritage. It's sad to see parents hurting and life declining, but we are so grateful to have spent this time with them. It makes life so much more precious! We love you children and grandchildren and treasure the memories that we make together!!! You're the best!

FRANK FINALLY HAS A HARLEY!!

Well, it finally happened. Grampa Frank has had his dream come true!! For over 40 years he's wanted a Harley Davidson, and now he has it!! It's a week old in fact!!! He's got a constant smile on his face too! The grandchildren are in awe of it. They love it's loud noise and rumble and some of them have even sat on it! Gramma says she isn't ready to ride it yet, but will when Grampa has had some road practice! Can you just see it now?? Gramma says she's worried about the "little" seat on the back. She's thinking she needs the more mature seat :-)

SCHOOL DAZE!

This is all about our three 5 yr. old grandchildren who are starting/have started kindergarten! Wow, it's hard to believe the Ryland, Cailee and Malia are in school already. I know they will do so well and be very good students :-) Hope all the younger siblings take note!! And of course they have the perfect teachers!!! Grampa & I pray for you everyday!! Also, I must take note of all the other grandchildren in school!!! You're all the best in the world!!!

GETTING THE AUTUMN FEVER!

Okay, so I know we don't want summer to be over with, but these days sure are bringing on autumn fever. . . maybe fall fever sounds better! I think I'm ready to be done with summer! Summer 2008 was the best one yet!!! Two new grandbabies born in June and July, Carson Paul & Felicity Kendall!!! Birthdays and anniversaries, actually all 4 children's anniversaries, April through June!!!! Amazing. Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve all this goodness!! God has so richly blessed us and our family!! We love you all!!!

LITTLE MERMAIDS & MERMANS!!!

Yesterday, Thursday I got to go swimming with Malia & Dawson!! Why had a blast! The two of them are like fish! I sat in the little pool and they just splashed and splashed me!! I threw little toys and they "dove" for them. This morning I'm sunburned, go figure! Some day Felicity can go with us :-) Can you believe she's 2 weeks old on Saturday?

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Gramma is babysitting for Carson today. He's been sleeping the whole day :-) I have time to work on my blog, thanks Carson!!!

REAGHANN'S 10TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

It was surely an event to remember!! Spiders and grandchildren!! One spider, 14 grandchildren!! It was so hilarious trying to get all 14 grandchildren to cooperate! The oldest did well and the youngest did very well, the middle children struggled, but hey, they're kids, what can you expect? To get all 14 sitting at one time and smiling, not gonna happen! We did however have a lot of laughs and took lots of pictures! Surely one will turn out even if we have to crop out some adults :-) It was so sweet having our two youngest grandbabies at their first cousins birthday party!! The 14 grandchildren and all the noise sure didn't deter the ugly little spider though! She kept busy all night. Imagine if someone would have run into that huge web!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

GRAMMA'S LATEST SWEETIES!!

I have to admit that I've been slow on this blogging thing! My OLDEST grandson shamed me by saying I needed to post something about our 2 youngest grandchildren! So here it is:

WOW ~ what an overwhelming feeling having a new grandson AND a new granddaughter!!! Not from the same families of course. Aaron & Jenni have handsome Carson Paul and Joshua & Abigail have beautiful Felicity Kendall!! They were born 6 weeks apart. Now that makes FOURTEEN grandchildren! Who would have ever guessed? I remember years ago when another grandmother told me she had 16 grandchildren! At that time I had ONLY 5 :-) I was in awe. I said, "now THAT would be really incredible!!!" And now I'm almost there!! hehehe Can you imagine what the holidays are going to be like? I can't wait!! There is no greater joy than to see your children's families growing. . . in leaps and bounds!!!! I think that's in the Bible somewhere!!!!!