GREAT Grandpa

Dearest Jackson and Colt,

Did you know that even if you put off blogging about something, the reality of it remains the same?  Go figure.  Well, the sad reality is that just days after returning from visiting, your great grandpa got very sick.  He passed away on Tuesday, January 8th so we quickly made arrangements to make our way north again.  We flew in on Friday and spent a few days with the family as we celebrated his life yet mourned our loss.  While it didn't seem like a "capture the moment" kind of trip, I did take a few shots with my handy i-Phone.  

Grandma R. went with us to the local science museum - a first for the both of you - and you played with a variety of fun things.

Bird watching with cousin Hailey

Visiting with Grandma M.

Getting to know second cousin, Damon

The 3 GREAT grandchildren

It was an interesting trip as you are at your most curious age, Jax.  The viewing, funeral, and burial brought up so many thoughts in your busy brain...

Me:  Jax, do you understand that Great Grandpa is in heaven now with Jesus?

You:  Jesus isn't in heaven.  He's in your heart!

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Me:  We're going to Great Grandpa's house now.

You:  Will he be there too?

Me:  No, he'll stay in his casket at the funeral home.

You:  Who will stay with him to make sure he's ok?

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You:  Why are we at the cemetery?

Me:  So Great Grandpa can be buried in the ground.

You:  What happens if the dirt gets in his eyes?

Your precious innocence is a treasure!  

I pray that I live to see that innocence in my own great grandchildren some day.  

(No pressure, boys!)

Pictures?

Dearest Boys,

I am so glad that I didn’t make any new year’s resolutions about photography because I would’ve already failed miserably.  We unpacked our Canon when we returned from Indiana and it’s still sitting right where we put it.  I’ve used the less-than-impressive camera on my phone a few times but I’ve missed way more moments than I’ve captured.

I have no pictures from the fun New Year’s party hosted by the Vaughns.

I also skipped the squeezeintogether picture from Girl’s Night when we went to see Les Mis.

I didn’t get a single action shot when Jacob and Logan came over for a lunch date.

I missed the cute photo opp of you boys teaching Kinley how to play with swords when the Harycki Fam came over for dinner.

I was the only person who didn’t take out their camera during our Party of 15 dinner at Babe’s!

It seems that only sporting events are good enough for my sim card these days.

For Daddy's birthday, I surprised him with tickets for the two of us to go see Purdue play in the Toilet Heart of Dallas Bowl.  The Boilermakers were scoreless, the temperatures were freezing, and we were surrounded by Oklahoma fans but we had a blast!!!

Thanks to Facebook, I won 4 tickets to see the Dallas Sidekicks.  They play in the Professional Arena League and were pretty fun to watch.  We invited Brody and Michelle to come along with us, which made it even better!

Thanks, trusty iPhone camera!

White Christmas (3/3)

Dearest Boys,

We spent Daddy's actual birthday playing outside.  Unbeknownst to me, Grandma and Grandpa have the king of sledding hills!  Funny that in our 15 years together, Daddy and I never went sledding in the backyard.?.!

This was your very first trip down the hill....I love that you took the trip together!

And the second picture I took that day ended up being my favorite one of them all!

By the look on your face, riding with Daddy was pure joy!

Time for a "girls only" sled.

"Hailey, did you enjoy that as much as I did??"

The following series of photos is courtesy of Grandpa:  

You descended the hill all by yourself...

You noticed that you were getting really close to Jackson and his sled...

You realized that Jackson's sled was about to become a ramp for yours...

You officially went airborne!

Thus, the great crash of 2012!

It seemed safer to ride with a partner after that.

Sled races, anyone?

A face full of snow put a hault to your fun, Colt.

But, Jax, you would've stayed out there another hour or two!

You little snow bunny, you!

The next day was our last day in Indiana.  Colt, you stayed with Daddy at Grandma and Grandpa R's house.  Jax, we went with Grandma and Grandpa M. to the Colts game.  Lindsey and Angela came along and we watched the Colts score another win!

Here we are before kick off:

You stayed on Grandpa's lap during the pre-show and had a firm hold around his neck during the opening fireworks!

You tripped on the stairs at the end of the game, injuring your knee yet again.  Despite it freezing outside, you insisted on walking back to the car with one pant leg up the whole way.  Silly, stubborn, boy!  (You come by it honestly!)

The four of us were reunited in Indy right after the game and we immediately began the drive back to Texas. This time, however, we stopped in Springfield, MO for a hotel stay.  For future reference, this is totally the way to go!!!

White Christmas (2/3)

Dearest Snow Angels,

We woke up to a Winter Wonderland on Thursday, the 27th!  It had been snowing all day on Wednesday but the wind was too strong to go out and enjoy it and your knee wasn't in any condition to play outside.  I'm glad we waited though because Thursday morning was perfect and your injury was healing nicely!  Y'all trekked through their yard and attempted to throw snowballs.

Jackson, while your brother napped, you convinced Grandma to add the train station to your gingerbread creation.  It turned out pretty cute!

After nap time, we made our way across town to Grandma and Grandpa R.'s house.  Mike, Jess, and Hailey were there and we celebrated Christmas with everyone right away.  Uncle Mike took the camera and here's one scene from our time together - minus Aunt Jess who was curled up beside him fighting a cold.

After dinner, we worked on a fun puzzle together and you boys were so helpful!

Then Grandma took the kids into the kitchen to decorate some cookies.  

At 7:00, Grandma M. picked you up, Jax, as y'all had a date planned to go see the local hockey team.  She sent me this picture from the game and told me that you were having a good time but you did NOT like all the fighting!

Back at the house, Uncle Mike played around with you and Hailey before I snuggled up with the two of you and a story.

The next day was the 28th and we decided to celebrate Daddy's birthday a day early since it worked with everybody's schedules.  Andy, Suzanne, and Katie were in town so they came over to help us celebrate.

After a yummy lunch together, we attempted to get a cousins picture.

Later that evening, Grandma and Grandpa stayed home with you boys so that Daddy and I could have a date.  We went to Aunt Jess and Uncle Mike's house with Andy and Suzanne and stayed out until 2:00!  See??!  Your parents can still have a good time!  ; )

White Christmas (1/3)

Dearest Jax and Colton,

We left bright and early (8:30) on December 24th to make the 16 hour drive north to Indiana.  Y'all watched movie after movie, ran around like crazy at rest stops, and slept a little bit before we arrived at 3AM on December 25th.  We slept in, ate one of Grandma's delicious breakfasts, and then celebrated Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma M.

Then we went to visit your Great Grandpa R. and see the aunts, uncles, and cousins who were there.

I thought y'all would be exhausted but you insisted that we work on the gingerbread train as soon as we got back to Grandpa and Grandma's house.

The next day was kind of pitiful as you injured your knee, Jax, wrestling with Grandpa R. the night before.  You were up all night complaining of the pain and you wouldn't put any pressure on it.  You spent the entire day on the couch watching movies with Daddy and icing your poor knee.  Meanwhile, Grandma & I got our traditional pedicures together and later took Colton out shopping with us.  I went the entire day without taking a picture until I snapped this one right before bath time of you, Colt, with Grandma.  I just love it!

It was nice to be "back home again in Indiana..."