Grandkids

When you have grandkids, especially a lot of them, you learn to lower your expectations when it comes to taking photos. There's always someone not looking at the camera or on the verge of crying or caught with their eyes closed or half open. I have come to accept these conditions and cherish the photos anyway. After all, these are the faces of my most cherished treasure!

HO HO HO🎅

This year's Santa photos - Enjoy!

Thunder (7), Snow (2), Blizzard (1), Santa, Skye (7), Summer (9), Storm (4)

Summer

My youngest son Zachary was somewhat afraid of cats when he was little. When he was 11 years old the next door neighbor's cat had kittens. He insisted that he wanted one, he wouldn't be afraid of a kitten and we gave in.

Summer came to live with us when she was six weeks old. That was 17 years ago. She was a Siamese/Himalayan mix with a gorgeous thick coat of fur. She talked. She would come into a room where I was and start talking to me. Of course, being a talker myself, I answered back.

She quickly became my cat. She was grumpy and "catty" with the others in the family, but she loved me. She tolerated the other pets that came and went, never hesitating to let them know who the boss was.

June 2017

Summer started showing her age a couple of years ago and really deteriorated the past year. This past weekend we realized that it was selfish of us to let her keep living in her deteriorated state. She was down to 8 1/2 lbs and cried a lot. We made the very tough decision on have her put down yesterday.

Of course, I cried. It is so hard to make those decisions, yet we are their caretakers and our pets count on us to care for them even with the tough choices. I will miss her terribly. Especially her talking to me, sleeping next to me on the bed, lying beside me as I stitch. 

Summer is my last cat. That is a little hard to wrap my head around. But at the age of 61 I don't feel I can make a 20 year (indoor cats live an avg of 18-22 years) commitment to a new cat.

The next few days will sad, but I have 17 years of memories of this sweet girl.

Family

In July my nephew Matt, his wife Shelby, and their daughter, Summer made a circuitous trip around the Midwest to visit family. They started off in Minnesota visiting Shelby's family and celebrating Summer's first birthday then traveled to Kansas. In northeast Kansas they visited Matt's grandparents, Joe and Priscilla, his uncle and aunt, Jim and Gretchen. They then traveled down to Manhattan KS to visit JD, Janel, and Blizzard before returning home. Whew...

Here are some family photos from their trip. I particularly love the ones with Joe and Priscilla meeting Summer.

Great Grandma Priscilla

Great Grandpa Joe

JD, Summer, Matt

Hi Cousin!

Blizzard (5 mos) Summer (11 mos)

One!

Snow celebrated her first birthday over the weekend. Wow, this year has gone by fast!

Here is our last official monthly photo:

Isn't her birthday crown precious?!

Her party was loads of fun with lots of children in attendance. She enjoyed opening the presents and seemed to like her cupcake. 

Snow is such a sweetie. And a talker. She literally talks the entire time you're holding her. She looks at you earnestly as she speaks, like she's willing you to understand what she's saying. Of course, only a very few words are intelligible. She says hi and bye with gusto. To make the "I love you" sign she points her index finger up in the air. It is so cute! She walks everywhere holding on to something, but hasn't worked up the courage to let go yet. She will... soon!

Snow, you are such a joy to us. We love you!!

The birthday girl with her presents 

Feeding her baby doll

Happy Birthday to you, dear Snow!

Cousin Summer: "Oooh, I love your crown...!"

Impromptu Family Fun

A couple of weeks ago a party broke out in our pool! What started out as five family members coming over to swim snowballed to a full fledged pool party with 15 people in attendance. What fun!

The water was perfect, the company was awesome, and a great time was had by all. I'm ready... when can we do it again?!

Jeff (Shelby's dad), Thunder, Matt, Sunny, Zach, Skye, Snow

The grandkids made up some game and Jeff, Sam, Matt were gracious enough to play along!

Gramps and Snow

Storm wore his tool belt into the pool. 

You just never know when you might need to fix something!

Awww, Snow and Summer

Sunny wore her animal print swimsuit because she heard Summer had one too!

Dan and me with our first Great-niece!

Jeff, Matt, Summer, Shelby, Sam 

Skye getting in some cuddle time with Snow

Zach and Summer

Sixty!

I have several blog posts to write today, but I'm going to publish the one that's most important to me - my birthday!

Last Wednesday was my 60th birthday. I can't believe that's my age because I don't feel anything like I thought 60 might feel! I'm not a person who is bothered by my age. I'm proud to be 60 and when you consider the alternative, well, you know.

We held my birthday party yesterday and it was a blast. Thanks to all in my family who made it a special day for me. I love you!

On my screen the color looks blue, but it was a gorgeous deep purple

Adam, Jessica, me, Zach, Katie, Gabe

JD and Janel are on the tablet. I didn't want to have my 60th birthday photo without them in it. So we Skyped them in!

Dawn, Shelby, Matt, Shawna, Summer

Dawn is Shelby's mom and Shawna is her sister visiting here from Minnesota

Four Generation

JoAnne (my mom), Jessica, me, Snow

I wanted a photo with all of the grandkids, but that can be challenging these days. Both boys are in the "photo avoidance" stage of life. This was the best of the worst! Skye, Sunny, Thunder, Storm, me, Snow

Tio Zach helping Storm with his swim shoes

My mom with her 6th Great-grandchild.

My SIL, Kelly with her first grandchild.

Summer!

Tia Katie and Snow

Storm and Jessica

Another example of the best of the worst photos, haha!

Snow and Summer, what a difference a few months makes

Summer and Snow

Oh my goodness! We have a bunch of cousins now, could anything be more fun?! Here's Summer and Snow in matching outfits. I'm sure they will have plenty of "twin" moments in their future. Isn't it amazing how much a baby grows in five months?

Introducing Summer

My nephew and his wife, Matt and Shelby welcomed their first child into the family yesterday! Summer (her blog name, not her real name) was born yesterday afternoon. She was a surprise in more ways than one. She arrived about 2 1/2 weeks early and literally everyone in the family thought she would be a boy.

The cousins are thrilled to have another cousin to play with and I'm overjoyed to be a Great-Aunt finally!

We love you Summer!!

Grandkids

The grandkids were over on Friday for a couple of hours so Katie and Gabe could go to dinner alone. They are both feeling better, but Sunny still seems to have a lingering illness. Thunder is back to normal. Thunder came over to play yesterday for a few hours. He is so much fun. He's talking quite a bit. He loves to play here without sister so he can play with all of the toys she guards from him while she's here!

One day I noticed that Summer was laying in Duke's cage.

She's never done this before!

Friday night dinner at Grammy's house

Sunday - Duke patiently waits for a dropped Pirate's Booty

Eating again - pretzels with Gramps

His method for getting the magnets off the fridge involves slapping them off!

Wrapping Up 2012

Before I begin this post I'd like to ask for prayer for my granddaughter Sunny. She was diagnosed with pneumonia yesterday. Poor little thing... she looks absolutely miserable. I know she's sick because all she does is lay on the couch or in bed. Hopefully Thunder won't get it too. Thank you for your prayers!

The last week of 2012 was a flurry of activity and I didn't post some final photos, so here they are:

Summer enjoying a nap in Dan's chair

Marti, Kyler, and me

Kyler is our surrogate grandson. He turned 14 this year. His birthday is a few days before Christmas so I delivered his birthday and Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve. I can't believe he's 14!!

Sunny rockin' out at Abuela's house on Christmas Eve

Thunder is on the left and his newest (and only boy) cousin Bryce is on the right

Christmas Eve Family photo

I need some new wreaths and Jessica came over the day after Christmas and made this wreath for me. Isn't it beautiful?! I'm hoping she can make a couple more next year.

The kids stayed with us a few days/nights while Katie and Gabe went to California to celebrate Gabe's 30th birthday. Of course Buster came to spend the time too. As you can see, everyone likes to sit on Gramps' lap!