The Grandparent Experience

One Man Band

2012-02-10T18:03:00.001-07:00

All he needs is a harmonica around his neck!

Birthday Scenes

2012-02-08T20:44:00.001-07:00

Batting his Sponge Bob balloon. He later walked through the house carrying this balloon and a Patrick balloon giving a puppet show!

He received a lot of clothes - much needed, but not too exciting when you are three. He would pull them out of the bag and toss them aside saying "love it".

He did love his new Curious George book and flipped right to the table of contents to pick his first story.

His Papa is showing him how to use his new drum set. I want to point out that no grandparent was responsible for this gift - his parents gave this to him.

Three!

2012-02-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Kaiden

Last Year

2012-02-02T20:39:00.003-07:00

I have been going back over the last year's pictures and he has changed so much!

He has changed so much, he amazes us every time we see him how much he is learning, the conversations we have with him.

Gotta Run

2012-01-31T20:05:00.000-07:00

Last week when Kaiden and Tito came to take me to work, we went to the mall that is two blocks from my office. We picked up lunch and went to the play area. Kaiden was all over this idea. He climbed all over the figures, up and down the slide and ran laps around the area. I would stop him as he went by to give him a couple bites and a drink. He would then hop up and say "gotta run" and take off again. This went on for an hour and I was exhausted watching him. Tito said he was sound asleep a couple blocks away.

Monkey Shines

2012-01-25T18:45:00.001-07:00

Stacy picked out the fabrics. Now I need to get busy sewing.

I am so Jealous!

2012-01-22T12:44:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Kaiden's daycare provider was not feeling well and Tito stepped in and got to spend the day playing with Kaiden. I had to go to work. They did come and spend lunch with me. Tito hasn't stopped smiling.

Stock Show

2012-01-16T21:19:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the petting zoo and the train at the stock show.

It's a Boy

2012-01-07T06:37:00.000-07:00

Kaiden is having a little brother. I have added a countdown to the due date at the side to remind me I need to get started on sewing. He will be here before we know it.

Lest I Forget

2011-12-31T09:19:00.002-07:00

He has said so many cute and funny things this year and every time I hear one of them I think I should write that down before I forget. Well, I haven't and I know I have forgotten some good things, but I have remembered some.

Last summer he kept calling rhubarb, rhubark.

Instead of saying I'll be right back, he says I'll be rue back.

He was playing horsey with one of my brooms and would say getmeup not gittey up.

I hope I always remember:

how he told me Santa says Ho Ho Ho (in his deepest voice),

how he told me I looked pretty and had flowers on my funny pants (it was a skirt),

how he sounds saying The Lord's Prayer,

the excitement in his voice when he talks about my house, my beautiful bathroom, my MaMa, my DaDa (this one big guy's my DaDa.

I hope I remember everything, but I know I won't, so I need to write more things down. To jog my memory. For the day he towers over me like his DaDa.

Christmas

2011-12-29T20:59:00.002-07:00

We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve at Nathan and Stacy's house. Kaiden was very excited about opening presents, but very careful. He untied his Christmas bag and took each item out and looked at it.

After dinner and presents we went to Christmas Eve service. I could not get him to take off his mother's new purple gloves for a picture. At least they matched his tie!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T08:40:00.001-07:00

2010

2011

Traditions

2011-12-23T19:38:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking about Christmas traditions and wanting to write down some ours for Kaiden. I realize they are evolving. Some we have had for years and some are fairly new. When I was a little girl, my mother did a lot of cooking. She made fruit cake, breads, cookies and candies, pies. We always had a large gathering on Christmas - there were 5 of us kids, spouses and grandchildren. I do not remember many leftovers. I think the tradition of all the cooking and especially the baking came from the time my parents grew up. The sweets were not an everyday thing especially during the depression when my oldest siblings were raised. These sweets were special and part of the gifts of Christmas. My parents recall getting an orange, hard candy and nuts in their stockings - usually the only time they had oranges and hard candy when they were growing up. Items not grown locally and sugar were not items readily available. I do not do much baking anymore. Our gatherings are smaller, my kids do not eat many sweets and we certainly do not need them and they are not as special anymore. I do make pizzelles every year. I think I would be in trouble if I didn't!

When my son was a little boy Santa filled our stockings and hung candy canes on the tree. He had a tree in his room decorated with his ornaments. I made our advent calendar (the original one is at his house and Kaiden puts the ornament on everyday). He learned you could rearrange the letters in Noel to spell Leon, a tradition that continues today. We went to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve, which we still do.

After Tito and I were married and our families blended, we blended our traditions. Some decorations were packed away for Nathan and Carrie, some continued to be used and we acquired new ones. We started buying an ornament from our trips, we have a lighthouse from Maine, a Canadian Mountie from Victoria, little birds from Mexico, chili peppers from Taos, an elk from Estes Park.

The year Tito was battling cancer and going through chemo, we made several changes. Since the kids had other families to celebrate with and we were dealing with so many changes in our life, we changed our celebration. Having a "traditional' Christmas dinner on the 25th didn't seem so important anymore. It could be brunch on the 23rd, tamales on the 24th, leftovers on the 26, just as long as we were together. In order to bring some fun to our house that year, we started our Stocking Stuffer game. All the items that would normally go into stockings were wrapped and put in the center of the table, dice are thrown, when certain numbers come up a gift is taken, when they are gone from the center they are taken from each other, when other numbers come up, all gifts that person has go back in, the gifts are not opened until the time limit is over. We really have a good time with this.

After Tito was well and free from cancer we decided to start a tradition of creating memories as our gift at Christmas such as our trip to the Colorado symphony this year. No matter what traditions we hold onto, or change, or create, we will always keep two things, Jesus and family.

Oh, Christmas Tree

2011-12-22T15:45:00.001-07:00

No matter how I tried this year, I could not get the top of my tree to look straight. I yanked, I turned it around, I moved branch, I gave up. It isn't as bad as it looks in this picture because it seems, I can't get my camera straight either! So last weekend when our friends came to dinner and to exchange gifts, someone said it would probably look better, if everyone would lean to one side.

So we did,

and then I was told my mirror was crooked. Oh, well.

These 2 couples are the ones who took the challenge to give gifts made in the USA. It was a challenge, but I think we did pretty well. There were puzzles, hot sauce, candles, liquor, bowls, wood chips for smokers, bbq rubs, refrigerator fresheners and a door bell button* - all made in the USA. There were also many homemade food goodies and beautiful table runners, napkins and hot pads made in the USA (technically, even though it is hard to find material made in the USA).

I think we all had a little more fun this year, because we had to put thought into it. We had a blast opening the presents to see what everyone had found. We are so blessed to have such great friends - that was the best gift!

*Vivien thinks that the little plastic door bell button that come with houses is pathetic and has found beautiful replacements ones made from metal with designs (ours is a chili pepper) that are made in the USA.

Colorado Christmas

2011-12-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

Our big Christmas gift this year was the symphony for Colorado Christmas. It was a wonderful program with the symphony, the Colorado Chorale group and the Colorado Children's Choir. The music and the singing were beautiful. Kaiden was enthralled and was so good. Some of the highlights for me:

During Handel's hallelujah chorus he was singing hallelujah forever and ever Amen. Later on in the car he sang hallelujah whatever. We all chuckled.

I was singing along with Silver Bells and he told me not to sing because it was their turn (the children on the stage). A minute later, he told me it was my turn.

There was a reading of The Night Before Christmas (with great music back up - the theme to Tom and Jerry after the line "not a creature was stirring"; the theme to Mission Impossible after the line "he spoke not a word but went straight to his work"). Kaiden said "that's my story, you read to me; DaDa read to me.

Then the grand finale - Santa Claus is Coming to Town - with a guitar playing dancing Santa - just like Papa (Stacy's Dad plays the guitar). And Santa looked our direction and waved. Kaiden says he waved at him and said Ho Ho Ho!

We went to Carrie & Dave's (or as Kaiden says "Auntie Carrie's place") for coffee and cookies.

It was a great evening. A great Chirstmas present. A great memory.

I'm Christmas

2011-12-06T20:26:00.000-07:00

He put this Santa had on and announced "I am Christmas".

He wouldn't hold still for a decent photo.

He may not be Christmas, but he sure brings joy to our house.

Conviction

2011-11-30T21:19:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who decided she was going to give only gifts this Christmas which were made in the USA. When she announced this back in August, she made it clear she wasn't asking anyone else to do this for her, it was something she felt she needed to do. When I waited until a few days before her birthday in October, I failed. Everything I looked at was made in China. I finally settled for items not made in China.

We got together a couple weeks ago for Tito's and another friend's birthday. She and her husband found gifts for both of them made in the USA and she gave us an update of her journey. Instead of buying tins at Walmart to package homemade goodies for her workmates, she found canning jars are made in the USA and will be using them this year. She has found small companies making handcrafted items. She went to Hallmark for Christmas cards and found although single cards are printed here, the boxed cards are not. With the help of a clerk they found the UNICEF cards are printed here, so that is what she is sending.

I thought making gifts would be the answer, but you have to search to find fabric and yarn that is not made in China. It took some time and thought, but I have managed to find items made in the USA. I have e-mailed companies when they do not list manufacturing info on their web-site. The answer is usually China. I thank them for their response and tell them I am only interested in purchasing items made in America. I have found clerks in most stores helpful, but I am most impressed with The Container Store. They have a section on their web site of items Made in the USA.

I admire my friends conviction and by speaking out she has a few other people aware and looking at what they purchase and that's how you make a difference.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the kids on Saturday this year. I remember all to well going from place to place on a holiday is not so very relaxing. Add a tired toddler and a tired expectant mother into the equation it is even less fun. Since the kids left home I have always said I don't care so much about the day we celebrate as long as we do celebrate. We have traditionally trimmed the tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so this year we did both. Tito and I put up the tree and the other decorations on Friday and the kids hung the ornaments on Saturday.

Tito make turkey tacoquito and salsa. We also had our usual stuffing made with green chilies and chirizo as well as cranberry sauce. Not completely traditional, but no one complained. Kaiden handles the spicy food like a pro. He will tell you it is spicy, take a big drink and ask for more. Tito is so proud!

Te amo

2011-11-18T18:49:00.002-07:00

Kaiden had to show Tita he could count like Dora - 1-10 in Spanish

So Tita taught him to say Te amo (I love you). When he left that day, he said Te amo, Adios. (Just like Dora).

Birthday Visit

2011-11-15T05:47:00.001-07:00

Tito's mother is visiting from California. She lived here while her husband was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base during WWII. That is where Tito was born 67 years ago today. She wanted to see snow.

We found some for her last week and even made a snowball for her.

Happy Birthday, Tito!

Vacation

2011-11-12T16:03:00.000-07:00

We took last week as vacation. We stayed in Estes Park and really didn't do much but relax. We took in the wonderful views.

Wild turkeys in Rocky Mountain National Park

Deer just down the road from where we were staying

Elk on the road to town

Never tire of the mountains. When given the choice of beach or mountains - it is mountains for me.

Not a great picture of Tito, but love the sun on the river

We saw these piles in RMNP. At first we thought it might be a Boy Scout project - building a winter shelter, but they were all over. Tito thought they would make great ski jumps when the snow got deeper. We both said maybe they were alien pods like in Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

We asked the ranger at the entry and he said "Do you want the real answer or the fun answer?" We told him we wanted the fun one to see if it was anything like ours. He told us they were building tepee shelters to be able to reintroduce the Utes back into the park much like they reintroduced trout species.

They are really slash piles from dead wood from the Pine Beetle kill and undergrowth that has been cleared. They are waiting for sustained periods of cold enough weather to do controlled burns.

I like the alien pod explanation myself.

Big Brother

2011-11-06T09:20:00.001-07:00

Yes, he is. May 13th, which is Mother's Day. We are so happy and praying for a healthy Mom and baby.

And we just took the crib down!

Where Do I Sleep?

2011-11-05T18:35:00.001-06:00

Tito's mother is coming for a visit, so we decided to take the crib down from the guest bedroom to give her a little more room. I washed all the bedding and put it in the linen closet. It tugged at my heart a little because Kaiden is growing up too fast. When he came the next time and went into "his" room to get toys, he said "where's my bed?" I told him that we put the baby bed away because he was a big boy. He then asked me where he was going to sleep. I told him he would sleep in the bed we were sitting on. I'm not sure he is convinced.

Halloween

2011-11-04T23:43:00.000-06:00

A little late posting Halloween pictures, but it was a busy week. Family and friends came over to carve pumpkins.

It's pretty serious business

He looks like he is playing hard to get, but they walked around holding hands, chased each other all over the house and he kept calling her "my Mia".

The jack-o-lanterns lined up. Cookie Monster, Patrick, Scary, Hearts and Stars, Mr. Pumpkin Head, Pirate, Wilson, Boo.

I have pictures of Kaiden and Mia with their full costumes, but am having trouble uploading pictues tonight - it is taking about 5 min per picture.

My New Favorite Pictures

2011-10-28T21:10:00.000-06:00

I just can't pick just one. Love them all - his personality shines through - he is a little ham!

Winter Weather, Summer Pictures

2011-10-26T22:12:00.000-06:00

We had eight inches of snow today and there is going to be a hard freeze tonight, so what better time to post summer pictures?

Hanging out with friends on the porch

Helping in the garden.

Making faces.

Story Time

2011-10-20T19:01:00.002-06:00

One of my fondest memories of my son's childhood is story time. We always read before naps and bedtime. I saved some of his favorite books and got some of them out this summer to read to Kaiden.

I read some of these so many times, I had them memorized and so did Nathan. If I would try to hurry the story up a bit by skipping a few lines here or there, he knew it. Long before he could read, he would flip through the books and tell you what was happening on each page. The Richard Scary book has such wonderful illustrations and the imagination to create the "things that go" - a carrot car, a pickle truck, a eggmobile. Kaiden loves the toothbrush and toothpaste cars. This book also has a little "Goldbug" that hides on each page to find. Kaiden will look and look until he finds him and is so delighted when he does. He will chant "I think I can" with me while we read The Little Engine Who Could.

My favorite was always the Monster at the end of this Book, so when Kaiden crawled up in my lap and said "Gram can we read the Grover book", so of course we did.

Pumpkins

2011-10-16T14:00:00.000-06:00

I had help picking the pumpkins today.

Watched over by Witchy Bear until it is time to carve Jack O' Lanterns and make pumpkin pie.

Family

2011-09-27T17:45:00.000-06:00

Myself, Millie, Ruby, Raymond - front Melvin

My husband and his siblings joke about growing up in different homes because they all remember things differently. In my case, this is not a joke. I am the youngest of five - my siblings are 21, 20, 19 and 12 years older than I am. All my life I have been mistaken for a daughter of my sisters or my oldest brother. My other brother left home when he was 18 and I was 6, so most of my growing up years was spent as an only child. Ruby, Millie and Raymond grew up on a farm. In a house without indoor plumbing or electricity. My parents moved from the farm when I was 2. To the city. We had indoor plumbing and electricity. I did not grow up using an outhouse, or carrying water to the wood stove to heat for a bath. I did not grow up milking cows, picking cherries for 50 cents a crate, gathering eggs, learning to drive on a tractor.

This summer my sister, Millie, has been here from Kansas and staying with us off and on. For a variety of reasons, I have not been as close to her as I am with Ruby. It has been a great experience hearing stories of my family from her point of view. There are stories I have never heard before and others I have heard from a different angle.

Ruby had rheumatic fever when she was seven and was bed ridden for almost 2 years. Even after she recovered she was restricted from doing a lot of the normal farm kid things because of her weakened heart. So the stories I heard from her were more of my mother and the house. Millie loved working outdoors with my father. Both of my brothers have said Millie was the best milker. She told me many things I never knew - the chores that were done on the farm before going to school - milking, feeding the animals (I never knew they raised rabbits to eat), gathering eggs. She told me she hated to gather the eggs because the hens would peck at you to protect their eggs. She solved this by putting a tin can over one hand for the hen to peck at while she slipped her other hand in to get the eggs. She also said Mama would have had a fit if she would have known.

She talked about the fun things they did going to the lake across the road to wade and swim on summer afternoons; a haunted house my mother and her friend put together for the 4H club, coming home from school to sweet rolls fresh from the oven, how my Dad had to take the battery out of the truck to power the radio so they could listen to The Shadow after Saturday night baths.

There is one story that I just love because it illustrates how gentle and loving my Dad and Mama were. One of the first times Millie drove to town by herself to run an errand she backed into something and dented the fender on the truck. She dreaded telling our parents all the way home. She went to Mama first and told her what had happened. Mama said "I will go with you to tell Dad." Millie said they went to where Dad was pitching hay from the top of a pile. Mom looked up and said "Millie has something to tell you." Millie hesitated so Mom spoke up and told him, "Millie dented the fender of the car." Dad leaned on his pitchfork and said "Well as long as Millie is okay, I reckon I can fix the fender." With that he went back to work and that is all that was said. As I am writing this, it doesn't seem like much, but somehow it wraps up all my feelings for my parents. They worked hard, they loved their children, they knew what was important.

This has been a hard summer for my sister, she has been away from her home for 3 months. She came here because her oldest son had stage 4 cancer. He went home to Jesus yesterday. He is not in pain anymore, but we are. His family will miss him.

The circumstances of my sister's visit were not ideal, but I am so glad I got to spend this much time with her. I will miss her a lot when she goes home.

Tito's Chair

2011-09-21T21:30:00.000-06:00

He has it all figured out. He says, I just push the button and go.

Drum Set

2011-09-14T18:42:00.000-06:00

He has used the empty can as a drum for some time, but last week he wanted a cymbal. He kept asking where is my cymbal. So Tito got a lid and he had a great time. Tito did learn that although holding the cymbal so it dangled down produced a better sound, but turning it over hurt less!

Bright Spots

2011-09-11T19:31:00.000-06:00

I had to work this weekend and missed out on some social events - swimming and dinner at Carrie's and our church picnic. But there were some bright spots in my weekend.

One of my morning glories went under my fence and climbed my neighbor's tree.

This large pumpkin growing for Halloween. Kaiden told me it was a daddy pumpkin. A smaller one nearby is the mommy.

And of course this little guy who came and spent Friday evening with me while Tito was gone.

Museum

2011-08-28T20:39:00.000-06:00

Today was a free day at the Museum of Nature &
Science (one of my favorite places), so we packed a picnic lunch and went after church.

From the time we entered the door and Kaiden saw the dinosaur bones on display overhead he was thrilled.
Except for the mountain lion that roars when you put money in its mouth. He didn't like this at all - just like his father at that age.

This was in the 'hands on' discovery zone for the kids. There was air blowing up and he had just caught one of the scarfs that you can put on to see how high they fly.

He told me dinosaurs have long necks and go "roooar".

He was running around looking at all the dioramas of the animals asking questions, telling us stories about them - that is the mommy and the daddy and the babies. He had a ball. And we had a wonderful time watching him.

Joy

2011-08-15T20:40:00.000-06:00

I think this is a picture of pure joy. He was squirting everyone with the water bottle he is holding and having a great time!

Grapes

2011-08-12T00:55:00.000-06:00

He was really enjoying these grapes!

30!

2011-08-05T22:22:00.000-06:00

Tonight we celebrated Carrie's birthday.

A shopping center near us has free concerts on Friday nights and as luck would have it, tonight's concert was 80's music - the decade Carrie was born.

We brought our chairs, a picnic and sat back enjoyed the beautiful evening and the music.

We then came back to the house for dessert, the kids talked and laughed while Tito and I had fun with Kaiden.

We had Carrie's favorite - dirt cake with worms. Yum, Yum. It was a very nice evening. Happy Birthday, Auntie Carrie!

Imagination

2011-07-29T08:35:00.000-06:00

This might look like an ordinary balloon tied with an ordinary ribbon to you, but

with his imagination

it becomes a puppy on a leash. A puppy that he ran back and forth with most of the afternoon. A puppy he taught to sit and to jump and to roll over.

I had forgotten the wonderful imagination children have and was delighted to be reminded by this little guy.

Cooking

2011-07-16T20:56:00.001-06:00

It is very serious business getting those liners in the pan.

But then you get to lick the batter bowl!

I'm Fine

2011-07-14T20:58:00.001-06:00

I asked if he needed help coming down the stairs. He said "I'm fine". He is walking down stairs all the time and has decided he doesn't want to sit in his high chair anymore. (Sigh). Time goes so fast.

My New Favorite Picture

2011-07-12T21:02:00.000-06:00

Arm Flapping

2011-07-04T13:09:00.000-06:00

The Colorado Symphony played an Independence Day concert last night at Civic Center Park. We took a picnic and headed out in the late afternoon. I am glad we got there when we did because it was packed and although we weren't real close we could still hear.

There were 3-D glasses for the light show.

While we waited for the concert to start, we played games

or painted with Auntie Carrie

we ate dinner and Kaiden had Cracker Jacks for the first time (he loved them)

played with Dad.

Finally, the concert started with patriotic music - Kaiden was mesmerized

Finally, the concert started and Kaiden was mesmerized throughout the 2 hours, watching the light show, listening. I told him the man in front was the conductor and he watched him told me conductor makes music and flaps his arms! He did not want to sit down until we showed him there were large screens that he could watch. He was not sure about the fireworks. At the very end when they got really loud he said he wanted to go to the car, he was scared. He sure loved the music, though!

Baldpate Inn

2011-06-28T19:01:00.001-06:00

One of the places Fayette and I visited was the Baldpate Inn. The inn was built in the early 1900's and was named after a mystery book Seven Keys to Baldpate by Earl Derr Biggers (I did not get a good picture of the inn). The storyline had seven visitors going to an inn thinking they had the only key. In the beginning visitors to this inn were given a key to keep. A metal shortage during WWI put a stop to the custom, so visitors started leaving keys at the inn. There are keys to Mozart's wine cellar, Sherwood Forest, Hitler's desk, house keys, car keys, encryption keys, typewriter keys, monkeys, keys to the city, piano keys, hotel keys, key cards. They are everywhere, in display cases, hanging from the rafters and are tagged with where they came from and the date.

You can look and look and see something different every time you go.

Getaway

2011-06-24T22:59:00.000-06:00

I spent four wonderful days with my friend, Fayette in Estes Park. Fayette and I have been friends for almost 25 years. We met when we were both single mothers and formed a wonderful friendship. Several years ago life took Fayette to Florida and we do not see nearly enough of each other. We spent the time doing puzzles, playing games, eating popcorn for dinner, drinking wine, laughing, staying up too late, shopping and relaxing in one of my favorite places on earth.

There is a winery by the river that we have always said we should stop in there someday but never have. Fayette and I did and it was great.

We did a wine tasting

With this view to one side

And this to the other side

Baby on Rock

2011-06-14T21:06:00.001-06:00

One of the things that amazes me about him is how he assigns things he knows to things he doesn't. For example he calls Tito's crutches - Tito's sticks and the porch glider is a rocker. But he had us all stumped when he kept calling the little sculpture he is holding "baby on rock" We kept telling him it was an Indian, but he would point to another sculpture(of an Indian's head) we have and say that was an Indian. He just wouldn't have it any other way. He also seemed very concerned about the "baby" and wanted to hold him.

Finally, one day after he had his diaper changed, he went to the sculpture and pointed to the loin cloth and said "baby diaper change". We got it. This picture isn't very good, but if you are looking at it from the viewpoint of a 2 year old - its a diaper.

Playing

2011-06-09T22:48:00.000-06:00

Waterfalls and Rainbows and Other Wonders

2011-06-07T21:09:00.001-06:00

My dear Kaiden, you are growing up so fast. I think you are growing up faster than your father did. I have neglecting writing down so many amazing things about you and I know I will forget them if I don't. So here is my list of the wonders of you.

You are absolutely fascinated by this picture of the waterfall and rainbow and when you see sprinklers you call them waterfalls. You were so delighted to see the fountain Tito gave me for Mother's Day on the patio. Your very own waterfall!

You like watching a television show named Ruby and Max so you were very confused when both my sisters were in town and we kept calling them Ruby and Millie!

You love to be outside and are not happy about coming back in. You like the slide and the swing at the playground.

You love to sing Row Row Your Boat. You really like music and singing. When we finish a song at church you sadly say "no singing".

You line your toys up in a row. I am afraid you might have inherited your Gram's and father's obsessive gene. You notice when things have been moved (like when I put your house and motorcycle away when you are not here). I love the way you walk around the house trying to find them "House were are you?

You like big trucks and tell me Papa drives a big truck. And he does.

You love balls and know the difference between football, basketball and soccer balls.

You like stories and I love to read them to you.

Every week when I see you it amazes me how much you have changed, how many new words you are using, how many new things you have learned. You are changing so much and I am so blessed to be able to see you so often and see the changes.

My New Favorite Picture

2011-06-04T17:01:00.000-06:00

Day Off

2011-05-26T21:08:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, Tito had carpal tunnel surgery and I took a few days off. One of those days, Kaiden came to visit.

Since Tito couldn't drive, he thought he would help. He wasn't too happy when I put him in his car seat. When I have a day off, we usually go to $tarbucks as a treat. But since we had Kaiden we decided to go somewhere more kid friendly.

He had a ball in a car his size. Every time he would get in, he put on his imaginary seat belt!

Playing peek a boo

We had some errands to run, and he helped Tito drive until

he found this wheelbarrow - then it was every man to himself!

Cleaning

2011-05-23T20:41:00.000-06:00

I had help with the dishes. He kept saying "I cleaning". He worked on these 2 spoons for 40 minutes. I told Tito we have 2 of the cleanest spoons in town.

Three Car Garage

2011-05-19T20:33:00.000-06:00

My Motor Sickle

2011-05-11T21:29:00.000-06:00

Tito's latest thrift store find

They were both thrilled

He calls it his motor sickle

Now we have to deal with the drinking and driving problem!

I Found My Gram

2011-05-09T20:04:00.000-06:00

I need to set the scene for this post by saying we always sit in the front row at church because Tito can hear better and there is room for his wheelchair. I was a Lay Reader on Sunday morning. I was just starting to read the First Lesson when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. It didn't take me long to realize that Kaiden was making his way up to me. He wrapped his arms around my legs and said "I found my Gram". Suppressing my laughter, I made it through the reading, reached down and picked him up and sat down to sing the Psalm. I sat him down beside Pastor when I got up for the Second Lesson. He got up along with me and came over and held onto me until I was finished. I never made eye contact with his father because I knew I would loose it, but I heard that his expression was priceless. As one of my friends said "I will remember this day the rest of my life." What a Mother's Day!

Stacy took this picture (thank you!), but I cannot get it to rotate. :(

Rodeo Star

2011-05-05T20:36:00.000-06:00

Riding the bucking dinosaur with Mia

Explaining to Mia that dinosaurs go "ROAR"

Bareback riding with Josh

Easter Egg Hunt

2011-04-27T20:46:00.000-06:00

The kids and their friends, Katja and Mike with their daughter Mia came over Saturday to color eggs and have an Easter egg hunt.

Kaiden had just dropped his egg into the dye

We had a hunt for the big kids first, it is a very competitive hunt as there are prizes involved as well as bragging rights for who finds their eggs first, their basket first, finishes fastest, etc. We find a way to make everything a competition. We then had eggs for the little ones.

Mia was happy with playing with the first one she found and didn't bother to find more.

Playing after the hunt.

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T11:35:00.000-06:00

He did not want his picture taken this morning - this is the best I could get. He is holding a bubble wand from the Easter basket his Godparents gave him at church.

An Easter Trip Down Memory Lane

2011-04-23T02:15:00.000-06:00

I was cleaning out a drawer and come across a handful of old pictures. There were a few Easter ones, so I thought I would share.

My mother noted, Easter, 1955 on the back so I would have been 3. I have no memory of this dress, but I know my mother made it, she made all my clothes. I wish I still had that bucket!

This one did not have a date, but I am guessing I was 5, maybe 6. I do remember this dress, it was lavender plaid with a solid lavender jacket. You can barely see it in the corner, but there was a pink crocheted purse my mom made for me. I slept in pink spoolie rollers to get those tight curls! Look at that hat and the size of that egg!

I did a little digging and came up with a couple of Nathan, but did find any of Tito or Carrie when they were small. I will have to search some more.

Nathan was 18 months old and enjoying something from his basket. I just love chubby baby knees.

This was the following year, when he was 2 1/2. I remember using his father's old shirts for paint shirts. (Do you remember having to take a paint shirt to school for messy projects?) Seriously, could my glasses have been any larger?

School Desk

2011-04-20T21:51:00.001-06:00

A little while ago, I found this desk at the thrift store and had to bring it home. As soon as Kaiden came into the house he headed straight for it and proclaimed it "mine".

He keeps his books and puzzles under the seat.

I am debating if I should paint it a more attractive color or leave it this color Tito and I remember from elementary school. I do love the scratched desk top and the pencil slot that has been marked with pencils and pens and will leave that the way it is.

Busy Sunday

2011-04-18T21:11:00.000-06:00

Our Women's Group had it's annual Palm Sunday bake sale. It is our tradition to wear bunny ears.

Kaiden wanted a pair also.

This year, the blessing of the motorcycles was also held on Palm Sunday.

Kaiden with his Tito.

Rock Star

2011-04-12T20:32:00.000-06:00

His Papa (Stacy's Dad) plays guitar and has a music room. Kaiden recently gave a concert singing his ABC's.

Smile

2011-04-10T20:53:00.001-06:00

I asked him to smile and this is what I got. I love his spiked hair!

Monkey See

2011-04-08T20:54:00.001-06:00

Kaiden found the symbols at church on Sunday and had a good time. Unfortunately for his father there wasn't a matching pair left. Does this remind you of anything???

LOL

2011-04-05T18:53:00.001-06:00

We got together with our friends, Gary & Vivien and John & Janice on Saturday night to celebrate Gary's birthday. The weather was beautiful. We ate on the patio (not something you can usually do the first Saturday in Colorado), the food was delicious. We played dominoes. We laughed. We laughed a lot. We laughed about really dumb things, like new phones and salad spinners and hamsters and belt buckles. It was good. I know it was what I needed and I think the others did too. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends.

Wake Up!

2011-04-02T12:59:00.002-06:00

Wake up, Tito! Play with me!

Playhouse

2011-03-21T21:31:00.000-06:00

Tito found this playhouse at a thrift store, brought it home and personalized it for Kaiden. One side is a grocery store, one side a post office and the back is a puppet theatre. The kids said this picture of my feet sticking out the door reminded them of Wizard of OZ!

He was thrilled and played with it all evening! At one point we were all in the dining room and he went into the living room and drug it across the room and down the hall to were we where.

Waiting for the mail.

It finally came!

Big enough for he whole family!

Yummy Rocks and Yucky Juice.

2011-03-14T22:30:00.000-06:00

There was a sample of dried fruit mixed with yogurt and whole grains in our paper last week. I put the little pouch in my purse for Kaiden when he asked for a snack. Well, they must of been pretty chewy because Kaiden called them yummy rocks!

Yesterday at church when Pastor held up the chalice to bless the wine, Kaiden told me "coffee, coffee." At least he didn't call it yucky juice which is what he normally does!

Muscle Man

2011-03-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

I asked him to show me his muscles and this is what I got!

Birthday Blessings

2011-02-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

I have had a hard time seeing the blessings in my life the past few weeks. Tito had another shoulder surgery; several relatives have had health problems; work has been crazy; I have a bad tooth that has to be pulled; the list could go on and on.

Yesterday was my birthday and it was a wonderful day and reminded me of all the blessings I have in my life. A co-worker took me to lunch on Friday; I received many birthday cards; both kids called to wish me Happy Birthday; Kaiden whispered Happy Birthday Gram to me and I received proof, we have the best friends ever.

We always get together to celebrate birthdays with John and Janice and Gary and Vivien. Since Tito has limited mobility until his shoulder heals, they brought the celebration to our house. They cooked and loaded everything up right down to the chocolate milk and Irish Cream we love in our coffee to our house.

They are the best friends anyone could possibly have.

Today, Tito, Nathan, Stacy and Kaiden had the flowers on the altar in honor of my birthday. My birthday is usually during lent and we do not have flowers during lent, so this was really special.

I am now looking at things with a new perspective. Tito had surgery and it turned out well. Now both of his shoulders are repaired and he will be able to do the things he loves this summer. Although there have been medical problems, they are all doing better. No matter how crazy work is, I do have a job and even though we have had to move some money around and make changes in plans, we do have the money for my dental surgery.

It was a great birthday. I just need to remember these blessings over the coming year.

Spanish Lesson

2011-02-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

Tito has been speaking Spanish to Kaiden since he was born. Kaiden now will ask for agua por favor" in his water bottle and say gracias when you give it to him. Tito is verry happy!

Puzzling

2011-02-18T22:09:00.000-07:00

Little boys and how they play...

One moment they are content to play with their puzzle doing it over and over...

The next they are piling the puzzle pieces in a truck and crashing it to see how far the pieces will fly!

2 Kids and a Little Boy

2011-02-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

My son called me yesterday and asked me if it was okay if 2 kids and a little boy came by. (Of course it was!) I knew I had a picture to prove they were still 2 kids. I hope they stay this way for a long long time.

The 6'5" kid in the back is on the smallest trike!

Mr.Clean

2011-02-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

His Grandpa Jerry sent him this broom and dust pan and I think it was his favorite birthday gift.

I love this picture of him with his new hat (still with the sticker on), his new shoes (with the tag) and the broom he wouldn't put down.

We think he got the cleaning gene.

Birthday Cake

2011-02-07T20:38:00.000-07:00

Kaiden with his Sponge Bob Cake while parents and grandparents sang Happy Birthday

He was not shy about eating the cake this year, although he like the ice cream more than the cake!

Happy Birthday, Kaiden!!

2011-02-04T06:22:00.001-07:00

Two years old! You have changed our lives so much! We fell in love with you instantly and that love just keeps growing.

Playing

2011-02-01T20:57:00.000-07:00

The serious business of playing

He loves his backpack

The can off to the side is his drum

Born To Be Wild

2011-01-28T22:17:00.001-07:00

My Little Helper

2011-01-25T20:05:00.001-07:00

He loves to help.

And I let him every chance I get.

Because I know.

Throwing Tito Under the Bus

2011-01-16T13:13:00.007-07:00

Wait until they see what Tito showed him how to do now!

He had a great time and he did loose interest before the noise drove me crazy!

Happy

2011-01-09T19:46:00.003-07:00

I want to remember:

This face - the one you get when you ask him to smile and show his teeth.

The fun we had at the store after we rounded the corner and saw Kaiden with Mom and Dad. We kidnapped him while they finished their shopping. He loved riding the electric cart with Tito and running down the aisles saying "gonna get you" and dancing with sheer joy in the toy aisle.

The way he hits his fist on the table and says "I boss". This one comes from my Dad, he always would hit the table and say I'm boss to us kids and the grandkids. I, of course, had to pass the tradition.

The way he insists it is "My Tito" and the more you say "My Tito" back to him, the more he laughs when he says it.

The way he gets so excited after he counts to 10 and yells "Yeah".

Taking his shoes and socks off and putting his socks on his hands - because Tito did it once.

The way he says " I did it!" when he accomplishes something.

The way he says Happy! when it is time to pray and finishes with Amen!

And of course the way he says Gram - he draws it out like it has 3 or 4 a's - Graaaam.

Pancakes

2011-01-05T21:16:00.005-07:00

On New Year's morning Kaiden and I made his favorite breakfast, pancakes.

I think he has as much fun making them as he did eating them.

New Year's Eve 2010

2011-01-01T15:43:00.004-07:00

Spent a quiet evening at home
Cooking with Kaiden

He always manages to have one shoe off!

Eating with two of my favorite guys!

Christmas Present

2010-12-25T21:21:00.003-07:00

We had Christmas Eve dinner at Nathan and Stacy's.
Kaiden is showing me all the ornaments.

After the candlelight service at church, Kaiden had to make sure the candle was blown out!

Christmas brunch at our house, stocking stuffer game and gifts. I think the toothbrush was his favorite! It was a good Christmas.

Christmas Past

2010-12-24T13:35:00.002-07:00

Nathan's second Christmas, he was 14 months old. We gave him the unbreakable ornaments to hang when we were decorating and then told him to not touch after we were through.

I would find him moving the ornaments and saying "Don't touch". Parents can be so confusing sometimes.

This Little Piggy

2010-12-22T22:12:00.003-07:00

A classic!

Boys and Their Toys

2010-12-20T22:44:00.006-07:00

Helping Tito put the track together

Putting the engine on the track

Look at it go!

Holiday Hats

2010-12-19T17:12:00.004-07:00

Its A Different World

2010-12-09T22:25:00.003-07:00

Kaiden and I were reading a book the other evening when his mother snapped a picture.

He immediately wanted to see the picture. I couldn't help but think about how things have changed since his father was this age or when I was growing up. We didn't get to see the pictures until the roll of film was used, then taken to be developed and wait until the pictures came back. There wasn't one hour developers then. It could be weeks even months before you could take the picture.

A couple weeks ago when the kids were here, someone was wondering the name of a movie Diane Keaton had been in. One of them took out their phone and looked it up. Someone else wanted to know how late a store was open on Sundays. One of them took out their phone and looked it up. The phone we had growing up only made phone calls and it was a party line. When we first moved to our town 37 years ago we even had a party line because there were not enough lines available. Can you imagine anyone accepting that now?

I can not even imagine how things will change by the time Kaiden is grown. I only hope that in this world of instant everything, he learns that fast and convenient isn't always better; that you can't always get everything you want that's okay; that some of the old ways of doing things are still the most fun and the anticipation of waiting for something is part of the joy.

Penguin

2010-12-06T22:20:00.004-07:00

I have a penguin that dances around and sings

Last year, Kaiden was quite sure about this crazy penguin

This year

He's got it figured out!

Thanksgiving Tradition

2010-11-25T21:11:00.002-07:00

We have always had a relish tray for Thanksgiving.

There are always olives.

Someone always puts them on their fingers.

The tradition lives on.

Except when the bowl went around the table, he made room for it to stop on his tray. We had to hide them before he ate the entire bowl.

Happy Birthday, Tito

2010-11-15T21:34:00.004-07:00

We got together with the kids yesterday to celebrate Tito's birthday. Auntie Carrie made ribs, which these two guys enjoyed immensely. Happy Birthday, Tito. I love you.

Nite, Nite

2010-11-11T23:02:00.002-07:00

Guess who spent the night at our house?
Mom and Dad went to a birthday party last Saturday and Kaiden spent the night. We had such a good time. I had forgotten how happy and playful toddlers are when they first wake up.

Gram

2010-11-09T20:40:00.001-07:00

He said Gram! My heart melted!

Happy Anniversary

2010-11-06T16:30:00.002-06:00

We all look a little shell shocked in this picture! We had no idea what was involved in blending a family, but we made it! What a journey the last 18 years have been! Happy Anniversary, Tito! I love you!

Tickle, Tickle

2010-11-03T21:20:00.003-06:00

His new favorite thing - tickling everyone.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T19:05:00.007-06:00

We got together on Saturday to finally celebrate Stacy and Nathan's birthdays as a family and
posed for a family picture

carved pumpkins, roasted pumpkin seeds, ate yummy food and laughed alot.

From left to right - Spongebob by Stacy; Boo by Nathan; Old School Jack by Dave, Free Form Cat and Stars by Carrie and ??? by David.

Tonight, Superman came to my door, and said "Bag" as he showed me the trick or treat bag I made for his father 29 years ago

He did say trick or treat, but after he had been in the house for awhile.

A Few of My Favorite Things

2010-10-27T21:18:00.004-06:00

Another list of things I want to remember... How he goes all around the house naming everything - chair, pillow, ball, book, banana, etc

How he looks when you say "Can you say please?" and he nods his head yes, but won't say it

How he meticulously uses his spoon to get all the soup broth out of his bowl

How he says "It's hot" for all his food. (I think since everyone has been telling him that for months when he is given food - he associates hot for food)

How he studied the neighbor's Halloween display and called the ghosts - monkeys

How he names all the people he knows - MaMa, DaDa, Tito, Carrie, Hat, Josh, Becky, Shari, Emmett, but no Gram yet

How he put this pillow on the floor, put his head down and said Nite Nite.

Saturdays

2010-10-23T20:47:00.000-06:00

I am the youngest of 5 - quite a bit younger, my siblings are 22, 21, 19 and 12 years older. So for the most part of my growing up years, they were married and not living at home. Most Saturdays, one or more of them would visit with their families. I have several nieces and nephews close to my age and always looked forward to having someone to play with. I now think my parents enjoyed these visits as much as I did. It is wonderful to have your grown children come home. Most Saturdays one or both of them call and says "What's for dinner?"
Sometimes we just sit around the table and talk.

Sometimes we play a game.

Sometimes there is a puzzle to be worked.

Sometimes there is a Wi bowling competition

Sometimes we just let this little one entertain us.

(He was pushing himself backwards in his truck just like Tito does his chair.)

But whatever we do, I treasure these times. I know there will come a time when they have better things to do than hang around with Tito and Gram, but until that day comes, I really like Saturdays.

Pouty Face

2010-10-22T05:52:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday!

2010-10-21T04:12:00.001-06:00

The facts aren't quite right - it was 31 years ago and he didn't wake me up at 4:00 am, he kept me up until 4:12 am, but when I saw this cartoon many years ago, I had to cut it out and put it in his scrapbook.

Happy Birthday, Nathan! It has been such a pleasure watching you grow up into the man you are today. I love seeing you with your family - how much you love your wife and son.

I couldn't imagine 31 years ago how I could love you more, but I do. Have a great day!

And the threat is still there -someday I will call you at 4:12 am to wish you Happy Birthday.

Indian Summer

2010-10-17T19:26:00.003-06:00

The flowers are living on borrowed time. They keep putting frost warnings and snow in the forecast and taking them out again, but it will happen soon. I brought in all the tomatoes last week when a frost was a possibility and now we have green tomatoes lined up on the window sill to ripen. This weekend I dug the beets an carrots and cut back more flowers. We will remember this summer as the one

Carrie grew the smallest cherry tomatoes we have ever seen
We couldn't keep up with the rhubarb, but did keep up with the zucchini
Nathan and Stacy planted their first garden
Tita, Ricky and Sarah, Roger and Lynda came to visit
Kaiden discovered the moon
Kaiden renamed Dave 'Hat'
Kaiden talked about balls, birds, bugs, planes, monkeys and SpongeBob

We had a very good summer

Sentences

2010-10-11T19:21:00.005-06:00

He is becoming very opinionated - he has one and will let you know.

He is also talking in sentences. Sure they are very short sentences, but we are going to capitalize that first letter and add the period after the second word, because that is what grandparents do.

Moon gone. Have monkey. Bye,plane.