Like Father, Like Son

Kaiden, 2009


Nathan, 1980
Notice the thumb in his mouth. Nathan would not take a pacifier and it would have been a full time job for me to keep that thumb out of his mouth! I was very lucky that Nathan just stopped sucking his thumb when he was about 2.

My New Favorite Photo

I'm having a ball

Kaiden's new activity center and he is having a great time! What a wonderful item this is! All the toys and activities in one place, you don't have to keep track of the toys, you don't have to pick them up when they are dropped!

Hangin with Tito

I Am Trying..

To sit by myself and
to crawl

IT WAS A GREAT EVENING

Last night, Tito and I attended a free Colorado Symphony concert at Cheesman park. The night was beautiful, a few clouds so the sunset was spectacular. The park is so green because of all the rains we have had this year. Usually the grass isn't looking this lush in the middle of the summer. There were quite a few people, but not so many that you felt crowded. People brought chairs, blankets, picnic suppers, babies and dogs.

The sun was behind the trees and buildings so it wasn't too warm. We got there early and ate our dinner and watched people. It was a lot of fun.

I love this park, it is one of my favorites. In my early teenage years, my sister lived a couple blocks from this park and I spent quite a bit of time there because her daughters are so close to my age. Back then, in the summer, musicals would be presented at the park in the summer. Much like this concert, it was free and people would come with their picnic baskets and enjoy the show. My nieces and I would come over in the afternoon to stake out our spot, spend the afternoon playing games and wait until our parents would come after work with our picnic. One year it took us a week to see all of Sound of Music because it was rained out several nights in a row. I have seen the first act of Sound of Music many many times.

I thought this booth was so funny, I just had to take a picture of it. They were allowing the kids to pick up the instruments and try them out.

The music was beautiful. I love the symphony and they played Tchaikovsky - one of my favorite composers. The night was sponsored by Target and they handed out tote bags, bug spray and chap stick, popcorn and free Starbucks coffee. This is one of Tito's favorite things - free entertainment and goodies! But the highlight of the evening was this woman.

Tito walked from the car with his crutches because we didn't bring his ATV chair and this one is not easy to push on the grass. This women came up to him and just told him he was such an inspiration and joy to watch the way he dealt with his handicap. They talked and discovered they were both cancer survivors and drank a toast L'Chaim (to life).

It made me stop and think about just how remarkable Tito is. I get so used to seeing him doing things and seeing his determination to find ways to do things, I sometimes forget how hard it is for him and how he very seldom gives up. He cleans our house from his wheelchair including steam cleaning our carpets. He digs holes for plants in the garden. He rides his motorcycle with the wheelchair strapped on the back. He irons, he cooks, he goes to the grocery store, he takes walks on his crutches with Rocco to get the mail. He uses the snow blower to clear the driveway, he changes the oil on the cars and washes them. He is an inspiration and I need to remember that more often.

IT WAS A GREAT EVENING!

Fringe Benefits

I love being in my yard, I love pulling weeds, deadheading plants, playing in the dirt I call it. I would work out there all day if I could and the heat didn't get me. I would do these things even if I didn't get to have cut flowers all summer and all the fresh veggies. We are eating veggies from the garden every night. I love this time of year, I do not tire of the veggies - some nights that is all I eat. Yummy!

Push-ups

Kaiden is trying to be mobile. He does a good job scooting himself backward. He can get his knees up under himself, but doesn't know what to do from there. But last weekend he started pushing himself up with his arms and then would lift himself up on his toes like he was doing a push-up. It was so cute to watch. I can't believe how fast the time is going.

Room with a view

I miss a lot of things about our old house, especially the yard. I miss the trees that gave me shaded areas of the yard to plant hostas and impatiens. I miss my shed. I miss my patio. I really miss my brick patio that we worked so hard to complete. But I did not have a view from my bedroom that looked like this at the old house. I love looking out every morning and seeing my flowers. The daisies have taken over and will be moved to another spot next year. They block the view and need to be in the back. Then I will be able to see my day lilies and the wildflowers that seed themselves at the back of the yard. I plan on putting something lower in their place. I need to investigate a different watering system - do not like the look of the nozzles. It is nice to know, there will be more garden work to do next year :)

Urban Beauty

The path I take for my walk in the mornings goes by a lake and a park. I leave my house at 5:30, so the sun is coming up and the birds are out, sprinklers are running. It is so peaceful and beautiful. I walk fast to get my walk in and back home to get ready to leave for work, so I don't have time to really linger.

But on Saturday, Tito came with me and we took a leisurely stroll and marveled at the sights before heading out to start our day.

Paparazzi

Tom and Katie expect it; Brad and Angelina expect it; the Obama's expect it; Jon and Kate expect it, but did this family of three, expect some lady with a camera to approach them in the grocery store and start taking pictures of their child?

I'm sure they didn't. What has become of our world, when everyday people can't go about their everyday business without being hounded by paparazzi?

(It sure was a nice surprise to see them at the grocery store yesterday. And now that I have my new, pretty purple lightweight camera that doesn't feel like a brick in my purse, it might happen more often!)

What happens at Grandma's

Remember this shirt from Christmas? It fits now!

Power of Prayer

I am feeling better. I didn't want my last post to cause anyone concern, but thank all of you who were. I was just feeling overwelmed by life and very stressed at work. I asked God to give me a new outlook on life and it is working, I feel much better. Thank you for all your prayers also.

God's Best Gift

I haven't been feeling well the past few days. I'm not quite sure why. I'm not sick, but not feeling great either. I am anxious, but can't quite figure out why. I am stressed, I feel a heavy weight settling down upon me. I am going into a very busy time at work - budget time - which is intense and lasts for 5 months. But this is more than that.

This morning I got up earlier than usual and went for a walk. And I prayed as I walked. I just started complaining about everything I thought was wrong in my life and soon I found I was thanking God for all the things that were right. And I felt the burdens lessen. I still do not know what was bothering me so much, but I do know that praying helped.

When I got back home, I took down my Bible and opened to Psalms which always comforts me and came across Psalm 127:3 which in my translation reads "Children are a heritage from the Lord". I found a different translation that reads "Children are God's best gift". My children and grandchild are gifts to me, my family is a gift. my friends are gift. My friend, Janice, welcomed a granddaughter into her family yesterday. I spoke to her this morning and you could just hear the joy bubbling in her voice. God's Best Gift.

For whatever reason, this passage spoke to me and my prayer walk helped ease my burden. I am not back to myself yet, but I'm on my way.

Five Months

Kaiden was 5 months old on the 4th. Here he is with his pretty mommy. His shirt says All-American Hunk We think he is a cutie pie

4th of July Weekend

We had a very busy weekend. My sister, Ruby, came in from Loveland on Thursday. Kaiden and Nathan came to visit and play on Friday. He also had a cooking lesson watching Aunt Ruby making cabbage rolls - yum! My friend, Fayette, was here from Florida visiting her son and came by on Friday afternoon with her granddaughter. We were so busy talking that I didn't take any pictures! We had a great time.

On the 4th, my sister, Millie, came over from Ft. Lupton for the day. We took a picnic to the church which is across the street from our town's firework's display. It was touch and go if the weather was going to cooperate - there were a couple pretty good rains and it was pretty chilly, but the show did go on and it was so beautiful.

Grandpa Jerry was here from Boston. Kaiden stared at the bright lights but didn't quiet make it to the end of the show before he fell asleep. It was a very busy and wonderful weekend. Hope yours was too.

Sweet Things - Part II

Last Sunday at church during the Children's Sermon when Pastor tells the kids to put their hands together to pray, Stacy put Kaiden's hands together. I was very moved. We are so blessed that Nathan and Stacy come to church and bring Kaiden. It isn't the easiest thing to get a little one to church every week.



Kaiden already had his feet together! It is a favorite position lately.

Sweet Things - Part I

Love the baby sounds, now if I would keep quiet so you hear him and not me, it would be even better.

They won't let me suck my thumb...