Reading with Great-Grandma

Ever since my doctor's appointments became every week, my grandma has been coming in to watch the little girls (or just Juliana if Kari is at preschool) so that I can go for my visit by myself!  (It's definitely a luxury I don't take for granted!!)  Everyone benefits as the girls LOVE it when she comes to play and I know she loves spending time with them as well.

Here is just one sweet moment I caught on camera after I came home once.  {Happy sigh!}  It makes my heart so happy that Grandma continues to be a part not only of my life, but of my children's lives as well!!  Thank you, Grandma!  We love you!!

Playing at Great-Grandma's

One morning we drove out to Great-Grandma's to play!  I love that we live so close by and that my children get to have a relationship with her and get to know what a special lady she is.

Juliana is always up for a photo-op :-)

Grandparents and their (great) grandchildren are such natural allies!

Sliding down the stairs on a blanket was a big hit!

 The little girls loved playing in the baby bassinet (Juliana even fit in the basket below!).

Kari, playing house on a hutch that her great-great Gpa Fritz made.
Sooo cute!!

Christian loved throwing the ball for the neighbor dog!

Kids also liked playing ball.  It was a nice day!

We love Great-Grandma Carolyn!!!

Happy Birthday to the Grandmas!

Since both my Mom's and Grandma's birthdays are in June, we got together out at Erin and Kyle's place.  We swam and had dinner, opened presents, and ate yummy cake.  Sounds like a good birthday to me!

 Kari loved being a doggie in the pool.

 Auntie Erin and Emily had a great time diving for rings and searching for (and finding) Erin's earring that fell out in the pool!  Emily even collected a little reward money for her eagle eyes.

Christian also wanted in on the diving action--
"Mr. Fairness" was very concerned about getting some reward money of his own.

Ju-Ju is Miss Cool.

Kyle and Great-Gma, kickin' it poolside.  

Pretty cake

 Blowin' out the candles!

Cubby and Harvey, playing with Kyle's "toy"
(Not sure if I can qualify the Lego Death Star as a "toy" though...)

Erin and Emily playing with Erin's "toy"--Lego Parisian cafe--so cute!

The birthday girls and their (great) grand kids.

Happy Birthday to two wonderful and super special Grandmas!

The Night Before the Big Day

The night before "the big day," we had dinner out at Grandma Carolyn's!  Almost all of families had arrived and it was so much fun to see everyone again!  (The last time I had seen my Grandpa Don was when Christian was a baby!)  Good food, good company, good timers!

Erin, Em, and Aunt Barb (who makes the BEST French Toast EVER and is brilliant and kind and  oh-so creative.)

Left to right:  Cousins Anna and Amanda, Gpa Don, Uncle Tom, Aunt Sharon, and Harvey's sister, Hazel

The Bride and Groom-to-be! (and Juliana :-))

The evening cooled off very nicely (it was actually cooler outside than in!)...and we found out later why it was cooling off.  A BIG storm came through that we literally just BARELY beat home (like, we were driving home just barely staying one step ahead of the storm and it started pouring just as we pulled into the garage.)  But, I digress.  The cooler weather made for pleasant times on the porch in pretty rural-ish Ashland :-).

 Juliana loved playing with the ice cubes--Cubby caught a shot with one in her mouth and the next moment when she spit it out.

 Christian and his "accessories."  Not sure if I've touched on his OCD tendencies before, but here goes.  As recently as this winter, Christian started insisting to bring various items with him--everywhere.  In the wintertime, it was his hat, mittens, and two jackets.  Sometimes an extra pair of shoes if he just couldn't choose between two pair.  Then, as the weather warmed, and he still wanted to wear/bring them everywhere, it got a little ridiculous.  But, Christian is extremely stubborn and it took a loooong time to persuade him to ditch the winter clothing.  (Good thing it was a cold spring!)  Now-a-days, he wears his Angry Birds hat, sunglasses, CTR ring, and a long-sleeved shirt (just in case it gets cold...even when it's 90 degrees).  As of two days ago, we've been able to leave the house a couple of times without the shirt and he's been ok with leaving his hat/glasses/ring in the car for swimming or sports.  Yeah, this was important to document b/c I want something to show him when he comes to me complaining that his kids are OCD.

And here's baby J with the most wonderful Great-Gma you could ever ask for.  Juliana loves her so and often reaches for Great Gma to hold her, even when my mom or me has her!

Sweet baby, getting so big!

Snapped this picture on the way out to the car...the wind was picking up!  A very nice, laid back evening with family--what more could you want on the night before your big day?

Winter Break at the Lincoln Children's Museum

On one of the last days of Winter Break, Cubby, Great-Grandma Carolyn, and I took the kiddos down to Lincoln to play at their Children's Museum. Of course, it did not disappoint! Here are some of the highlights of what each of the kids enjoyed most:

Emily: Felt right at home in the Veterinarian's Office!

She also enjoyed some craft time with Great-Grandma.Christian: Was all about being in-charge of the controls.

At the news desk....
On the moon... Or even at the theatre!
Christian also enjoyed being creative with the crafts. Here is Great-Grandma w/the kiddos

(some more willing to sit in the big, oversized chair than others.)
The kids also liked the water-play area.

Kari: Kari loved playing dress-up and dancing on stage!

She was also pretty tickled with the Thomas riding toy and engineer's hat. Kari also loved just sitting in a quiet spot and reading a book with Daddy.

We drove home shortly after lunch and this picture sums up how much fun we had! (Christian, Kari and I all crashed!) Thanks for the fun morning, Grandma!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Yesterday we celebrated my Grandma's 80th birthday! My mom organized a great party in her honor. My aunt flew in from France and my uncle and his family drove down from Minnesota. Other family and friends also drove and it was a wonderful evening. We all enjoyed celebrating the life of such a fabulous woman.

Here is a picture of my grandma when she was about one. So darling and I think there is a strong resemblance between she and Emily when she was this age.

Here are "the grandkids." Well, I have three other cousins (who are from France) that weren't able to be there. But, my sister put together a darling scrapbook that each of the grandkids contributed their favorite memories and pictures of Grandma Carolyn so the absent cousins were able to share their thoughts and memories w/my grandma on her special day.

Here is Grandma w/her great-grandchildren (plus the two Annas b/c they were part of "the little kid" group). Christian decided to be a little twerp and make scowly-faces. He was all smirky smiles just after the picture was taken!

More on the festivities to come...didn't want one post to become too photo heavy.

Happy 80th Birthday, Grandma! You're the best--we love you!!!