Happy Birthday Carl!!

Dear Carl,

How can it be? Five years already since you were born!! You were my first...the beautiful baby that made me a Grandma! The first one to look in my eyes, give me a hug and say "Gwamma"!

You can't imagine how much I love you. And I'll tell you a secret. I didn't know I'd love you this much. I was so clueless before you were born. I didn't know that it was possible to love my daughter's baby as much as I love my daughter. YOU taught me that I can love my grandchildren as much as I love my own children. What a wonderful life!! From the minute I saw your sweet little face I knew that you and I were going to be a team!

I remember the day you were born. We had been looking forward to this day for a very long time. We had done all of the things we could think of to get ready for your coming! Your little vegetable garden nursery was ready. There was a diaper stacker with lady bugs, carrot handles on your changing table and all the other touches we knew would make you feel happy to be with us.

I was in the room when you were born. It was one of the most marvelous moments of my life. I watched your Mommy and Daddy look at you with so much love. Aunty Krista and I hugged and cried. You were wonderful! I was a Grandma now. I held you in my arms and knew you were the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. My heart was bursting with love for you. I will never forget how special I felt.

You've been my constant joy, since you were minutes old. You are a special guy in my life. You taught me how to be Gramma. Now I have all your cousins to love and be Gramma for--and it's the best!

Carl, you are an interesting guy. I love to talk to you about the things you are interested in talking about. I like to have adventure afternoons together. You are a Super Lego Guy!! I can't believe the creations you can make. I will always keep them safe! You are the best Big Brother around, and I am so proud of you!

I know you will love starting school next year...and I know you and I will still find time to spend together! Happy #5 Birthday Carl!! I Love You to pieces!! Gramma

A Date With Carl

Carl is turning 5 on Monday!! For this special birthday, Poppa and I gave him a "date night" out with us. We picked him up at 5:30, and he was really dressed up! He had on his new polo shirt from E&T and a sports coat! We had reservations at "The Old Spaghetti Factory" and tickets to The Children's Theater production of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.." From us he had unwrapped the mouse character in a neck bag tote with a play cookie, ticket to the theater and dinner "ticket". Yes, the mouse came along!! Carl with his super size meatball!! He's a super spaghetti slurper!

The mouse!!

Carl, Poppa, and the mouse after the play.

We had a very wonderful time. It's always very special to have a grandchild by themselves once in a while....especially for a really fun event like this. Carl loved the play---was totally engrossed! And we loved watching him!! Gramma loves you Birthday Boy!!

Easter Egg Hunt

It didn't feel like Easter Egg Hunt weather when we got up this morning!! But we all headed to Baker's house...to put Plan B into effect! Yes, we'd have it anyway, with 6 grandchildren, their moms and Grandma and Poppa hunting for eggs INSIDE and not out!!
There was lots of fun planned, including art projects and a beanbag toss made by Grandma and Poppa!! We had a wonderful brunch with jello eggs...and an egg and Easter basket hunt!

Happy Easter 2008!!

Six Beautiful Easter Chickies!!

Spring Break Visit to Grandma's

It was Spring Break for Natalie and Sammy...so I invited them to come for the day and have an adventure in the city! We headed for Wild Rumpus Bookstore to check out Spike the Lizard and all the cats, as well as the chicken! They'd heard about them from Carl and Gus, but wanted to see for themselves. They loved the place, and so did their mom, Diane! Then we were off to the bakery for kid breadsticks and to Wonderment Creative Toys to see how to crawl inside a tree. They really liked the neighborhood we visited. Home we went to eat pigs-in-a-blanket for lunch and get ready to work on our craft project


The girls picked out their favorite fabrics and we set to making totebags for each of them and Diane. At first they were a little relutant to try their hand at using the sewing machine, but sitting on my lap they were able to guide the fabric quite well!! (I had my finger bandaged after a little misphap earlier this week with the rotary cutter!)Both Sammy and Natalie were excited with the results of their work, and went home with a new totebag. I enjoyed sharing one of my favorite hobbies with them, and introducing them to the fun and satisfaction of sewing. it was a great Spring Break Day together!!

St. Patrick's Day SOUP

On the eve of St. Patrick's Day our monthly SOUP Night for the family took an Irish theme, and we had Corned Beef and Cabbage, olives, green deviled eggs, Irish soda bread, and a green fruit pizza for dessert!! The grandchildren love to have us all dress in green. And Grandma loves to get carried away with the table decor!! We certainly fill up the table now with high chair, junior chair, and Gus's "king of the whoa-wold (world) chair!" A wonderful, chaotic suppertime of LOVE!!!

Only Louise

Our sweet baby girl got to spend a few hours with us this morning! Daddy's out of town, and Mommy and the boys went to Sunday School...so sunny little Louise came for breakfast with Grandma and Poppa! She loves blueberries! She's crawling all over now...and starting to pull up to furniture. As I held her I looked at her sweet little feet! How quickly they grow, but how absolutely precious they are!! Tiny perfect toenails, chubby little ankles...I love to look at them, and listen to her giggle when I lightly stroke the bottoms of them, big toe curling! Sweet baby feet that will take her many places in her life!!

Sammy' s Tooth is Gone!!

We met Diane and the girls for supper at Culvers tonight. The first words out of Sammy's mouth....with a beautiful grin were...."Gramma, I lost a tooth!! ..her FIRST one!! It is really fun to watch these little people grow, and all their changes as they add years. It was a bottom tooth, so it's not quite a toothless smile yet. But it won't be long! Samantha has matured so much this year. Her first year of school...she's eager to read, loves to write, and is trying her hand at all the art projects. She's getting so much taller. She's 5 and a half now!! Two delightful construction paper and cotton bunnies were presented to Grandpa and me, saying "Some bunny loves you! love, Samantha". How sweet! Yes, some bunny does love us!!

Apartment Adventure

It was our usual Friday that wasn't quite usual.... Logan got to go on a "road-trip" with his great-grandparents and me! We went to see the new apartment my parents are looking to move to. Logan was a real trooper!! He loved to run around and hide in closets in the empty apartment, and to sit under tables in the community room when we were discussing the options. A quick McDonald's lunch, and he was asleep in the car going home. I took off his shoes and unzipped his jacket in the car so it was into bed in one move when I got into the house. He slept for over two hours!! I love talking to him...new words all the time.."come on, come on" He's always on the move

A Table for Logan

Poppa finished Logan's table today, and we invited Logan , his mommy and daddy over for pizza supper to pick it up. It's a beautiful black ash stained bright blue, red, green, yellow and orange. The top is blue. He liked it...and sat there for awhile to look at a book. But Logan is Logan...and he was off to other things. I think he will enjoy his table for many years. It has a 2008 quarter imbeded in the underside with the "made by Chuck" wood burned as a brand.

Wrestlemania at Gramma's

What a funny place for a mattress!! It was on its way to be donated to church...but not to let a good opportunity excape them...these three guys took the time for a little "Wrestlemania!" It was great...I was a little nervous to see them flopping in the diningroom...but hey...I think this is only the beginning with these three. Gramma loves you!!

Field Trip to Como Conservatory

"Four-to-Go" plus Jenn and Gramma....lunches packed and off to Como Conservatory to experience some Tropics in the middle of a Minnesota winter. What a great idea with the blustery wind blowing outside. We're getting cabin fever even if this is the month of spring
Jenn called me this morning, and since I had Logan for the day (daycare cancellation)...it sounded like a great idea! Into the van with 4 car seats, hard boiled eggs, cheese and crackers, fruit and pepperoni. We were on our way to Como Conservatory. It was so warm and wonderful in there. We piled our bags and jackets in the stroller and chased little boys through the tropical climates, stopping to discover fish, wishing well fountains, an ant colony, green bananas growing on tall trees, coconuts and dates. Such eager students!! Even Logan was inquisitive of the stingray...and wanted to be the first one with his hands in the Koi Pond. Am I surprised?

Gus checking out the bug scene!

the Koi fish pond.