Grandma Donna

April 9, 2007. A day we will not forget. It's been a year since my mom-in-law, Steve's mom and Ryan's Grandma left this earth to go to her eternal home, Heaven! How cool for her! How sad for us! It was the day after Easter, and for Ryan (and us, too), Easter this year brought back lots of memories of where we were last Easter. We are so thankful we had 3 days before to spend with her. We've talked lots about her this year and this week we talked with Ryan about how it had been 1 year that Grandma had been in Heaven. We should do something special to celebrate her. He said we should have a party! Well, despite more creative intentions, our party turned into a night out to dinner, talking lots about her and then coming home to have S'mores in the microwave. It was his pick for dessert and he decided it was either cupcakes because that's what we made for her last birthday or S'mores because he first tried them with her at the Dells in WI. The final decision was S'mores.
He had lots of good "chats" with Grandma, even when she just felt like sitting. She had a great way of captivating him into whatever adventure they were on, even if she just played along from the chair. One of the last adventures at our home was that they were Jonah aboard the ship and in the whale(right on the sofa).
. Another thing that Ryan wanted to do for the "celebration" was write a poem. I love the way little minds think. So he composed, and I put it on paper. Although it might be missing rhyme and rhythm, it brought tears to our eyes and would make Grandma proud! Here goes... it's Ryan's words with no deletions or additions.

Grandma, you read books to me when I was little and when you came to our house you played with me.
You gave me lots of Highlights(the magazine), toys, and books.
You taught me lots of nursery rhymes.
When it was Easter you died. All of us were really sad. We went to your funeral. I know you couldn't see us and then me and Mom and Dad got to bring flowers home. I got to keep one in my room and we planted a tree in our backyard to remind us of you.
I know you can't see this, but I have your toys and that birdie you gave me. I'm making lots of new friends at school and I remember I got that wrestling toy for Easter at your house.
I'm really really happy that you are with God, but sometimes I still feel sad. We are going to look at your book (scrapbook mom made) and remember you.

I Felt Wrong

My last post, I said new life was coming... I could feel it. The snow was gone. Wrong. Last night and today we've had strong winds and at least 3-4 inches of snow? Enough to have everything white again and schools closed :(... I was so looking forward to green, not white. Hopefully the weather guys are right and 60's are just a few days away?! I guess we can be thankful that God is not always predictable and has a sense of humor! It is April 11th, isn't it?

Sweet Home Minnesota

Good 'ole snow. We returned to this and frigid temps. This has been the longest winter since we've moved here... but I guess others of you have experienced the same where you are, too. We literally had almost a 100 degree temperature change from 60+ in California to -30 here, before the wind chill. Sweet..as Steve would say!
And this is from the snow on April 1st... the leaning tower of Frosty. It was actually upright the day before, but then the heat wave came. Pretty impressive, heavy snow man. Steve was home with Ryan in the middle of the day while I was gone, and I came home to a snow man taller than me. I wish I could have seen the process. They had to make a ramp to lift the middle "ball"!

Today the birds are chirping and the snow is gone, hopefully for good! New life is coming!!!! I can feel it!

Magical Moments

Well, for you faithful readers, here are some pics from our California trip I promised a month ago. God is working on my patience in the big and little things of life, like Blogger uploading!!! It was a good trip and Disney is magical, even during the waiting in lines :)! Magical for a 5-year-old, for sure. I'm not so sure it was magical for a 30-something uncle and 70-something Grandpa, but they went along for the ride, regardless. It was also nice to see some sun and 60+ degrees in February and visit family we rarely see. These are in no specific order....
A special cousin that Ryan met for the first time... and he admired her very much. And she humored his desires to be with her non-stop very well. Thanks Amanda!
Chip and Ryan... just so you know Chip has the black nose like a chocolate chip and Dale's is brown and more round! We did one character breakfast. I'm having a hard time uploading some of the pictures, one being of Ryan and Princess Jasmine in her bikini top. You should see the look on his face... he was a little apprehensive and asked why she was showing her belly button? :)
Steve and brother Jim in an intense round of bumper cars... they were really pretty lame and didn't pick up much speed, what do you expect with a bunch of young kids driving? They ended up being "stuck" in a pile up for part of the drive. Grandpa was involved too, but I didn't get him on camera.
Steve, his sister Diana, her daughter Amanda, and Ryan on the pier at Huntington Beach. It was chilly, but fun to be at the ocean. We spent a few of the days visiting with Diana's family at their home. It was good to spend time getting to know them better. My camera battery died shortly after this, so I missed Ryan getting his feet wet and playing in the sand.
Getting yet another autograph from Pluto. These guys do a great job seeing out of their mouth!!
Waiting for breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen! One of the most expensive breakfasts you can find!! :)
Brotherly bonding as we wait in line for the new Nemo ride.
Aboard Tom Sawyer's boat ride.... we saw a real live plastic/stuffed moose!
The family pose complete with squinting!
This would be Dale... see the nose?
Silly faces as we wait in line.
Checking out the view from Nemo's submarine.
Another squinting pose in front of THE castle. Good thing we didn't go into photography, huh?
Aren't we cute? Another 3-D movie. Some of them very impressive, yet we possibly traumatized Ryan from a few. He is not necessarily the bravest little guy. Wonder who he gets that from?
We all live in a yellow submarine. This Nemo ride did take us under water and the effects were fairly impressive.
And last but not least, Ryan's favorite ride. Buzz Lightyear's Ride. We only rode it 5 or 6 times in our short visit, and a few times with a hefty line!

Good times. Great weather. Great to hang out with family.