Yum!

We visited the grandparents today, and as usual Grandma and Grandpa treated all the grandkids with grand dessert. Naturally it is enjoyed to the fullest, and Karis got her face messy with the yummy dessert! Good eats!

Cousin Fun

The kids were able to spend the greater portion of the day in the company of their cousins Cole and Kallan at Grandma and Grandpa's today. Not a dull moment for anyone, seems like all will be sleeping soundly tonight...

Picking Up the Pieces

After supper, Grandma is picking up the floor from all the kids eating.

Clean up is a breeze?

After supper, poor Grandma had to get down on her hands and knees to catch all the crumbs left by her sweet grandchildren!

Gone Fishin'

Kian got to go fishing for the very first time today with Grandpa. He went down to their dock and with a new fishing pole, he caught three Sunfish! He was so proud, but was not able to touch them because they were "too slimy." After that he got to go to Sammy's pizza with Grandma and Grandpa for supper. He came home and Mommy had bought him some new pajamas to wear to bed. It was a pretty great day for Kian!

Visiting Great Grandma Ruth

We all drove down to Mankato, including Grandma and Grandpa, to see Great Grandma Ruth. We had missed her ninetieth birthday party because we were all sick in June, so we went down to make up for missing her big day. The children did really well playing together and entertaining Grandma Ruth. Later on, we went swimming in the hotel which the children especially loved. Kyrie sat with Grandma while the rest of us kept cool in the pool. We then went back to see Grandma Ruth before we drove home again. She was so happy to see us and as we left I blew her a kiss and told her we would see her again soon. It was a very precious weekend memory for all of us.

Who's Your Daddy?

Kyrie and Karis were brought back to our house after staying overnight and enjoying quality time with Grandma and Grandpa. Unfortunately, Kyrie had so much fun that she forgot who her father was - and cried anytime Daddy came near her. Guess someone has to make mends...

Oh Brother! What a Treat!

It is nice to be young and spoiled when grandparents drop the oldest sibling off. You see, Kobe was able to take a trip to Glenwood to visit his cousins with Grandma and Grandpa. Naturally they all needed a treat when he returned...

Hawaiian/Beach Party

I had a party tonight for my brother Brad and his wife Gloria to celebrate his coming home on a leave from South Korea. I also had the party to thank my parents for all the help they have been for us since we've had Kyrie. It was fun planning it and Kobe was very helpful in doing that. We had food that you would get in Hawaii or when you go to the beach. The decorations were fun, and the children even dressed in their swimming suits with leis for the occasion. We also had some Hawaiian music and a virtual aquarium from finding Nemo and the t.v. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed it all. They all stayed until 10:00 and the children went to bed with happy memories! I plan to do another party like this in the dead of winter to remind us of how much we love summer!

Grandma Comes to Visit

Grandma showed up this morning to help out - and to give Rebecca a few moments of sanity in an otherwise hectic day...

Boys to Visit Grandma and Grandpa

Kobe and Kian are all geared up to spend the day with Grandma and Grandpa. They are both filled with anticipation and know that they are going to be spoiled rotten. Grandparents tend to do that kind of a thing, but the boys don't seem to mind...

Visiting Granny Tanny

As most of you know by now, Kyrie, Grandma, and I(Rebecca) went to Mankato to visit Great-Grandma Ruth. She of course had never met Kyrie, so it was natural to introduce the two of them. We got off to a great start and because my mom and I talked the whole way down, the five hour trip seemed more like one hour. We arrived in Grandma's room and were met with a loving smile. She was so happy to see us but thought we were supposed to have come a day earlier and said that she had been waiting for us since Friday! Kyrie did very well chatting with Great-Grandma but when we went to the Hotel to relax for the evening, she decided that she was not going to let us relax! She cried for about two hours...loudly. We tried everything to calm her or comfort her, but she must have missed her own bed because she was just not happy with anything. This is very unlike Kyrie because she is usually a happy girl. Finally, we got her off to sleep in bed with me and she slept until 8:00 the next day. We went back to Grandma's to visit before heading home. Again we were met with a warm smile. Grandma had been sick so she was not quite herself. She was very confused at times and forgetful. How I wished she would chatter on like she used to when I was younger. She had so much to say. Now today she was constantly falling asleep in her chair. I am so happy we visited her though. She and I have always had a close bond and I remembered back to when I would go to visit her for a week in the summer. She would take me out for brunch and let me drink coffee with as much sugar and creamer as I wanted. She would take me to the movies and let me pick out a special toy. I have so many fond memories of her. I especially loved the stories she used to tell about the "good old days" and wish sometimes that the world today could be a little more like that time. No one had to worry about their children being kidnapped, there was more harmony between people, and friends really cherished each other. She was married at age 18 to a man who was 20 years older than her. She loved him with all her heart until he went to be with Jesus. She has lived a long time without him and has said that she is excited to see him again someday. I wish all of you who read this could meet her. She is one terrific lady. She lived through the depression, raised a family while running a hotel, and through it all, never complained but was grateful for all she was given. Now that she is older, and will turn 90 in June, actually she and I have the same birthday, I am so grateful that she is my Grandma, and all the wonderful things she has taught me about life, family, faith and love. I gave her a hug good-bye with Kyrie, and she waved with slight tears in her eyes as we headed out the door. If only more people could be like my Grandma, the world would be a much nicer place.


We left Mankato and headed home to Grand Rapids but in Aitkin got caught in a terrible snow storm. It took us two hours to get home when we were 50 miles from our destination. We drove through nail-biting slippery roads, blowing wind, crazy drivers, cars in the ditch, and to add even more drama to the mix, a deer wandered out to greet us. We did finally make it though, safe and sound, with a happy memory of our weekend with us.

New Pajamas!

Kobe got a surprise in the mail the other day from Grandma's cousin, Carol Emslie. He was thrilled to rip into the package and find new pajamas! He just thought that that was the coolest thing to get new pajamas in the mail. Thanks, Carol! He proudly wore them to bed tonight and will probably not want to take them off to get dressed in the morning.