Grandma and Grandpa's house: May 2009

Jamie-Cheeks and Justin-Cuddles

Josh and Heather and Jamie and Justin celebrated Queen Victoria's birthday with us, and while we were at it, we celebrated our youngest grandchild's first year of life by taking a look through my latest scrapbook offering.

We also celebrated the coming of spring with lots of walks together...

... and with the first motorboat ride of the season. I think it was Justin's first motorboat ride ever? And it was also a milestone for Jamie - last year she wasn't sure she liked the loud, fast ride, but this year she reveled in it, asked for a second and a third ride, and spent much of the time reaching down into the boat's wake, coaxing up cold water spray into her face as we sped along, wincing gleefully at the wild wonder of it all.

She is so brave also in tackling the high, tipsy swing at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

And as for Justin - ah!

The gentle wonder of his melting-in-my-arms hugs and cuddles...

... and the indescribable joy of his sparkling blue eyes and awesome smile!

Somehow Jamie remembered that Grandma makes birthday cakes. So she put in her order weeks ago for a Sandy-Cheeks (from Spongebob) cake. Auntie Meghan and Uncle Aaron and Micah and Elizabeth and Uncle Calvin and Auntie Sharon, all came over to Grandma and Grandpa's house, for a very special belated 3rd birthday celebration. Happy Birthday, beautiful little Jamie-Cheeks!

And by the way, speaking of belated - a belated CONGRATULATIONS to Auntie Sharon for completing her teaching degree!!!!!!! We are so extremely proud of you, and we wish you all good things in the amazing and important career you are embarking upon!

Thank you, Josh and Heather, for your love and friendship, and for how you make every moment of our time together so incredibly special!

And thanks for taking this beautiful picture of Grandma and Grandpa with our beautiful boys!

Beowulf's birthday party!

It was a gorgeous, sun-shiny day yesterday.

Kazan, Beowulf and Cassie partied hearty all day long!

Sporadic mock battles were the order of the day.

Kazan was - as usual - the crazy one.

Elizabeth's valiant efforts to pose with the birthday boy met with partial success.

Beowulf and Cassie exchanging pleasantries.

Moments I live for:

Elizabeth told me yesterday that if she had a wishing well,

she would wish that I could come to her house every day!!!

... beautiful moments of rest, reflection, companionship...

...and finally, Kazan -

a very good big brother

and our very good boy

Happy 6-month birthday, Beowulf!

miscellaneous Mother's Day memories

Ron put the dock in the water on Mother's Day, standing in the cold water till numbness replaced the pain - now we are ready for Jamie to have her birthday boat ride this coming weekend! Meanwhile my old faithful bench with its fading testament to a family's history of sometimes joy and sometimes pain but always love, waits patiently for more memories to come and sit a while.