Christmas with GramMo

Christmas this year looked very different for our family.  We are used to being in Illinois from the 23rd until the 25th and then driving home Christmas Day to be with Scott's family.  We knew eventually we wanted our kids to wake up to Santa gifts in their own house and not travel Christmas Day.  Scott had to work Christmas Eve morning, so we did Christmas with my family the weekend before. 

When we got in to Springfield on Friday, Cohan was so excited to see his GramMo!!!!

Since we weren't going to be home for Christmas Eve, MeMo came over to visit Saturday.  Cohan loved the extra snuggled and Ireland gave her best smiles! 

 

Saturday night we did Christmas dinner at my mom's house.  It is so awesome to be with my mom, siblings and nephew.  They love our kids so much and know them so well.  Our kids loved every minute they got with my mom and brother, sister and sister-in-law.  Of course, Cohan says Tayler is his best friend. 

 

My mom got them antlers; I am fully aware that they will all be mortified of these pictures some day but it was too funny... 

 

COUSINS!!!!

Owl wings my sister had made for Ireland. 
Along with an AMAZING hoodie.  Remember Cohan's? 
Ireland's is just as adorable!

After playing with presents, we sat around visiting.  This is what we found when we went looking for my mom and the boys.  How cute are they?!

Cohan stayed up waaaaaaay too late playing with GramMo and Aunt Abby.  But, how could we make him go to bed when he was having so much fun?

First sibling bath...

Cohan and Ireland got lots of special attention while we were home.  Thanks GramMo, Aunt Abby, Unkie and Aunt Sarah for so many fun times.
WE LOVE YOU!!!

Best Gift of All

One of my favorite things about being home for Christmas was getting to see my grandpa again.  Last time I saw him, I thought it was going to be the last.  This time visiting, he was back to his old self.  He memory was pristine, his humor was top notch and it warmed my Christmas happy heart.  My brother, sister, Abby, and I went and met my dad there (Clara was working...boo).  My grandpa has the calendar I made my dad hanging in his room.  This year, I made him his own.  He was moved... 

I am so thankful for this visit.

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” 

Soaking It All In.....

It has been awhile since I have updated our blog!! We have so many pictures and awesome stories to share from our holiday break.  But, right now, we have been soaking up the last little bits of Christmas, playing, snuggling, having play dates, and been out with friends and family.  I just now unloaded pictures from my camera.  I promised that instead of updating, I was going to be "present" and spend time with Cohan and Ireland while I get to be home.

I think we have done just that...

 

More to come later!

 

Grandpa on the Farm

We made a tough trip this weekend...

We got a call on Thursday that my 98 year old Grandpa was being put into hospice care.  He has been in a nursing home for about 3 months, but was hospitalized 2 weeks ago.  They are now going to keep him comfortable until he passes. I needed to go say goodbye.  There are few people, my age, that are still lucky enough to have two grandparents around.   I still have "MeMo" and "Grandpa on the Farm."   

I started thinking about all the reasons that I am thankful for him and some of my favorite memories of him.  I couldn't begin to tell all of them.  But, since the purpose of our blog is to print it into books for our kids to keep, I wanted to share some of my favorites for my kids.  Even though they won't remember him, I want to pass down lots of stories to them.

I won't forget:

• Campfires on the farm
• Long weekends in Lincoln
• Tractor rides
• Playing Memory
• The wagon he built to carry us behind the riding lawn mower
• My sister braiding his hair
• His callused hands
• His determination and hard work
• Ice cream cones
• Picking apples
• Shooting targets
• Making homemade horseradish
• The story of how he met my grandma ice skating while in the army
• Learning to drive
• The smell of his truck
• Shopping for my first car

 But above all, there are two really important things he did for me. 

#1- I'm so thankful he taught me to love.  He was married to my grandma for over 50 years.  They loved each other so much.  You could tell it in everything that they did.  He has told me numerous times how lucky I am to have Scott.  I know that and am so glad he loves who I chose to spend the rest of my life with.   

#2- He raised an amazing man that I call my dad.  My dad is an only child.  He has passed on everything that is good to my dad and I will be forever grateful for that.  My dad has learned from the best. 

This weekend while visiting him, he told me how much he loved me.  He shared how proud he was of me.  I broke down, and in turn, so did he.  I apologized for upsetting him and he told me to be tough.  He told me to remember that you can never love anyone enough.  My grandpa told me my only job was to take care of my beautiful babies. 

My mother in law told me something that has really helped me.  She told me that maybe he is ready to go so that he could be with my grandma for Christmas.  Letting go isn't easy, but I am comforted with the memories.    

Friends Who are Like Family

My best friend, Betsy, became a mom and I see her in a whole new light.  She still loves my kids like her own, is Ireland's godmother, and spoils them rotten; but seeing her as a mom is so cool.  Ireland and Sofia are BFFs and Cohan loves "his" babies. 

I have taken a few photography classes, but I learn most from Matt.  He asked if I would take their family Christmas pictures this year.  I love this family! 

 

Then, Uncle Matt came out in his elf costume for Cohan... 

 

How lucky are my kids?!

 

That same night, we came home to these little gifts on the front porch.  Our neighbor, Bob, had dropped them off for the kids.  He knows Cohan's obsession with fire trucks and is a retired fireman himself. 

He always drops little gifts for Cohan...