New Moon

Last year my mom and I (and Lila) went to see Twilight at the midnight showing. This year we brought LoRen and Ali too. We went to BJ's for dinner and we were all suprised by how many groups of girls wearing twilight attire were there too.

I liked the New Moon movie more than I did the Twilight movie and was pleasantly suprised by how much I liked Jacob!

I'm glad we don't have to wait a full year to see the next one!

My Grandpa

(picture taken on Lila's 1st birthday)

My grandpa, Tom Freeman, suffered a stroke the day after Lila turned one. Oh how happy I am that he came to her party. I'm also glad that he left his hat.....it has brought Aaron comfort.

I have been to see him a number of times in the hospital and each time I go he looks progressively more peaceful. ( my grandmother and father and all others who have been there more than I will probably have a different view, but this is how I have seen it)

Tonight I took Aaron and Charlotte to see him. Charlotte was very excited and a little bit scared and Aaron was somber.

Grandpa mouthed my name when my Dad told him we were there and it warmed my heart.......... just as much as it did the first time I came to visit and he did the same.......and just as it did when my grandma Jackie mouthed "I love you too" just before she lost her battle with Cancer.

The simple act of acknowledging me and their love for me when words do not come easy...........it is so precious.

Grandpa was awake for the first time when I was visiting tonight. I always go at night when Nick can be home with the kids. It was very obvious that even though his body isn't cooperating, he knows exactly who we are and what we are saying. He squeezed my hand tight until I replaced mine with Aaron's, whose hand he continued to squeeze. Aaron stood there holding his great-grandfathers hand for a better part on 30 minutes. His little face looked concerned, but not scared. He knows where Grandpa is going. He knows he will see him again.

When it came time to leave I took back grandpa's hand, after Aaron had kissed it, and told him I had to go. He opened both eyes and tried very hard to tell me something. I looked to my dad for help understanding but neither of us could be sure. As he continued talking my heart broke for him and for me for the unreceived message. Maybe if Grandma was there she could have interpreted but she must have been getting dinner....it was 5:30.

I imagine he was telling me that he loved me and that he was proud of me ( hopefully ) and maybe giving me some advice to carry with me. Or maybe he was just asking for a kiss:) I could see in his eyes that he knew the message was lost. I promised to come back tomorrow and then kissed his forehead.

His spirit is not broken, just his body.

Stephanie pointed out that the feeling in his room is a very peaceful one. You know you are in the presence of a great man and the spirit is very strong where he is. There are many here who do not want to see him go, and many there who are anxiously awaiting his arrival.

So very loved is my Grandpa.

My 28th Birthday

Turning 28 was very easy for me.......until I realized that 10 years ago I was turning 18......and that does NOT seem like 10 years ago.....and then in 10 more years I will turn 38!!!

My dad said that you are ready for each age as they come. I hope he is right.

One thing is for sure.......having kids makes time go by way too fast.

this little thing will be 11 when I am 38.....hopefully those eyes will still be the same

The kids had fun making robots out of present packaging!

I got lots of fun presents......but my favorite was Nick doing the dishes!

more improvements

There are about a million things we want to do to this house. I really love the layout and with the exception of our room we don't plan to make any major changes....but it's the little things.


Oh, how they add up.


Like this light for example. Why it was ever placed so close to the door that the light fixture would be smashed each time it opened, I can't figure out. Last weekend this was Nick's project.





and of course there was cause to make multiple holes in our walls



but Elsie provided the entertainment...........and really, what more could you ask for?











....and there you have it. A light can now be hung safely away from our door!

F.H.E.

On Monday and Tuesday nights rides on the carousel are free!!!

Which means we can ride over....and over....and over....and over

















......and so we did

p.s. Happy 18th Birthday Nicky!!!

the waiting game

After the pumpkin patch we took our van to get a much needed tire change. Across the street was a Foster's Freeze where we waited and had lunch.







the clock ticked slllooooooooowwllly



after a while Charlotte got ahold of the camera









and then our car was ready.......and we were ready.......
to go home.

Pumpkins

We tried a new pumpkin patch this year but I wish we hadn't. Our usual, the Pumpkin King was better in my opinion. The kids suffered through my picture taking and then we didn't even let them go on all of the carnival rides they had to offer. Mean parents.

I took about 15 pictures like this

but luckily I managed one like this too

hunting for the perfect pumpkin.....or probably pointing out all the cool rides they were hoping for

Our cute daddy........and pumpkin hauler