memories of Grandma Wanda

My Grandma Wanda passed away on the 17th of May.  Here is a picture journal of her life...

Grandma as a young girl

Grandma Wanda and Grandpa Alvin 

Their wedding day

Their family (my mom, Ruth is in the middle)

Photo collage of Grandma in her earlier years.

She was quite the bowler, who knew?!

Grandma (second from the left in the back) with her 6 out of 9 living siblings

Grandma with her children (my Mom, Ruth is on the left)

Photo collage of Grandma in her later years.

Grandma was a remarkable woman, with the will of an ox!  We've always blamed our stubbornness and strong will on her, but I will always be grateful for what she taught me about sticking up for what I feel passionately about and always fighting for what I believe in.

Love you Grandma...

#5

Luke turned 5 on Sunday, which also turned out to be Mothers Day this year.  It was awesome to share that special day with my little man.

He asked for a carrot, chocolate chip cake (his own concoction) from Aunt Sarah, but we weren't able to make it up to Eugene for the weekend, so he settled for a monster truck, triple chocolate cake from me...

                                                                                                                                                    

Things I've been loving about Luke lately:

-His excitement about being strong and tough (just like Dad) that he will do just about anything, such as eat a tomato.  As in, just take a bite out of it.  Let me point out that Luke HATES tomatoes.

-How amazing he is at playing Shrek Cart on my ipod.  I totally agree that this is nothing to be bragging about, but really, you should see this kid.  It's amazing.


-How much he loves Makenna and Jared.  And Jared just idolizes him and will do anything Luke tells him to (or better yet, shows him).


-What an absolute "bringer of light" he is.

Happy Birthday Lukey Dude!  We love you!

tender moments

My Grandma took a turn for the worse on Sunday when she fell...twice.  It was a hard day filled with pain, tears, and (get this) Momma pride.

While talking with my mom downstairs, we both heard Makenna's voice upstairs but assumed she was singing to herself (which she does ALL the time).  After a few minutes, I finally went up to check on her, and she was sitting on the ground reading to my grandma.  The Little Mermaid.  The long edition.

And grandma was sweet enough to let her, through all her pain. When I caught sight of them the tears came good and hard.  What a sympathetic, darling girl to find something that she knew how to do.  Something to make someone she cared about feel better.

I've never been more proud of my sweet cheeks (yes, nearly all of Makenna's nicknames have something to do with her big, kissable cheeks).