Old & New

I was counting the other day in my head - as we drove in the rain to pick the kids up from Grandma Barbara's - I was counting grandparents. We had a lazy rainy movie day at the theater down the street from our house. Two movies sandwiched around a quick lunch with my Grandma Lola had me thinking about grandparents. We've got so many grandparents you couldn't throw a stick 10 ft without hitting one...but that would be mean.

Elle & Park have eight grandparents and five great-grandparents. (Two of them they have never met as they live in Washington state but they are more than thoughtful with their long distance cards and gifts.) And three of the great-grandmas live right here in town. Eliana calls Great-Grandma Doris and Great-Grandma Lola "The Girls" as they live in the same building and generally show up together at events, go on trips with us, and she must just think they laugh like girls. And great-grandma Mary lives just up the road in Greeley. She makes Ellie laugh with her stories about me when I was a girl and I think Ellie can hardly believe that they are true. Mommies were never little girls...

In the last few weeks I inherited a bunch of Grandma Lola's linens. This is a big deal. I'm obsessed with tea towels. And real napkins. I love them. So I got to pick through baskets of tea towels she embroidered herself 60 years ago. And napkins and tablecloths she made for teas and luncheons and bridge and other things that I know nothing about. It's a little piece of history I can use everyday.

And I've been asked to write my Grandma Mary's story. Interview her - not a challenge as I could talk to her for hours - and write it down in a book for all of time and history and (okay...more realistically) our little family to enjoy forever. I only hope I can do her justice.

And then tonight, when Mr. Pope came home from getting a haircut and straight shave, Ellie told him he looked "Brand New!!" He hadn't shaved for a month. He was a hairy old beast.

And now he's new.

Lazy River

With a house full of family and a what feels like a long, hot summer, my father-in-law, Jack, had the brilliant idea to go to Water World last week. We packed up the cars and made it for a whole afternoon. I had the distinct pleasure of riding along in a tube on the Lazy River with Parker. He LOVED Water World. What do you know!?! He might really be my son after all....

He waved at all the people, splashed in the water, giggled with delight, and when he snatched my sunglasses off my head and I playfully demanded that he give them back he cocked his head and gave me a big fat, "No!" He's 15 months old. And with that, I think, my baby Parker was gone.

He's acting so much older all of a sudden. He said "Blueberries" yesterday and "Grandma" this morning. He's paying attention to everything and he's learned he can actually tackle Ellie, knock her down, and pin her to the floor. He's 15 months old. Bye, bye Baby Parker. I love the little boy you are becoming. (Tackling Ellie included. I'm sure she deserves it.) How is it that a baby is just a baby for what seems like forever and then one day - not a baby. I'm glad I got the moment with him at Water World. It seemed like a little secret between me and him.

In other news we've got a list of things we still need to accomplish before these summer sands run out. Like a trip to Steamboat Springs with the parents and grandmas, a mountain retreat with all of the siblings when brother Dan and family get back from Japan, my cousin's wedding in Chicago and a few more house projects like painting the kids bedroom furniture. Not so lazy after all....

Quote of the Day:
"I love my Aunt Emma cuz she's all grown-up like me. And I love my cousin Cole because he's soooo handsome," ~Eliana

The Little Things

Sometimes big events make you appreciate the little things. If it hadn't been strikingly obvious from my previous post, last week was a hard week. My grandfather, with whom I was very close despite his lack of verbal communication, died on Sunday, Dec. 7th. He was 88 and lead an incredible life that has always inspired me.

Dr. Harold Bowman was born in China to missionary parents who believed the world could be a better place. He always had charity and hard work in his heart. He was well educated, receiving his Ph.D. by the time he was 30 and spent the majority of his academic career right here in Colorado as a professor at the University of Northern Colorado. He was handy and crafty and full of little jokes if you were quiet enough to catch them.

It broke my heart to see him go. But in the days that followed we planned a beautiful service and I was able to be thankful for all of the many blessings in my life and all the little inspirations that find me everyday. Elle made it through a whole day of family and car trips and long meals and quiet services without a meltdown. She made every sad face smile with her funny personality and innate curiosity. And Derrick took on a whole day of baby wrangling without missing a beat. I wasn't the kind of day you'd ask for, but it was a beautiful day with a beautiful family and that made everything better.

Ellie did crash, but once we got home. Sweet little thing.