Grandkids :o)

What can I say...I'm not very good as Kirsten and Megan are at this blogging but I'm trying. I can't even say that I don't have time because I'm sure that they are way busier than I... raising those great kids I call my grandkids, working, school, husbands and now marathons, triathelons geez girls I'll never keep up!! All I can do is be very proud of the two wonderful, beautiful women I call my daughters....
Now...let's talk about the grandkids...WOW..never did I think I'd have so many (and we are not done yet, I think) grandkids...I think that they are the best thing EVER!! I can't even explain why??? When they say Nana...my heart just melts, I am so blessed! They say that when you die the only thing that really goes on is the memory of you and I am hopeful that my grandkids will have very fond memories of me just as I have of my own grandparents. The grandparents I had really weren't even my blood grandparents..they were two people that had hearts of gold that treated me as though I was their own. I will always remember how they never had reservations of how much they loved me they just did. They gave their all and I felt their love every time I was there at their home and it is something I will never forget! They would hold hands and sit on the couch even in their 70's...all I ever wanted is to have what they had. They treated my sons with the same love and, I was and am so very happy about that. I know that they too will always remember Granny and Papo ALWAYS! Greg loves to hear stories about them...for they too had lots of fun stories about marriage, struggle, triumphs and loss.
I hope that all of my grandkids will learn what I have learned from my own grandparents if they do I will have done my work here on Earth....
This is what I want my grandkids to know and yes to carry my memory..isn't that what we all want is to be seen, heard and remembered?

Summer 2009

It's been a year since we've moved back from Minnesota, it doesn't really feel like a year mostly since we have just kinda settled into our life here at home. Our friends are mostly the same and we moved into a house only two doors down from the house we built just after we got married. Greg's office is upstairs from the one that he had before, and he enjoys seeing his old patients. I only wish my Ma was here so that we could have had just a little more time. It's been an adventure moving and unpacking into a couple different places. It also is different and is weird in it's own way.
We have had a great year here with friends and family from Minnesota visiting which has been fun, introducing them to our little nest in the Valley. Hat and Jerry made a visit on their way to Hat's High School Reunion in Montrose. Megan, Ryan and Mathisen came to visit at Christmas. Jake and Larry were here in January on leave from Iraq and Afghanistan and then we went to Arizona to have a little Rest and Relaxation. Our friends Jane and Derrick have been here a couple times, Andy and Jodi, and Greg's nurse Lisa and Amy the Nurse Practioner and their families made a visit!
The best part is having time here with our grandkids...Mark's kids and Kirsten's has been great. I love the fact that the grandkids are getting to know us. We have been able to go to games and recitals, gymnastic practice, birthday parties and everyday things that has brought lots of joy to our lives. We were at Safeway and all I heard really loud was "HI NANA" Even though we haven't gotten to do it all with ALL of our grandkids being here is closer to most of the grandkids! We have made it to see Natalie who we hadn't seen since Thanksgiving 2007. We are going to try to see all of them as much as we can...but is it as much as we want??? NOOOOOOO!!!
When we lived here before I don't think that we took advantage of the beautiful scenery that we have here...or the things that we could do. This last August when John and Sue Wietz met us in Aspen (I had never been there) with their daughters Emily and Jill; I deceided that I want to see the parts of Colorado that I haven't seen before. I even climbed 11,212 ft to the top of Mt. Ajax (which is Aspen mtn) with Sue!
Being back in Colorado has been great...even though I do miss my Minnesota friends.. I know that they understand, I am home just as they are!

Megan

Finally, the end of the kids...I'ts only taken me half the year to write about them all but, ta da my last but not least kid...

Megan was eleven when we first met she was a very small eleven year old but seemed very mature for her little stature and every day that went by I loved her more and more. Once Greg and I married I thought to myself...humm I finally got the little girl that I always wanted! It just ended up that she was 11 when it happened. We got along from the very start and I saw right away that it was going to be different to raise an eleven year old girl than if I'd had her. She had a tough outer shell but once she let me in it was a good place to be. It had only been 2 years since Alison's death and she had built up some thick skin, but deep down I knew she needed me. I needed her too....
Megs always had friends around too and had strong ties to them, she still has all those childhood friends to this day. She had a way of orchestrating parties, fun and mostly getting her way. Which I might add she is still really good at! I didn't ever worry about anyone hurting her because I knew she was very strong willed person. But, as we all know I worried....
Her days now are filled with her own bundle of joy...and he is a miracle....she is a great Mom and Alison and I both smile at that :o) I know she is as proud of her as I am...

Larry

Wow! Where did the time go...I remember having Larry placed in my arms and wishing for a life and health and happiness for my little boy. I never wanted anything to "hurt" my little guy. Larry has always approached life with laughter, a open and giving heart, and a smile that has always lit up his whole face. Once in elementary school he received an award for sticking up for a little girl who was being picked on. I remember him wanting to play Army with his pals when they came over "Mom can we wear your Army stuff" was a question always asked, oh yeah can Dusty, Manuel, or whoever spent the night have some too? Growing up almost like an only child up until he was ten might have been pretty lonely if not for all the constant friends he had over. Friends were always one of his top priorities and it seems like he has always had and made friends very easy.
I dated a few guys after his Dad and I divorced and I'd have to say that he was a very good judge of character. Once he even told this guy he was gonna knock his block off. He was around 6 or so. Turns out he was right. From the beginning with Greg he always wanted to go over to "that Doctors house". Once again he has been right about that one too :o).
When he joined the Army, during two wars I thought I'd die especially when he went to Iraq. I had many nightmares and almost gave in to being sad all the time. The only thing that kept me going was hearing his voice and believing in HOPE. Thanks to God he has come back from both wars with the same smile and sparkle in his eyes ready to start his life. I know that he has been affected by both and I know that he is strong enough to continue to do great things with his life.
Looks like my hopes for him are coming true....

Da Mama Makes the Green Chili

So I've been blogging about kids...you are probably pretty tired and want something different...don't worry only two more to go! So, I thought maybe I'd do something alittle different.

Every time the kids come home they want something homemade to eat...last time Larry was home he took a picture of me making chili..so I thought you all might enjoy the recipe...so here it goes

Green Chili

1lb of hamburger or ground pork or both, if you add 2lbs double the recipe
1 can petite diced tomatoes (yes, Kirsten tomatoes)
3 tbl flour
6-7 green chilies
2tsp garlic salt
2 1/2 c water initially you can add more later if needed
salt and pepper to taste (yes, to taste Larry and Lou not too much)

1st step...brown the hamburger or pork
add the flour and make sure that it is completely blended into the meat
add the chili
add the water
stir very well....and add the tomatoes,garlic salt, and salt and pepper...
let boil stir and add more water if needed...add water if too thick (you are not making paste)
but not too much cuz you aint making soup!

If you get stuck...call me!

Love ya...Ma

Jacob

When I met Jake his hair was longer than mine, I really didn't know what to expect or how he was going to react to me since he was already 18 years old and living in Colorado Springs. Jake, from the beginning treated me with respect and with open arms. His smile made me smile as you can see from this recent picture. I knew that he was different, he had no reservations and I felt he knew what un-conditional love was. He is so very smart. Smart like with instinct and is very philosophical and he plays the piano (something I wish I could do) which I try to get him to do when he visits. His poems are touching...I'm not even sure he knows that I have read any of them.

Jake has had many adventures in his life, being in the Army and being stationed in Germany and now in Iraq. Along with others that I won't mention in my blog... We went to see him in Germany and had a great time. He showed us around and we even got to go to the last day of Octoberfest...what a blast! I don't think we will go visit him in Iraq, but we think of him everyday and pray that he is safe and will be home soon.

Life for Jake has not been very easy...heck, I don't know any one of my kids that life has been easy for but, I wish for Jake to know that I am here and will always be, he has always introduced me as his Mom....I know I have awfully big shoes to fill, but I will try.

Louie

My first born...Louie, not sure who knows this but I had him when I was 15 years old. I remember hearing people talk behind my back saying "babies having babies" I didn't feel like a baby I did know that I was scared and didn't really know what was going to happen. I was happy and "in love" with Louie that's all I thought I needed. Our parents made us promise that if we got married and had our baby that we would promise to finish school. I thought that's easy enough and really being pregnant in school was easy and I got the best grades I ever had while I was pregnant. Louie and I were married and were trying to do things right...but, ends up we were too young and didn't know what we were doing. I am blessed to have my "ex-in laws" in my life now and especially then. Louie was raised by my in-laws they have done a great job and I have always tried to be in his life in some way. All I know is that I am so proud of him and love him and will continue to be in his life until the end of my days. I will always be thankful to Nadine and Frank for all they do and have done for Louie.
I guess I was very immature when I had Lou but, God put some good people in my life and I feel very blessed. Louie is married now to Carrie and they have a very cute, smart, talented, adorable little girl Natalie with an IQ of over 300...hehehe.