NandyNotes

Emily & Caden at Church

2011-05-31T05:45:00.000-07:00

Gathered pictures . . .

2011-05-31T05:42:00.000-07:00

Emily & Caden

Caden in bigger boy bed

All together

Emily, Caden and Hailey

Hailey in ER with high fever

Hailey's 1st ice cream cone!

Emily & Summer

Emily: Self pronounced SUPER HERO

2011-05-31T05:38:00.001-07:00

Elijah in the Children's Hospital (observation)

2011-05-31T05:37:00.000-07:00

Nandy watching Elijah

2011-05-31T05:35:00.000-07:00

Florida Trip

2011-05-31T05:33:00.000-07:00

Michael, Emily & Caden

Emily & Caden: Baking in Nandy's Kitchen

2011-05-31T05:32:00.000-07:00

Right after Emily's 5th birthday

2011-05-31T05:29:00.000-07:00

Library

Nandy watching Elijah when he was sick

2011-05-31T05:28:00.000-07:00

Here & There...

2011-05-31T05:25:00.000-07:00

Hailey at home

Caden & Hailey

Emily and Caden

2011-05-31T05:15:00.000-07:00

Emily

Caden

Aunt Lauren and Caden

Hailey Hope

Emily and Hailey

Aunt Lauren and Emily

Aunt Lauren and Caden

Caden

Emily

Hailey

Emily

Caden

Hailey Hope with Aunt Lauren

2011-05-31T05:09:00.000-07:00

Elijah going Bye-Bye!

2011-05-31T05:07:00.000-07:00

Caden's 3rd Birthday at the Park!

2011-05-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

Random pictures I found on a phone card:

2011-05-31T04:52:00.000-07:00

Emily

Caden with Mama

Caden playing in Nandy's living room

Emily with Aunt Lauren

Easter 2011

2011-05-31T04:36:00.000-07:00

Photos my sister took on Easter. We celebrated Easter at our son Brandon's home. Somewhere I have a picture of Bruce and Kim Thompson because they spent Easter with us!

Elijah adding eggs to his basket!

Michael, Brandy, Emily, Caden & Hailey Hope

Emily Skye & Elijah James

Caden Michael

Michael, Brandy, Emily & Hailey

Brandon, Laura and Elijah

Laura & Elijah

Child Made Tutorials

2010-12-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

There are SO many ideas I want to try from this site!
It is overflowing tutorials of things kids and their mama's (and daddy's) can make! Recently, there have been paper Christmas trees, clay pot pilgrims, and my favorite: a framed picture of a family comprised of little snowmen made from the fingers of gloves. Adorable!

http://childmadetutorials.blogspot.com/

Summer/Fall 2010

2010-10-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

A. Lauren and Caden on September 11th, 2010

Elijah Summer 2010

Elijah's eye :) A. Lauren's art!

A. Lauren with Elijah

Emily on September 11, 2010 with Sara (Chloe's friend)

Caden with Steele on 9/11/2010

A. Lauren and Caden

Hailey Hope in A. L's Tye-Dyed Bedroom!

2010-10-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

Blowing Bubbles!

2010-10-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

Hunter (our little live in;) with Braxton, Emily and Caden

I LOVE this of Caden.

SUCH a NEAT photo! All from A. Lauren

I want to frame this and some others for my wall!

Yet another to frame!

Hailey Hope still in Baby Seat!

2010-10-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

Emily

2010-10-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

Photo by Aunt Lauren (lots of them are by her!)

Visiting Brandon, Laura & Elijah

2010-10-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

Brandon, Elijah & Braxton

Playing with Daddy's hair and PULLING it!

Elijah "driving" Nandy's Suburban!

2010-10-16T06:51:00.000-07:00

Adorable!

Fall 2010

My DIL and I packed this little man up and drove between our homes recently and the drive was so nice! The temperatures were perfect to have the windows down (I have no air so that is good!) and the sun and shadows poured the leaves and trees as we drove. It was so peaceful that Laura (DIL) made a comment on how it is no wonder babies fall asleep in car seats!

Back at my house, I fed Elijah and his mama looked through a BH&G magazine and we found a cake to make when we get the ingredients. It looks like a must try and must share and seems DELICIOUS so I will share here if we try it.

We made a quick run to the farmer's market to get a bag of various sizes of pumpkins and gourds for decorating for their first fall at home. After picking up Braxton (Elijah's 7 year old uncle!) ... we drove back to their house and had a nice dinner and visit. My son was home by dinner so everyone had a good time and Braxton made a great new friend with the 7 year old boy next door!

Hailey Hope

2010-10-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

With Mama in Nandy's Dining Room

Going to Nandy's!

2010-10-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

Emily with Aunt Lauren

Caden ... always sweetest smile!

Hailey Hope ... one of Nandy's favorite pictures!

Aunt Lauren kissing Caden :)

Elijah a few months ago!

2010-10-16T06:37:00.000-07:00

Elijah before he, Daddy and Mama moved into their first house!

Photos Aunt Lauren used for Art Class

2010-10-16T06:32:00.000-07:00

October 2010

2010-10-16T06:20:00.000-07:00

Emily with Papa

Swinging @ Nana's & Papa's

Hair is below her waist line when down now!

Emily's 4th Birthday Journal

2010-10-16T05:17:00.000-07:00

Our first and oldest grandgirl turned 4 on March 15th.
My gift to her was a pink container with snap side lid packed with her own baking things! She has loved to be with me in the kitchen since she was so small that she just rode on my hip while I did all the work.
As soon as she could grasp a spoon or whisk, she has helped and in four years has done more and more. She has added ingredients, mixed, emptied, filled, chopped, sprinkled, frosted, rolled, cut and on it goes.
She loved her small sized supplies and the second part of her gift was to use them the day after her party to make a birthday cake in Nandy's kitchen!

The photos are self describing so I'll stop here ;)
If I can figure out how to load the pictures and videos from my phone to the computer, I will add more content and share Emily and her brother, Caden making pumpkin squares last night!

Emily Skye's 4th Birthday

2010-10-16T05:11:00.000-07:00

From my drafts folder!

2010-10-16T04:19:00.000-07:00

If I have already shared this, please forgive me the repeat!

I just wrote an entire post for here and it wouldn't sent (something about html tags not being accepted) and even after deleting everything I could think it would be --- it wouldn't post or save. I copied and pasted and planned to start over but copied something else in the process and lost the whole thing!
I'll just a share the basic content of the original post:
• Grandkids are growing up so fast! Emily Skye is our oldest grandlittle and she will be starting SCHOOL next year! Caden is going to be 3 in a few months --- unreal! Hailey Hope recently turned ONE! The baby grandbit is six months …he has already been here half of a year!
• Emily wanted me to help her make some paper flowers from a book her Uncle and Aunt got her. We made two darling flowers and her mother made one herself. Such a cute idea --- I am making a list of all the things I want to do with them!
• After flower making was over, we plopped down on the couch to watch a movie. MY DIH {Daughter-in-Heart…new one☺) and I realized we didn't have time so the kids watched Noggin and they pushed each other in order to have a place in Nandy's laps. I know it is plural. Emily must have figured two legs meant two laps bec she has called mine that since she was a small baby and could make out the word. Now, they are all calling it my "laps" … smiles.

"Few things are more delightful than grandchildren fighting over your lap." Doug Larson

Update: Caden will be three in less than a month! Hailey Hope is now 14 months and Elijah is 8 months this month!

Grand Little Day :)

2010-07-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

My oldest son, his wife and our three oldest grandlittles and I went to a little "fair or festival" of sorts where all homemade or homegrown items were sold from little tents. Last night, I made two loaves of something everyone here has loved for years: Chocolate Chip Orange Zucchini Bread! I let it cool before slicing, bagging and putting in the fridge so it would be ready for early this morning. I also made a pot of coffee to go with it. It was SO good!

We got local honey, flavored honey straws, and real beeswax lip balm!

The kids each got a origami paper shape (Caden/ 2 got a fish and Emily/4 chose a dinosaur with hearts) and Emily got a butterfly painting done on her arm. Caden definitely and vocally did not want one even when the nice clown kept asking and offering.

Hailey Hope? Her little, almost 1-year old self decided it was fun to just watch everyone else and kick her fat legs if she got really excited.

We finally got some hand made soaps from, Steve. He is a teacher, has a lovely wife and and owns Willow Soap Company and has a soap we buy for men and boys that is better than any we've ever tried. His lavender was out of this world, too but I've long since finished off the bar my above mentioned DIL gifted me with several months ago!

Simm's Organic produce and flowers got a visit (he is so one of our local favorites:) and Emily wanted blueberries so we got her a little container of them. He gave each child the choice of a Zinnia and I bought a bouquet ($2!) and we got a back of popcorn at another stand before leaving. Wonderful time!

When we got back, my son had to leave to sleep for night shift and the two older grandbits stayed here. The kids both ate the zucchini bread I had more of here and Emily ate her blueberries while Caden ate popcorn.

Half way through her blueberries, Emily told me we should "make somefing with these bluebewwies" ...
She is four and still not fully speaking all her sounds so her mom and I discussed her possibly having some speech therapy in school. We both had it and so did her uncle Brandon so it is easily remedied.
Anyway, I agreed with her and we found a delightful recipe and only had to buy a few things to make it!

Blueberry Banana Cream Pie

Can of blueberry pie filling or 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (we did the latter, of course)
Bananas
1 cup of sugar
8 ounces cream cheese
12 ounces Cool Whip
2- ready made graham cracker pie crust

Have the children slice bananas and cover the bottom of the pie crust. Stir or blend (I used a mixer) cream cheese with sugar and then fold in Cool whip and spread in pie pan. Arrange or sprinkle blueberries on the top and chill for 3-4 hours.

Caden, the 2 year old who now wants to do anything the older kids are doing, sliced a banana but we didn't add it because the pans were already covered with them. He helped with all the steps the kids did and then added an extra loving touch by scooping bites of pie filling with his finger before we got the tops on.

The kids were tired so it was a crazy day but everyone had fun and they got some art done using crayons, thick and thin markers, and colored pencils. They played some inside, some outside and then settled down as we watched the movie UP.

Good day. Wish I had more pictures!

May/June 2010 Kids Garden

2010-06-28T13:36:00.000-07:00

*Yes. Zucchini is spelled wrong in every single picture.*

Emily Skye: Spring Break

2010-04-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

Her mother and I were JUST today talking about phonics, teaching reading, and things along those lines. Referring to
Emily, that is. The grandgirl I write about here and other places... our oldest grand-precious.

After a day full of doing things. . . I sat at this computer and started answering emails and had things on my mind. I forgot to call my sister back . . . did I remember to pray for my friend who was sick all day? . . . did the dryer stop yet? ... you know, that kind of thing.

Anyway, Emily comes in and plops down on the chair behind me talking --- a lot, like she frequently does. Filling up a LOT of space with a LOT of words.
I am nodding, saying "yes, that is very nice" and more not all the way there answers that a decent grandmother would not do or admit to.

Emily opens up a book behind me and says: "I not gonna look at the pictures any more, Nandy. I'm gonna read this book."
I tell her that is fine (she had been looking at pictures from Easter on the computer) and send a quick smile over my shoulder.
She says, as she opens to the title page of the book she is "reading" ... "What does this say, Nandy?"
I realize at this point that she has the book I use with Braxton and the one I started Lauren on when she was five... a year older than this inquisitive and talkative little mouth next to me.
"First Reader" ... I tell her clearly what the title page says.
"OH! I'm a first reader! I'm a first reader, right, Nandy?! My carseat was first and it is in the middle and yeah, I'm a first."
Then she says all of this (I can't keep up with what order) ---
* Oh! This is SOOO pretty! Oh, I know what it's gonna be! Baby birds! {Referring to a picture of a nest with blue eggs}
* You might not want to look at this. A pider (spider).
*You won't like this, Nandy. A nake (snake) .
*There's a kangaroo in here! K K
* She goes on to the next page: "Big H, wittle h. .. I know my numbers now."
* Big qwew, wittle qwew
* There's a wagon like your old wagon?!
* Big Z wittle z
* A policman! Like my daddy!
* A flag! Like your flag outside... right out there!
* My number! My number is wight here! E, see , Nandy! This makes me sad.
Why, I ask her, does this make you sad?
Because they have my number (meaning, letter... and it is E for Emily) but not my name. See? They don't have my name. You see? I love you, Nandy. But I am so sad that they don't have my name though.
* Whoa! There's five bells? Nandy, look. There are five bells. See, Nandy? Nandy, LOOK! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5! I'm four though.
* I'm not looking at these little things that I don't like. These little things... this thing is boring. I'm going to look at another book. {After she went through almost every single page in the entire book}

Braxton & Emily: Spring Break

2010-04-06T16:34:00.000-07:00

Emily is spending the night with us. It is Spring Break so she and Braxton are "makin' stuff" with play dough, staying all nice and clean after being scrubbed down (separately, of course) in the shower. They have had a good time. While they were at the work table eating pizza bites and drinking their second glass of water, Emily stated some things to Braxton:

"I'm gonna be a poweece officuh when I grow up."

Braxton said, "Me, too."

Emily: "Your daddy's not a poweece officuh?"

Braxton: "Yeah, I know." No arguing? No saying he could be what he wants no matter what his dad does? Amazing.

Emily: "I'm gonna hunt deer . . . and get a husband . . . and be married . . . and have a baby!"

By this point, the boy mind in Braxton was already a million miles away and he was day dreaming over something... probably a valiant victory he made happen single handedly.

Helping with Housework

2010-03-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Emily folding Nandy's kitchen towels

Caden putting folded kitchen towels up!

More folding . . .

Helped Nandy finish a whole load using
little sitting stool from Nana!

Putting towels where they go!

Hailey Hope

2010-03-28T20:56:00.000-07:00

with mama @ Nandy's

Kissing, kissing, & kissing

Held by her handsome, Pops!

Elijah @ 5 Weeks

2010-03-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

With his daddy

with mama

Beautiful face and skin!

Ready to be picked up. . .

Wondering why he hasn't been picked up yet . . .

Giving up on being picked up. Just kidding:) He
was picked up right away!

Being fed by mama at home while Nandy visited:)

Riding with Daddy

2010-03-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

Waiting with Braxton . . .

Emily HAPPY bec/ Daddy is picking her up in the PT Cruiser!

Cellphone Pictures: Ones I took and some sent by others

2010-03-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

Caden in his bedroom

I labeled every one of these but for some reason, even after two attempts, I cannot get them to show up.
1. Caden
2. Emily on way to church
3. Hailey Hope
4. Elijah James
5. Hailey
6. Hailey
7. Emily, Caden, & Hailey
8. Elijah: in background, Daddy is taking a very rare nap
9. Brandy & Hailey in Nandy's Kitchen
10. Elijah
11. Caden in his bedroom

Newest Grandbaby

2010-03-20T21:08:00.001-07:00

Elijah James
4 lbs. 15 oz.
18 1/2 inches long
Born: February 17th, 2010

Our second to oldest son, Brandon and his wife, Laura had their first baby! It has taken me quite awhile to post the birth stories, I know. I just have to work with the time boxes as I open them:)

Here, finally is our newest BLESSING. I always marvel at the LOVE the LORD pours out with each new child. When I was pregnant with my second child (the daddy to this new grandbaby) ... I remember being so afraid I couldn't love another as I loved his older brother. How could love grow any bigger than what I already held?

The very moment that second son was born . . . God showed what a miracle HIS love is. It defies human boundaries and soars higher and more greatly than anything this earth grasps.

I loved him with a love JUST for him as I loved the brother before him.
It was the same with the next son, the first daughter and the youngest son and it has been the same with each of our four grand children. What somehow happens is ... well, in this inexplainable way: God gives a love for each child as if that child were the only one. They each have their span of love that grows more and more with every moment in time from the moment he or she is born.

Here, is our youngest grandlittle. . . may he leap off the banks in this world and jump in the waters of his Nandy's and Pop's love as his brave and beautiful cousins have!

Elijah James

2010-03-20T20:50:00.001-07:00

Daddy and Mama

Looking through the nursery glass!

Papa & Elijah

Uncle Michael & his 1st nephew

With Daddy

Going home with Daddy & Mommy

Wrong Blog

2010-03-03T20:32:00.000-08:00

The post on my dad was supposed to go to my food/kitchen blog! I just noticed I sent it here instead!

Our Day/Wednesday 3.3.2010

2010-03-03T20:19:00.000-08:00

Today was our Wednesday. The day we have rarely missed each and every week since Emily was born almost four years ago.

I've written about it before. Today, the kids all hopped up and down from Nandy's lap as their mama and I talked, ate lunch and dessert and visited. We also ended up watching a movie we've been wanting to see. "Motherhood" didn't deliver what we had hoped it would and it had potential to be far more than what it was with a better message to deliver.
Oh, well. We made it through and talked during some of it to lessen the disappointment.

We loved on the babies and that is what was important. Caden, my two year old grandboy fell asleep sitting up next to me. Precious!

Grandlittles: A "Post It" Note of Sorts

2010-02-28T21:01:00.000-08:00

It is UNREAL how much time has passed since I wrote here.
Emily is going to be starting SCHOOL in a matter of months . . . she is so grown up at times I can't find words!

She has fallen in love with our Christmas Eve kittens and last night--- took hers home with her!
Her beloved parents picked out who we named "eggnog" right after the kittens were born. Prettiest out of all of them and the ONLY one of all four who kept to herself during naps, some playtimes and more.

They have a pink bed like what a cat in England's royal castle would house and I have two pictures of her snoozing in it. She also has special packets of kitten food ... like actual bites of salmon and such. Treats galore, toys --- this kitten looks as content as Garfield after he finishes a whole tray of lasagna.

Caden got his hair cut today! His dad's friend, Caleb cut it and his daddy styled it and it is adorable.

His speech has improved so much it is hard to tell him apart from his older sister now when they are on the phone. He still eats as much as you will give him ... pretty much until your arms wear out and burn like fire when you lift them again.

Hailey --- she is a little gem stone!
Sweet as sugar and munchy as homemade pie!
She has a wild and dangerous side with all the sweetness and I made up a song about it to sing to her:

"I can't let you get too close . . .
Or I might just lose my nose,

"I can't let you too near . . .
'cuz I really do like my ear,

"I can't let you get too close to skin
bec little nails you will dig in,

"I love you, dearly with Nandy like care ---
Just please release your hand of my hair!"

Before I forget. . .

2009-10-28T05:51:00.000-07:00

When Emily spent the night recently, she was quite taken with the movie: "Free Willy" and watched it repeatedly.

At one point, Pops walked by and heard her say something she had been saying since she first saw, Willy.
He said:

"That is the only age you'll ever hear a woman say that."

He was referring to her saying this:

"I'm a WHALE!"

:)

A small smile. . .

2009-10-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

Aunt Laura was holding two month old, Hailey. She was feeding her a bottle and said:
"You are going to town, aren't you, Hailey?"

Emily said:
"No, she's not going to town. She is not a year old and she can't drive yet."

:)

A Scattering of "Stories"

2009-10-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

     Trying to keep up with all these little ones so some posts might be hurried. Like this one.

:)

     I missed a post I wanted to share on the local farmer's market. I've just been swamped lately and haven't had much in the way of computer time.

     Anyway, I'll quickly say it was an adorable experience. I started shopping while waiting for Brandy, Emily, Caden, and Hailey to arrive. They got to the door and the two oldest had great smiles when they saw me and came running into my arms. They helped me all the way through the market! They handed me apples, lemons, tomatoes, onions, squash, cucumbers, carrots, and more. Actually, Emily (three years old) handed and helped me weigh things. Caden (almost two years old) thought it would be much more productive to throw from whereever he was standing towards the cart.
     He is crazy over cucumbers so he grabbed them as fast as his little hands could get them and he was throwing them our way. Some hit the cart, others bounced off and hit the floor, a few we caught and put in the cart and the rest he actually managed to land inside the cart. I laughed when we got home and they were peeled and sliced for a salad;)

     Emily kept lovingly looking at some cherry tomatoes and we realized she wanted them but didn't want to ask. I sent her back to get her own little container and she smiled and literally hugged them all the way to the register.

     We'll have to make another trip and I'll wear tennis shoes so I can run after them better than I managed with flip flops.
     They got a customary little treat just to get one. Pink pretzels.

     Last night, we went over to see them and watch some "On Demand" episodes of "The Office" and the kids were competing with the tv for attention. What a nice Nandy they have --- I was looking around their little heads, playing during breaks, and shushing them during the wedding scenes.
     I don't think they liked it very much. Emily got so wild playing with me at one point I had to make her quit and Caden bit Sierrah (not really biting... more like playing and pretending for the reaction) four times and they both laughed so hard they almost lost their breath over it all.

     We are blessed. . . .

Day at the Park

2009-10-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

     Since I “journaled” here last, a lot of activity has been whirling around.

     We had a Wednesday at the park and it was fun!

     Both suburbans parked together and the kids were so excited to see Nandy right next to them. Smiles. We got the kids all out, took our bags, blankets and so on and headed for the sidewalk. We were thinking of how little the kids were last time they came (before Braxton started school and before Hailey Hope was born!) and couldn’t believe how much time has gone by.

     Emily skipped ahead of us and Caden held my hand like and walked just as fast as he could.

     We closed the gate behind us and hoped to catch the swing we like sitting on but someone had their bag on it. The woman and her child or grandchild were all the way across the playground and obviously not using it but we forced ourselves to another place. It was wet mud so we found a bench in full sun since it was cool outside.

     Emily was running all over the place and Brandy had the idea to get a picture of her just in case we needed a most recent shot. Like, in case someone snatched her. Wise thinking, Mama. I didn’t think of that one.

     Right when we started to get settled… a large group of various aged students came in and it was humorously like an ant bed after someone steps on it. There were kids flying everywhere and fast!

     It was fun to watch the different personalities and see the expressions on the teachers as they scanned the kids to keep up with them.

     Before all of our things were unloaded, our bench became not occupied so we jumped up and made a fast walk for it. On the way, Caden was waving at the teachers and telling them “HI!” --- and we kept having to look for Emily. She was in and out of tunnels, down slides, up steps and around bends.

We had the turkey, tomato, and cheese sandwiches with pickle spears and pickled peppers with Pepsi in cans. With some chips and cookies thrown in… we had food we don’t usually eat and it was simple and easy to clean up! Tasted delicious from the first bite to the last.

At one point, the kids looked up and had the most darling expressions of excitement on their faces. As soon as it registered WHO they were seeing. . . they yelled, “POPS!” and ran to him as fast as they could. He kneeled down and scooped them up and hugged them and my heart filled just watching them. He has done that in the past . . . found out we had the kids at the park for lunch and joined us.

We stayed for quite some time and had a very enjoyable day. Brandy and I talked while the kids played and we all left with smiles and full from all the food we ate!

Caden's Birth

2009-09-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

Michael Caden

Held by Aunt Lauren

First Photos

With Mama

Josh, Angela, and Jayden: one of Dad's best friends since first grade!

Caden & Nandy

One of our favorite pictures!

Emily's Birth

2009-09-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

Emily & Nandy

Only time she ever cried with Nandy (smiles)

My little grandgirl!

Content with Daddy

So loved by Daddy & Mama

Meeting Aunt Lynda

Kitchen Helpers

2009-09-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

Quick note:

The kids not only love helping us with food prep in the kitchen . . .they are getting better and better at it as they go.

Recently, we were making a dish requiring organic baby spinach leaves to be added so we divided bunches of washed leaves between Braxton and Emily. They were instructed to pull the big stems off and place the de-stemmed leaves in a pile. We washed and spun them dry before giving them their piles of leaves.

Brandy kept noticing a lot of green in the trash can and quickly discovered Braxton tossing more in. We asked why and he said that Emily kept breaking them and messing up. Well, her work was a bit hyper (the leaves looked like a band of fairies danced all night on some of them) but we deduced the real idea might be more along the lines of him not wanting to deal with helping her so he'd just throw any away not perfect.

After awhile of the stem breaking task, Emily said:
"I need more weeds, Nandy!"

I still laugh when I think of it and JUST thought I'd share that. Smile & wink ~

Hailey Hope/Birth . . . Last Post!

2009-09-17T17:33:00.000-07:00

Brandy (mama) & best friend, Christy

Uncle Brandon & Aunt Laura

Meeting Hailey Hope

2009-09-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

Michael (Hailey's Dad) & Uncle Brandon

Hailey Hope!

Talking to Uncle Matthew

Handing her to Mama...

Beautiful

Uncle Brandon washing his hands to hold his new niece. . .

Meeting Aunt Lynda (Nandy's Sister)

Meeting Aunt Laura (Mommy-to-Be)

Together this time. . .

Uncle Sheldon (Nandy's uncle) and Melissa (Nandy's first cousin)

Brushing Teeth. . . A FAVORITE Activity!

2009-09-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

She knows where Nandy keeps their toothbrushes!

Please more brushing time?

Waking up with Pops

2009-09-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

Pops & Caden

Still trying to wake up . . .

Pops needs more coffee and maybe Caden needs a nip or two himself!

Tent Night

2009-09-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

Pops: Master Tent Builder

Braxton hoarding the FIRST bowl of "pops"corn & Caden

Emily making sure Caden does what she tells him. . .

"Cover up, baby boy". . .

"He IS going to have covers on!"

Ignore his escape because more popcorn is on the way!

Even the beagle wants in on the fun.

These kids had SO MUCH FUN playing in this tent! I nearly froze all night with no blankets, one pillow and one sheet to be found but it was worth it. Smiles. . .

Hailey Hope and Our Family

2009-09-17T16:24:00.000-07:00

The arrival of Hailey Hope has been such a special time for our family. Our boys are very, very close and they celebrate special events . . . together.

When our second son, Brandon, left for the Army right after turning 18 . . . his brothers and sisters saw him off. When he ended Drill School and then graduated in Fort Benning we were all there to cheer him on. His brothers arranged everything to be there.

The same thing when he came home on leave and when he left for Italy. When he got married, they were there and when he was in Afghanistan . . . they kept contact through emails, letters, and occasional phone calls.

While he was in Basic Training, our oldest son and his wife welcomed our first grandchild into the world. It was very hard for Brandon to not be here and he would find out within 2 years that he would miss her younger brother as well.

Matthew, our third son (sorry if this is confusing) --- knew how much Brandon wanted to be the first uncle to hold Emily so he chose to not hold her until his brother got here on leave.

This time ... everything was different and better!
This time. . . Brandon is home from his time in the service and living 40 minutes away and Matthew planned in advance to come with his gf, Ryann the weekend the baby was due.

Needless to say, there are lots of pictures of the boys and their families welcoming our newest grandlittle here and the memories have been priceless.

T

Daddy @ Nandy's holding Hailey Hope

Aunt Lynda (Nandy's Sister) holding H.H.

Emily Skye & Caden Michael

2009-09-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

Uncle Matthew & Ryann Visiting from Statesboro!

2009-09-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

Introducing my Grandlittles & More

2009-09-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of our third grandchild and her first few days at home with family. Her name is Hailey Hope and she is surrounded by her older sister, Emily (three years old) and almost two-year old brother, Caden along with their uncle Braxton (six years old) . . . Aunt Lauren (15) and Uncle Matthew with his girlfriend, Ryann. They drove four hours from college to meet the new darling.

My DIL gave me the idea of starting this new blog to record things on the grandlittles and I am so glad. Loving it!