Grandkids and Birthdays

We celebrated the last one for the year a week ago.

Caleb...at his birthday party...last Saturday!

Five years old!!!

So far this year, I've pretty much ignored my blog, so there were no special 

birthday posts for each of them.  Pitiful....I know!

Next year I hope that I'm better about it.  It's a joy to look through this blog and 

experience their birthdays past once again.

 Fortunately I did share birthday photos on Instagram!

Here they are, along with a link to LAST year's blog post birthday celebrations!!  

Elijah - 8 years old on January 7th

Fletcher - 2 years old on January 7th

Penelope - 7 years old on March 25th

August - born on April 18th (this year)

Louisa aka Lulu - 3 years old on May 8th

Charlotte - 8 years old on May 14th

Caleb - 5 years old on July 25th

I am so blessed to have seven sweet grandchildren.

I thank God for them...always!

Love These Faces...Miss Them Too!

In April 2015 I shared that my son and his family would be moving to Texas.  

When they left, they were a family of four.  

In April of this year they became a family of five!  August Willem was born on April 18th! 

 Now there are five to love...and five to miss!!  I did get to be in Texas in April...so I got to meet sweet August.  But I haven't seen him since he was 4 days old. He's growing SO FAST!

Penelope and Fletcher seem to change each day.  

Bigger and cuter by the minute!!

I'm really lucky 'cause Jacqi shares lots of photos of them on Facebook and Instagram.  This is my current favorite of Fletcher...he's modeling Jacqi's mom's glasses!

She gets prettier and prettier....

August gets chubbier and chubbier.  

I just want to kiss those sweet cheeks!

For over seven years I was spoiled. All my grandbabies lived within an hour of my house.  

Now three of them are half the country away from me!

But I'm going to see them soon...in about 95 days!!

Hope they're ready for hugs and kisses.

P.S. I'm looking forward to seeing their mommy and daddy too!!

Penelope and Fletcher

Well, it's been a month and a day since they moved from here to there!  I miss them...a bunch!

It's crazy. I get teary whenever I look at pictures of them and I actually ache inside.

I just really want to hug them.

Thankfully, Jacqi has been good about sharing photos.

Here's a peek at them on their Paw-Paw's motorcycle.

This guy is settling in really well.  Jacqi said he's definitely a country boy.

Look at that face...I love the picture in the upper right corner!  

Doesn't he have the best little teeth!!

This sweet girl is having a little harder time.  

She gets bored...they're looking for a church, and some summer activities for her. She just needs to be involved in some fun things, and she needs to meet some new friends.  You know, I miss them all, but I really think I miss her the most!! Sweet girl!

 I'm really looking forward to when they settle into a place of their own so I can go and visit!  

But in the meantime...I need to figure out Facetime!

P.S. I miss their mom and dad too!!

Changes

I started this blog because it seemed like a great way to share photos of my 

grandchildren with my family back in Michigan. It has been.  

It's also become a bit of a journal...helping me to keep track 

of the past (almost) seven years.

My favorite photos to share are like this one. 

ALL the grandbabies together!

 I love how the number has grown over the past seven years.  
When I started blogging there were two...Elijah and Charlotte. 
The year after my blog began, Penelope came along. 
Couple more years went by and Caleb joined our family.  
In 2013 Lulu was born, and then last year Fletcher arrived, 
bringing the total to 1/2 dozen grandbabies!  

I love this season of our life so much!

But life changes...and photos with these six grandchildren all together won't 
happen very often anymore.  Oh my, I am not fond of change at all!

Penelope and Fletcher are moving to Texas.  
That's a long way from Maryland!  
It's about a 24 hour drive to where they're headed.
Sigh....
Guess I need to learn how to use Skype.

 

Kevin and his family moved in with us yesterday, and they're staying 
with us until they leave for Texas.  
Good thing they got this fun snow photo this year. 
They won't see much white stuff where they're going! 
I hope they love Texas.
I hope their dreams come true.
I hope it's wonderful!
But I sure will miss them.
I'll really miss photos of All SIX Grandbabies together.
So I also hope they visit soon!

Prayers during the wee hours of May 1st would be appreciated.
That's when these sweet faces will be driving away.  
One last look.
Tears for sure.....

The littlest "Littles"

Caleb ~ Lulu ~ Fletcher

Three...three years old and younger.

At least for a few more months.

They're so focused...intent on whatever it is they're doing.

Sometimes they hold still.

Sometimes they look at me.

Sometimes they smile.

Every now and then they do all three.

Hold still.

Look at Gramma.

Smile.

Thanks Fletcher!

Such sweeties!

Each one!!

Photo Shoot

 

Last Sunday we decided to do a little photo shoot in my front yard.  When there are six "littles", who are six years old and under getting one really good shot might seem like quite a challenge.  But I guess that depends on the definition of a good shot!  I love how these photos capture the memories of the moment!!

Not one photo has everyone perfectly posed...but each one is pretty perfect!

 

The boys were in a much more cooperative mood than the girls were.  

 

Each of the three big "littles" wanted to sit with a cousin...not their brother or sister...in these shots.

 

  

Then I talked them into sibling shots.

These are my favorite group shots.  I am so very blessed to have these dear little ones nearby.  It's such a treat to spend regular time with them!!

 

 

This little guy is the reason this photo shoot happened.  His mommy and daddy wanted some photos of him to give to some therapists he won't be working with any longer.  I think he knew that some of the photos taken would be given to special people.  He cooperated the best of all!

LOVE this photo of him!