Archive for the ‘Grandkids’ Category

Dear Jovan~

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Dear Jovanie (and Rocky, too, I guess),

Baby Rhoades is due anytime. And I know you are ready-ready-ready, but I am hoping you will wait until after your due date (the 20th)…just a smidge, mind you, and stop taking all these walks and eating all these things your friends are suggesting to get your labor going. I think when you understand my schedule, you will agree that waiting until March 21st or after will be best.

Tonight, fundraising dinner at The Stonebrook.
Tomorrow night, fundraising dinner at The Stonebrook.
Sunday-a day of rest. I will need one, don’t you agree?
Monday-plan for next week’s dinners and some meetings.
Tuesday night speak at a mommy’s group at New Hope
Wednesday night: Family Dinner for Wrex’s Wrunza’s on St Pat’s Day
Thursday night-taking some grandbebes to Annie for the last chance I will have to see it. (Dad will be performing in Annie through Saturday)
Friday night another big ministry event
Saturday night, yet another “Heaven Fest is coming!!” fancy-schmancy event-party-thing.

Whew!

So, you see, Jovan? Sunday the 21st is really the best option. Don’t you think so?

Haha. I didn’t think you would! : )

REALLY~ I can’t wait! Cannot wait!! In the midst of everything happening, there is NOTHING more important to me than the arrival of GRANDBEBE #6!!

And remember: I tried to help!

Forever 21 at Flatirons

We did a hardcore shopping marathon last Sunday: Jovan and Averi and me, Stormie, Stef and Tara and Dessa. I don’t like shopping much and Dessa hates it, but the company was delightful. And we thought if we walked Jovan all over for hours and hours, maybe labor would start. Nope. Huh-uh. Nothing. Didn’t happen. Just wore her totally out. But we tried and got some cute stuff in the process. So-that is something!

Watching and waiting and can’t wait for, you, sweet granbebe #6!!!!

Posted in Birthdays/Anniversaries, Grandkids, Health, Mi familia, Stuff I actually think | 6 Comments »

In Like a Lamb

Monday, March 1st, 2010

I HAVE HAD IT WITH WINTER!

I have maintained a fairly optimistic and positive viewpoint about winter this year, especially in light of the fact that we do live in Colorado and usually have very mild winters. But this one has been too long. Yes, I know other states have had it worse. But two of Colorado’s snowiest months are October and March. And since I have seen it snow in September and drop 50-degrees in 2 hours and snow in May then …aaaaaarrrrrrggghhhh!!!!! I can’t take anymore! I mean it!

google image

If March freaking goes out like a lion (as my 2nd-grade teacher predicted would happen when March 1 has these lamb-like qualities and I always found her to be truthful and honest), I am going to scream bloody murder. I need hot sun. I need April showers and May flowers. I need spring.

UPDATE 3.02.10~Oh. So, good. We are going to be in the 50s all week. Fine. I have been heard. Gavin told me Sunday he thought we should try to do some gardening this week and I think he is right! Little man after my own heart…

Posted in Garden/Food/Seasons, Grandkids, Stuff I actually think | No Comments »

“The hair is the richest ornament of women.” -Martin Luther

Friday, February 19th, 2010

The Martin Luther quote? Yikes. This could not be worse news.

Hair cut this week. Actually left the shop pretty OK with it. Unusual… Ready to color, early before meetings. Reeeeeally didn’t feel like going to Sally’s to buy the dye. Look under the sink and find a red I hadn’t used in some time. What a happy surprise. I don’t even remember having this! L’Oreal’s Mega-Reds, Intense Copper Red. It is almost, but not quite full.

Bingo! There’s enough. I’ll use it. No muss, no fuss.

While mixing with the developer, it seems odd. But I proceed. I plaster, cover, go about my business.

Time to rinse. The water runs off looking reddish enough, but not all that intense. I pay no attention. I wrap my head in a towel and gather things I’ll need for the office.

Time to blow dry. Hmmm…does look intense, after all…dark. I am humming, not bothering to look into a mirror as I dry, until the end. Suddenly, my very own Brady-bunch-type-hair-dye-crazy-disaster-sit-com-moment.

What the…?? It is reddish brown in spots, grayish brown in others, dark brown in some and almost black in parts. It is NOT. what. I. was. expecting. Not at all.

Should have looked like this, all over:

Instead:

It really is worse than you can tell here. Hard-to-believe, but true.

As I shrieked, “What on earth?!?” Guini assurred me: “It’s OK, Nonna. It’s gonna be alright.” And it will…unless I am seen in broad daylight. In a dark room, sure. Fine.

Dave says he likes it, shrugs it off and tells me this is what happens with so many daughters running a hair chemistry lab around here all the time (and they all claim total innocence and say it was probably expired and my own fault).

{sigh} I will have to find a way to fix it so all of my ”richest ornament” does not fall out. Or I can become very nocturnal.

Posted in Grandkids, Health, Mi familia, Photos of the Fam, Stuff I actually think, TV, Movies, Books, and Entertainment | 8 Comments »

My Funny Valentines

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

NOTE: To be able to view and pause photos a little more slowly, click on “View All Images.” You can control it from there.

GAVIN, HUNTER, GUINIVERE, GEMMA, & AVERI ~

I love you my little Grandbébes.

Happy days and love and kisses from your Nonna!

You light up my life. You are my sunshine. All I ever need is you.

Why do stars fall down from the sky everytime you walk by?

Just like me they long to be close to you.

I need you like the flowers need the rain.

You made me love you and I’d be lost without your love.

I can’t stop loving you. I will always love you and I won’t last a day without you.

Unforgettable-that’s what you are. It’s impossible, I wish I had more than words to tell you…

And I love you so. I don’t want to miss a thing.

Somewhere out there, I must have done something good.

I believe in you, my little grandbebes. God only knows where I’d be without you.

Don’t make me go on…because I could!

Love.

From NONNA!

(There are 89 images in the slide show…I can’t help it. My grandbebes are soooo cute!)

Tags: averi, family, gavin, gemma, grandchildren, guini, hunter, love, the grandbebes, valentines day
Posted in Grandkids, Mi familia, Photos of the Fam, Songs I am singing, Stuff I actually think | 2 Comments »

20,000+

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Tristan made a video for Stephanie’s birthday a couple of years ago, a re-enactment of a scene from “The Office,” where Jim is “conducting an experiement” in controlling Dwight. Gavin was “Jim” and Guini was “Dwight.” The only problem was that Dwight is an annoying jerk and Guini kept being so sweetly polite (like her Nonna).

Sometime after 11 pm last night, the views on this video went over 20,000! Isn’t that cool? My little grandbebes have brought joy to many Office viewers! If you watch it, go RATE it (no less than 5 stars, s’il te plait!).

You may as well enjoy the video my kids made me for Mother’s Day that year, too. It is my favorite Partridge family song ever.

Posted in Birthdays/Anniversaries, Grandkids, Mi familia, Songs I am singing, Stuff I actually think, TV, Movies, Books, and Entertainment | 3 Comments »

Averi-Baby is TWO!

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Averi Jadyn~

Happy Birthday, sweet girl and totally terrific two-year-old toddler. Oh what a hilarious joy you are! Such a typical firstborn, ready to order your world, so prepared to be in charge of your new little sibling so soon. You have that head full of big, beautiful hair and are head strong and know how things should be. You have mastered the choleric-sanguine personality in your cheeky 34″ frame (with your 50 centimeter head circumference – though we suspect the doctor did not account for all the hair, or the unusually active, large and amazing brain-which runs in the family, ahem…).

Our current favorite activity, mine and Averi’s, is to watch babies laughing on Youtube together. Averi calls the shots. We have no more than laughed our heads off on one video when she has chosen her next choice from the suggested videos on the right column.

Averi: Nonna! I want that one! Do that one!

Me (seizing the opportunity for affection): Ok. You want that one? Gimme a kiss!

Averi: Ok. {smooch}

Then we watch the one she wanted. And we repeat the process. Over and over. Good times. She is my girl until Poppa walks in the door. Then I cease to exist, but it is good while it lasts!

Girl, you are princess-pink-and-polka-dots, rough-and-tumble-funny-girl and everything in between. I love you bunches!

Happy Birthday, sweet baby girl….Nonna

Posted in Birthdays/Anniversaries, Grandkids, Mi familia, My most unforgettable people, Photos of the Fam, Stuff I actually think | 7 Comments »

Chia Dave

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

I wrote about Dave going bald for his role in Annie as Daddy Warbucks here.

Got these cute pictures of Poppa, aka Daddy Warbucks, with our very own little Annie (more commonly known as Gemma) and Sandy-the-Family-Dog. And of Poppa-now-bald with grandbebes Hunter, Gemma May and Guinivere (who may or may not be tormenting the dog).

Meanwhile, Bryan-the-Blogger couldn’t resist messing with a photo of Dave because of what I wrote here. This is Chia Dave.

Tsk.

Posted in Grandkids, Mi familia, Stuff I actually think, TV, Movies, Books, and Entertainment | 4 Comments »

Happy Birthday to My Dad

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Happy Birthday, Dad~

Seventy-one years ago today Ressie Belle, widowed just weeks earlier by a tragic automobile accident, cradled you in her arms: a son who would carry on his father’s name, A. Ross Moslander. A tough start during hard times. But you have done that name proud. You’ve lived vigorously, for both yourself and the father you never knew.

No one in the world could ever doubt you were born for God’s purposes, papasan. Since you found Jesus and He found you under that starry sky on Missouri farmland when you were 15, you’ve been on an adventureous journey of faith with all the Type-A, driven energy of an Olympic runner, his eyes set on the prize.

And you have spurred the rest of us along ~ thousands of friends and relatives and acquaintances and church members along the way, but especially your family, us kids. And your zeal burns hot into the next generation, your impact is just getting revved up. I am spending my life trying to keep up with my amazing dad.

You are the Psalms 127 and 128 man, dad. You are the man in Psalms 112: you are blessed and your children are mighty in the land. Your heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Your family is fruitful and growing and you have received so much heritage from the Lord (talk about a full quiver!). Your sons and grandsons are like arrows in your hands – the enemy does not want to contend with you when he sees this army you have unleashed in the land! Look at your children and their children and now their children’s children: we all love you, honor you, respect you and celebrate you!

Happy birthday, holy man. Happy Birthday, my dad and my hero. I love you….Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Call dad. Wish him a happy birthday.

Youtube: Got together the other night for dinner and sang to you. Stephanie and Gavin weren’t there, but the rest of us Rhoades-Kelleys-Powers were. Note at the end Rocky saying “I wish you could see me,” because apparently I was obscuring him-which he could have mentioned before we did this! That booger! {And I think Tristan had to ask when we were finished singing if it was for Grandpa Moslander! Haha.}

Posted in Birthdays/Anniversaries, God's Word, Grandkids, Mi familia, My most unforgettable people, Photos of the Fam, Prayers for a God-full life, Songs I am singing, Stuff I actually think | 4 Comments »

My cute little Kelley kids

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Stephanie took pictures recently because the little red-headed Kelley kids (the three, sweet grandbebes bestowed upon me by Stephanie and Tristan…and thank-you for them, btw), all got new Converse All-Stars for Christmas and were sporting them simultaneously one afternoon.

Gemma~

Last Sunday morning 2-year-old Gemma accompanied me to the Cafe at church for coffee. The second we got out of The Garage (the edgy, loud worship venue), she darted across the cafe navigating her way in between hundreds of people, sharing her friendly, “hello”s with strangers and friends alike. She nearly ran right in to Pastor Rob, who avoided the near collision and greeted her like the treasured church member she is. He started to walk on past and then realized perhaps some one who is only 2 ft 9in would not be there alone.

So he looked around and saw me racing to catch up to her. “Are you in charge of this?” he asked, pointing the the little curly-headed girl-of-my-heart.

“I’m trying,” I told him.

“Well, then,” Rob had the guts to tell me, “I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but you’re not very good at it.” Oh, you just wait, Rob Kelly. You just wait!

But the piece de resistance? Once Gemma had strayed so far as to lose sight of me, she turned, scanning the crowd, looking for her Nonna. When we made eye contact, she did that thing she does. She did that adorable thing that melts my heart and makes me beam and makes me look good to the crowds. She yells at the top of her lungs: N O N N A !!!! And she comes running to me and jumps into my arms and we spin around and hug and kiss.

Yep. She makes me look good…like I didn’t just lose her at church on a Sunday morning.

Gavin & Guinivere

Gavin started piano lessons this week. And Guini is in front of me this second with a microphone singing along to Pomplamooses’ version of “Single Ladies.” If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it; If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it…

The Kelley kids, whom I love with all my heart, were watching Ratatouille. The food critic in the movie said something like, “Not everyone can cook.” To which Gavin responded openly, “That isn’t true. Anyone can cook if they learn.’

Guini mustered up her strength and outdoor voice to add a very decided addendum (sort of Lucy-from-the-Peanuts-comics style?) which caused all of us to jump: BUT DON’T TOUCH THE PAN!

I will try to remember that…Jeanie (aka “Nonna”)

NOTE TO SELF: Become a better grandbebe-wrangler.

Posted in Grandkids, Mi familia, My most unforgettable people, Photos of the Fam, Stuff I actually think | 1 Comment »