Sunday, October 18, 2020

Happy #21 to my most precious granddaughter!

 

Our one and only precious granddaughter!  How can she be 21 years old?  
Here we are at Cadillac Ranch.  I was excited to show it to her...and, well, I don't think she was very impressed.  Must have been because she was just a 'rug rat' or 'ruggie' as her dad used to call her.

As a freshman and part of her sophomore year, she lived in Thailand...in Bangkok.  What an experience!
Lizbeth and I (both grandmas!) went to visit for a month.  This has always been one of my favorite pics!
                                              We all met in Colorado one year for Christmas. 
Animals...she's always loved animals!  As a 'ruggie', I would take her to the zoo and she would be content to sit for HOURS in the petting zoo.  Blu was a special lab they had.  There was definitely a special bond between them.  
                                                     Onyx is her newest love...canine love!
                                                     Of course, Baxter wants her love, too!
In the summer of 2015, she was going to school and living in London.  This was my last year to be with People to People...and guess who traveled with me?  Her dad brought her by train to meet us in Scotland.  We traveled to Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and back to England.  That was definitely special to me!

Her senior year, Thalia was back in the United States.  She was getting ready to go to her...I think this was the senior prom?  What a great picture of dad and daughter!
After high school...college.  Here she was in her dorm room for the first time.
        We love it when she makes her way to Colorado.  Her Saddie is always so happy to see her!
In January, 2020, she came back to visit.  This time, she brought Juan.  We had a family dinner so everyone could see Thalia and meet Juan.  

May, 2020, was the most recent time she's visited in Colorado.  We were cleaning out flower beds and discovered a carrot!  Her Papa, who adores his granddaughter!, was having some fun with her over the carrot.  

My precious granddaughter, wise beyond her years, studying to be a nurse, loves and cherishes her dad, still crazy over animals - especially dogs, beautiful inside and out! 
 Happy 21st birthday to you!  
I love you so much!



Tuesday, October 13, 2020

July 30, 2020 with 3 of my boys...Gabe, Emerson, & Walt

                     July 30th I traveled up to see Gabe and family!  That family now includes Peaches!


                                                                 My eldest...by 17 days...
                                          My next to the youngest...by a bit less than 2 years...

                                                     My middle....loving on his baby boy...
                                 who is C.R.A.Z.Y. about video games!  He's so good at them...

                                 We went to Emerson's practice to play and ride...Walt's a beast on his bike.





                                  It's wonderful having Gabe as the coach of Emerson's team!



                                                 Emerson was a beast during batting practice!





                         Back at home, that Beast at batting, was a sentimental guy with Peaches!

                                  I love these guys...and it's just so much fun to be with them!

Friday, October 2, 2020

My Baby Boy is 42!


This is my baby boy who is 42 years old today!  Gabe...almost named Forrest by his dad.  Thank goodness I refused that one!  He's Gabe...changed to Ryan for awhile...then to RJ...but he's Gabe!

Hours after Gabe was born, we left the hospital to head home to be with Joshua.  We had about an hour and a half drive to our home...so we stopped at Wendy's Hamburgers before our drive.  Gabe has always said THAT is why he likes fast food!  INOB (In n Out Burger) and Chick fil A are probably his two favorites these days.  

Sports...baseball, football, basketball...NO SOCCER... those have always been a love of his.  He started playing Little League and was a great player from the beginning.  He DID NOT like to lose.  If his team did lose, it was usually the referee's fault.  (In his not-so-humble opinion!)
Football was only played until his high school days...basketball through his senior year...but baseball, well, that's his main love.  He played in college, was drafted by the Phillies and now enjoys coaching Emerson's teams.
He so enjoys hanging out with the other coaches and baseball dads.

He helps coach Emerson's school basketball team, too.



Gabe loves his family...his boys are so precious to him.  He's always been a hands-on-Dad!



I love it when I have my kids together.  It's so rare to have all 3, but more often, we have Gabe and Lindsey since they live closer together.  Whenever one of their kids has a party or we're in town, we all get together at one of their homes.  
It's not everyday kids get haircuts from their uncle, but Gabe has definitely turned into a great barber!  He's cut Emerson's hair for years...and now Walt's.  During COVID, Lindsey's boys hadn't had haircuts in a long time, so Uncle Gabe came to the rescue!  He cut William's and Benjamin's.




                       This is during the COVID...looks like Gabe needed a haircut himself!
They have a great set-up at their house.  On the back patio, a TV is set up so his boys can watch while their hair is being cut.

                                                              I love these pictures of him!

Gabe has always been very social...he can talk with anyone.  Betty and Jean Marie, who live next door to Lindsey, they enjoy hanging out when a gathering is happening!


                                                This was a new sport for Gabe...Pickleball!
Gabe has always been affectionate.
Always!
                            He can be rough with his affection, but also very sweet and tender.  












Gabe also likes to play around.  Here, he was watering the plants as the boys and I were playing basketball in the backyard...until, he decided to squirt his boys!

                             The boys and I had gone to INOB...Gabe and Emily had had a date!  
If you want to know anything about the news or politics, just ask Gabe!  He's usually got his phone handy, listening to podcasts or reading the news.

                            This picture...oh my!  Gabe on one screen...Walt on another screen!

          I love love love it that my kids and their spouses get along so well.  It is so priceless to me!

                 No, this is not Gabe...but it's Emerson....who could pass for his dad at the same age!
November, 2019, was so incredibly special.  Gabe and his family...along with Lindsey and her family...all came to Colorado.  
                                              Gabe taught his boys to play pool...or Billiards.  
                                                                  We went to Red Rocks...
                         It was one of those most cherished times when I had all 3 of my kids together!
                                     The playful Gabe...ready to throw a snowball at...Emily?
                                                                Maybe William...or Walt?
                            We had a major snowstorm...and Gabe was out there having a blast!



                                 Playing Ping-pong with his cousin, brother, and brother-in-law!

My brother has always loved my boys!  He was an uncle before he was married and had kids of his own.
He's the infamous UJ...and my boys love him.
                                                                            My boys!!!
                                                                     ...with their Saddie!
This was the day before Thanksgiving...but the day we celebrated.  William and Sullivan weren't in the picture because they were sick in bed...heartbreaking for their Mimi.
          There were quite a few billiard games going on.  Mom wanted a picture with her 3 grandsons!

                                                              Saddie with her grandkids!


       My baby boy...who I love with all my heart!  Happy 42nd birthday, Gabe!  I love you so much!


It's been a long time!