Great Papa

Growing up I spent lots of time with my grandparents gma Renee and grandpa Lew, otherwise known as Pink Gma and Papa. My pink Gma got her nickname because she's always so pink. She uses her pink lipstick and rubs it on her cheeks and smears it around for blush, it's adorable. I don't think I've ever seen my pink Gma without pink lipstick on.. I guess it's kinda her trademark.

The last few years my papa has been so sick. He smoked for years and years (and somehow managed to hide it until my mom told me as an adult) he's had multiple heart surgeries, many of which the doctors told him he had a slim chance of surviving them. I can't tell you how many times pink Gma has called to say "you might want to come visit tonight.. I don't think he will make it through the night" ...somehow he always seems to pull through because years later he's still kickin! He's stubborn, He's extremely weak, and has spells where he can't see, can't walk or talk, and doctor after doctor can't figure out what's wrong. He's had quite a few really nasty falls which have landed him in the ER in the middle of the night and he's always bruised up which has pretty much confined him to his bed. 

Rewind to last November when I found out I was pregnant, and my due date on Papa's birthday! Spencer and I planned on telling our families at Christmas but we were so worried papa wouldn't make it to Christmas. Papa and I spent lots of time together and I was laying on his bed with him one night when he started crying and told me how hard it is to get old. How he hates not being independent and he enjoys being able to watch his kids and grandkids grow up. He then told me how much he wanted to see me have kids and be a mother. Little did he know I was weeks away from breaking the news to him. I visited with him almost everyday and watched his health closely in case we needed to tell him before Christmas. 

On Christmas Day we told my family we were expecting a little peanut. Papa was so happy he cheered and clapped his hands and waved his cane around. It was perfect! Papa loved watching my belly grow and told me he had never seen a more beautiful pregnant woman. {which really meant a lot after hearing pink Gma say "wow you are getting LARGE AND ROUND Aren't you!!"} Papa would laugh and laugh when I would call his name from the other room and poke just my large belly far enough around the door frame for him to see it. He would put his hands on my big belly and feel Mack kick and tell me how excited he was to meet him. 

When I had Mack and took him over to meet papa and Pink Gma for the first time I walked in with tiny baby in his carrier and papa just cried and cried. He laughed like I had never heard him laugh and he clapped his hands over and over. I had never seen him so happy! He calls me often during the week to see how the baby is doing and tells me "Mack has the prettiest perfect round head!!" The love that Mack's great Papa and Great Pink Gma have for him makes me so happy. I never met my great grandparents and the pictures I have of Mack with His are so special to me, and hopefully they will be just as special to him. 

It sucks seeing your loved ones grow older and struggle with everyday tasks. I'm SO happy and so thankful Mack has met them and gets to spend lots of time visiting. 

family love is such a special, beautiful thing.

 XOXO 

Jurassic Grandma

First I have to apologize for being totally MIA. This past week was a week from hell- I was SO SICK & had work + school after. Any free time was spent sleeping rather than blogging.

anyways..
In my post earlier last week I mentioned that we took my pink gma to Jurassic Park 3D a few weeks ago.. (which is why this post is titled Jurassic Grandma. Not because she is old..)

Now.. Grandma is someone that you do NOT want to sit by in ANY SORT of performance, including movies. She talks through the whole thing, comments, moans, squeals, taps you when something happens.... I think you get the point.

 

Everyone thinks pink gma is so innocent. I sort of think otherwise.

Does YOUR grandma like James Bond movies? Does YOUR grandma like rough westerns? Does YOUR grandma handle violence & gore like a champ?

Didn't think so.

My brother Jeff is a TOTAL movie buff & knows he can always count on grandma to go see the wild movies with him.

 

This brings us to last week when we took her to see Jurassic Park 3D & after I called Dibs-Not-Sit-By-Grandma, I was the one that ended up sitting by gma.

My right arm was literally sore at the end of the movie from her hitting me every time something popped up on the screen or someone died, a dinosaur came running by....

 

(By the way my gma looked SO cute in her 3D movie glasses I could hardly stand it)

 

At the end of the movie I wanted a picture of us to send to my sis. I told everyone to "make your best dino face." See below.

 

After we take this hideous picture we are all walking to the car and I hear THEEE MOST HORRENDOUS noise... & turn around to see my grandma in FULL-ON DINOSAUR STANCE. I'm talkin hands up into claws, head moving side to side.. practically screaming IN THE PARKING LOT WITH PEOPLE WALKING BY!!! When I looked at her in complete shock she just assured me this was her "dino noise"

...At this point, my pink grandma became my hero...

*You should have seen the look on Spencer's face!*

 

We got in the car to go home and she made her "dino noise" OVER & OVER! I could hardly contain myself. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard.

Little did she know I recorded the audio of her "dino noise" & sent it to my sister. And my mom. And a few of my friends.

 

Fast forward to this week. I go to visit gma and papa with Wendy's Frostys and gma comes marching in saying "I DIDN'T KNOW YOU TOOK VIDEO OF MY DINO NOISES!"

..Apparently my sister Fatalie wrote to grandma & told her it absolutely made her life & she listens to it at least once a day.

BUSTED.

 

Gma asked if I still had it because she wanted to listen to it. Like Duh I still have it.

I played the audio for her and papa as they both laughed SO HARD together. Gma had tears rolling down both cheeks and papa nearly choked on his Frosty!

Pink gma was so happy with herself.

 

Here is the audio from my sweet grandmother after watching Jurassic Park 3D!

If THAT audio doesn't convince you that I have THE coolest grandma in the world, then let me tell you this..

Driving home I said, "Gma you are so much dang fun.." and she threw both arms up in the air and yelled, "LIKE.... YOLO!!"

 

I have no idea where she learned the term "YOLO" but my Grandma. Is. The. COOLEST.



Eventful Weekend

This weekend was awesome!

FRIDAY:

Went on a Bro/Sis dinner date with Jeff at Pei Wei. Delicious. Spencer bought us a Whale Watching Tour in Seattle! What an adventure!! We are so excited to plan a trip to spend time with his sister Natalie and her family in Washington!

SATURDAY:

Saturday I had my Bridal pictures taken by Amanda Rumsey Photography. The lovely Amanda is the best photographer around honestly. Her work is amazing and she's totally comfortable and fun to work with. I had seriously prayed all week for nice weather, since I had to ditch the original date to take my Bridals since I had the flu. The weather was GORGEOUS! It was nice outside and I was comfortable in a short-sleeved dress. I'm so excited to get my pictures back. Thanks Amanda & Jared for your help! Thank you Haley for being so good to me- and for all of your help with pictures! I just love ya!

Saturday Night I saw Grease for the 3rd time and it was BETTER than EVER! I'm so proud of Nat and Cole every. show. It keeps getting better and better where they are now comfortable enough to throw their own kick into it. I Loved it.

SUNDAY:

Sunday we visited Papa who isn't doing very well, but he's trying to get stronger everyday. I love going to visit and seeing the excited look on his face when he gets visitors. Pink Gma has put up Valentine's decorations, pictures of my puppies and has, of course, delivered her famous Valentines Day sugar cookies to all of the other residents. She put papa in his wheelchair and wheeled him around to deliver cookies with her. He loved it. I have the most adorable grandparents alive.

BREAKING NEWS:

Alright Ladies and Gentlemen.. The breaking news for the month.
I TAUGHT JAX A NEW TRICK. Yes. My deaf dog has learned something new. He can now spin in circles for a treat. But ONLY for a treat.

..We're working on it..

Spencer comes home this week and I'm SO EXCITED! This will be our last week together UNTIL THE WEDDING! It's absolutely crazy to me to think about how fast it's coming up. I can't wait.

32 DAYS!

Grandma's Advice

The other day my Pink Grandma told me the ABC's for this month.

I didn't know we did ABC's for each month, but I liked what she said anyways.
(From the January Ensign) With my own additions..

A- is for Attitude, and having a good one.

Attitude has such a power to effect our lives for the positive or for the negative.

B- is for Believe.
Believing in ourselves, believing in our plans, believing in our dreams and believing in those around us. If we believe we have a base for the next step, which is...

C- is for Courage to do what is right.

This goes hand in hand with setting a good example for others.

To sum things up my grandma is a genius. How simple are these three things? These ideas may be so simple, but doing them may not be as easy. I know I have struggled with all three at some point or another.
And I KNOW you have too...

I'm grateful life is about living, learning and working on being better.
I'm also thankful that I have THE cutest grandma in the world cheering me on everyday.. 

Happy Friday everyone!

xoxo