A BELLEVUE CHRISTMAS

The beautiful tree complete with train!

A tabletop sandbox from Uncle Jordan!

A cozy "rag" quilt handmade by Grandma Gwenn!

The lovely guests.

The game players.

Jennifer welcomes Grandma Lois to her home.

Table and chairs from Grandma andGrandpa.

Father, son and dog.

Grandma and JT.

A loving cuddle for a Great Grandma.

Sam shows Grandpa the tree.

Saying goodbye.

One more dance before the night is through.

" Bye-bye, Mamma O-is"

Thank you Jen, Mike and Sam for your terrific hospitality!

Today.

Some days are definitely more special than others.

Today is one of those days: surrounded by my family. Every one of them. Even the dogs. Together once again at Birch Bay.

It's a day when I get to witness my son-in-law Mike be the best dad he can be to his son and what a terrific dad he has turned out to be. #2 son-in-law, Devin, is busy taking the most amazingly talented photographs of this family so I can look back and remember this day forever.

Graham is excited about his upcoming trip tomorrow to the windy city of Chicago and we are happy for him and his adventure into the world of "permeable pavers." It warms my heart to see him spend time with his children because he hasn't had much opportunity in the past to do so.

Sam is doing what he does best and that is "playing." Playing with trains, blocks, books and back to trains again and again and again. How cool is it that Sam's Canadian cousin, Alan, is a Canadian National Railway engineer?? I think I feel a trip to the train station coming on.....

Tonight Graham and I took Sam and Bob for a walk in the village to look at the Christmas lights. Sam explained all the colours to us and we had to stop at least five times to find a lost mitten. It was like heaven.

But it is MY children that I am watching most closely today and I have realized something quite extraordinary. They are crazy about each other. Yes, of course they will still argue and bicker. And yes, they will go in and out of each others lives in varying degrees of tolerance. But...I can tell that they have grown into this delicious time of mutual respect of their ever so different personalities and will go to the end of the world for one another. I am thrilled.

And I love them so much.

At dinner time tonight I tried my best to explain that life doesn't get much better than days like this. Nothing will ever be more important than sitting at a table surrounded by people who love you. Never will your life have more meaning or merit by having more stuff or more money. But if we can hold onto each other and love each other, then we will be okay.

Today was just an ordinary day. But it was a great day for me.

Christmas! What a great time to share with family and friends!

Would the "real" Marky Mark please stand up!!!

Cousins are the very best!!!!

Grandma at work!

It's December!

New Friends for Sam

Every child has one.....

At some point during a child's early years, he/she usually develops a "smile" that they readily produce every time a camera is pointed at them, which in my family, is often. 

Here is Sam's new smile. 

And here is his mother's.

Both are amazingly perfect.

Thank you God.

Mr. Turtle had a wonderful day!

IT WAS A BUSY, BUSY DAY!

THE MODEL

Halloween Fun

THE FIRST HAIRCUT! SO HANDSOME!

A handsome little man!

Wonderful Wonderful News!

I received exciting news today when I learned that Jennifer and Esther's fabulous "Seattle Moms Deal Finder" blog was featured on KOMO Channel 4 this past weekend as a great website for local Seattle shoppers. I knew it had wonderful potential! Congratulations, Esther and Jennifer! Keep up the good work! We love you!

* See the icon link to their blog on the right side of this page. Check it out!

Music to my ears....

Congratulations Jo and John!

And yes, of course, congratulations and love to Jenifer and Sean, the new parents of their beautiful baby boy! His name is Tommy and he weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs. 5 oz. Well done, Jen!

However, this blog is about grandparents and so my comments are mainly directed at my dear cousins, Jo and John in jolly ol' England. 

Even though your grandson is only a few days old, I know that you have already experienced the thrills of grandparenting. It's a new kind of feeling, coupled with a love so grand, and so encompassing, it can take your breath away. 

Your baby has had her baby now.

You may have worried about Jenifer as she made her way through the last few hours, but at the same time, the knowledge that soon your family would grow by one more makes the experience so joyful for everyone.

Isn't Tommy simply the best? I know that he is the most beautiful sight you have seen for a long, long time. Enjoy the feeling. Enjoy each other. These next few weeks will be amazing for you all. How lucky little Tommy is to have been born into such a terrific family!

Welcome, Tommy! Your Canadian family is anxious to meet you!

What was the highlight of YOUR weekend?

A picture is worth one thousand words....

Does anyone out there like Thomas?

Sam and the Halloween Candy

The Afternoon Nap

A Beautiful Family