More of Joel and Silas

I wanted to record a couple more cute things that the boys have said recently during their visits with me. A few days ago I was telling Joel something about when his mommy, Auntie Annie, and Uncle Jason were still little and growing up. Joel asked me then "Grandma, why don't you have another baby?" I explained that my body isn't able to produce any more babies. Of course that was followed, by a "Why not?" To which I replied that God planned for me not to be able to have any more babies now so that I could spend more time with my grandchildren. That seemed to satisfy him. Later that day, he and Silas had both climbed onto a chair to be able to reach the key on my antique desk. They love to play with that. The chair is also an antique, and I told them that only one of them should be on the chair at a time because it was old and a little rickety. Then Joel said, "Grandma, why do you have so many old things in your house?" I guess my answer to that was that since I am also old, the things Grandpa and I have had a long time are old, too.

Silas is so excited about the baby brother or sister that is on they way. Seriously, every single time I see him he says "Mommy has a baby (in her tummy)." Followed by "I'm a big boy now; I'm not a baby any more. I can help Mommy with her baby." He then loves to tell me all of the things he plans to do for his new little sibling. I have no doubt that he will be the sweetest big brother by the way we've seen him act with his cousin Claire, who is four months now. He loves to pat her and kiss and hold her.

Silas and Claire

The Eye of the Beholder . . .

I have the sweetest grandsons. They always greet me with "Grandma!!" in a super-animated voice, and most times the greeting is accompanied by a kiss or hug. Even if it's only been a few hours or only one day in between times together, the greeting is equally exhuberant. They just seem to think I am wonderful, and of course, that's fine with me!

And they say the cutest things. I have to mention a quote from Joel said last Monday. He and Silas had spent a fun morning with me. When Jorie picked them up, and Joel (4 1/2) was on his way out the door, he said "Goodbye, my beauty!" Followed by, "You know why I said that Grandma? Because I think you're beautiful." Well, I'm sure that any beauty I may have once had is quite fleeting, but in the eyes of an innocent child, that meant the world to me.

New Pictures of Claire

I spent today in Iowa City getting my Grandma Fix with Claire Grace.

Would you believe this outfit belonged to her Mommy 27 years ago?? It's just as cute now as it was in 1982!!

You have to love those chubby cheeks!

Two pretty girls.

Dinosaur Birthday

Grandpa Jim and I attended Silas' Dinomite Dinosaur Birthday party a couple of weeks ago. He was three years old on February 13, and his party was dinosaur EVERYTHING. He and Joel looked like two paleontologists as they greeted me and Grandpa at the door.

Two other families complete with 6 kids ranging in age from 2 - 4 1/2 attended. I think the highlights for the kids were the awesome dinosaur cake, complete with two roaring dinosaurs on top; and the dinosaur egg hunt. It was pretty crazy with 6 little ones running around.


Unfortunately Auntie Annie, Uncle Justin, and cousin Claire couldn't make it because about two hours before the party started, it began snowing like crazy and didn't stop until about 9:00. The roads were so slippery that even though they started on their way, they saw cars in the ditch everywhere and decided to turn around. It took them an hour to get back home from Dubuque Street, which was only a couple of miles from their house.


Silasaurus seemed to like the Elmo backpack (with toys inside) from me and Grandpa. We thought he might need that when he starts preschool in the fall. With the party just down the street, even a raging snow storm couldn't keep us from joining in on the fun!