Life in Minnesota

Monday, October 12, 2009

It's supposed to be 60 degrees ...

It's October 12th and it's supposed to be 60 degrees ... yet look ...

that white stuff doesn't feel like 60 degrees!

BUT WAIT ... what's that???

Yeah, you're right, the leaves are still on the TREES!!!!!! Confused? So are we!

To be continued ...

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Birthdays can be happy ... even from afar

Yesterday was my birthday ... it had been 25 years since I've celebrated that day without Kristin close by. Honestly, I wasn't looking forward to it because I thought it would be terrible without the Arney's here. But ... Kristin made it so special all the way from Texas and Kevin & Ashley made it special right here from Minnesota!

Kristin sent a package and it arrived before the special day. She taught the little girls to sing Happy Birthday, Nana and they must have practiced so much because when we connected via Skype, Lili sang every single word and Reegan sang too! It was amazing!! What a special gift! When I talked with them today, they started singing it until Kristin said my birthday was yesterday so then they stopped. What's up with that?? If they want to sing ... let them sing, I say!! :-)

Ashley was home from work in the early afternoon and styled my hair so I didn't have to fuss with it. She also accompanied me and we both received a manicure and pedicure!

The three of us went out for dinner to my "special place". We really missed having the Arney's with us for dinner ... very strange but LOTS cheaper!! We came home and enjoyed another round of Happy Birthday Nana via Skype.

Lesson learned!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Sadness, joy and prayers...

Today, our oldest daughter, her husband and their two gorgeous daughters made a huge and scary step. They left Minnesota for a new chapter in their life ... Texas.

Sadness ... she has never lived more than 15 minutes from us in her whole 25 years of life. She will be sorely missed. Her little half grins when she's up to something. Her bright, big, beautiful eyes which smile when she sees her little girls. Nothing can replace the love and pride we feel for her.

Joy ... she has given us so much joy not just in herself but in the gifts she has given us ... Lili and Reegan!

Lili-bug ... oh what can I say about that 3 1/2 year old. She is amazing. She has Kristin's curls and her half grins when she's up to something. She captured my heart the second she was born and will continue to mesmerize me. She has also inherited her mother's and her Nana's love for singing. Recently, she knocks on my office door and says, "Nana, can you come out and sing with me? It's your favorite song!" How could I resist? I knew my work could wait for 10 minutes and she would be moving more than a thousand miles away way too soon.

And then there's Reegie-bear ... oh my, just when you thought your heart is safe ... there it goes again. It's amazing how your love can multiply instead of divide! She has such blond hair and her mama's curls too. I will really miss her little hand sticking under my office door and her saying, "Nana, door!" Just begging me to stop my work if only for a brief second to open the door and give her a quick Nana-hug.

Prayers ...

Praying Kyle will find work really soon and their benefits will be great.
Praying they will find a pediatrician and ob/gyn really soon ... since baby #3 is due in March.
Praying if things don't open up for them, they won't feel they failed instead they believe they just added a new adventure to their logbook of life.
Praying safety for them as Kristin learns a new way of life called the city-life and the Texas way!

We love YOU, Kristin, Kyle, Lili, Reegan and baby #3. We WILL see you soon!
Nana & Papa