Just can't help myself

I just can't help myself......everytime I see these pictures of Chad and Selena, I can't help but smile !! They are adorable ! I can't say which is my favorite picture....they're all beautiful to me.

Everytime I see pictures of these two, I think about how they met....and the coincidence that brought them together.

I give Selena so much credit for making such a big leap of faith....moving across country, leaving all that she had known, to be with Chad.

I LOVED (and still do) watching Chad grow into an incredible man, who could suddenly see his future; a wonderful future, knowing that beautiful and loving Selena wanted to be with HIM, and loved HIM ! Chad wanted to be everything he could be so that he could make a good life with Selena; to make her proud and to make her happy that she would be his wife.
I just can't help myself.... I LOVE that Selena is my sons' wife, and I LOVE that she loves our family and shares her wonderful family with us ! I LOVE that Chad is Selena husband because I know how much he loves and adores her. And I know how much we love and adore her too.

I just can't help myself....I LOVE that they have each other and that they have brought so much happiness to my life !! I just can't help myself....thinking of these two makes me smile !

So many "firsts"

In anyone and everyone's life, there are FIRST experiences that will stand out in your lifes' memory forever. Some of the FIRSTS that we experience are challenges, some FIRSTS are funny little experiences and then there are the FIRSTS that change us forever by giving our life direction, purpose and meaning.

Levi Andrew is now a month old..and although he's still very new to this life, he has given so many people new FIRSTS !!!

For Melissa and Jason, a chance to see their future in the eyes of their beautiful son ! A future

that will be measured in hugs, smiles, and lessons learned for them all !! Such timy hands that have captures us all !!

A FIRST family "date". Just everyday events are more fun, because they're done together!

Levi makes Melissa and Jason a family with so much to look forward to !

Traditions that have been a part of Jasons' family , now have even more meaning . Again, Melissa and Jason are experiencing a FIRST in Levi's traditions and many more as the years

go by.

Grandpa Rick and I experience being FIRST time Grandparents. A gift that we receive with all of our hearts !

Looking into a Grandchilds' eyes for the FIRST time.....Priceless !

Experiencing seeing our children become parents for the FIRST time and being able to share

the meaning of being a mother is something that my heart has been aching for....I've so missed my own mother for so many years and now I feel like my life has come full circle as I am so blessed to be able to share those "mom" moments with Melissa that have been missing in my life ! I can't explain the happiness and contentment that that gives me ! I love watching Melissa as she comforts her sweet baby Levi! She's a natural at mommyhood !!

A FIRST Halloween for Levi....

Being Levi's Grandmother with fun, cute Grandma Cheryl is wonderful !!!

FIRST walks with Levi.....I know that they will have many adventures to come.....How fun it will be to see this cute little family as they continue with many more FIRSTS !!

One of "THOSE" times

It's just one of those times, when I sit back and am amazed at all the goodness in my life !! First of all, I'm so grateful to have a mate to share all of this goodness with. Someone who has seen the worst in me, and still loves me; someone who knows that even in those "worst" parts of me, is a person worth loving :) !

There's the couple who have shown me new ways to grow, learn and become "whoever" you want to be.

The incredible friends who always make even the simplest of times, a special time, just because they share so eagerly and lovingly !

The couple who have taught me to never give up on what you're wanting ! Their persistence and support of one another always amazes me !!!

The beautiful little star in my life, who gives new meaning to the word LOVE....

It's just one of "those" times when I have to pinch myself to see if I'm dreaming.....

Just one of "those" times when I can't believe how very lucky I am !!!

Levi has "Landed"

Our precious little Levi Andrew, has arrived. He decided to check out of his "womb", (sorry, couldn't resist) a little early. Early as in about 5 weeks! Mom and dad arrived at the hospital after Melissa's water broke early Monday 10/11/2010. It's safe to say that Jason and Missy were much surprised as they hadn't planned on babys' arrival for some time yet. But they just

decided to go with the flow, change their plans somewhat and "get to work" getting this baby born ! The babys' early decision to arrive wasn't the only surprise. Is the baby a girl or a boy, was the other big question !! Jason and Missy did a lot of walking around the hospital to try and get labor moving along at a good pace. What a cute mom and dad !!
Surprise - the baby is a BOY ! And his name is Levi Andrew ! He arrived after a long day of waiting, contracting and waiting some more. Levi arrived at 1:23 a.m. on Tuesday, October 12, 2010. A forever special day in our lives !
Since Levi arrived early, he is in the Neo Natal Unit until he can be checked over and be approved to move on ! Not only are his parents such troopers, but Levi is as well! He is a "preemie" but is on task for so many mile stones ....he is breathing on his own, is taking to breastfeeding well, and he is maintaining his body temp. He is awesome ! And of course, beautiful too ! We couldn't believe all the hair that he has ! He found his fingers right away...
Mom and Dad make a great team ! It was a long, full and emotional day for them...but they have their beautiful baby boy , such a wonderful surprise, and many more adventures and surprises to come....

MOM SQUAD

A baby is coming to Melissa and Jason....and the "MOM squad" came to help with preparations. Diana, Debbie and sister-in-law, Selena, travelled for girls weekend, to see the home where the new baby will be residing, as well as CRAFT, and enjoy each others' company. There's just nothing like having your "special people" with you to make memories !

Debbie, Diana, Melissa worked on a whimsical tree in the nursery. Selena was working on some beautiful plaques with the words: EXPLORE, WISH and (my favorite), GIGGLE !

A plain dresser became a wonderful array of color and patterns to match the whimsical tone of the room....just another crafty idea that makes the room so unique and colorful !

It's not easy being in a house filled with 5 very ambitious and determined, crafty women. The goal of the weekend was to have all the finishing touches completed in the baby's room! This is a sight that you will not often see....Jason resting... a wonderful sight !

And this is the group, minus one VERY important person: DIANA ! Diana is a photographer extraordinaire which is great for documenting occasions, but not so great when you're wanting pictures of the whole group ! Diana, if I knew how...I'd super-impose your cute little face right

in the middle of the group...

Selena and Melissa. I'm always so happy when I can see them together, celebrating special moments and enjoying their time to share! Such cuties !

OK, this is a picture from the incredible baby shower that Debbie and Diana hosted a couple of weeks ago..but just wanted it to be a part of this "grouping" :)

Here's Diana !!! Crafting away on the dresser drawers . She's always busy capturing the action with her camera, so it's fun to be able to "capture " her occasionally !

Debbie and Diana . They make a great team no matter what they're doing ! Lucky are we to have such talented and loving friends !!!

Selena was busy (as I mentioned before) making the baby, word plaques, but she also did all the work in plastering Melissa's baby bump. A messy but wonderful "keepsake".

Melissa , resting her arms, and taking in all the fun and activity........

And the sweet mommy and daddy to be ! Oh, the adventures and experiences about to come into their lives ! Their house will truly be a home with little hands to hold ...

Thank you Debbie, Diana and Selena for your gift of time and talents! We cherish the memories made this weekend !!!

A Shower never felt so good :)

On September 18th , Diana and Debbie hosted a baby shower for Missy and Jasons' new little

baby due mid November. The occassion was festive, to say the least, and there were so many

great pictures...check out Diana's blog at Memesgems@blogspot.com . Diana is not only one of the hostesses with the "mostest, but she is a photographer extraordinaire! I am beyond

lucky to have such friends that are so happy for me, and my family. These friends have watched

Missy grow up and have truly been family since we moved from Minnesota to Ohio, 25 years ago. Once again, they have gathered together to help us celebrate a monumental time in our lives and I can't imagine any big moment in our lives without them being a part of it!

Jason wasn't able to be at the shower but was really enjoying the excitement in Missy's voice

as she told him all about it.

So often, new dads are just kind of on the sidelines, not sure of all that's going on, or what's expected of them as dads....

Jason is a handy guy and is thrilled to be able to join in the fun by putting together the carseat/stroller. He wondered if one of the cupholders was actually an ashtray :) ! He's not only handy, but he's cute and funny too !!

These two beauties on either side of mama to be , MIssy, are our families' very special people !

Missy says that they're like her "auntie/mamas". ! Debbie (left) and Diana (right) are the

creative organizers of the most beautiful baby shower ! I know that MIssy felt very showered

in love by all the wonderful things that Debbie and Diana did to make it so special ! THeir loving touches were everywhere, but the most obvious was in the smile and little teary eyes that all their thoughtulness and love gave MIssy (and me) !!! Really, these friends are the BEST !!

Long time friend, Lisa (also from our hometown of Bloomington, Minnesota) was able to join

in on MIssy's special day. Missy used to babysit Lisa's boys . It was fun for all of us to have

time to visit with her and to have her share in the fun !

Friends Marlene (a.k.a. GiGi) and Lin along with co-hostess Debbie, enjoyed the wonderful

brunch !

Friend and neighbor Sharon, Missy, Lin and I : It's always so great to see and be with such

long time friends to celebrate such a special day !!

Ok, I love this picture ! These three have been friends all through school. It's so fun to see

them together again. This special day will be another wonderful memory shared by the three "amigos"!!!

And these two: the little mommy and daddy to be..

Thank you to Diana for welcoming Missy and I into her home...making us feel like we were "home" which is something that I can't begin to say how much that means....for her planning, inviting so many others into her home for Missy and Jasons' baby shower. Diana has an energy about her that is contagious, and that makes everyone want to be near....and wherever Diana is, there is fun! Debbie, our creative guru who can look at anything (including people), and see

it's (their) potential! Her touches where everywhere and it honestly felt like Christmas magic!

Thank you for the time together, for the magic that you (our friends are) in our lives, for making Westlake still feel like home, for the thought and effort that went in to making such

a beautiful day for our new little family to be, for the blanket that was made with such love and will be loved forever, and for understanding how absolutely over the moon we are all feeling about the birth of our baby Sonners! We couldn't imagine a better start to this new journey...

all because of you ! We love you !

Big Chill

Another Great , BIG CHILL weekend ! Four couples, great friends, gather together to relax, catch up with each other, make some crafts, play yard games, float in the river, hike and have camp fires (with s'mores of course)! We've been friends for 25 years and, for me, I look forward to this event even more each year.

This year we hiked up to the "lookout" across the river from our "camp" (cabin). It definitely was a "breakfast burning hike". We had to get a picture of us all making it up to the top. Debbie stayed back at the camp to prepare for our craft activity.

Rick ferried us to the opposite side of the river to make the climb.

Another challenge once we were on the top of the look out, was to hit a golf ball as far across

the river as possible. Dave showed us the way !

What a great view ! We all decided that the climb was worth it !

We used team work in getting UP and DOWN that crazy climb ! And there was question

as to which way to the trail ?

A serious floating session or two was definitely called for! The temperature was perfect and made the river very inviting !

It was a great time...How lucky are we to have such great friends, who have such great times,

TOGETHER !

I couldn't help myself.... I just love this picture of these guys that I just love !!!