Today is my birthday, and look WHO I got!

Today is my birthday, and not only did I receive good news about my Grandpa (see below), but I also got to do something I've always dreamed of... Last year, I baked a cake with Sophie Lu (which was something I'd always wanted to do); and this year, I got to give her a kitten!!! Since Pumpkin (who came into and out of her life so quickly) disappeared, Sophie Lu hasn't stopped talking about him. She looks for him and asks me where he is constantly. One day at her My Gym class, she was talking to her favorite teacher, Ryan, about her three kitties (including Pumpkin). When I explained to Ryan that Pumpkin had been missing for months, Ryan told me that he had a kitten that needed a home. Ryan's family found a cat who had been hit by a car, and they nursed her back to health- only to find that she was going to have kittens. They had found homes for all of the kittens except a male orange tabby (can you believe it?)... I knew it was meant to be! I was so excited to get Sophie a new kitten, but Michael wouldn't agree to it. Then he surprised me with the kitten for my birthday! Sophie has named him "Baby Pumpkin", and they already love each other very much...

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Welcome to your new home, Baby Pumpkin!!!

Grandpa Orville Update

I want to thank everyone who sent prayers, good thoughts, and well wishes... they must have worked, because my Grandpa's surgery went better than expected! He is still at risk of infection and other complications, but the important thing is that he made it through the surgery! Thanks so much again- from the bottom of my heart! xoxo

Grandpa Orville has been hospitalized...

I wasn't going to post anything, but it seems that the situation is more serious than we first thought...

My Grandpa Orville (who was feeling so well just a few weeks ago when we celebrated his 90th birthday) was taken by ambulance to the hospital this morning. About a week ago, my Grandpa couldn't get out of the car, so my Grandma had to call 911 for help... Since then he has been in a lot of pain- He hadn't eaten since Thursday, slept all day yesterday, and began throwing up blood this morning...

I spoke with him for an hour on the phone earlier, and I am in contact with his nurse. He sounds so good- making me laugh as usual- and sounding very optimistic. When I asked him if there was anthing I could do, he simply answered, "Just smile, sweetheart... and the whole world will smile with you." I love him so very much.

He is having a very very high risk surgery first thing tomorrow morning... I think this is the first time I've heard Grandma Bettie cry. We are all so worried.... so when you pray, if you pray, I would be so thankful if you would include my very special Grandpa Orville (Sophie Lu's great-grandpa)... I will update as soon as I know something~

Much appreciation,
Shana

So full of life...

Sophie Lu loves the beach- she loves hunting for seashells, pretending to catch little fish in her net (like the big kids), jumping over the waves, feeding the seagulls, and building sandcastles. She was, however, a little disappointed at the lack of jellyfish on the beach (there were lots last time) because she wanted to go "jellyfish jumping", but we went seaweed jumping instead!

I just love my baby girl so much- she is so exuberant, cute, and funny! There is something particularly special about being at the beach with her... she is just so full of life. And she has made my life so full~ I am so lucky. I am so so lucky... and yes, very blessed~

:)

Sophie Lu goes Boogie-Boarding!

See what my Daddy bought me? A boogie-board!!! Even though I don't know what to do with it, I just love it!

And check out my new "kini"!!! I really love to pose (it makes Mommy laugh)... Here are some more of my great poses...

Okay, enough posing... time to play with my boogie-board... First, I think I'll walk it like a dog (since it has a leash and all)...

Now, I'll try flying it like a kite! Weeee!!!

Well, that didn't work out so well (I got bumped in the head)... so maybe I should just stand on it and see what happens....



Standing on it wasn't that exciting... Daddy says we need to take the boogie-board to the water, so I sat down and waited for him to pull me there...

Daddy tried to convince me to get up, but I really really wanted him to pull me!

Okay, so I finally made it down to the water.... I was SOOO excited!

I was a little nervous at first...

And I fell off almost right away...

But I got right back on again! Whoaaa, it was FUN!

Wipeout!

Mommy said I was so brave! She and Daddy were very very proud of me!

And I was pretty proud of myself! I think I am officially a big girl now... a boogie-boarding big girl! :)

My Little Beach Angel

We're at the beach! Sophie has been so excited to come back to "Sophie's Beachhouse" (as she call's it)... she especially couldn't wait to show her new baby brother the sand, the sea, and the shells. We'll have to wait and see just what he thinks of it!

More from the family weekend...

Cousin Ethan, Ollie, & Sophie Lu

Sophie Lu & Ethan have some fun in the water!

High five!

Grandma Rae refs the tricycle vs. big wheel race!

Aunt Danielle, Grandma Rae, my & my girl...

Grandma Rae and her two youngest grandkids. Sophie Lu and Ollie both love their Grandma so much- she's fun!!!

Sophie Lu's 1st Story!!!

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed Sophie Lu hard at work on something in her little notebook (she was really concentrating!). Sophie is always "writing" something- but usually it's a shopping list like Mommy's or an invitation (she loves giving people invitations). But on this day, when I asked her what she was writing- she answered, "A story, Mama!" And then she began telling the story out loud while she wrote, "Once upon a time..." So I quickly grabbed my notebook and wrote down every word she said. You'll notice that the title says "The Princess Saves the Prince"... I know it wasn't meant to be the other way around because I asked her (and if you think about it, the princess usually really is the one saving the prince, isn't she? lol)... Anyway, here is Sophie Lu's very first story- I am SO very proud!

(Click to enlarge)

Great-Grandpa Orville's Party Part 2: The Ponies!

Because my Grandpa Orville had a horse ranch for so many years, I thought it would be special to rent ponies for the great-grandkids to ride during part of my Grandpa's party! Even Ollie rode a pony (see photos of the boys riding on Ollie's blog soon). The pony handlers even brought a goat and a sheep (so cute)! As usual, Sophie Lu couldn't get enough of the ponies and just wanted to keep riding. It was so funny- she kept yelling "Mas rapido! Mas rapido!" to the handlers who really got a kick out of her and told me that we need to buy her a horse (and that she was a natural)! Anyway, Sophie's Great-Grandpa was very proud of her and her enthusiasm to ride!

Sophie's Great Grandpa's 90th Birthday!

The party we had for my Grandpa Orville was a success! Both of his sons (my dad & uncle), all of his grandchildren, and all of his great-grandchildren were here! My Grandpa got to meet Oliver for the first time, too (pics on his blog soon). Sophie Lu was fascinated with her Great Grandpa- she especially loved his reaction to a kiss on the cheek... "Ouch!" I'm the oldest of his grandchildren, and he's being doing that since I was born- my grandpa is the cutest!

Sophie & Cousin Jordyn were so happy to be reunited!

I think they are especially adorable together!

Michael, Grandpa Orville & me!

This is Grandma Bettie with me... She has been with my Grandpa for 20 years now! My Grandpa describes her as "Everything good." She is an angel, and we are all so thankful that she is part of our family! Sophie Lu loves her too!


All my dad's children (my Grandpa's 1st set of grandchildren): Kole, Shane, me & Willie!

And here we are again (Willie, Kole, Shane & me) with our Dad (Elliot). My Grandpa's birthday was July 22nd, but we had his party on the 21st which is my Dad's birthday! I'm really glad I got this shot- it's rare that my Dad gets to spend time with all 4 of his kids!

With 2 out of 3 of my sisters-in-law: Sarah (Willie's wife) and Emily (Shane's wife).

Sophie was so cute- she ran over to help my Mom & Bettie move my Grandpa's wheelchair across the grass! She kept saying, "I can help you!" Even though my parents are divorced, my Mom flew out from Florida to celebrate this special birthday. She has known my Dad & Grandpa since she was 12, and she's always admired and loved my Grandpa like a father. He and Bettie were so glad she was here!

Grandpa got a kick out of Sophie Lu's help!

Jordyn & Sophie Lu with their very special Great-Grandpa Orville!

.................................With the great-grandsons!

Michael & my Grandpa's great-grandchildren: Sophie Lu, Jordyn, Braden, Ethan, & Ian!

My Mom (Rae) lifts Sophie Lu up so she can give her Great-Grandpa a kiss on the cheek...

"Ouch!" We all love you, Grandpa Orville! Happy 90th Birthday!!!!!

If anyone is interested, here are the links to the three parts (due to length limits on YouTube) of the Tribute Video I made for my Grandpa's birthday. Sorry about the poor YouTube quality, and some parts are more exciting than others- but whatever you do, don't make fun of my bleach-blonde hair from the 80's... LOL (btw, I was a natural blonde until my late teens- so the first/oldest grand-child you see is me). My Grandpa is an amazing man and is admired by so many. He is wise, loving, generous, and sweet! No tribute could do him justice, but I worked many a sleepless night trying to create a suitable one. We watched the video in our theater (which made it all the more dramatic), and I know my family enjoyed it because of the laughter (and tears) during the viewing. I'm SO glad I did this project as my Grandpa Orville was touched beyond words, and now we have a record of his life to pass on through the generations.... *

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2mEDxlP0d8

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUI1dXvJuJU

Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qRLqxLRrI8

*note: My beautiful, wild, crazy Grandma Harriet & Grandpa Orville divorced 30 yrs ago; and sadly, she passed away in 1991. I loved her very very much too, and her part of this video is one of my favorite sections! (You should hear Sophie Lu sing "Hey Big Spender") lol

The Little Red Hen

One of Sophie's favorite bedtime stories is "The Little Red Hen" by Byron Barton. Here is the conversation I heard as Michael recently read her the story....

Michael: ".... and then the little red hen found some seeds..."

Sophie: "No, Daddy! NOT seeds! COINS!!!"

Michael: "Oh, okay... then the little red hen found some coins..."

Sophie: "No, Daddy! NOT coins.... POTATOES!!!

Michael: "Potatoes? Oh, okay... then the little red hen found some potatoes..."

Sophie: "Daddy... NO! Not POTATOES!!! Silly Daddy.... SEEDS!!! Little red hen found some SEEDS!!!"

Michael: (with a smile and a shake of his head) "Women!"

Sophie with cousins Maxine & Clara

Max, Sophie Lu & Clara!

Grandpa Felix & Grandma Loretta come to visit!

Grandpa Felix & Grandma Loretta came to spend the weekend with us... we had such a great time with them!