Celebrating Papa

My Grandparents-What a great looking couple

visiting my grandparents soon after Jaxon was born

Thankfully we were able to visit with my Papa (mom's dad) the week after Easter.  He was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer and it took his life really quickly.  He passed away on April 14.
Growing up we didn't live close by so we didn't get to visit very often, maybe for Christmas and during the summer.  I wish that I would have made more of an effort after I moved out and went to college.  Its made me more aware how much family is important and how I want Jaxon to grow up around his grandparents.  My grandmother (dad's mother) died soon after I was born, but other than that our family has never really had to deal with death of a close relative.  So when my Papa got sick it was really hard to process it all.  It still seems surreal.  I'm sure things will be different around the holidays.

The last time we visited with Papa when he was sick

What I remember about my Papa:

He always gives you a good laugh- always has a good joke
He loves his garden- He and my grandma loved their roses and enjoyed giving them away to people
Played the guitar
Said he was allergic to water- so he would say he didn't need a bath but once a week and didn't want to go to water aerobics with my grandma
Big family- 5 brothers & 5 sisters- (2 brothers died in the war & a brother died in a fire accident)
Grew up on a farm
Would have big family reunions on the farm where he grew up
Knew how to take care of his family
Loved God and loved to serve others-in the retirement/assisted living community where they lived
Everybody knew my Papa
Devoted to and Loved my grandmother
Had 4 grandkids and 4 great grandkids
My papa and grandmother couldn't make it to our wedding, so they were able to watch it on skype
Knew how to use the computer-loved to play solitare, email, and skype
You would always find in dress pants, button up shirt and dress shoes- even in the summer or while working outside in the yard- dont' know if he ever owned jeans
He loved to sing
He lived a long life and was ready to be with Jesus

So thankful that Jaxon was able to meet Papa.  Papa will be dearly missed.  At his funeral it was a true celebration of his life.  It was like a big family reunion.  He would have loved that.  Our family seems to have reunions at weddings and funerals.  It was so good to see everybody.

 the great grandkids enjoying my Papa's golf cart

the three sisters

My Papa's sisters and brother and their spouses

My Grandmother is doing really well- She stays involved where she lives with her garden club, hanging out with friends, her singing group where they live, church, and water aerobics.  She has lots of friends and family that are taking care of her.

Thank you friends and family for your support and prayers during this time.

Kate's birthday and the stomach bug

Jaxon had a great time at his girlfriend's first birthday and Brian and I was able to catch up with friends

Jaxon and Kate- a few months old

Kate- the birthday girl and Jaxon (amazing how much they've grown in a year)

Allie and her son Langston 

Michelle- Kate's mom

A day or two after the birthday party on April 8, Jaxon caught the stomach bug.  Thankfully Jaxon has been really healthy.  Besides an ear infection, he really has not been sick.  It was not fun. He threw up all over me.  If you think spit up is gross just wait until your child throws up all over you.  He had a fever and he was very clingy.  I felt so bad for my little guy.  Well not soon after Jaxon got sick Brian got sick and then he gave it to me.  Thankfully I only had it for 2 days.  We both felt pretty rotten and thankfully Brian's parents came and kidnapped Jaxon.  It was hard to be away from him all day and then overnight.  But there was no way we could take care of him.  That was our first time being away from him overnight.

Jaxon was drooling and sneezing, I thought he had an ear infection.  So we took him to the doctor and he said he was teething.  Well I could have figured that.  She said he has 3 teeth that look like are getting ready to come in.

Jaxon is now 11 months old.  Hard to believe

Spring Break, Easter, and random things

I love that Brian works in the school system. He gets spring break as well as some other holidays off plus we get him home for the summer.

Jaxon continues to love being outside.  We put away the Snap and Go stroller and tried out the umbrella stroller. He always loves sitting in his wagon while Brian works outside in the yard.

He is still crawling everywhere and into everything.  We try to put toys around him so we can keep him contained but he's smart and figures away out.  He loves crawling to the front door to look out.  A lot of times he will stay there for a while around the time Brian gets home from work.  Its like he knows daddy is coming home soon.

He can still wear 9 month clothes, pants and some 12 months- which he has been in since Christmas.

He has started to not take a morning nap.  But sometimes he will it just depends on when he wakes up.

Easter pictures- He is wearing a bow tie that he got from his cousin- Maddie Grace