2008 Memories...

...I bring with me into 2009

The following are my two most treasured memories...

the ones I will carry deeply embedded in my heart~ year after year!

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Last Spring, our daughter, Hydro and her Wonderful Husband,

flew me to Southern California for a 10 day visit.

It had been a l-o-n-g two and half years since we had seen each other

and it turned into a visit of profound love and joy!

Getting reaquainted with the grandkids and witnessing how they had grown,

not just physically but emotionally, intellectually and as young children ~was astonishing!

These precious kids are amazing! I commend Hydro and WH on their spectacular job of parenting, teaching and for providing them with unlimited opportunities to soar on!!

I had so much fun being a Grammy!

I even tried those "Heeley" shoes with them around their garage and walkways!

I actually didn't even fall on my bum until I was standing still, talking with Hydro!

I helped them with their very first vegetable garden...

that is when they honored me with the title " a tough old bird"

as they skipped off to play with their friends for me to finish the grunt work!

I experienced the beautiful side of Hydro that I have deeply missed.

She is as a remarkable teacher as she is as a wife, as a mother

...as a best friend and as a daughter!

Her passion and compassion is endless!

Oh how I missed sharing in those times!

WH and Hydro have a huge project of getting their 2.5 acre desert

property landscaped since building their home.

I never imagined Hydro would learn to love gardening.

It was always my passion not hers.

I never asked for or expected help from her and her brother growing up,

as it was my private sanctuary, not theirs.

But she has found joy in gardening! And I was able to help!!!

We actually had the opportunity to spend some wildly windy days together ~

working side by side, as not just Mother and Daughter,

but as Best Friends!

(If you read this, Hydro...Thank You from the bottom of my heart!

I love you more than you will ever know!)
Ten days was not long enough!!

I wish with all my heart, that we could live close enough to

share in all of the daily things I know we are missing out on!

Thankfully, I do have this special time with Hydro, WH

and the grandkids

that I can reflect with love on...forever!

***

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Then comes Christmas...2008!

This is a the most beautiful family memory...

Cowboy and I both, can languish in!

*

The kids came home from North Dakota and California!

We were able to spend our first Christmas together in OUR home in 15 years!

*

The Grandkids wished for snow! Well....they got their wish!

And then some more and more!

Let's go have some fun!
Who cares if it is only 12 or 13 degrees!
When you are young...
temperatures don't affect you much.
(I can vouch for that!)

Papa!
Let's Play!
The snow covered hills are calling!
(Mickey Blue Eyes & Papa)




The first day,
I'm telling my "Son"...(Hydro's WH) ->->
Now this is Freezing Fun!
(it really was!)
Mickey Blue Eyes and Dil had a blast creating a sledding run in deep, deep dry snow! Not an easy task either! Both "Sons" thought that driving a 4x4 up the hill would make for easier sledding. That was not possible! After a few trips down the hill, tredging back up again, Papa had an idea! Why not pull them on a sled behind the pickup...on a country road! He used to do that when our kids were young!
Oh how Mickey Blue Eyes and Dil enjoyed that! "Go faster Papa!"....and he did!

The next day, both "Sons" asked for permission to extend the sled run up higher!
It will make for more speed, more giggles....even more hiking, I might add!
They were granted permission to cut the fence (behind where WH & I stood...above picture). Fence cutters in tow and shovels in hand, those adult men (..or rather Boys, as they are both kids at heart!) set off to make a sled run to be remembered! Complete with jumps! They would send the kids down for "compacting purposes" and by the time the kids climbed back up, the "boys" had extended the run by atleast another 15-20 feet. When all was said and done, that run was over 300 meters long! You can't see the steepness to the slope from that picture,
but if you knew Palouse country...it gets mighty steep!




Way to go Dil!! as he crashed over the last jump towards the bottom!
Sledding speed (or was that sailing?)
got to...who knows! Way too fast!
The "Sons" tried so hard to get down their
own creation on those plastic disks
and toboggans, but they aren't built
for the 200# club so they never
reached the speed the kids did!



Or what Hydro and I did!


It was quite hard on
thee ol' bum at the packed bottom,
and over the jumps...
but what great fun!


Your turn Mickey Blue Eyes!
Hey! You are flying backwards!










Now we can't have a long day spent in freezing weather having a blast without some good ol' hot chocolate, now can we?

Would you look at those rosey cheeks?













After a warm supper and the chill
has left your bones, you can begin to feel
your feet again so why not do some dancing!
The Cowboy swing of course!
And do our kids ever know how to dance!
They spent years watching Cowboy and I!








Ok, Grammy, I've been outside today for over 7 hours without a break...I think I'll relax and read a good book!

Now, this Dil, is our "Brain" grandchild!
He is only 9 and reads 12th grade level stuff!
NO KIDDING!!!
And a speed reader on top of it!
And comprehension like I've never seen!!
(he's been reading the newspaper since he was 4)






And then there is our Mickey Blue Eyes..
She is our Miss Independant~Jokster
and such delight for us!

Come on Mommy and Uncle C...
let's play another game,
but not Monopoly
this time!

Time was filled with games and giggles galore
I can't show you the gag
pictures....sorry!
I'm in one of them!


We had tons and tons and tons of love surrounding us!





Cowboy and Hydro ... it had been 3 years since hugs could be shared between them!!
(I love this Picture!)










Our Christmas together ended much too soon!
We all vowed that it was the best ever and that there will never,
ever be so much time lapsed between building more beautiful memories~ together
Thank you, thank you...Hydro, "Son" aka Wonderful Husband (WH),
"Son", Dil and Mickey Blue Eyes for making these memories of 2008 so profoundly beautiful!!
***
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(and Thank you Hydro and WH for capturing these pictures!)

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I have 2 other memories of 2008 that will travel with me into 2009...

One is how wonderful my gardens displayed
for me last summer! Each year, with every
new growth and bloom, I'm amazed and
filled with pride!

I yearn for Spring, as I am anxious to expand my lavender, as my original plants blessed me with so
many new 'babies'... they are in pots and
ready for Springs arrival to find their own new beds!

Besides, I hate Winter!
I know, I just told you that last post...
but it's true!

Secondly, is the memories I've found here in this wonderful world of blogging!
I have made such wonderful friends here!
Shared in so many lives! Discovered amazingly talented people!
I am so blessed and so very thankful to have met each and every one of you...
so I'm dragging you along with me as we enter into a wonderful and brighter New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!