Day 31 - January 31, 2012 Extra Post

My grandmother passed away peacefully tonight. I was so grateful to be by her side with my dad, aunt, great-aunts and great-uncle. She was just as beautiful as ever and I know now she's in heaven watching over her family and pacing back and forth worrying about each and every one of us until we arrive with her some day.

Photos are from December 31, 2011. Grandma put together a scavenger hunt for the younger boys. She was always planning something for them to do together.


Me and Grandma... actually just ignore me, no make-up and making 'chubby face'!

Grandma looks cute as ever though!



Annie, me, Grandma, Robin and Brad





Trent, Cole, Conner, Chase, Grandma after the scavenger hunt she planned for them in the snow. It is a great memory.



Photo from Grandma's outside-Christmas tree



Day 31 - January 31, 2012

Grandma's gardens rivaled the best. She knew when each of her plants were to bloom and exactly how to take care of them. I hope I can keep her gardening alive through my gardens.

Summer 2011



Grandma at my dad's 50th birthday party 2010



Summer 2011 - Lady Slipper



Day 30 - January 30, 2012

Today I was in Fargo supporting my family and being with grandmother. I have no photos from the day.



Christmas (2008 or 2009?) My grandma is in the red sweater.
Missing at the time from the picture: my sister and cousin.



Day 29 - January 29, 2012

The beautiful woman in these photos is my Grandmother, Marian. She suffered a stroke on Sunday.

I love her more than words can say.

My heart is sick, and I am completely empty.

She was hands down the most giving, loving, and caring person I have ever met. She never spoke a bad word about anyone, loved her family no matter what their mistakes might be, and left a mark on every single person who met her. I will miss her every day for the rest of my life.



Gram, Me, Angie, Brandy, Cassidy (2004-2005ish)




Me and Grandma - 90's



Planting trees




2003 - Dad and Annie's wedding with all of the grandkids (Leo, Virginia and Delia came later)



Easter 1997



Christmas 2011

I can't flip the picture... but isn't she beautiful?!

I got to see her 3 times in the past week:

1) at my Pampered Chef party last Sunday.

2) Tuesday randomly when my dad and I were out to lunch.

3) pizza at my house with family on Friday night.

and

yesterday in Fargo at the hospital.

Day 28 - January 28, 2012

I am making a goal. Training for a 10k starting tomorrow!! The treadmill will be the first thing I see when I wake up each morning.

Day 27 - January 27, 2012

Country-Western Day!

Cole wore his Aunt Tara's cowboy hat and his Dallas 'Cowboys' shirt... get it?!
The Cowboys?!

I am embarrassed to admit that I didn't right away... he is obviously much wittier than I am.



Cowboy Cole



Day 26 - January 26, 2012

Catching up on CSW @ Cole's school for my day 26 photos!

Character Day (Tuesday) Mario

Color Day (Wednesday) 5th graders = Wonderful White

Day 25 - January 25, 2012

 Our cat 'Ray the Stray', or Ray for short. We were lucky enough to get Ray when my childhood neighbors moved to the Cities. This cat has a vertical jump of over 5 feet, hunts in the rain and snow, can run faster than any cat I've ever seen and climbs trees with no front claws. He'll often be out by the pond eating frogs or bringing home mice to show off.

Oh and his new love is a laser light... can we say obsessed?!

I'm ready dad!

Just a taste of his jumping skills.

Day 24 - January 24, 2012

 Minnesota Twins Winter Caravan 2012 included:

Ben Revere and Rene Tosoni, Twins Legend Tony Oliva, and Twins announcer Dick Bremer. 

 

Cole and Ben Revere talking about his MLB #1 play of the 2011 season.
We were at Target Field when he made the catch against the Orioles on August 24, 2011!
What an awesome memory for him to share with Ben.

 

Minnesota Twins Legend Tony Oliva signing a baseball card I've had for 20 years!!



Magnets from the Twins fridge-frame.
I Love Today

 

Day 23 - January 23, 2012

CSW @ Cole's school this week!

Monday = Wacky Tacky Day

2 different socks

Old-Man Brett Favre jersey

Sweatband

70's era Bemidji boys basketball warmup pants

Too-much gel hair

(hair done when he got to school so it wouldn't get 'ruined' by his winter hat!)