Granter Bean

Grant is 4. I can't believe it. I always said I'd have 3 kids by the time he was four...but I'm glad that I've had this time to spend bonding just with him. Now that Will is in Kindergarten, we get to have one-on-one time every afternoon. His favorite things to do with mom are color, play with his new firehouse he got for his birthday, and play trains of course. He love to have fun with his big brother and you can often find them having new adventures together. He adores his daddy and spends any moment he can with him. He says the cutest prayers which always make Jeff & I laugh (quietly of course). I love this kid. When he was born, it was one of the scariest things on earth. I truly thought we were going to lose him. His heart stopped beating and there was no crying at all when he came out. They rushed him over to the NICU and began work immediately. In a mess already from having a bad reaction to the anestesia, (sp?)I laid on the operating table crying and trying to breath correctly all at the same time while they sewed me up. It was then that I saw a man reflected in the glass. Just the outline of him...but instantly I knew it was my grandpa and I knew everything was going to be all right. God truly does send our loved ones to look out for us and our children. Every day since then, I've appreciated Grant in a way I didn't think possible. He is a sweetheart and I can't WAIT to spend the next 14 years raising him. I love you Granter Bean!

The fire house the family went in on to buy him. He loves it!



We played pin the broom on the witch. I had him dressed in a cute sweater, but of course that was shred at the first possible moment. Oh well.



Although Mama made him a cake for his actual birthday at home, he wanted a Pumpkin Pie for his birthday party. Thank You Costco! :)



I am so thankful for our little family! I don't know what I'd do without any one of them. Boys are so much fun to raise!!





This picture is so precious to me. It is the last time I saw this wonderful woman. Jeff's Grandma had truly become one of my closest friends and she died less than 2 weeks after Grant's birthday party. I miss her. I've had a harder time with her passing then I did with my own grandparents. She was such a good Grandma. Even to a granddaughter-in-law. I learned all about canning, cooking, and serving others from this woman. She was so much fun to talk to too!! I thrived on our weekly chats and looked forward to them. She loved my boys fiercely and never went without giving them hugs & kisses every time she said hello & goodbye to them. In a nutshell, she truly cared about all of us. She went quickly..which was so great for her. The night Jeff & I found her was the worst night I've had in a long time. I selfishly felt like I wasn't ready to let her go yet. All my close friends have moved away the past couple of years...and she was one of the only ones left. But I am happy for her. She is with her husband now which I know makes her happy! It was also so fun to get to spend time with Suz & Nana who came in for the funeral. They have become the big sisters I always wanted! I adore them.
The family asked if we would want to move into her home after she died. We have been living the past 6 months in my friend, Tonya's parents basement apartment. Surprisingly, I fought Jeff the whole way here. I didn't want to invade Grandma's space. I thought it would be too difficult to be here. However, I'm so glad he persuaded me. Living here has been a joy. It's became our own little space and yet reminds me of her in a good way. It's nice to look out the window every morning and see the lighthouse monument representing her Icelandic heritage out the kitchen window. Or to meet all the people that were close to her in the neighborhood. Although it may be for a short while, we are so grateful to get to live in the house that Grandpa & her built so many years ago.
I know this has been a long post, but it's why I haven't been blogging for awhile now. Life has been a bit chaotic. We are so excited for the holidays though!! We need a little bit of fun and laughter!