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Archive for Family

The Youngest Reader in Our Family

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Renee Spindle

This is our 17 month-old granddaughter, Madison. As a matter of fact she just turned 17 months old this past week. I think I usually stop counting the months once the grand-kids turn two, but before that two-year old marker each month seems to include some sort of wonderful milestone. Most of Madison’s milestones these days involve words. Words she hears that she immediately repeats. Our little family myna bird. These pictures speak for themselves, such sweetness and innocence. The funny thing about Madison is sometimes she puts on such a serious face when she’s looking at the pages of a book you just have to sit back and smile.

Madison is fast becoming a little book-worm. She loves to look at her picture books, or have them read to her. Sometimes she only listens to one or two pages, or I should say sentences and then wanders away. But she always comes back a little bit later to have the book read to her in its entirety.

I cannot remember any of my kids being so attached to books at such a young age. It was always more of a struggle to try to figure out what would keep the kids’ interests to keep them reading. I did always tell my kids one of my famous Mom phrases (well famous to me), “Reading is knowledge, and knowledge is power.” I’m not sure if it really stuck with any of them, but it sure felt good for having said something so inspiring to them.

Now that she’s a few months older, once in a while Maddy will pretend she is reading her book to you, and jibber-jabber along through the pictures while turning the pages. Her Nana (my Mom) and I applaud her efforts each and every time, and hope that her interest in books and reading will continue to grow and blossom with her for a long, long time.

This post linked to the GRAND Social blogging event at Grandma’s Briefs.

One comment Posted in Grandkiddies

It’s a Baseball Kind of Thing

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Renee Spindle

Happy, Happy Spring to one and all. For all of our friends and family just chomping at the bit to see more green we’re sending you sunshine and warmth from sunny, Southern California.

Today is the beginning of a great 10 day countdown. It’s only 10 days until baseball’s opening day. Yay! I’m presently doing my happy dance. I love the game of baseball. Love to watch, love to cheer for our hometown team,(the Angels), love to gain some knowledge about the history of the game, and love to go to a live game every now and then.

In my younger, growing up years, I did not really pay attention to baseball, or have the love for the sport that I have now. I suppose that all changed when my kids started playing baseball and softball. Every spring baseball or softball would start and we’d be at practices and games from February or March until July. It’s one of those life thingy’s about a sport becoming part of your soul. If you followed your kids through any sports, for any number of seasons you know what I’m talking about.

During our hectic spring schedules family members would join us as their schedules allowed to watch the kids play ball. There were many, many years of supporting the love of baseball for my oldest son, Bryan. Bryan started playing ball when he was 5 (the t-ball era) and played right through his senior year of high school. He never stopped playing or learning about the game. As a matter of fact that’s how we were able to get Bryan interested in reading. Bryan learned how to read the team stats in the newspaper when he was 5 or 6. That lead to reading the articles about his favorite players or our beloved Angels.

My collection of baseball buttons through the years.

Bryan’s last time pitching senior year of high school

These days Bryan is the family’s baseball statistician. He has a great knowledge of the game, and can recall stats and details of the history of baseball that never cease to amaze me. Whenever we get a chance we watch a game together, and compare notes on our favorite players. We (Bryan and I) have decided that on the 31st of March we’ll hang our Angels flag out on the front of the house to celebrate baseball’s opening day.

One last baseball thought for the day from the movie The Sandlot– The Babe said, “Remember kid, there’s heroes and there’s legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid, and you’ll never go wrong.”

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Have you Met The Super Six?

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Renee Spindle

This is the Super Six.

They have been together for a lifetime. Let me introduce you to my four kids, and their cousins ( my brother’s son and daughter). Starting from the left, Naomi is the oldest, and I’m pretty sure at this point in her life she’ll remain the shortest of the bunch. Next is Jim, my brother’s son, he’s the tallest one in the crowd these days, and then Hilary, Mary (my brother’s daughter), Bryan and Zachary.

The layout style of this picture became a tradition with this bunch many, many moons ago. We would shoot this group shot from oldest to youngest, and then from tallest to shortest. My grandma (great-grandma to the Super Six) lives out-of-state, and would always ask to see a picture of the kids together. She wanted to see how tall each of them were in relation to one another. So that started the tradition of the Super Six photos. And I’m fairly certain my Grandma coined the phrase “Super Six” for this gang.

Over the years we have taken quite a few Super Six pictures. I just love, love, love a walk down memory lane like this. When Tom’s son, Ryan, was living with us the group expanded to the Super Seven.

Scan

As you can see in the pictures below, when Evan got old enough he honed in on the photo line, and made sure he got himself included. These pictures should be called “The Super Six” plus one, since Evan is the next generation!

This bunch has been fortunate enough to live near each other growing up, pretty much until everyone started working full-time or took off for college. There were lots of Friday night sleepovers, chances to do fun things together, family beach parties, cheering each other on at school events, or at a sports game. Just all round having cousin fun as often as they could. I think my brother and I subconsciously made a point to get the kids together as often as we could.

Now that they are all a little older it’s not easy to get this picture, but we are still doing it. These shots were taken at Zach’s wedding this past August. I may be partial, but I can feel a lot of love and happiness coming from these pictures.

This group of amazing young adults have been through a lot of life stuff together. Graduations, milestone birthdays, 4th of July celebrations, Halloween’s, family reunions, weddings, divorces, cancer in the family, and the loss of their Grandpa. They have experienced all of the ups and downs of life. They are positively surviving the roller-coaster ride together, and have come through it all with smiles on their faces.

My one hope for this great group is that they stay in touch and support one another for eternity. (That’s my Mom voice shining through.) My quest with this bunch is to continue capturing the Super Six line up for many years to come.

This post linked to the GRAND Social

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Isn’t it About Time I Wished You All a Happy New Year?

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Renee Spindle

Happy New Year, dear friends. 2014 is already in full swing, and I am just now getting back to my writing. I’m hoping you all had a wonderful holiday season filled with family and love. January got off to a bit of a wonky start because of…The Flu. Ugh. I’m actually the one who got sick first, on New Year’s Eve of all days. I was battling the flu beast for a good week or so. Luckily for me Travel Man was home to take care of me. January 3rd was probably one of the hardest goodbyes that Travel Man and I have had in a long, long time. He did not want to go, and I didn’t want him to go either. But, boo-hooing aside I got over the flu, and then almost everyone else in my family had a visit from the flu beast in the past two weeks. That brings us to the point we are at now. It’s the last week of January, and nearly Superbowl Sunday.

My how time flies. And this time is was not necessarily while we were having fun. You would think here in sunny, Southern California we could avoid the dreaded winter cold and flu. But the reality is we don’t. The flu that just rocketed through the family (I have coined it the “lightning flu”) is probably the worst we’ve had in over five years.

As of this writing everyone who has gotten the flu, is over it. Hopefully I haven’t jinxed those of you in the family who haven’t had “it” yet! The past few days the weather’s been great, doors and windows have been opened, and all the germs have been ordered to leave the building!!

We had such a great holiday season with all of the kids and grandkids here at the Party House. It’s always so enjoyable when we can get everyone gathered together for a little while to celebrate.

Christmas Day 2013
Photo courtesy of J.Weise.

Look at all of those smiles, what a great looking bunch. Hopefully your 2014 has gotten off to an amazing start. We’re looking forward to lots of birthday celebrations together, an engagement, some mini vacations, and baseball.

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This Family Had a Moment – One Year Ago.

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Renee Spindle

In honor of Miss Madison’s first birthday over the weekend, I wanted to share my story of how our family learned of her arrival here on planet earth.

Have you ever been together with your family and experienced some news together, collectively? One of those moments when you all look at each other, and you know in your heart of hearts that you are experiencing a moment together, that you will all remember, and talk about for years to come.

My family had this experience just a little over a year ago now. We were having dinner together on a Saturday night, actually it was an early Thanksgiving dinner for us. My sister and her husband had planned to be with us for dinner on this particular night. Unfortunately their plans had changed and they could not join us on this special occasion.

The other event taking place on this particular day was that my oldest daughter had gone into the hospital early on this Saturday morning to have her labor induced. Remember awhile ago when I shared with all of you that Evan would be a big brother soon? Well, this was the day. Evan spent the night with us on Friday night, and his parents checked into the hospital early the next morning.

All day long we’re checking in with my son-in-law at the hospital getting updates on how Naomi was doing. I’m sure we pestered him a little too much, but he graciously kept us informed all day long.

In the early afternoon the family members started to arrive, and we were preparing dinner, and getting the table set. Our family loves to gather around my kitchen counter for all of the snacks and noshing. It’s always a fun-filled time of eating and conversation. Lots and lots and lots of conversation. All in all I think we ended up with 12 of us or so at the dinner table that night. And in between all of the conversing and eating we are still getting updates on my daughters progress from her husband, Brad. At one point during dinnertime Brad had sent me a text that the baby would be delivered at 8:00pm. So, we’re all thinking great! The baby will be here tonight, and then Naomi will be a lot more comfortable. She was quite uncomfortable during the last week of her pregnancy, and her mother needed to know that she was just a little bit more comfortable. It’s a Mom thing.

So after our great turkey dinner we’re sitting around the table – some us drinking coffee, some having wine, some getting ready for pie. And if I remember correctly this is how our moment happened. I was on the house phone with my sister in Montana, who could not be with us. We were giving her an update on Naomi. My brother’s girlfriend, Elaine, looked at the clock and said, “Hey it’s 8 o’clock, I wonder if the baby’s arrived yet?” My brother was looking at something on my cell phone, and we got a photo message from “Brad Dad”. It was a picture of the nursery scale with the babies weight, 9lbs. 15oz. No words with the picture, just that cute little picture. In that moment we all looked at each other, and I say to my brother, “Is the baby really here? Text him back and find out!!” We get the confirmation that it is indeed the babies’ weight, and she has arrived! the moment we have all been anxiously awaiting. The entire household is just elated, collectively, all in that same cherished moment. Miss Madison Kay has arrived. Woops, hollers, and woots reverberate through the house. I’m still on the phone sharing this joyful moment with my sister. My Dad is on the phone with my grandparents, Madison’s great-great-grandparents, and we are all sharing this moment. From California to Montana to Illinois a poignant family moment.

And I remember Evan. He was so cute. He went running through the house cheering for his Mom and Dad. He was an excited big brother. As I am typing this right now I can picture this entire moment in my head. This moment hung in the air for just a bit. It reminded me of watching a feather float around in the sky. Watching everyone, and seeing everyone’s reactions. And my Mom, she had her own precious moment. She was sitting at the table soaking everything in, and the emotions just overwhelmed her and she started to cry. Travel Man came and got me and said, “You need to go and sit with your Mom.” I sat with my Mom, we had a mother – daughter moment. The day could not have ended more splendidly.

Madison meets her Great-Grandparents

There are always moments in your life that become part of your personal history, or your family’s history. But nothing compares to having a family moment, surrounded by almost the entire family. Savor these precious moments, cherish them, and keep them close to your heart.

This post has been linked to the GRAND Social linky