September Randomness

Kevin was able to snag some free great baseball tickets super last minute, so I rushed Colin to meet him for the game.  They only lasted one inning! The loud sounds and cheers freaked Colin out.  He was clinging to Kevin and whimpering "go home?" so Kevin gave in and left.

I guess he just isn't ready yet.  

Reagan is still my little cutie! 

A group of us gals went to Cheesecake Factory for my birthday and my friend Monica and I were opposites!

I was watching little Sophie and Penny for my friend Kaity and i loved watching Reagan pretend to be a big girl!

Reagan and me in matching shirts

Colin and his best buddy Isaac playing pool noodle swords

Dallas Heart Walk

A few weeks ago, the Sharpies invites us to tag along on the Dallas Heart Walk.  Walk a 5K? Easy Peasy, right? WRONG! 

It was hotter than blazes and was so crowded it was impossible to take a step without hitting someone (most likely your own group).

It was fun hanging with the Sharps and being part of something so big, though!

After the walk, naps were had by all followed by fun hang out time :)

As Kevin says, Colin is the only one that makes him look good at soccer!

First Day of Preschool

Colin started preschool this week!

He got to pick out a cool Cars backpack and everything!

He walked right in and didn't even look back!

He will be going Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-12.

Just enough to give me a break and some alone time with Reagan :)

He has had a great first week and already loves it!!

Funny Colin:

-Looking at a book of animals: C: "What's that?" (pointing to a tail) Dad: "A tail, buddy. C:"Where's Colin's tail?"

- Drinking Sacrament water at Church: "Good stuff!" (The guy sitting behind us had to ask the obvious follow up question "What is he drinking at the Grady household?" to which we responded "Lukewarm tap water from the bathroom sink, of course!") 

-When Daddy sings:  "Stop singing!" (Colin sings all day long, often times loudly and aggressively...favorite songs include the ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle, Old "BackDonald" and Let's Go Fly a Kite!)

-Colin has had this paper squid he made in story time hanging on his wall for months and sometimes he will point to it and say "Don't be scared!" which is Colin-code for him being scared. The other day I asked if we should throw it away and he said yes (he wouldn't let me before) and then he promptly said "Throw Jesus away!" It took me a second to remember that he had something he made in Nursery on the wall too and that he wasn't just being blasphemous!

-We have a Greg Olson painting of Jesus at the bottom of our stairs and he often points to it and says "I found Jesus!!" I love the little born-again in him :)

-I taught Colin that when I say "I love you!" he can say "I love you, too!" in response. So now he comes up to me and says "I love you, too!"  If I say just "I love you" he adds the "Too!"

-When Colin doesn't want something or to do something he says "No, not!" Here's an example: Me: "Colin, let's change your diaper, buddy" C: "No, not!"

-When asked to do something he oftentimes replies "Of course!!" and then when I thank him he says "Thank you, thank you!'

-Colin was pretty uncomfortable at Grandma Donna's viewing. He kept asking "What's Grandma Donna doin?" to which Kevin replied "She's sleeping" and I told him she went to live with Heavenly Father. Well, throughout the viewing he would exclaim "Grandma Donna's sleeping!" and I think it brought some levity to the event.

-At the graveside service, as they put the casket into the vault and then started lowering it into the ground he yelled "Grandma Donna's stuck in there!!"  Lots of much needed laughs from everyone followed much to my embarrassment.

-When he wakes up in the morning he always says "I woke up!" like it is a surprise.

-When he gets hurt he says "Momma, need kisses!" and after he gets them he usually says "All better!"

-He likes to talk about himself:  "Colin's so funny!" "Colin's so weird" "Crazy boy!"

-He tries to use the same "joke" over and over to make people laugh...even when they aren't funny at all. He says "Popcorn" all the time trying to get a reaction because once he asked for some and I said "no" in a funny way. The same thing goes for "pancakes."

-"Mmmm! De-wish-ous!"

Medieval Times!!

Ever since we moved to Dallas, I have wanted to go to Medieval Times. I can't explain it!

When I was around eight, I went with my best friend Kristin for her birthday.

She got a flower from the knight and I died of jealousy!!

I went again with my then boyfriend's family right before he left on his mission and we broke up.

Well, my wonderful husband finally took me for my birthday :)

Funny enough, a friend of Kevin's at work asked him what we were doing for my birthday and when he told him, he advised against it. 

"Bad idea...it's really kitschy...you might want to take her to a nice dinner instead."

"No, SHE chose this!"

"Huh, well, have fun then!"

I thought it was fun! 

I couldn't wait to cheer for my long, greasy haired knight!

Thankfully we were able to convince (guilt) the Zollingers into coming with us so we could share in the merriment!

Check out those knights!  I know! Go take a cold shower, ladies!

Kruschicki

There is something so special about watching your kids do something with their grandparents that you did when you were young.

In honor of Grandma Donna, we made the traditional Polish cookies that she always made at Christmas time and that we would make on special occasions when we were young.  They are made by making a pasta dough, rolling it thin, slicing it into rectangles, turning them partially inside out, drying them, frying them, and then covering them in powdered sugar.

They are pretty labor intensive but quite yummy!

The Funeral

A viewing was held the night before and the morning of the funeral.  My mom set up beautiful displays of my grandmother's life covering so many aspects of her life.

My grandmother's brother is President Packer from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He presided over and spoke at the funeral along with Elder Russell M. Nelson. Both of their remarks were lovely and very sweet.  I absolutely balled my way through Uncle Boyd's.  He spoke about being the last remaining sibling of their family and what a wonderful sister, wife, mother, and grandmother she was. Elder Nelson read part of Psalm 31 and discussed what a virtuous woman she was.

But my favorite speaker was my mom.  She talked about the "playlist" of her mother and the songs she will always remember when she thinks of her mother and the importance that music played in her life. It was really beautifully written.

After the funeral in Sandy, we headed up to Brigham City for the graveside service.

The Grandsons served as pallbearers.

 

Kevin's maternal great grandmother and her family are also buried in Brigham City and are only "down the road" from the Packers.

Kevin's great grandma Siggard died only a few months before my grandpa died and was buried here. 

It was special finding his family so close to mine.

Interesting Fact - the large pillar in the background is the resting place of President Lorenzo Snow and his family.

After the graveside service, we were treated to an ice cream social complete with Packer favorites vanilla, chocolate, and lemon custard. 

The kids got cones and the adults indulged in a bit more :)

There had been rain off and on during the afternoon and at the cemetery, but when we got back to the hotel there was a full double rainbow waiting just for us.

I like to think Grandma Donna would have loved being honored that way :)