A tribute to… Grandad, truly the best Grandad a girl could hope for!
*I know this picture is strange, but Mom and JB both have one of their old saddles at their houses, and the couch was full on Christmas Eve, so Grandad just sat there as we opened presents... which is actually quite perfect! :)
1. He babysat me, Rach, and Blake for the first few years of our lives when Mom was still working...
2. He taught us all to play baseball, took us on rides in the little red wagon, cooked for us, helped us learn to climb trees, took us to the park and pushed us on the swings, stacked puzzles and played games with us, etc.
3. Also helped us learn #’s and the alphabet song and how to write our names… that’s right, we were way ahead of the regular preschool crowd! lol
4. He made the very best mac & cheese (it was just the Kraft kind, but all of us liked it better when he made it than when our parents made it! Lol)
5. He watched us or played along in our ridiculous made-up games like “Big Rock” where we took all the couch cushions off and put them into a mountain-like shape to climb; “Trapped” where one of us pretended to be the robber and the others set elaborate traps, a la Home Alone; “Wild West Bakery Shop” where we cooked tasty food for those traveling in the wild west, obviously lol; “Hot Lava” where we could only step on these two pieces of material and had to huddle together on them, because everything else in the house was fiery lava; “Super Kids” where we were a family of superheros defending the world from evil; and of course, “Obstacle Course” which is just like it sounds! Ahh, good times and so much imagination! =)
6. Makes the world’s best chocolate chip cookies and banana bread!! Yum!
7. He could definitely be retired now if he wanted to, but that would totally bore him. He prefers to be working and doing something to help people! I want to be like that when I’m 80!
8. Ultra supportive of his four grandchildren… came to watch several of our recitals, programs, assemblies, games, etc!
9. One of my favorite memories: He brought and decorated a little Christmas tree to surprise me the year we were in our apartment (I had been so sad about missing out on the tree that year.) Awesome!
10. He always used to rock me to sleep with George Straight’s “Something Special,” and loves to tell that story. :)
11. The only real cowboy I know; he worked on different ranches training horses while my mom was growing up… (he hurt his back when one of his horses bucked him off or he’d probably still be working with them. He really loved it!)
12. He was the first to take Rach and I to the State Fair and bought our first cinnamon rolls :) …and he introduced us to the Rodeo, which is always fun!
13. We used to do the Denise Austin workout that was on TV in the mornings when he was babysitting us! Lol
14. Like JoBug, he is really emotional and will often tear up over a nice Birthday card or a funny old story or picture. Me and Rach both come close to crying whenever we see him like that!
15. He's losing his hearing lately, so he and I are the quietest two at family get-togethers. But I love it when, in the middle of all the noise and chaos, our eyes meet and we just smile at each other - and sometimes he gives me a wink. (It's a bit like the While You Were Sleeping dinner scene.) I know that I'm important to him, and he knows he's important to me... and with or without words being added, that is enough!
16. He stays active and healthy… has no desire to just retire and sit around. He goes to the mall and walks every morning, and he is working for Napa Auto Parts right now. He wants to really live "till he dies," and I just love that about him! =)
17. Really loves to read… a book is always a good gift for him! He would read our favorite stories to us over and over when we were little. :)
18. Always wears a baseball cap, much like Luke on Gilmore Girls.
19. Great dancer... loves to go out dancing; (not a fan of line dances but loves to two step)!
2. He taught us all to play baseball, took us on rides in the little red wagon, cooked for us, helped us learn to climb trees, took us to the park and pushed us on the swings, stacked puzzles and played games with us, etc.
3. Also helped us learn #’s and the alphabet song and how to write our names… that’s right, we were way ahead of the regular preschool crowd! lol
4. He made the very best mac & cheese (it was just the Kraft kind, but all of us liked it better when he made it than when our parents made it! Lol)
5. He watched us or played along in our ridiculous made-up games like “Big Rock” where we took all the couch cushions off and put them into a mountain-like shape to climb; “Trapped” where one of us pretended to be the robber and the others set elaborate traps, a la Home Alone; “Wild West Bakery Shop” where we cooked tasty food for those traveling in the wild west, obviously lol; “Hot Lava” where we could only step on these two pieces of material and had to huddle together on them, because everything else in the house was fiery lava; “Super Kids” where we were a family of superheros defending the world from evil; and of course, “Obstacle Course” which is just like it sounds! Ahh, good times and so much imagination! =)
6. Makes the world’s best chocolate chip cookies and banana bread!! Yum!
7. He could definitely be retired now if he wanted to, but that would totally bore him. He prefers to be working and doing something to help people! I want to be like that when I’m 80!
8. Ultra supportive of his four grandchildren… came to watch several of our recitals, programs, assemblies, games, etc!
9. One of my favorite memories: He brought and decorated a little Christmas tree to surprise me the year we were in our apartment (I had been so sad about missing out on the tree that year.) Awesome!
10. He always used to rock me to sleep with George Straight’s “Something Special,” and loves to tell that story. :)
11. The only real cowboy I know; he worked on different ranches training horses while my mom was growing up… (he hurt his back when one of his horses bucked him off or he’d probably still be working with them. He really loved it!)
12. He was the first to take Rach and I to the State Fair and bought our first cinnamon rolls :) …and he introduced us to the Rodeo, which is always fun!
13. We used to do the Denise Austin workout that was on TV in the mornings when he was babysitting us! Lol
14. Like JoBug, he is really emotional and will often tear up over a nice Birthday card or a funny old story or picture. Me and Rach both come close to crying whenever we see him like that!
15. He's losing his hearing lately, so he and I are the quietest two at family get-togethers. But I love it when, in the middle of all the noise and chaos, our eyes meet and we just smile at each other - and sometimes he gives me a wink. (It's a bit like the While You Were Sleeping dinner scene.) I know that I'm important to him, and he knows he's important to me... and with or without words being added, that is enough!
16. He stays active and healthy… has no desire to just retire and sit around. He goes to the mall and walks every morning, and he is working for Napa Auto Parts right now. He wants to really live "till he dies," and I just love that about him! =)
17. Really loves to read… a book is always a good gift for him! He would read our favorite stories to us over and over when we were little. :)
18. Always wears a baseball cap, much like Luke on Gilmore Girls.
19. Great dancer... loves to go out dancing; (not a fan of line dances but loves to two step)!
20. Friendly and easygoing; he can strike up a conversation with anyone!
21. When I was around 7th grade, we (Grandad, me, Rach, and Blake) started going to Lake Hefner early Saturday mornings to ride our bikes together… fun!
22. He loves Hershey Bars and chocolate malts… (me too!)
23. He worked as a janitor cleaning buildings for a few years… we always loved to go up there with him and “help.”
24. He still goes over and helps take care of things/cook/clean at JoBug’s house since she works full time.
25. The first character quality that comes to mind is humble! He is unselfish, unpretentious, generous with his time, and loves to serve others. So thankful for Grandad! ❤
21. When I was around 7th grade, we (Grandad, me, Rach, and Blake) started going to Lake Hefner early Saturday mornings to ride our bikes together… fun!
22. He loves Hershey Bars and chocolate malts… (me too!)
23. He worked as a janitor cleaning buildings for a few years… we always loved to go up there with him and “help.”
24. He still goes over and helps take care of things/cook/clean at JoBug’s house since she works full time.
25. The first character quality that comes to mind is humble! He is unselfish, unpretentious, generous with his time, and loves to serve others. So thankful for Grandad! ❤
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