Monday, February 27, 2012

Have you heard what Santa brought?

This is belated but I didn't realize that I hadn't posted a picture of THE bounce house. This is what Santa brought Bryce for Christmas. Santa consulted Jeff and me about what Bryce would like for Christmas and we were completely flummoxed. Bryce's letter to Santa was very non specific and Bryce wouldn't help us with ANY ideas. Our conversations would go something like this:
Us: What did you tell Santa you wanted?
Bryce: Santa will read my letter
Us: What did you write down?
Bryce: Santa will know.

And later...
Us: What do you want for Christmas?
Bryce: I wrote it to Santa in my letter.
Us: What did your letter say?
Bryce: Santa will read it

And, everyone who asked would get the same set of answers. Therefore, Santa (with our help) came up with something that would allow Bryce to use his energy in a positive way. The Solution - a bounce house. Good thing Santa measures twice and knew just the size of bounce house that would fit in our living room. Yes, it is supposed to go outside eventually but yes, it works just fine in our living room.

P.S. I think Jeff is the only one who has sustained injury in the Bounce House.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Grandpa Bart comes for a visit




My dad came for a 4 day visit last week. Bryce was excited about the staying home during the day with Grandpa Bart and I was happy to see him and have the help around the house. My dad was happy to fulfill my grocery list and feed us dinner and give lots of love to the boys (not to mention letting Bryce kick his butt at Wii and letting Bryce pick the lunch spots). Nothing says love like letting your grandson go to Dairy Queen for lunch :) The best part of the weekend (according to Bryce) was getting to pick out his birthday present. He got a new Nerf gun so that he could have a "fair fight" with his brother.


Three boys taking a break


Getting ready to go down the mountain


Cayden and daddy riding the lift


Cayden riding the lift


Cayden turned 9 this year and decided instead of a party that he would go snowboarding. This is the 2nd year to do this and I hope it becomes a tradition as I think it is more fun (and easier for me). Cayden invited his friend Hogan and Clay to go with him. This year they went up to Mt. Bachelor and didn't get a lesson. Jeff thinks that maybe, just maybe, they could have used one as they still chose falling as the way to stop!








Saturday, February 18, 2012



Erin made Cayden's cake - It looked amazing and tasted GREAT.




We are lucky to have an aspiring cake decorator as a friend. Erin made Cayden's cake this year and will be doing Bryce's as well. We loved her creativity and appreciated her hard work. She devoted a lot of her time to this cake!




Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Grandpa Wolff




I was just on Facebook and reminded by my two cousins that 9 years ago today my Grandpa Wolff passed away. I'm not sure why I have a hard time remembering the day (I remember the anniversary of my Grandma's passing). He died on Valentine's Day, 2003. Cayden was 2 weeks old. My grandpa had lost a short struggle with prostate cancer. He refused treatment and I can't blame him but it was extremely difficult to know that the last weeks of his life were filled with pain and confusion. I am glad that my mom and uncles were with him but can't imagine how that must haunt them. I miss my grandpa. He was important to me. It is difficult to think about trying to explain how important he was to me...


My grandparents lived in Illinois. They were farmers. I had the priviledge of spending my summers in Illinois ( I still hate the humidity though, that was not the part that was priviledge) with my grandparents and a whole bunch of extended family. They lived in an old farm house with out-buildings and cows and pigs and chickens and electric fence (talk about learning experiences). In every memory I have of those summers I see my grandpa. He was gruff and tender. He was patient and persistent. He was funny and serious. He watched Tom and Jerry and Johnny Carson and hated the news. I loved to stay up late and listen to him laugh at Johnny Carson. He hated politicians and loved to listen to Johnny Carson make fun of them.


For many of the years I stayed with them they lived in an old farm house. I loved and hated that farm house. The stairs creaked and the basement was scary but I loved the front porch and the windows and that old room upstairs that had a door that was always closed. The attic was amazing (and hot). I often think about buying that old house and just sitting in all the places I used to love. My aunt and uncle lived in it after my grandparents moved a mile down the road so I had lots of time with that farm house. Eventually they moved into a smaller place down the road and I loved that too.


My grandpa wore overalls. Lots of overalls. He wore boots (and called the mud boots "rubbers"). He drove a tractor. He taught me how to drive a tractor (he might have been crazy). He paid me to dig up milkweed even though I didn't do a lot of digging. I did a lot of giggling instead. He used to wake me up early to feed cows. He used to let me stay out late with my first summer love. He taught me how to drive an old Ford "3 on the Tree". He obviously was a brave, brave, man. He made cat fences for me because I was worried about the "farm cats" running away. He took "farm cats" to the vet and paid money to get them shots and medicine. He must have had a heart of gold and I can't imagine what he was thinking when he watched that money go down the drain. One time he bought donkeys and a wagon because he thought his grandkids would like it. I remember how sore my butt was from getting bucked off a donkey. Up to that point I had no idea that people really said "you have to get back in the saddle again". Yep, 3 times I took that advice. I love you grandpa but that donkey was MEAN.


I love thinking of my grandpa pulling in the driveway at noon and taking a little snooze right there in his truck with the door open or napping in his chair with the newspaper over his face. He would sit out in the glider and swat at flies before he came in the house. He loved dessert. He loved to eat tomatoes with salt and radishes with salt. He loved Raisin Bran (gross). He would help people who got stuck in the ditch at anytime of night. He wouldn't let anyone else pay the bill at a restaurant. Oh Grandpa...


I am stuck trying to explain my heart when it comes to this man and I find it difficult. He was there at my high school graduation. He was there at my college graduation. He was there at my wedding. He. Was. Just. There. All. The. Time.


The picture above is my very favorite of my grandpa. He is holding my cousin Jonathon in the corner of the kitchen of the old farmhouse. He and Jonathon would grow to be quite close. This picture shows my grandpa with the tender side. I wish, wish, wish, that my kids could have known him in person. I wanted Bryce to carry something of my grandpa so his name is Bryce Wolff Lowenbach. I hope that his legacy carries on. I miss you Grandpa. I love you Grandpa.