Bittersweet

Last Friday we celebrated Grandma Billie's birthday. This was a bittersweet day for me. Typically Evan and I overwhelmed with family functions that occur on the same day and its really hard to decide where to go when, etc. It's absolutely wonderful having lots of family members who loves us and want to spend time with us, it's just some times it becomes stressful as we'd like to be at all the places and we don't want to pick and choose. Well, last Friday should have been one of those days and no matter how much I hate having to choose where we should be when, this is one of those days I wish we could have had that problem. You ask what else should we have had going on? We should have had another Great Grandma's birthday the same day. That's right, Makenna's namesake, Grandma Betty's birthday is the same day. While the hurt of missing her isn't as deep and hard as it used to be it's still a difficult day for me. In some ways I think this hurt has resurfaced some in the last couple years after having my babies as I wish so much that they could have met all of their amazing Great Grandparents who truly are "great"! We are blessed that our kids did get to meet 6 out of their 8 Great Grandparents; as they also never got to meet Great Grandpa Johnny who we also truly miss, but there is hope that some day my kids will get to meet these 2 "great" Great Grandparents that weren't here on earth when they were born!

I know I'll never get (and haven't) birthday posts done for all the Grandparents and Great Grandparents, but I want to take this time to tell each one of you how important you are to us and our children, how much we love you and appreciate you. Words can not explain what all of you mean to us and how grateful we are that you are a part of all of our lives. While we live busy lives with lots of family we hope all of you know that you don't take a backseat in our lives even when there's more than one family event going on and we can't be at the one you are at. We are always thinking about all of you and love each and everyone of you. Thank you for all you do and being so special to us! We love you! Here are some pictures of our babies with their grandparents. Itried to put them in chronological order of the date they were taken.

Denver and Grandpa Poots snuggling

Grandma Verni and Makenna

Grandma Billie and Makenna

Grandma Kim reading to Denver and Makenna

Grandma Mabel and Makenna

Grandpa Melvin with Makenna and Denver

Our family with Grandpa Keith

Grandma Lu and Grandpa Lloyd with the kiddos

A special moment between Denver and Grandpa Rodney

Grandpa David teaching Denver how to drive! (How scary!)