Grandma Rae Lea

As I mentioned in my previous posting, Jake's mom came to visit for 5 days! We loved every minute of it. It had been over seven months since we had seen her last! I worried about how Caleb would respond to her since he is so young and has a small little memory. After making it to the Seattle airport through the ice storm and arriving here in Fresno after midnight, the boys and I didn't see her until the morning of Caleb's birthday. Jonathon was soooo excited. She was the main Grandma in his life for those first few years, seeing her almost every week. He woke her up early that morning and told us it was his "best day ever!" So cute.  When Caleb came down stairs he didn't know what to think. We kept telling him it was Grandma! So he got excited and waved her hello and gave her a hug. It didn't take him long to warm up to her real fast though.

I am so glad she was able to come. I know that it probably helped heal her heart a little bit to be in our home, around Jake and I and the kids. We tried to shower her with as much love as we could :) During those five days with her she first helped me decorate for Caleb's birthday party and we had a fun time that night visiting and I could tell she was happy to talk with my family and gain comfort from their sweet words of condolences. The next day we took her on a walk around our neighborhood and played at the park. My mom, Rae Lea and I had a girls night browsing through Anthropology and Charming Charlie's at the mall and then had sweet potato fries and cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory. Yum. It was nice to sit and talk for hours together. On one of the days we took Jonathon to see Beauty and the Beast 3D in the theater, that was fun, probably more so for me then anyone! It was so neat, that's my favorite Disney classic.

Sunday we took her to church with us and then we relaxed at home and had a nice dinner together. It was nice to have some one on one time with her, to listen and share. Monday we watched the kids ride bikes and ride Lighting McQueen power wheels around the neighborhood and then we took the kids to McDonald's for dinner and to play in the play place. The rest of our in between time was spent hanging out together and enjoying the time we had. The boys sure love their Grandma Rae as do I, she is such an example of strength and grace!

Rae made the women in the family these charm necklaces that I just adore! R for Ryan, Z for Zach, pink diamond circle for families are forever, angel wing and a heart. Perfect reminders. She is so talented.

We will miss her so much and can't wait until the summer when we go to Seattle for a visit! I am so grateful for her and thank her in my heart everyday for raising the man of my dreams, the most amazing, husband and father. I owe her a lot!