Merry Christmas

Hi Evelyn,

Well, this is an early Merry Christmas wish. I just wanted you to know that I purchased your main Christmas gift today. I opened a Michigan 529 Education Fund for you. I know that right now your too young to realize that this is really a great gift. I think for now your more interested in lights, and small objects and toys that make sounds, but I also know that you love books. In a way this is connected to books....it will help you when you are older to go to school and learn even more. It will take a little bit out of the sting of how expensive a college education is...and will be.

So my dear, smart and precious girl....you are now into investing! Happy savings and gains to you.

I love you always and forever,

Grandma "P"

Just a Reminder.....

Grandpa Tom, Grandma "P" and Evelyn




Uncle David and Aunt Becka


















The Swimming Pool Evelyn will swim in!














The Condo you'll stay in....on the top floor



Hi Evelyn,

Just a quick post. Guess what? You are coming to visit us this weekend. I wanted to send some pictures of Grandpa and Uncle David and Aunt Becka. I guess I haven't been sending enough of all the family. I want you to know all of our faces. Everyone down here in the lower peninsula loves you very much. We look at your blog all the time and replay all the videos that your Mommy and Daddy post.

I also am sending you a picture of the swimming pool you'll be swimming in when you visit next April. You'll be able to go in the water every day. We'll go to the beach too and you'll be able to swim in the ocean! I heard you are taking lessons to get ready. Pay attention and learn how to swim so we can feel safe when you're in the water.

We are going to have a big family dinner on Sunday. We are going to celebrate Thanksgiving early with you. You know what we are the most thankful for? ....YOU!

See you soon!

I love you always and forever,

Grandma "P"

Grandma "P"'s visit to Gwinn

KISSES AND PLAYTIME AT

THE SAWYER

AIRPORT

EVELYN READING A STORY TO MONKEY MY VIEW FROM THE PLANE

WINDOW

Hi Evelyn,

Here are some pictures I took when I came to visit. You have grown quite a bit since I last saw you in early August. At this time of your life, changes are pretty big and pretty impressive.

I wanted to thank you for waiting until I got here to really start your walking. I know how hard it must have been for you to hold yourself back. You took your first two steps on your 14month birthday....but held off for the big performance until the evening of September 19th. You warmed my heart. You looked like a drunken sailor but you laughed like an angel. The best part is you really seem to like me....I mean really like me. We have been having so much fun during the day and at night too. You especially like my "I'm going to get you!!" game. You giggle until you are near exhaustion and hysteria. Probably not the best thing before going to bed for the night. Grandma can't seem to help herself though. Every moment is precious and I don't want to miss any love pats, giggles or 1st times. I don't want to miss a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th either. You are my sunshine, you make me happy.

I hope you call me on your "Banana Phone" once I go home.

Love you always and forever,

Grandma "P"

Night at the Cottage 9/03/09

This is how it looks at night at our cottage. Tonight there is a full moon to the East, and a beautiful pink sky from the remains of the sunset in the West. I love September at the lake. It is one of my favorite times of the year.

In the daytime, when the sun is shining bright the water looks like it is full of diamonds glittering on the surface of Lake Erie. It's a perfect time to be outside. The air is just the right temperature for reclining on my chaise and reading a good book. The sun shines bright, but lower in the horizon and I feel cuddly warm.

The crickets are out there singing loudly. We all know what that means, summer is coming to an end. In two weeks I will be making the trip to Gwinn to spend time with you dear Evelyn. I am going to stay for 2 weeks. We are going to have fun together. You are going to know your Grandma "P" a little bit more. I will get to see you in this new phase of your life. Yesterday you took your first steps! I bet by the time I get there you will be walking more than crawling. I can't wait to see the sight of you walking about. Get ready and save some of your best smiles, dances, kisses and hugs for Grandma.



Pink Sky to the West























Full Moon to the East

PLANTING AT THE COTTAGE

Black-Eyed Susans and Cone Flower........

Hi Evelyn,

Here are some pictures of our cottage. We had new brick pavers put in last month, so now we have a patio. We have never had shrubs or flowers at the cottage. Grandpa and I decided it was

time to spruce the place up a little.

Last summer (2008) my knee was still in bad shape. I couldn't finish planting my impatiens at the house on McMillan. I had to hire Carey next door to finish the job. But look what I was able to do since I had my knee replaced 12 weeks ago. I prepared the flower bed, planted the flowers and eight small boxwood shrubs. My knees don't hurt, my back was strong. I feel so good about being able to do this kind of work again. My Mom, your Great grandma Eva was a great gardener. She had a beautiful flower garden. Your Mom has lots of pictures of it. Planting flowers has become a family tradition. Usually, every June I fly up to your house on Elm Street. Your Mom and I plant the flowers together. This year I couldn't come because I had my knee operation. But I will be back next year...especially now that I know I can do the work. You might be big enough to help us a little by next summer. I already bought you a pair of gardening gloves. Your Mom has them put away for you(we'll have to remind her.) So come next June, you get ready. Gardening Grandma is planning on being there.

I love you always and forever,

Grandma "P"

How Grandma "P" came to be....

Grandma "Precious", summer of 1946

Grandma "Precious" 1948
Grandma "Precious" spring of 1949

Did you ever wonder where the name Grandma "Precious" came from. From these very pictures. I found them in 2008, just before you where born. I had never seen many of them. I was with your Mommy and Auntie Ann when I found them at my Mother's house. When your Daddy came to pick them up, I began showing them to him. Your Daddy and I liked to kid and be silly with each other, so everytime I pulled out a picture, I'd say, "Isn't she precious!" And then I said, "Brian, I know what I want the baby to call me....Grandma Precious." That was the beginning and of course Grandpa Gordie never let me live it down. That is how I became Grandma "P" in all my letters. Right now, I don't know what you will call me. Whatever it is though, it will be wonderful! I love you...always & forever,

Grandma "P"

The Tie That Binds

This is the beginning of something. I hope it will be a connection that will reach into the future and bind us together in spirit.

When I was a little girl, I had a Grandma in my life who was very special to me. She loved me unconditonally and helped me to believe in my own goodness. That is what I hope I can do for you. You came into this world a perfect little soul. Your spirit was so peaceful, so beautiful. You

magically transformed those who surrounded you. I sat for hours in the brown chair in your room simply looking at you. You Evelyn, were a meditation.

Today, August 21st, 2009 I begin this blog with the hope that notes from time to time will let you see who I am and to know how much I love you.

Always with Love,

Grandma "P"