Baby baby…..

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baby babyCorey and Danielle are going to be parents.  Yay!!!!  That means…………..yes, you guessed it, Mark and I are going to be GRANDparents!!!!!  It is the first grandchild for both sides of the family so he or she will be spoiled ROTTEN.  The due date is June 1 but anybody who has had a baby knows those due dates are kinda useless so we’ll see.

A message to our first grandchild:  You will be loved and cuddled not just with our arms and with all the blankets and sweaters and booties and hats that I am making for you, but with our hearts.  Everybody is excited to meet you.  Uncle Keith and Uncle Justin are excited to be uncles too.  They will be wonderful uncles for you.  Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Grott are excited for your arrival too.  Yes, you will be loved – oh but wait, you already are and you’re not even “here” yet.

A message for Corey:  You have told us since you were a teenager that you wanted to be a Daddy.  When we would go to buy shoes for YOU, you would look at the teeny tiny suede work books and want a pair someday for your baby.  You will have that pair now.  Boy or girl, your baby will have a pair of those shoes.  I couldn’t/didn’t buy them for you then, but I will now.  I also want you to remember and adore when that baby starts moving inside of Danielle – when you place your hand on her tummy and feel YOUR child moving – or put your ear to her tummy – or when you hear the heartbeat – the miracle that the two of you have created a little person – amazing.  There is plenty of joy for Daddy too during a pregnancy.

A message for Danielle:  I’ve already told you but will say it again – enjoy EVERY second of pregnancy.  The bad parts are bad, no argument there.  I hope you don’t have a 10 lb. 9 oz. little guy like Corey weighed, but if you do, look what became of him.  He was worth every inch of that pain.  On the other hand, the great parts of pregnancy are amazing.  That child growing and moving inside of you – kicking you to say “hello” – total joy that you will never forget.

A message for Corey AND Danielle:  Be the best parents you can be.  Corey – you were told over and over again when you were growing up that you will be better parents than we were.  Parenting is a learning process – every generation SHOULD be better than the one before just because you can learn from our mistakes.  I hope you also take away the great things that we did as parents.  I know you’re really not fond of my response when you would ask for something that we could never afford in our wildest dreams:  “I’ll get you two!” – so you may not use that with your child but then again……………maybe you will???????

Best wishes and you will be a great Daddy and Mommy.  What a lucky baby.

Oh happy day…………

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Corey and Danielle's weddingCorey and Danielle are now married.  They got married on October 17, 2009.  It was a beautiful day but brrrrrrrrrrrrrr chilly.

Here’s a pic of the bride and groom with the best man and maid of honor, Keith and Dayna.  The wedding was actually inside the hall because it was so cold, but it was such a beautiful fall day so we took pics outside.  Notice one of the swans in the background between Keith and Corey.  Both swans were in attendance that day – as they are inseparable – the other one is hiding behind Corey.

Keith-Corey-Danielle-Dayna

Here’s a picture of me and my best friend, Julie.  She was so helpful with everything from rehearsal to just being my rock.  Love love you, Julie – but you already know that.

Julie-Teri

There was a d.j. for music but there was also a magician to entertain – my sweet sweet man, Mark.  He put on a great show and everybody loved it.

Mark wedding

Here’s Keith and Justin dancing.  Some day their day will come, although they’ve told us they won’t have the big wedding.  Apparently, their wedding is at the airport and they’re jumping on a plane to wherever and we’re all going home.  LOL.  Whatever makes you happy.

Keith-Justin

We wish Corey and Danielle the best of everything as they continue their journey through life.

If I could offer one bit of advice:  have a sense of humor.  I could offer more but since nobody asked…………….I’ll leave it at that.

Homemade noodles

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Noodles cut

Noodles

Keith called one day and asked how to make homemade noodles.  I talked him through it and voila!  He did it.  I’ll share my super secret (not) homemade noodle recipe in another post when I get the recipe section of this site moving.

How proud am I of my kids?  Very!  They are both very well-rounded – they can cook and clean and sew (if they had to – somehow the sewing always comes home to Mom though – but I love that).  They can change oil and Corey is remodeling his home.  They both learned to crochet when they were little.  Keith didn’t take to it but Corey made a sweet little something which I’ll share in another post.  He doesn’t crochet anymore – he only did it for maybe a week or two when he was maybe twelve or thirteen……but I digress.  Keith, your noodles rock and your Mom would be proud is proud.  Much love son!

Molly – sweet and cute

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Keith and Justin went on vacation and we went to stay at their place and give Molly a little lovin’.  Instead of having her come and terrorize Carrie and Chloe, she had to stay alone at her home for a couple of days, then we stayed with her for two days, then she had to stay alone again until Keith and Justin got home.  This is the picture we got from Molly before our visit.

Molly

Beautiful summer day

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This is a YouTube video Keith posted when he came home for Grandpa’s birthday (Happy 76 Dad!!  How many times do I have to tell you to stop getting older???).  This was taken from the swing in our back yard – it truly is beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HZVaNB7OQs

Corey and Danielle – it’s magic!! (so to speak)

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Corey and Danielle are getting married sooner than planned.  The “magic” part is their love (awwwwwwwww) and that it’s a magic-themed wedding.  The father of the groom will be doing a little performance since the bride loves magic.  The invitation is below – Danielle and I made it (more awwwwwwwww).

WeddingInvitation

Imagine……

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Imagine………..you grow up with dreams of having a family someday………..

Imagine………..you find the person of your dreams………..

Imagine………..you fall deeply in love with that person………

Imagine………..you want to be married, have children and live that “happily ever after” life………

STOP!!!! There’s just that one catch – you’re a guy and you’re in love with a guy………or you’re a girl and you’re in love with a girl……….

As the mom of Keith, a loving, caring, kind, giving young man……..I don’t get it.  I’ve never “gotten it”, even before it was MY son.  I can’t cry because I have to be strong for my son.  It’s an ever-present reinforcing of “Keith, some day” or “Keith, your day will come” or our new favorite “2009!”.  Keith and I often share good news from 2009 – there is a lot – more states are allowing or considering gay marriage.  More people are accepting of gay marriage.  A majority of people – and I mean a HUGE majority of people – maybe 99% – have been kind and accepting and “so what” of Keith being gay.  I was surprised at how many family members have a problem with it, having known this child of mine for twenty-two years before they even knew he was gay.  Him being gay changes nothing about him.  The only difference between he and straight people is private – what happens in their bedroom – big damn deal.  The comments could be taken as hurtful but I choose to believe that everybody has their own opinion and that mine is right – my child is equal to anybody else’s child.

P.S. to Justin – I love you and someday you will technically be our son-in-law but we will always call you son.

Please read the following:

http://keithmcd.com/2009/07/11/wedding-bells-or-not