Great-Grandpa Stange, a tribute

My grandfather was admitted to the hospital a week and a half ago with congestive heart failure. The reports were actually pretty good and they were working to get his heart rate and blood pressure under control with plans to have him go back to his FOSS home. Unfortunately on Sunday morning he took a turn for the worse with liver and kidney failure. The whole family got chances to make it and say good-bye before he passed away very peacefully on Tuesday afternoon. We will miss you grandpa!

Enjoying a family BBQ and reunion this last summer

Here is a picture of the whole family taken before my grandma passed away three years ago. He never really wanted to have to live without her.

Meeting Jaydon for the first time.

A bad photo of four generations, probably the only photo from my side of the family that has four generations in it.

Taking Grandpa to a Thai restaurant to celebrate some event - he loved Thai food and we loved getting to go enjoy it with him.

Celebrating Thanksgiving in 2010. A funny story, he never waited for anyone to eat. When he was dished he was ready and he would eat.

Celebrating his last Christmas. He loved being around Jaydon and watching him. I was very glad we were able to take Jaydon down for a last visit on Sunday and say our good-byes, it was very hard for Jaydon to see Grandpa in the hospital but it was really good for Grandpa to see us all and he lit up seeing Jaydon.

The patriarch, reading a Chinese fortune telling book at Christmas.

Fun Saturday!

We went down to spend the night at Grandma and Gram's house because we had a birthday party to attend. Also since Jeremy had been traveling so much it allowed him to drive an hour less late at night to get 'home.'

Grandma took Jaydon for a ride in the Chariot - he promptly fell asleep. So asleep that his eyes and half of his nose were covered by the fleece helmet liner. This is a bi-product of deciding that he doesn't want to sleep past 5am anymore.

Jeremy and I then got to have a fabulous evening celebrating our good friend Stefanie's 30th birthday. It is pretty cool because we met her at Ben's (her husband) 30th party, and they both made it to Jeremy's and my 30th parties.

Ben and Stefanie!

Playing with Brenna

Jaydon and Brenna continue to get to play with each other a couple times a week. Here they found the workout stretch band and were pulling on either end walking around the house. They had also managed to get all the tupperware containers out of the cupboard.

Sledding???

Who says you need snow to sled? Jaydon clearly doesn't. We were working on cleaning our garage a bit and he found the sled. It didn't take much to convince daddy to take him for a ride. He was thrilled! It was pretty funny to watch.

Granny and Papa made it!

Well we may have had to wait a week but thankfully all the airplane fiasco's were dealt with and Granny and Papa did make it for a short (way too short) visit! We got to go see Great-Grandma one day, visit a playground, go to a nice dinner, enjoy some basketball (Jaydon is now obsessed with basketball) and just play with Granny and Papa. Jaydon was pretty cute signing their names and wanting to be where they were, after they had to leave he has continued to sign their names and wave to the door and tell me they drove away in their car. We can't wait to see them again and spend a full week together in HAWAII!!

The whole family! Jaydon was pretty tired by this time so not the most cooperative picture-taker.

Ever since Auntie Jenny used the hairdryer Jaydon has been fascinated by it. I knew Granny was coming and would use it so I have been telling Jaydon to wait for Granny and she will use it, he was so excited that he signed hair dryer very soon after they arrived. What humors me is that he actually doesn't like the hairdryer to be on, he just thinks he will.

Playing Granny's I-Pad piano.

Getting ready to say "good-bye" and taking some family photos! Here are a couple with Jaydon and Papa.

Papa, Jaydon and Granny having a good time!

We sure do miss you Papa and Granny, we want you to live closer or come visit more often!

Dinner at Kyoto's

While Granny and Papa were here we wanted to go out and have a nice dinner preferably including sushi! Jeremy and I had not been to Kyoto's in a long time but we thought it would be a fun experience for everyone as it is a restaurant that puts on a Hibachi grill show in front of you to cook your dinner. Jaydon was mesmerized and we had a great meal! Quite a treat, we will have to make sure we don't wait so long to go back.

Jaydon watching the cook prepare our food!

A bad photo with the lighting but Jaydon was enthralled.

Jaydon wanted to use chopsticks and he was trying to use his to get the food from out of daddy's. The expression is terrible but it was the only photo I had of this.

Eating some zucchini!

He was able to stab the watermelon from his bowl and eat it with his chopstick - he was quite proud of himself.

The evening was great and it sure brought back a few memories of RA selection nights!

Big Box!

One of the joys of Jeremy's job is that he can earn points for strong performances and with those points we can get stuff we need - like a dishwasher or lawn mower! When Papa and Granny were here for a visit we got our dishwasher hooked up and it was pretty fabulous - not to mention the entertainment value of the big box!

At first we all just played in it, Jaydon and the cats had a great time.

Then we cut a door and window and let Jaydon have his own little play house. He has loved it but so has Lily. He and Brenna even decorated the inside by coloring with crayons. It is becoming pretty homey if I do say so myself. Now if only we could convince Jaydon to just use the door and not try to climb in and out the window.

Hopefully the box can withstand some more vigorous play because everyone has been enjoying it so much.