My Grandma Cheney

I think of my Grandma Cheney quite frequently. It has been 6 years since she passed away after a tough battle with pancreatic cancer. My aunt Carmen has been posting lots of pictures of her on Facebook the last couple of months and I've been saving them so that I can include them in our family scrapbook for my children to see. Carmen's pictures and posts prompted me to think of the things I remember most about my Grandma Cheney.

When I think of Grandma Cheney...
I think Grandma Bonnie...
I think of french braids- the ones she did in my hair, in BreAnne's, in Carmen's...
I think of watching The Music Man and Pete's Dragon and remember the touch of Grandma's hands in my hair while getting those braids while at the cabin at Duck Creek...
I'm reminded of the smell of melulueca oil...
Melulueca oil on Grandma's hands, on our sores or burns...
I think of road trips and visits, long talks and kind words...
I think of chocolate covered grapes!
I think of her beautiful white hair...
I think of her smile...
I think of her smile at family parties or anytime we were together with some or a lot of our family...
I think of Easter...
I think of her sweet voice...
How special that voice always made me feel- how loved...
I remember her being at all of my most special days- my wedding day...
And although she was gone before the birth of my first child, I've felt her during each pregnancy, after each one of the births of my 3 children...
I've never stopped feeling her love or presence in my life...
I feel she watches over me, over all of her family...
Her love still exists even though she's left this life here with us...
I see it in her children- in my aunts and uncles-
I remember her through them and am grateful for their shared memories of her...

Thank you Grandma, for all the love you gave and continue to give me. I love you and miss you dearly.

(Thank you Carmen, for sharing pictures of Grandma with me. I hope you don't mind my saving them for myself. I love them. Thank you for all the precious thoughts and feelings you've shared of your mom- your love for her, the loss you feel over her death. Such special feelings that I hold dear.)

The 2nd half of March 2016

March 16th- Happy half birthday Rich! This big boy weighed in at 14 lbs. 3 oz.- 2nd percentile!!! Our biggest baby at this age. Our first baby to ever by on the curve! Rich is starting to eat solid foods (he's not in love yet!), he is always happy as can be, and he loves to talk and tell stories to us!

All 3 of our babies at 6 months old!

Rich and Keaton both at 6 months old!

Another picture of all 3 of our babies on their half birthdays!


March 17th- "The people on the bus go up and down, up and down, up and down..." And Aisley had to find a spot for each and every person- Flounder behind Mickey Mouse... Prince Charming driving the tow truck. She just kept saying she needed more cars and more people, all the while singing all about the bus.

March 20th- A couple of days before Brooklyn's cheer tryouts, I dug out my old cheer outfit and had Brooklyn try it on! (Congrats Brookie for making the cheer team!!!)

March 21st- "He is risen!"

March 22nd- Don't worry, I didn't let Aisley go far with Rich in her doll stroller... but you have to admit they look pretty cute playing together. Rich looks HUGE in her stroller!

March 23rd-

Keaton talking Aisley down after quite the tantrum. He really is a good brother. And, most of the time, they really are the best of friends.

Taking a ride on Shuffles the turtle a few minutes later.

March 25th- Aisley thinks she's a big girl lately and likes to put her little backpack on and pretend she is heading to preschool with a book to read, or work to look for cool rocks (one day Justin brought home an awesome rock for the kids that he found at work), or that she's heading to Grandma's or BreAnne's. She always tells me that she loves me and that she'll be back soon!

March 26th-

My parents with all 10 of their grandchildren!!!


March 27th- Easter Sunday.

Easter egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa Craythorne's.

March 31st- A quick visit to Grandma and Grandpa Norman's. Me and the kids didn't get to stay for long, but our time there was very well spent. The kids all loved talking with Grandma and Grandpa. Rich was quite happy and comfortable in Grandma's arm, and Keaton and Aisley loved playing with Grandpa's tractors. I'm so happy I was able to get several pictures. We sure love our sweetest Grandma and Grandpa Norman.