Missing My Grandpa

A week ago Thursday I lost one of the most important and influential men in my life, my grandpa. My grandpa died at the age of 95 from advanced age and severe fluid retention. His name was Anthony Bracht, however he went by the name Tony. Although Grandpa Bracht was not formerly educated he was the smartest man around. He was such a hard worker, the strong silent type. He retired from Shell Oil in 1975 and spent his time gardening, fishing and most of all enjoying his grandchildren, all 10 of them. Grandpa Bracht was a true class act and he will be missed by the whole family. I like to think that God called Grandpa home to be with his wife. My Grandma Bracht died in August 2007, approximately 2 weeks after Doug and I returned from China. Grandpa really missed her, they had been married for 65 years before her passing and he would talk about her often.
I will miss you Grandpa, however I am not saying "Goodbye", I am saying "See you later"

Saying Goodbye to Ringo

On Weds, Feb 25 I had the dreadful task of putting our Border Collie, Ringo to sleep. He was in so much pain, suffering from herniated lumbar discs and severe arthritis that he could barely walk. He could no longer climb up or down stairs and needed help just to get to a standing position. He was so depressed and the look in his eyes was lifeless. I could not let him suffer any longer.
Ringo was such a good dog and he will be so missed. During his younger years Ringo could catch a Frisbee like a champ, he lived for that job and would catch Frisbee for hours if we continued to throw it to him. He was always very found of Grant from the day we brought him home from the hospital. When I look at pictures of Grant as a baby, Ringo was right there. When Grant started playing in the backyard as a little tike and I would be making dinner, Ringo would alert me if there was anyone at the fence or if Grant needed me. This was one sweet and smart canine.
The pictures above were taken the day before he passed away. I can see the sadness in his eyes.
Grant is doing pretty well with the situation. My friend Lisa, bought a book called Dog Heaven. It is so sweet and I highly recommend it for anyone.

After Lunch Laughs

Right after Lily and I ate a scrumptious lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and whatever grub I came up with I sent her to the family room to play so I could clean up the kitchen. I knew she was up to something, so when she came up to me with her backpack on, her keys and cell phone saying "Bye Bye Mama" I just cracked up. I also got a big kick when I looked in her backpack, books, lipstick and a comb. She is so my kid.

Cool School Project

Grant attends an elementary school in the Parkway school district. His teacher is Mrs. Major and she is awesome, she is always coming up with cool projects for the kids to do. In honor of presidents day the class did a project using paper plates and cotton balls to make a George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. I thought it turned out good and just had to share it.

Just a couple pictures of Doug and I with Grant and Lily.

Road Trippin !!!!!!!!

This past weekend the Sattazahn family decided to take a road trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City, Kansas. A three day getaway to just hang out as our little family of four to celebrate Valentines Day and reconnect.
The Great Wolf Lodge is a resort type of establishment that has a indoor and outdoor water park, a video arcade and a place called the Cub Club where kiddos can go and play games, play with toys and make crafts. Needless to say, Grant and Lily had a wonderful time swimming, playing and making crafts. Doug and I had a nice time also, however we came home exhausted. Now we need an adult vacation with no kids, no crafts and no video arcades. I am thinking of late nights, sleeping in late, taking in a good movie and lots and lots of adult beverages.
The pictures shown are of Grant and Lily, plus Flat Stanley just before leaving. The kids playing in the pool and playing bingo. The last one is of course, a big bear that people can sit in.

A Big THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Although this is the first time I have blogged about her or posted her picture, I have to give a Big Shout Out to my niece Jessica. I am so proud of her and all of her accomplishments as of lately. When I first met Jessica she was about 7 years old and 9 years old when I married Doug. I have had the privilege to watch her grow up, graduate high school and college, land her first professional job and blossom into an incredible, dependant, kind and caring woman.
Jessica is always there to help out Doug and I with babysitting or dog sitting. The best part is that she doesn't just do it to help us, Jessica truly enjoys spending time with Grant and Lily. She will take her youngest cousins to the mall or the Zoo or even to the park. This past Sunday, Jessica and her grandma Mary Jane (Doug's mom) came over to the house at 6:45am to hang out with the kiddos so I could work my shift at the hospital. John, Grants super hero, joined in the fun around 9:00am and they all went to the Science Center. They had a wonderful time, but boy did they look exhausted. I just can't thank Jess enough for being the wonderful person that she is. I also want to add that she will do crafts with the kids and helped Grant put together a scrap book of pictures and activities that he did while Doug and I were in China adopting Lily. I don't think she knows how much that book means to Grant and I. As a matter of fact, we look at it once a week so he can tell me all the stories behind the pictures.
Happy Birthday Jess----we all Love you

Going To The Bus Stop

No matter what time we wake in the morning it seems as though we are always in a mad rush to get to the bus stop on time. Grant takes his time to get his coat and backpack on. Plus, the lunch menu needs to be gone over and evaluated. However, the real hold-up is my little Hot Pot Lily. Every morning after we put her shoes, coat, hat and gloves on, lily insist that we take a baby doll or her stuffed panda to the bus stop. Although this process can be a pain in the rump, watching her put her baby in the stroller and push it up the street makes me smile. Plus, not only does she take baby, she takes a purse with her coca cola chap stick. Enjoy the pics, they really tell the story. Make sure that you notice the 3rd picture. Lily could not get the stroller thru the snow, so she did what any good little mama would do---she picked up the stroller.

Salad for Dinner???

How many 6 year old say, "mom I want salad for dinner"? I asked him if he wanted anything else and he just said "No, just a salad-- I want to be healthy." That boy amazes me. However, he did indulge in some fresh baked brownies later that evening. When you look at the pictures make sure you notice his black right eye. Grant fell off the back of a chair while trying to hide from his sister. Crazy kids.

Armed and Dangerous

Take a look at Grant and his cousin Clayton. Both boys received Nerf guns for Christmas and are really enjoying them. I think these pictures make them look like a couple of bad a**es, like they should be in a show called Kindergarten Sopranos. However both Grant and Clayton are very good kids, and still mama's boys.

Old Habits are Hard to Break

Yep, that's right, my girl is eating an All-American french fry with Chinese chop sticks. The People's Republic of China would most likely be shaking their heads right now.
This past Saturday we celebrated Chinese New Year with our good friends John and Lisa and their 2 girls. We ended up going to a all you can eat buffet and boy did we eat.
The pictures also show Lily and her friend Olivia enjoying themselves. Lily has chocolate all over her face from the chocolate fountain.

Fun In The Tub

My girl is so wild and will do anything. I thought most kiddos are afraid of water at this age, but NO not Lily. She will put her face in the water, try to swim and lay down on her back with water all around her.