Our Holiday Blessings Just Keep Getting Better!

Hello All!!

I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful weekend Papa Jim and I had this weekend! We were fortunate enough to spend time with Great Grandma Billie and Great Grandpa Leonard Pamson in Washburn, Illinois, along with our collective grandchildren/great grandchildren, Dan and Monica Gardner and Aaron, and Lacy and Dan Ripley and Vincent and Anthony! It was wonderful! Great Grandpa Leonard made chili and cookies and chocolate covered pretzels and Vince and Anthony opened their Christmas presents with the assistance of Cousin Aaron.

I just wanted to thank Great Grandma and Great Grandma Pamson for all the work they put into this past weekend's festivities. It really meant a lot to me. I love you both so much.

And I wanted to thank my children Dan and Lacy and their respective spouses for presenting me and Papa Jim with such beautiful and enjoyable children. They are so wonderful. I just can't imagine how anyone could NOT believe in a higher power, what with all the blessings we receive each and every day. Take care and I will write more later. . . all choked up. . . sniff sniff

Ok, I am better. Later I will post some pics but I am really tired now - it is now 6:30 p.m. and I need to be home in my jammies. Love to all.

Nana and Papa's Christmas

Who wants to sit on Santa's lap?
Aaron, age 2, 2008



Is anyone watching?



Aaron's second year picture.
2008

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve with Aaron and his mom Monica and dad Danny Gardner. What a blast! I will post pictures of that later. Right now I have a few good ones to share with you. Just bear with me while I get them put in. . . as Aaron would say, "There they are!!!"

Enjoy. Love Nana. Please watch for updates, as Lacy, Dan, Anthony and Vincent are coming for a visit this weekend.

Love Nana

AARON'S HALLOWEEN TRIP

This is out of sequence, but I just wanted to post pictures of our (Nana & Papa's) trip to Wildlife Not-So-Scarey Park for Halloween. We just loved Aaron's little sock monkey costume.






Here are Nana & Papa with Aaron for Halloween just before we got on the little train for a ride around the grounds to see the sights. What fun we had - and poor little Aaron had to wait for the second train to arrive before we could take our ride. He was so heartbroken until the next train came - just laid his head on his dad's shoulder and cried. . . but he was happy happy happy when the next train came. LOL.


Just before Halloween, Aaron and his mommy, Monica came to visit Nana at work to show her co-workers his costume and to have lunch with her. She loved it and so did her friend Janis, who was just about as excited as Nana to see Aaron.

Here is Aaron getting ready to take us all to the Wildlife Not-So-Scarey Park. I call this picture, "WHERE TO?" LOL!

Nana's and Papa's Visit to see the Grandsons

I just wanted to let everyone know what a wonderful time Papa Jim and I had at the Ripley house over the last week! We were there from Sunday, November 23, 2008 thru Sunday, November 30, 2008, and had a wonderful time - We were fortunate enough to not only have the chance to visit with our daughter Lacy and the boys, Vincent and Anthony, but also were able to spend time with Dan as well! What a treat! Thanks, Dan and Lacy, for the wonderful visit. We had a great time and really appreciate getting to see you all. We miss you already!

Here is the sweetest big brother in the world. He was getting ready to kiss his baby brother! Aren't they adorable? I have been having such a great time with both my little Ripley grandsons (Vincent and Anthony) this week!


This is kind of backwards, but this is a picture of Anthony right after his first bath, all cozy and warm and calm.


This is Anthony getting his first bath, throwing a real fit! He did not like it one bit! LOL! Note big brother Vince trying to offer advice on the bathing technique. LOL!


Here is Papa Jim holding little Anthony the first day we got to Lacy and Dan's house in southern Illinois. He was in grampa Heaven!



Here is Nana with both grandbabies on the first day of our week-long visit with Dan & Lacy. I have to say one week is so not enough, to be sure. Thanks again, Dan and Lacy, for such a great visit. I didn't take my blood pressure meds all week and the ole' BP was very mellow, too. LOL

THE DAY HAS FINALLY COME!!!!

YAY!!!! I have another grandson!!!

I am so happy to announce that I am the proud and happy grandmama of Lacy and Dan Ripley's second son, Anthony Jacob Ripley, born on his daddy's birthday (happy b-day Dan), 11/12/2008! Lacy labored at home for a while and then went to the hospital at about 4 p.m. and then delivered Anthony at 5:36! Lacy is quite the trooper, I think you would all agree. Grampa and I can hardly wait to get down there to see them all!! I will be so glad to cook and do dishes and change the babies' pants and love on both of them!

Thanks for all your prayers.

The due date has come and gone.

I just wanted to let everyone out there know that I could be a grandma to yet another grandson any day. . the due date was yesterday, November 6, 2008, but Anthony thinks it is nice and cozy right where he is, so he is not budging right yet. He will be ready when he is ready, I guess. I can hardly wait! and I know his mommy and daddy and big brother Vince are all ready to greet him too. I will definitely keep you posted.