It's Grand To Have Grandchildren - Cleveland Trip, Part 2

The wedding was nice, it was fun to see everyone and try new restaurants while we were in Cleveland, but the absolute best part of the trip for me was seeing Ben, Sam, Ellie and Zach (thank you, Jon!!)  After not seeing them for 2 years, I swear, they all grew 4 feet!

We saw Sam riding around the neighborhood on his bike, first.  He raced home, shouting, "They're here!!!"  And so we were.  Ben and Zach came out to the car, but Ellie escaped to the garage.  It wasn't long, however, before she was right in the middle of hugs and kisses and happily telling us about school and her "boyfriend"  He liked Ellie and another girl in their class, but he only held hands with Ellie.  She was very proud of that!

Jon told us that Jenna tried home schooling with Ellie, but it was not successful.  He said that when El started regular school, she was behind most of the other kids, but has worked hard and is now right where she should be in terms of language, math and reading.  

The boys were all about sports--swim team, baseball and Tai Kwan Do.  Ben told us all about his mission trip and what he worked on.  He is looking forward to going again.  

The visit was noisy, wild, fun and goofy!  We were never sure what the kids were going to do or say next--from, "Hey, Momo, wanna see my butt?"  To, "Why don't you visit us more?"  Ellie wanted to have a sleep over with her friends at our house.  We're not sure how we would transport a bunch of six year-olds from Cleveland to Leland, but we all agreed it would be fun.  

We brought new games to play with and had a great time just watching the kids bounce off of the walls.  

We did get a few pictures but they don't do justice to the memories we made.

Enjoy:

Elizabeth, The Diva

Ben asking why we don't visit more often

Ben and Sam photo-bombing Zach

Zach and his killer smile!

All of us...

Ben, Sam, Tony, Zach, Me and Ellie

The Big Guys!  Sam and Ben 

Tony and I recovering from the visit at a local bar!!

A Wedding, Grandchildren, A Baptism and A Wonderful Time - Part 1, The Wedding

How crazy it is that we haven't been in Cleveland since 2016.  It's like letting go of a familiar place in order to raise the curtain on a new play in  your life.  We raised that curtain 7 years ago, and with each passing  year, it is easier not to go home to Cleveland.  We are older, the drive is harder, it takes us longer to recover when we get back.  Sad, but true.

But we did go home.  We went home for Sarah and Steve's wedding and to see family. Our Cleveland grandchildren are huge and tons of fun!  After Cleveland, we went to Charlotte for Owen's baptism.  This was the first time since they have been born that we have seen all of our grandchildren within the space of a week.  It was wonderful.

The first event was the wedding...or, the rehearsal dinner.  We met Steven's parents and family and had a great time at a restaurant in Strongsville that we had not frequented before.  It was a nice event.

The wedding itself was fantastic.  I'm sorry to say that my sister, Fritz (Donna), was almost more beautiful than  the bride.  I know, it's hard to imagine, but there she was, in a brocade, fitted dress, looking (as her husband said....) "like a million bucks."  It was the Fritz I used to know.  The one who could knock me down from, "good looking contender," to "an also ran."  She was glowing and I was glad.  

The wedding was meaningful, elegant and thoughtful.  I did a reading from Corinthians and Lynn told me I "talked funny."  Apparently, I didn't say the word, "sister," in the nasal, mid-western way.  But, Sarah and Steven liked the reading and their opinion was the only thing that mattered to me. 

So this chapter of the blog will highlight the wedding; a beautiful event for a beautiful couple.

Dad, Steve, walking Sarah down the aisle.  We weren't sure he was

 going to let go of her when he got to the altar!

Mr. and Mrs. Steven White

In their own little world

Happy Together...

  

This is a picture of the bride's family, but all I can see is

 how wonderful my sister looks.  

Uncle Tony, Aunt Jan and the Whites!

The Mom, The Reader and The Aunt

Here I am, talking "funny"

Dancing with "Baby" Joe, Sarah's brother

Next chapter....the grandchildren!!