Grandma

My Grandma Bulthuis went to be with Jesus this past Sunday. She was 93  years old. She lived her life to the fullest and now it is finally time for her to rest. My sister wrote a very moving tribute over here. Since she and I obviously spent our entire childhood together we have the same memories of Grandma so I don't know that I will rewrite all that she wrote, but we will see where this goes. There are definitely memories of her I don't want to forget.

We were a couple of the few grand kids that lived around Grandpa and Grandma and we spent a lot of time with them at their farmhouse. It was definitely a home away from home for Kara and I, and I never felt like a guest. We spent countless hours playing in the orchards, "fishing" in the canal, "painting" the milk house, cleaning up the play house, swinging on the giant glider swing, decorating trees, collecting eggs, helping Grandpa snip beans, playing in the grape arbor and chasing around their dog Boots. (the dog that they bought because our parents wouldn't let us have one, at least that's the story we were told) Their farm will forever hold a special place in my heart.

We loved to sleep over at their house because Grandma would make us super comfy beds on the floor, peel us apples in the evening and make us delicious pancakes or oatmeal for breakfast. I loved if we stayed over on a school night because Grandma packed the best lunches, usually with a leftover pancake from breakfast! I remember loving her oatmeal (we still aren't really sure how hers tasted so much better than we can make, I think it was the fact that she used whole milk!), we would eat it out of a special bowl, one had a picture of a house and one had a picture of a flower on the bottom, we would make "rivers" in our oatmeal so Grandma could pour milk in to cool off the oatmeal.

My Grandma's legacy is one of fabulous food. You NEVER left her house hungry. She cooked amazing Sunday dinner to those of us who lived near her, rotisserie chicken, homemade rolls and her fresh oranges being 3 of the ones I remember the most. She was a fabulous baker. I remember her helping me with a baking contest one year and I won! I know my love of cooking and baking is something she passed on to me. If only I had the discipline to not eat what I bake like she did:) She baked the most amazing cream puffs, meringue shells, almond bars, angel food cake and homemade ice cream. Most people remember her for her pies, I was such a picky eater when I was little I never truly enjoyed those. I would now though! She knew every one's favorites and made sure to bake them when we were around.

My Grandma did not have an easy life. Her mom died when she was only 11 which left my Grandma and her sister to raise their 3 brothers. She only went to school to the 8th grade and then she went to work cleaning and cooking for other families. At 18 she left Iowa for California where she met my Grandpa. She continued working for other families. She and my Grandpa owned a dry goods store and ran their farm. Grandma loved flowers and always put together the most amazing bouquets. I wish I had inherited her green thumb! I am privileged to have an orange tree in my back yard that she bought for Ethan when he turned one. I always think of her when I look at it and this winter we are enjoying our biggest harvest of sweet, juicy oranges yet. Grandma did not sit still, she was always busy cleaning, cooking or baking. She tirelessly took care of others. Their home was always open to company for Sunday dinner or people from out of town who needed a place to stay.

I have many memories of Grandma from when I was younger, but I also treasure the moments we spent together in her later years. When Ethan was a baby I started cleaning for Grandma. Once a week Ethan and I would head over to her house and she would hold and rock Ethan when he was an infant and then as he got older she would get down on the floor and play with him. She was 87 when he was born, and she still had that magical touch with babies. He loved his time with Grandma! She didn't talk a lot about her past, but every once and a while I could get her to tell me stories about life when she was younger. After she moved out of her home to a nursing home I would still take my kids to see her. Even as she forgot who I was, her face always had the biggest smile when she saw my kids. She loved kids, they brought her so much joy. It was hard for me to visit her near the end, but I trust that my kids brightened her day. She lost 2 little boys before they were two and as a mom I can't imagine the pain she endured through their deaths. I am so excited that she is playing with them in heaven right now.

She and my Grandpa faithfully loved and served God. The Bible was read after every meal, no exception. They were involved in church and supported Christian Education. I am so thankful for the Christian legacy they passed on to their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Grandma, you will be missed by many but we know you are happy and resting....finally. I love you Grandma!

Grandma and Ethan

Grandma with some of her great grand kids at her 88th birthday party.

Grandma and Morgan.

Grandma and Brooklyn

Grandma and Hudson

Happy 92nd birthday Grandma!

Happy 93rd birthday Grandma!

I'm so glad that all my kids were able to meet their great grandma, they were always so tender with her. I hope I can keep her memories alive for them.

Life snapshots

Now that I've joined the ranks of smart phone users I have my camera on me more and I'm able to catch more of "life" as it happens.

If it is possible, I think Hudson may be more into sports than Ethan was at this age, or maybe I've just forgotten. He has had a decent football throw since before he could walk and his kick isn't half bad either.

We've finally had some sunny afternoons for the kids to get out and play. We have had a crazy long stretch of freezing mornings and we've all been going a little stir crazy. (I know all my north of the border readers just rolled their eyes...what can I say, I'm a California wimp:)

Park time with the littles. It is fun to have some one-on-two time with these two 3 mornings a week. They are a lot of fun and so entertaining to hear them interact.

Thanks for the ride big brother!

Snack time outside...Love it!

Here is Brooklyn reading to Hudson.

Halloween? Nope, just play time at the Schenks. No it's not really warm enough to be running around in a leotard, but she "wasn't cold Mom!"

Super Heroes!

Christmas at the Beach House

Finally Blogger is cooperating with me:) Time to play catch up.

We were able to head to the coast with my parents for a few days after Christmas. It was great to get away for a few days. Kevin and I were able to get away for dinner as well as Kevin golfing with my dad and a spa day and shopping for me with my mom. We were all spoiled and it was a great few days.

Time at the beach was a little chilly this time!

One afternoon Kevin and I took the kids to the aquarium. It is always a highlight. Ethan was pretty impressed with this shark. He was also pretty proud of himself because he was the one to  correctly identify the shark and have the aquarium docent acknowledge it.

My parents left Saturday night and we stayed until Monday so we had Sunday to ourselves. We did some walking down by the water...

...had lunch at Lovers Point and watched the surfers....

...then finished up our time at Fisherman's wharf. Morgan was brave enough to hold the bird while we were waiting for Kevin and the boys in the bathroom. After I told Kevin about it and showed him the picture he asked me if I tipped the guy, after all that is why he is there....oops. Next time Mr. Birdman!

More great memories made in Pebble Beach. Thanks Dad and Mom!

The rest of Christmas 2012

Finally, I am able to get on this blog and do some more updated from our last few weeks. Blogger has been a total pain for picture uploads the last couple days, so I finally have the pictures on this post and while they are completely out of order I am going to just go with it, even though it will drive me nuts. At least I have it all documented:) Here is the rest of Christmas 2012.



Morgan has been wanting a bathrobe like me for quite sometime, she was pretty stoked when she opened this:)



Ethan too was beyond thrilled with this 49ers jersey. The best part of this jersey is the story that goes along with it. Ethan has been wanting a jersey since football season started. He was totally set on an Alex Smith jersey or another player who completely slips my mind right now. When Kevin and I were in Monterey in November we went to the Reebok outlet where they had youth jerseys for only $20, you buy them anywhere else and you're paying $60 which we wouldn't have done. So we decide to get him one, but the only one in his size is Patrick Willis (I sound like I know what I'm talking about, but I've never even seen these guys play:) So we buy it and Kevin convinces me that he'll have Ethan wanting a Willis jersey come Christmas Eve. We get home and ask Ethan when they are watching the next game if he knows who Patrick Willis is, of course he has no clue. So Kevin spends the next 4 weeks talking up Willis, pointing him out and telling Ethan what a great guy he is. Come the week before Christmas and I ask Ethan what jersey he wants..."Duh, mom, Patrick Willis!"....Good work Daddy (and yes, the "duh mom" really happens these days, we're working on that!)



Brooky opening her Umi Zumi toy.

Christmas morning we had to try to get a pic of the kids. Here are the littles ones...so sweet I think!

Ethan and Mo's turn to love each other.

Come on guys....please cooperate for ONE picture! Good thing pictures don't come with sound so you can't hear my utter frustration with the angels.

Thanks kiddos.....Merry Christmas!!

Here we are at Christmas with my family. My amazing sister did almost 100% homemade gifts for my kids. She is great at that. I thought about it for about half a day and then decided everyone would be happier with store bought gifts from this aunty! Brooklyn loves having her own Coco.

Huds got a cool truck and boat and trailer from Papa and Nana. He was happy!

What boy wouldn't be happy with a monster truck.

Auntie Kara explaining the family memory game she made Morgan. There are pictures of all our cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents in this game. Mo loves the cards, but doesn't really like following the rules in games, so she doesn't play it the real way too much yet. But it is a good game to practice rule followin with. My true left brained daughter would rather "play the game my own way."

Back to Christmas Eve at our house we continued the tradition of making our own pizza and having a picnic. The kids have really started looking forward to that tradition, along with driving around looking at lights, our nativity scene advent magnets, Christmas cards coming in the mail, making cookies and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus. It is fun to create memories together.

Nope, I did not get my son pampered chef products....although wouldn't that be convenient? This box holds an itunes card so he can buy games instead of bugging mommy and daddy for money to buy them.

Little mister got some more tools....he was happy:)

Back to Christmas at Nana and Papa's..all the girls got these Barbie vet kits. They were all thrilled with a doggy and another bag to put more "stuff"!



We were thankful for a couple weeks to spend some time as a family and help our kids understand the magnitude of Jesus coming to this earth as a baby. We also spent some time at the coast with my parents, and depending on how Blogger cooperates I may or maynot get around to blogging about that. But as always we had a great time there as well. Overall we had a good break, but it sure is good to be back into routine!

Christmas Program and Christmas Cookies

For this years Christmas program at Church both Ethan and Morgan got to participate. Ethan had a speaking part and Morgan just got to look cute in her dove costume. Morgan had a horrible cold that night so she just sat up on stage in a daze, poor thing.

All the cute little animals.

Ethan doing his speaking part.

We also continued the tradition of making yummy Christmas cookies. I have fond memories of doing this with my mom so I am excited to keep the tradtition going with my kiddos. Thankfully I had the help of Kevin, it was a little stressful, but with Ethan and Mommy on the frosting and everyone else on sprinkle duty they turned out pretty cute.

The only finished product pic we got.

I think this is the only cookie Brooklyn decorated:)

Nutcracker

Now that Christmas and New Years are over it is time to get updating the blog!

On December 21 my mom treated Kara and I and our oldest kiddos to the Nutcracker Ballet. Ethan was excited to go this year since last year it was girls only. The kids all did great during the show and they loved it all. We had been listening to the music and watching Morgan's dances for weeks in preparation. We all had a lot of fun and enjoyed a fabulous Italian dinner afterwards. Thanks Nana!