ValerieDykstra.com

a wee safari adventure

One of the highlights of our visit in Arkansas was a trip to the Wilderness Safari. Here are some pictures from there. My favorite is the one with Roman covering his eyes. He wasn't comfortable with all the animals traipsing around the car so he covered his eyes. Surely if he couldn't see them, they couldn't see him!

Conversely, Avery couldn't get close enough and is standing in the window not wanting to miss a thing. Those two are like night and day.

A funny memory of the day was Roman seeing the gazelle or ibex (or whatever it was) and exclaiming, "What is that freakin' horned animal?"

 

roman starts pre-school

(Roman 3 years old, 2010)

The little man started preschool this morning. He'll be going two days a week. I can't hardly stand the sweetness. Makes me want to cry.

Thursday Thirteen

Greetings from Alberta.

1. I am home again, having had a wonderful trip to Arkansas to see the southern family. Deborah went with me, her first trip to Arkansas since she was four. Her highlight was spending lots of time with her biggest sister Stephanie.

2. I saw my precious grandchildren. I didn't just "see" them, I babysat them while Stephanie and John Mark took a little vacation to Cancun. (Sucks to be them, eh?) Babysitting Roman and Avery was amazing. I got really familiar with and fell more deeply in love with them. It was truly awesome.

(Memaw, Deborah and me, 2000)

3. There were a couple of unexpected turns during my trip that left me feeling extraordinarily blessed. My grandmother, the last of my grandparents, got very ill and the family was "called in" thinking she was dying. Because of this, I got to see extended family I haven't seen in 20-25 years. Specifically, I was very happy to see my cousins Paula, Vicki and Lisa. It had been so long. Without Memaw's illness, I wouldn't have seen them. Seeing them was a definite highlight of the trip.

4. My Uncle Corkey, on the other side of the family, passed away. It was very sad to see my cousins suffering, but I was so very glad that I got to see them. I haven't seen them in 20-25 years either. Seeing these cousins was another highlight.

5. It was great getting to be with my dad at his brother's funeral. All Daddy's kids were there and that was very very special for him.

6. My grandmother is still in the dying process. Her family is with her right now, probably singing and reading the Bible to her as I type this. That's what they've been doing over the past couple of days. They've expected her to die for several days now. All her remaining kids are with her and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren. I can't be there, but I'm so very very thankful I got my goodbyes in last week when I saw her. As I was leaving her bedside last week I told her I was going back to Canada and she responded with "When will you be back?" Then we exchanged I love yous. I'm so so thankful.

(Memaw last year when I was down there, 2009)

7. To be honest, I assumed my last three trips to Arkansas were my last time to see Memaw. But this time, I'm relatively sure was indeed the final one. She is 94. Thankfully she's been lucid up to now.

8. Deborah, who hasn't seen Memaw since she was four, got to sit by her bedside too. A couple times Deborah was briefly all alone with Memaw. When I walked in Deborah was stroking Memaw's arm. I was touched by her tenderness and sweetness. I was also touched by Memaw's gentleness. I'm sure she didn't know Deborah from Adam, but she smiled lovingly as if to tell Deborah she was special.

9. My book, which was dedicated to my dad, was a big hit with him. I just realized I've not posted since holding the first copy of my book, don't count the cows. It's a lovely little book, I must say. Chock full of mistakes though, typographical, grammatical, layout, etc. 66 mistakes. Yep, I counted 'em. And that's just the ones I caught. Very very hard on my anal retentive tendencies.

10. School's back in session and this mama is very very happy about that.

11. My work is going well. My friend Shelly pointed out that I never mention my job. That's because I want to keep it. Have you read about the people who've lost jobs because of saying things on the web? I don't want to be in that number. However, I love my job and am thankful to have it.

12. The sky was spitting white stuff today. What's up with that? It's September.

13. Rachael's boyfriend was over last night. He went into her bedroom. I jumped up and went in there and said, "Excuse me Rachael, is there a boy in your bedroom?" They both turned toward me as Rachael said, "He's just looking at my cds." I said, "So it's true, there is a boy in your bedroom? I thought we had some sort of house rule about this." While she and I talked around Scott, he left her room. I felt powerful and smooth.

bragging is what beppies do

Roman has grown since I saw him. It kind of hurts to look at pictures of the babies. Isn't he losing his baby look and getting all-big-boy-looking?

And here is his art work. I think his fine motor skills are really good for a two-year-old.

He loves his little toys and carries something like this horse and cowboy around most of the time. Christopher did some of this so this is sweet to me not only because it's Romie Boy, but also cause it takes me back to Christopher's young life. He was sweet, just like Roman.

 
And here's the little Avery Claire. Doesn't this picture scream, squeeze me?

And this last picture is of me. Just throwing that out for comparison. . . .

Avery and Roman pics

Roman's first time to play in the snow. Yes, snow in Arkansas.

And this little skinny-minnie is Avery. Don'tcha just love the gummy grin?

 

And here's one for Roman's wedding....

I miss these babies.

Roman, the main man

It was wonderful to see Romie Boy again. I was a little "too present" for his comfort, especially in the beginning. He liked me in small doses but would be overcome with rudeness when he got up in the morning and I was still there. He took a precious amount of time warming up to me, but he finally did. Not before I'd said, "well that little t-u-r-d," a few times though. I said this rude comment when he countered my, "Good Morning Roman" with "Umph," which I interpreted as "Get outta my house."

 
This picture was made on my first evening there. He liked the I Spy quilt I made for him and really got into the game. It kept him occupied for quite a while.

 

On my second morning there, he came into the living room where I was sitting with his quilt draped over my legs. He rushed at me, grabbed his quilt and gave me a royal "Umph."

Roman finally warmed up to me, but not until I'd invested a bit of time. He loved playing outside, going for walks, and feeding the ducks with Beppie. I eventually became a friend.

Roman loves playing in his backyard and he and his daddy do it lots. But in a pinch, when Daddy wasn't around, Beppie could fill in. (I have several pictures from this little outing. When Rachael looked at them she said, "You're so pulling a dad-moment with those black socks and white runners.") Rudies (that's Dykstra-ese for "rude ones") abound in my life. :-)

 

Roman is a loving brother to Avery. I never saw any jealousy or ill-will, just love and affection. On my first morning there, I took Avery out to the porch swing. Roman started crying "Baby, Baby". It was kind of heartbreaking that he was afraid I was taking his baby.

Once when Avery was starting to fuss in her swing, Roman ran to the swing, dug around Avery and found her pacifier. He put it in her mouth and tucked her blanket back around her. Avery stopped crying and Roman beamed. It was precious.

 

Roman loves the outdoors and loved when we did outdoorsy things. This wagon ride was a bonding moment for us.

Roman is just 2 years old. But he can spell his name and knows many letters of the alphabet by sight. I'm pretty sure there's a college scholarship in his future.

When I left him this past Sunday, this is what he was doing; lining up his little animals in a nice clean circle or straight line. Then we drove off, and he cried, "Beppie, Beppie." I cried. And I just cried again as I typed that.

I Spy With My Little Eye Quilt

 

 

First, cut lots of squares out of cool fabrics.

Carefully and with much love, sew fabric squares into long rows.

 

With lots of sweet memories and grandmotherly affection sew the rows together. Iron after each row, thinking "whazat?" as you do.

Enjoying the process and hoping for lots of good memories to be made, admire the work thus far.

Carefully lay the quilt top on the dining table for all the family to gather around and play I Spy With My Little Eye

... a hot dog

... Ronald McDonald

... children building a snowman

 

 

... and whatever you do, don't overlook that Arkansas Razorback.

 Enlist the help of Trudy, the quilting diva, to make sure it turns out just right. Back the quilt in Uncle Christopher's football pajama pant fabric. (Sorry I never got those pj's to you, Son.)

Trim the quilt in plaid fabric that was originally purchased to make a suit for newborn Roman. (Sorry about never getting that suit to you Romie Boy.)

Finally, fold the quilt with much joy and satisfaction knowing it's ready to make some memories, Beppie and Romie Boy style.

PS I spy with my little eye ...

a grand piano ...

a green gecko ...

a swing in an apple tree...

Sweet Sweet

A couple more photos of some sweeties.

Thursday Thirteen re Avery and Roman

  1. I have a new grand-daughter and can hardly wait to meet her. Avery Claire was born on September 1 and weighed 8.4. She is beautiful and perfectly charming -- all babies related to me are.

2. I will be with Avery and Romie Boy all of October. Isn't that so so special? I can't wait to play I Spy, have a picnic, bake cookies and go for walks with Roman. We will have so much good bonding time, because that's what Beppies do.

3. I can't wait to hold Avery and sit with her in the porch swing. She'll be one month old and plenty old enough to think I'm the softest Beppie going.

4. Roman was traumatized (in Beppie's sense of the word) in a church nursery recently. Not his church's nursery, but another one. Now he's afraid of his old fun, familiar nursery.

5. I'd like to visit the nursery-worker that traumatized him and give her a piece of my mind. Because I'm mature and grandmotherly, I'd weigh my words really carefully. I'd say something like, "I'm Roman's Beppie," and then I'd kick her really hard in the shin.  

6. But I won't be visiting her. And she can keep the shin guards at home.

7. Every day I'm getting closer to finishing Roman's I-Spy-With-My-Little-Eye quilt. I have to say it's not very pretty, but I'm hoping it'll be very fun.

8. Hannah's bedroom is right next door to my sewing room. We meet in the sewing room nearly every night to play like we're playing with Roman.

I spy with my little eye a donkey dressed up all snazzy-like.

I spy with my little eye a monkey with an umbrella.

I spy with my little eye a puppy.

If everything goes according to plan, this quilt will be Roman's forever-attachment to Beppie and give him hours and hours of fun. Lordy, I hope. I'll be sorely disappointed if he's not interested in I Spy with my Little Eye.

9. But I would never kick him in the shins.

10. It's been a long time since I saw Roman. The last time we saw Roman he was in the "whazat?" stage. He's long past that, but in our minds he's still there. In my and Hannah's evening I Spy game, we always point at something and whisper, "whazat?".

11. Roman is very loved.

12. He talks in his sleep. Isn't that cute?

13.  He loves Madagascar, the movie. He laughs in all the right spots. They went to the zoo on Sunday and instead of calling the zebra a zebra, he called him Marty.

I know I'm going past 13, but it's Roman...

14. Often when I'm talking to Stephanie on the phone, I'll hear John Mark and Roman playing and laughing in the background. I love John Mark for that. I really really love him for that.

15. Today at the hospital a nurse took Avery away to take her blood. Roman cried and said, "No no!" to her.

16. The first time he saw Avery he touched and patted her and rubbed his chubby little fingers on her head and said, "tickle tickle."

17. That sweetness is almost too much for this Beppie to contain in her heart. It makes my eyes leak.

Roman is 2

Little Roman is 2 now. Happy Birthday Dear Romie Boy. Happy Birthday to you. I love you Little Man.

Happy Fathers' Day

This is my hubby Gordon with our three girls. He's an amazing father; I couldn't have chosen a better father had I tried. I'm very thankful for Gordon and his values. Happy Father's Day, My Love.

I never thought about how much a child-in-law would mean to me. I appreciate how John Mark is a good husband to Stephanie. But his being a committed involved father to Roman (and soon Avery too) means more to me than I ever knew it would. I'm so thankful Roman and Avery have a daddy like John Mark. Happy Father's Day John Mark. Thank you for being a real daddy, not just a father.

This is my dad. I love him and know in his own wonky way he loves me too.

And lastly, Stephanie and Christopher have a good dad too. I'm thankful they do.

Pics of Roman

Today I read a super blog. Her name is Meg and this is her blog. I'll tell you what I told her; she inspired me to post more pictures. Hopefully you'll be seeing lots more pictures from me. This should help me improve my photography skills too.

But a little disclaimer: Pictures of my chillens and g'chillens in Arkansas probably won't be from my camera. Like this one, I didn't take it, but isn't little Roman adorable with his cars?

I think this one is from Easter. I can hardly wait to see this little man in October.

And here's a picture of Stephanie (Roman's mom :-)). I'd not seen this one until this morning (thanks Jada).

Stephanie's family on Easter

I absolutely adore this picture of Roman hunting eggs. Look at that little fist.

And isn't this a charming picture of Stephanie and John Mark?

Friday Foto Fun

A precious photo of my precious Romie Boy. 

And here he is hamming things up a bit. I miss this little guy so much it hurts.

Stephie Pooh's Family

Stephanie, John Mark and Romie Boy. A lovely little family, don't you think?

Labels: photos, Roman, stephanie

Roman Pumpkinizing

A lovely little family, eh?
"Hey, where did that come from?"
A year ago this is how wittle he was.
Now look how big the little pirate is.

Labels: photos, Roman

roman

The cutest thing I've seen all day. Roman, 5 months old.

 

i am lion. hear me roar.

Stephanie and John Mark had a harvest party at their house last night. Roman was a vicious lion. None of these pictures capture the claw feet. Aren't they a photogenic family?

My wonderful son-in-law is a super daddy to this lil' lion.

A lovely mom and her cub.

 

photos of romie boy

Even while I was there I could tell Roman was growing. He must have gained a few pounds and inches. He was much fuller when I left there than when I arrived. He wears stripes much better than his Beppie does.

I don't know what I'll do without this little smiley-face greeting every morning.

3 generations of love. Roman, me, and Stephie Pooh. (I had on my chubby suit this day.)

Beppie and Roman

This boy loves his mommy so much.

two lives

I'm having a great time with Stephanie and John Mark and of course Romie Boy. Steph, JM and I have laughed lots. Romie Boy is so cute, cuddly, and sweeter than honey. He has definitely charmed this grandma.

Stephanie is a woman, a real woman. Wife, mother, nurse, cook, cleaner,... I'm so thankful that she is able to be home with Roman most of the time. She only works a couple nights a week and Roman is with John Mark during those times. I'm proud of them for their priorities.

I went to Christopher's last weekend. I enjoyed him enormously. I went to his football game and mourned that I couldn't go to more. I got a tour of his dorm room and a quick tour of the campus. It was a long drive there, but well worth it.

My time in Arkansas is coming to an end soon. Stacie will be here in a couple days. I can't wait to see her. All the family is getting together at Diane's then. I'll see nearly everyone. We'll laugh our heads off, no doubt.

I miss my hubby and girls up in Canada. How I wish we all lived closer. Last night I cried thinking about leaving here. How can I leave? How can I not? Life can be so hard. I am tired to death of living two lives, having two families. I want us all together.

 

roman and his daddy

Romie Boy and his Daddy
 

 

two of roman's fans

Beppie has the special touch.

 

Uncle Chris and Roman

love at first sight

No one can possibly believe how precious Roman is. He is so very very precious. He doesn't mind his Beppie holding him -- so long as he can still see his mommy. Boy oh boy, does he ever love her! All she has to do is look at him and he kicks excitedly and smiles.

After supper John Mark held Roman and he fell asleep and slept contentedly in his daddy's arms. It was beautiful. Beautiful.

 

eye candy

Just a little eye-candy. This is Romie Boy today. Isn't he just so cute?

roman laughing and not

I couldn't resist sharing these pictures.