As always in the Skwirut household, there is a lot going on and lately I've been feeling slightly overwhelmed. But I think a lot of that has to do with your run of the mill jam packed summer.
Ben's "staycation" was wonderful. I think I prefer staycations over vacations. You have all the comforts of home, and all the time to do fun things as a family in the area or just relax at home. We did so much over that week, let's see if I can remember most of it.
It started with my birthday weekend; my 28th birthday is now in my top 5 birthdays :)
That started with a visit from my mother in law with gifts, breakfast with friends and my Mom at my favorite breakfast restaurant (on my birthday and the next day with my dad and sister), Splash Station with friends, and Bubba Gumps on Navy Pier, just me and Ben. I got a lot of wonderful gifts, a Sony A330 DSLR camera from my boys (way to go Ben!!!) and from my Dad a gift card to American Girl Place to get the 2010 girl for Vada. That Sunday my Grandma cooked amazing pork chops for dinner and we had cake.
Other staycation activities:
Joliet Splash Station 3 times.
Out to eat a few times.
Brookfield Zoo.
Hanging out with family.
The mall.
A time or two of me getting to go do something by myself, like a hair appointment :)
And Ben got to come with to Thatcher's 18 month check up. Thatcher gained 2lbs in 3 months and grew 2 inches in 3 months. His height is now off the charts. And finally I didn't get asked "How tall is your husband?" because he was sitting right there!
I know I say this a lot, but Thatcher is developing by leaps and bounds every day. I feel really blessed to be home with him and get to witness it all. He says a few things more consistantly now, like "bye" "ut-oh" "ma" "okay" "ball" "yeah" and his all time favorite "all done." The other day I was in the breezeway on the phone and I hear "MA! MA! MA!" He was in the dog crate and wanted me to see lol. He is so stinking smart, he understands so much and you can just see the wheels turning in his head. He signs "please" like there's no tomorrow because he knows that usually gets him what he wants. I am so excited to see him interact with his little sister, I know he is going to adore her and be so helpful. He'll already go get a diaper and bring it to me when I ask him for it :)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Grandpa
I've been putting off posting about my Grandpa, mainly because I know it will make me cry to write it, but also because every time I click on my blog I get distracted by the song playing and Thatcher's picture ;)
I was beyond blessed to know all 4 of my grandparents growing up, and I was close with all of them. Kara and I would spend 2 weeks every summer down in Pekin, IL visiting my dad's parents and sister, besides seeing them here and there throughout the year (they passed away a few years ago and I still miss them terribly). We lived closer to my mom's parents so we got to see them more often. I was always in awe of what wonderful grandparents they were, never having known their own grandparents who stayed in Poland.
I can't ever remember my Grandpa raising his voice. Sometimes Grandma would raise her voice to him, but never to us grandkids. He was always so excited to see us, and loved his whole family so deeply. He was in WWII and we were fortunate enough to hear some stories from him, like how his front teeth were knocked out in hand to hand combat by the butt of a Japanese soldier's gun.
One of my favorite stories is how they were both out dancing one night at Polonia Grove, my Grandpa looked across the room and saw my Grandma, turned to his buddies and said "That's the girl I'm going to marry," without ever meeting her before. 6 months later he fulfilled that prediction and married my Grandma.
They were devout Catholics and loved God and prayed all the time. These last few months when he and Grandma were in and out of the hospital, I would pray with them every chance I got. One time when I went by myself to visit him in the hospital, I walked in the room, his eyes got real big and he said "What are you doing here?!" I said "Why do you think?" And very sheepishly he answered with a grin and a chuckle "To see me." Sigh.
No matter what gift you gave him for a holiday or his birthday, he acted like he had just opened the keys to a brand new car. Whether it was a tie, jar of cashews, or a toy slot machine. On his 75th birthday I photoshopped a picture of his head onto the body of a Chicago Bears player's body that was on the front page of the Chicago Tribune. He was tickled pink.
I am so thankful that Grandpa knew Thatcher and that Thatcher got to meet his Dzia Dzia. Kara brought Thatcher up to Grandpa's casket, and without a word or any nudging from anyone, Thatcher leaned over as if he wanted to kiss his Dzia Dzia. I will do my best to always share stories and pictures with my children Grandpa, so they will know you as if you are still here. Thank you for loving me so unconditionally and for being the best husband, father, grandpa and great grandpa I have ever met. A piece of my heart went to heaven when you left us.
Always yours, GiGi.
I was beyond blessed to know all 4 of my grandparents growing up, and I was close with all of them. Kara and I would spend 2 weeks every summer down in Pekin, IL visiting my dad's parents and sister, besides seeing them here and there throughout the year (they passed away a few years ago and I still miss them terribly). We lived closer to my mom's parents so we got to see them more often. I was always in awe of what wonderful grandparents they were, never having known their own grandparents who stayed in Poland.
I can't ever remember my Grandpa raising his voice. Sometimes Grandma would raise her voice to him, but never to us grandkids. He was always so excited to see us, and loved his whole family so deeply. He was in WWII and we were fortunate enough to hear some stories from him, like how his front teeth were knocked out in hand to hand combat by the butt of a Japanese soldier's gun.
One of my favorite stories is how they were both out dancing one night at Polonia Grove, my Grandpa looked across the room and saw my Grandma, turned to his buddies and said "That's the girl I'm going to marry," without ever meeting her before. 6 months later he fulfilled that prediction and married my Grandma.
They were devout Catholics and loved God and prayed all the time. These last few months when he and Grandma were in and out of the hospital, I would pray with them every chance I got. One time when I went by myself to visit him in the hospital, I walked in the room, his eyes got real big and he said "What are you doing here?!" I said "Why do you think?" And very sheepishly he answered with a grin and a chuckle "To see me." Sigh.
No matter what gift you gave him for a holiday or his birthday, he acted like he had just opened the keys to a brand new car. Whether it was a tie, jar of cashews, or a toy slot machine. On his 75th birthday I photoshopped a picture of his head onto the body of a Chicago Bears player's body that was on the front page of the Chicago Tribune. He was tickled pink.
I am so thankful that Grandpa knew Thatcher and that Thatcher got to meet his Dzia Dzia. Kara brought Thatcher up to Grandpa's casket, and without a word or any nudging from anyone, Thatcher leaned over as if he wanted to kiss his Dzia Dzia. I will do my best to always share stories and pictures with my children Grandpa, so they will know you as if you are still here. Thank you for loving me so unconditionally and for being the best husband, father, grandpa and great grandpa I have ever met. A piece of my heart went to heaven when you left us.
Always yours, GiGi.
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