So writing this letter is pretty hard for me to do. Not because I don’t have fond memories, I do!  But because I fear that I won’t be able to tell you eloquently enough just how much I love you and how grateful I am for the life I’ve had.

I have lived a very blessed life.  A life filled with love, learning and acceptance.  I have grown up with the benefit of having a two-parent household.  And, amazingly enough, my parents have loved each other throughout the good and bad times.  How lucky am I to have had this experience?

My mom is an amazing woman, a woman you reared.  A woman who you single-handedly raised to be an adult.  For this I am eternally grateful.  When I look at you and your life, I see a woman who was forced into a life where you were required to become a single parent well before your time.  You worked hard and raised three beautiful children who were, essentially, the same age.  I can’t even imagine!  But you did it!  You did it all while working full time, paying a mortgage, and providing your children with the things they wanted and needed.  I admire you so much for this.  It must have been such a challenge at times to keep it all together.

I have vivid memories of Christmas Eve at your house from years ago.  I remember all the cousins getting together to open presents, eat dinner, and play.  (I always wanted to eat at the bar! But usually had to sit at the kid’s table) We use to have so much fun.  I know this was a wonderful time in your memory as well, having your house filled with the sounds of laughter and family.  One memory in particular that I have is when I received a huge Barbie head for a gift.  This head was equipped with lots of makeup, a girls dream!  So instead of the intended use, Barbie, I decided to make up myself, my clothes, the carpet, my cousins and just about anything I could find.  Needless to say, the makeup disappeared from my Barbie head by the next morning.

Each Christmas Eve as we drove home, I remember watching the moon in the sky and searching for Santa’s sleigh.  These are memories that I cherish each Christmas.

I also remember many days spent with you picking blackberries, peaches, and oranges.  I loved playing on your jungle gym in the backyard and playing hide and seek with Jeff, Shauna, and Kathlyn.

But now, as I write you this letter, I’m holding my daughter, Ella, in my arms and realizing that it is because of you and the family you’ve created, that I am blessed with the life I have.

You have worked hard, so hard.  You’ve lived a life filled with family, The Heavenly Father, and friends.  You’ve created many knick-knacks to remember you by.  Both my children have a blanket, made by you.  And each holiday I take out my decorations, the porcelain Christmas tree, Halloween cat and hat, Easter bunnies, and think of you.

And when I speak my daughter’s name, Ella, I am reminded of my history, your mother, you.

Writing this letter is extremely hard.  Time is never enough.  I don’t feel like I’ve had enough time with you, and neither have my children.  You, likewise, didn’t have enough time with Grandpa Bryan.  But you will!  You are about to embark on a whole new journey one filled with eternal love and happiness.  For you, I’m excited.  But for me, selfishly, I feel sad as our time together begins to come to an end.

I love you Grandma.  I love you.

And I thank you so much for the life I’ve had.  I have been so blessed.

With my love,
Nanette

Goodbye Grandma Bryan.

Jeff King has spent the last couple years as a co-principal of an Los Penasquitos Elementary School. He’s reinvented himself numerous times over his past twenty-something years in the business. He started as a 2nd grade teacher, spent time doing administrative work in the district office, as a middle-school math teacher, then a middle school vice principal, elementary school principal, high school principal, and finally is finishing up his years as an elementary school principal yet again.

But more importantly my father has begun a revolution. It all started with a dream, and morphed into a reality.

His dream? He believed that all students could learn and be successful.

Revolutionary:
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of a revolution, or a sudden, complete, or marked change: a revolutionary junta.

The day he became principal at Los Penasquitos Elementary School, he began a revolution. Over the past eleven years with the tireless effort of all Los Pen teachers, support staff, and their two principals, Jeff King and Damen Lopez, Los Pen went from a school that was “doing as well as could be expected” educating some of the poorest kids in the community; to a school who routinely out performs their other more affluent neighboring schools.

Revolutionary:
–adjective
2. radically new or innovative; outside or beyond established procedure, principles, etc.: a revolutionary discovery.

Educating poor and underprivileged kids is my dad’s life work, his passion. I, as I’m sure many of his colleges, have gotten an earful on more than one occasion about why it is possible, important, even critical for all underprivileged children to be educated.

He along with Damen believed they had a message that must be shared with a larger population than just one elementary school. They believe that all children in low-income areas have the right to be educated and successful. As a result, Jeff and Damen started TurnAroundSchools, a company providing training for teachers based on the following principals:

* All children, even those who live in poverty or who are learning English, can be academically successful and attend college.
* Public K-8 schools have to power to make that dream a reality.

Now my dad along with Damen is educating teachers, principals, and superintendents in masses so they can begin revolutions at their own schools.

Jeff King.

A man who can be quite impossible and rarely takes no for an answer.

A father, husband, educator.

A revolutionary.

–noun
1. a person who advocates or takes part in a revolution.

Since I cannot be there on Thursday to toast my dad at his retirement party, I’d like to say the following:

You are a man who has changed the lives of thousands of students and teachers. You believe in the unique ability of each individual you come across. Because of you and your leadership, many children who previously did not have a chance, do. Because of you, lives have been changed. Because of you, I am a better teacher. Because of you, this world is a better place.

The mark you leave on education is one of high expectations, a belief that all students can learn, hope, and success.

You have inspired teachers to greatness, and children to dream dreams they never believed they could. Because of you, we all are better.

As I’m sure your staff is, I am saddened to see you retire. But we know you have great things in store. We know that you’ve been called to make a difference in many more children’s lives.

You have begun a revolution.

And we are so proud.

***************************************

Now it’s your turn… do you know Jeff King? Is there a funny story that sticks out in your mind that you’d like to share? A thought or toast? Please leave a comment and I’ll make sure he reads each and every one. Thanks!

Jeff King-A Revolutionary

57.

Yikes.

He’s gray now, and blames my teenage years for this sudden onset grayness that somehow happened right about the same time I got my first boyfriend and went off to college.

Whatever, it couldn’t have possibly been all my fault!

I was an angel.

Perfect.

Ahem.

My dad doesn’t have a sense of humor, at all!

(My dad, guessing eClaire’s gender)

Well, maybe a little bit.

He’s a fantastic photographer.

(eClaire in the same dress my mom and I wore at the same age)

(BC on his second birthday)

(A picture of me last Christmas)

(Uncle J with the kids)

My dad is about the best grandpa a kid could have. He takes time every single day to talk with my kids. He video conferences with them through our computers and watches as they dance around the house in their goofy ways.

I can mail one of BC’s scribble drawings down to San Diego and and my dad treats it like it’s the best artwork he’s ever seen.

He’s everything you could ever hope for in a grandpa.

My kids love him more than just about anything in the world!

My dad often says that I’m quite stubborn. That I’m a bit pig headed and quite strong-willed.

Needless to say, we weren’t all that close throughout my teenage years.

Funny because I get these stubborn-like traits from my dad. Every. single. one. of. them.

It’s true.

You would think that he would have ‘got’ me a bit better than he did when I was a teen.

But now that I’m an adult he frequently tells stories, to anyone who will listen, about those days. He tells about how I created a power-point presentation of sorts when I was 12 (with a flip chart et. al) and lots of pictures and diagrams and directions on how to properly wash a dish. Then I called a meeting and presented it to the family.

Or about the time I ran over lightly tapped the neighborhood boy’s butt with my Toyota truck when I was 16 because he stuck it out at me in the middle of our culdesac and wouldn’t move.

And dare I say, that I usually detect a hit of pride in his voice as he tells each story?

I eat it up! My dad is almost perfect in my eyes and he has a huge impact on the way I choose to live my life.

He is a great man.

I guess I feel as lucky, if not more, than my kids. My dad loves me more than anything in the world. Until recently I never really understood this type of love. And then Hubby and I had our own daughter.

Now Hubby’s eyes light up and heart melts with just a bat of eClaire’s eyes.

It’s only now that I realize I had, and will always have, the same effect on my dad too.

This is something I will never take for granted.

A dad’s love.

How lucky am I?

Happy Birthday Dad!

57 and still kickin’

Not Bad!! You may make it to a ripe old age yet!!

My dad is an old, old man!

BC:  Is it my birthday yet? Is Nonnie coming?  Why is she coming?  Is she coming for my birthday?  Why?  When is Nonnie coming?  and on and on and on…

eClaire also was quite excited to see her approach our van at the airport.  When it dawned on the otherwise mute child of mine that Nonnie was here, she went absolutely crazy!

eClaire: (Hands covering her ears screaming) NONNIE.  NONNIE. NONNIE.

The whole way home.  Uh, can we say excited??

A few days ago my dad was talking to the eClaire on the phone.  He loves to get a reaction, good or otherwise.  So he asked eClaire:

Grandpa:  eClaire, Who do you love more? Grandpa or Nonnie?

eClaire:  NONNIE!

Grandpa:  OK, let’s try this again, Who do you love more?  nonnie or GRANDPA!

eClaire:  NONNIE!

I guess she made it clear who her favorite is.

Sorry Dad. It ain’t you.

Nonnie makes an appearance

Four Generations Great-Grandma B, Nonnie, Smiling Mom, BC, and eClaire

Uncle JD with BC, Cousin CJ, and eClaire

Favorite Pictures of the Day

Camping with Grandpa

We flew.

Alone.

No Hubby, just one stressed out mommy and two kids under two.

I swore I’d never do it again.

Until Yesterday.

I subscribe to Ding, Southwest’s super cheep fairs. Each day a ‘ding’ comes up on my computer with the latest deals. Yesterday Ding flashed up and said that there were $25 one way tickets from my city to San Diego. Um, ya. I had to jump on that deal! My sister in law from San Diego is having her second baby sometime in May, plus the kids miss Nonnie and Grandpa! We had to go.

So after purchasing 2 tickets, one for eClaire and me and one for BC, and paying a mere $142, we’re booked for a flight to San Diego late in May. I’m so excited!!

So if you are flying in California, late May on a Southwest flight, you might want to bring your ear plugs!! I can’t guarantee my kids will have had a nap prior to getting on the plane!

On another note:

OK, seriously. What can I do with this? Will I have to start sewing eClaire into her clothes at night?? (An idea, btw, given to me by a genius mom friend!)

I swore I’d never do it again!

Everything went smoothly in the morning, Grandpa made his infamous pancakes for the kids, which the love! He also changed a poopy diaper. The first one ever, I think. And got my kids ready for the day.

My masters of deception, I mean kids, never cried once throughout the day. I wish that happened for me! Around 10:00 BC hopped onto his trike, eClaire hopped in her stroller and off they went to our local park. From the park, the following dialogue occurred, via Grandpa’s Blackberry.

Grandpa:

“Because of eClaire, I’m a chick magnet at the park with all the soccer moms. This is cool. Dad”

Me:

“Very cool!! Hubby should go to the park with the kids more often!”

Grandpa:

“OK, so BC decides to join a preschool class. He walked up to the teacher, took her hand, and said, “Let’s go see the tractor.”. She said, “Are you the new boy in the class?”. He said, “Yes!” And they were off to see the tractor.”

At 1:10, ten minutes after nap time:

Me:

“So, did you make it? Are they asleep? ”

Grandpa:

“Sound out. Not a peep. I have yet to hear eClaire cry. What’s so hard about this?”

Me:

“Funny, that’s what Hubby says!”

Well, it turned out to be a fantastic day, all were happy. Grandpa took the kids to get their first bowl of ice cream at our local Cold Stone Creamery. Delicious!

We had a wonderful time with him. Today BC and I were talking and he said, “Mommy, when I go down to San Diego, I’m going to go to Nonnie and Grandpa’s house.”

“Yes,” I said, “This summer.”

“Also, when I go camping. I’ll go to their house.”

“That’s right, BC. When we go camping, we’ll also go to their house.”

I think it is so special that my kids have a grandpa. I didn’t grew up with one, and had no idea what exactly I was missing. There is a bond there. An unexplainable, unconditional love that the kids and I treasure.

Thanks for the quick trip Dad. It was very memorable!

Grandpa loves taking pictures and has taken up photography as a hobby. Here are some of his shots from this trip.

Chick Magnet

BC remembered this deal and had the seat nice and prepared for Grandpa when we picked him up. BC is now in bed, but not nearly asleep @ 9:30pm. Tomorrow’s going to be a very long day. I foresee an early nap in BC’s future!

BC has been telling Grandpa about the monsters in his room. I guess I’ve let him watch Monster’s Inc. a few too many times. Well, Grandpa brought something up to solve that problem. I’ll write a post on that later.

eClaire, who refuses to crack a smile when she’s not 100% comfortable with the person talking with her, was woken up from her sleep, and immediately went to Grandpa and began having a conversation with him in the way only a one year old can! It was so sweet!

This is going to be a good few days!

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

Grandpa’s Here!!

Getting right to the point BC says: Hey Grandpa

Gpa: What!

BC: I’ve got to go poo-poo.

Gpa: So, go.

BC: No, I want to go at your house.

(We live in Northern California and Grandpa lives in Southern California, 7.5 hours away)

Gpa: Sure, come on down, and you can go.

BC: OK, (turning to me) Mommy, we need to get in the car and go to Grandpa’s house.

The conversation continues for another minute or so about the same topic.

Finally Grandpa says: Hey BC, do you think you can hold your poo-poo until you get here? It’s a long drive.

BC: (5 second pause and an incredulous look on his face) NOOOO, Ew, that’s gross, Grandpa. I’m not going to hold my poo-poo. YUCK, (turning to me) Mommy, Grandpa told me to hold my poo-poo. Eww!!

Essentially BC was saying, “What kind of Dumb-A** tells his grandson to take his poop and put it in his hand? Does he think I’m stupid??” At this point all of us were in tears laughing. It couldn’t have been funnier!

Two days later, BC, Grandpa and I are still telling the story to anyone who will listen. I figured that I should probably document it so I remember to tell this tale at his graduation, wedding, or any other place I deem fit.

Do you have a funny “potty humor” story? Please leave me a comment telling me what was said or done!

What!? Hold My Poo-Poo?