Grandma's 90th Birthday Party

I just realized that I'm headed to Wisconsin again...and I haven't even shown you pictures of the last time I was there! It was one of those "I took so many pictures, that I don't know where to start" problems. So I plucked out a few of my favorites, and am setting this post to publish while I'm on vacation.

The top picture is of my little travelin' buddy, Thomas. It was just the two of us on that trip. It was a bit of a last minute decision to go at all, and two tickets are much easier on the budget than six. Besides, the kids had school stuff going on that we didn't want them to miss. I really enjoyed traveling with just my little one. I had several people comment, "Oh, you're so brave to travel with a baby all by yourself!" I smiled politely...but on the inside I was thinking, "This is a cake walk! Traveling with one is downright leisurely compared to what I'm used to!" :)

See the blanket he's sitting on? That's the blankey I made him in the wee hours of the morning just a day before we were to leave for our trip. Remember? It was my procrastination project! The binding corners are a bit on the round side, but overall, I'm happy with the way it turned out.

Thomas was a good traveler, but a tad cranky. When I noticed this at the airport that day, I finally understood what was going on:


Those are purple gums, folks! They were bruised from his teeth pushing through. He pushed all FOUR of his upper teeth in during that week! Youch!! Poor guy :(

But there was no complaining on anyone's part when Thomas got to see his Yaya and Papa! He is adored and spoiled by them...as he should be! I'm pretty sure they're adored right back.




This is one of my favorite pictures of my mom. I know, you can't even see her face...but I see...HER. Just the way she walks, the way she has her beloved dog with her, and the way she stands...just my mama. BTW, this "an empty" field across the street from their house. Around here "an empty field" means brown rocks, brown weeds, and maybe a tumbleweed or two thrown in. Not lush, flowing fields of grasses and wildflowers. Wisconsin isn't all that bad!


And now for the whole reason of our trip: Grandma's 90th Birthday bash. Here I am with my two younger sisters. That's me on the left, Tiffany in the middle (she is taller than me, but she's much taller than me with 3 inch heels on!), and Megan.

That reminds me, I want to do a post about Tiffany soon. I have some ammo on that gal...yesiree!

Here's the birthday girl (sitting) with a handful of my cousins and aunts standing around:

And here's yours truly with the lady of the hour. Each table had a red geranium as it's centerpiece. I love that. Grandma always...every single solitary year...planted red geraniums in her front yard. I have a big trailing geranium on my front porch, and think of her every day as I water it.

At first glance, this picture might not seem like a good one. It's a bit dark and is blurry in spots. But I really like this one. Look at Grandma...in the center of the shot, being perfectly still while life just seems to swirl all around her. I'll bet that's a bit how life feels when you're 90.

All the commotion got to be a bit much for my babe, so I laid out a blanket and just let him sit and play by himself for a while. I think we both enjoyed the break.

Here are a few more cousins and an uncle. I love the big birthday sign hanging in the background. I'm not sure who made it, but it was really sweet.

Here's Grandma hugging...someone (if that's you, sorry...I don't recognize you from the top of the head). I like this picture because it shows how Grandma hugs. Have you ever noticed how everyone hugs a little differently? Grandma always seems to sneak a hand or two in there to pat your cheek. Her hands are so soft.

I tried in vain to get great shots with my fancy-schmancy new flash with filter and bounce. This is a picture I got of Thomas as I experimented.

Here's Megan with her hubby, Tony. Aren't they a cute couple? I think so.

Here's Grandma with her best friend for...forever! She and Sylvira have known each other since high school, I think. But even if they met when they were 50, that's still a good 6 years longer than I've been alive!

It's inevitable. Every Wisconsin party (at least the ones with my family) always end up like this! Does someone in my gene pool hold major stock in a playing card manufacturer or something? I swear...people carry playing cards around in their back pocket, in their purse, in their bra! I don't think there has ever been a party without some form of cards! It's not a bad thing...just fact.

Whatcha thinking, Grandma? Is she thinking "How is it possible that I'm 90 years old?!" Is she thinking, "When are these people going to go home already?!" Is she thinking, "I'd like some more of that fish!"

I wonder if it strikes her like it does me when we're in a room full of our very large family? Does it strike her that all of those people are there for her...OF her? Does she look around and think about her husband and how it was their love that started all of this? Does she miss him in moments like these?

My Grandma Ruth Stroshane. I know the feel of her hand on my cheek. I know the careful way she chews crunchy foods. I know the way she smiles and laughs. I love the way she laughs. I know how it feels for her to whoop me in cards. I know the way her wedding band looks on her finger. I know the smell of her house, even though she doesn't live there any more. In my mind, I can hear her answer the phone with "Yyyello" :) I know that she's probably wearing a locket right this minute that contains a sweet picture of herself and her husband..."Daddy", as she calls him.

Happy Birthday Grandma. I love you!