Summer is Trying

Here it is almost Memorial Day (end of May) in the States, and summer still hasn't raised it's pretty head.  Spring flowers were a bit of a bust - too much rain and too little sunshine and warm temperatures.  I think there has only been one day when i haven't worn a coat or jacket to work this year!!

But I'm sure warm weather will come soon, and I've pulled out the beach chairs and umbrella in anticipation of the arrival.  I think Matt and I are going to the beach this weekend so we will enjoy some nice music, great sunshine, the sounds of the ocean, and a walk along the boardwalk.  This year I'm getting some cotton candy - I missed it last year!!

The circus was in town a month or so ago and it was fun to go see all the animals do their tricks.  There were high wire walkers, aerialists who hung by their hair, strong men, elephants, goats, dogs, even a pig or two.  And clowns of course!  A very nice Ringling Brothers circus to be sure.

We went to see Cher in her concert tour.  You won't know the music, but someday you may hear it and enjoy both the new songs and the old ones.  It is nice to know someone my age is still rocking the stadiums and selling out the crowds!!  She just added another 35 tour dates because she has sold out every single show.  I got some wonderful pictures too.

Well, I'm going to go back to work now.  It's a tough job - but somebody has to do it, right?  I love you both very much and miss you every single day.  You are never, ever, far from my thoughts and I know you will find me someday and be in my arms again.

Love and kisses
Grandma Nici

Happy Birthday Emmerson

Happy birthday my beautiful little granddaughter.  You are getting so big I would hardly know you.  What a great job you are doing on the new bicycle you got for Christmas.  And your swimming looked like you are doing so well.

You know, my birthday is tomorrow.  When you were born I hoped you would wait just one more day so we could celebrate on the same day.  Unfortunately you were very anxious to come out and meet your brother so OUT you came to play.

Taylor, you too are doing a great job on your new bike and I am proud of the ribbons you got in gymnastics again this year. What a smart and fun young man you have turned out to be.

As always, I love you both very much and miss you.  We will see one another again, I just know it.

Love
Grandma Nici

Winter Weather

What a winter this has been.  New York has had almost 30 inches of snow this year in seven snowstorms.  Grandma's car has been buried in snow for at least a month!!  Lots of boots and mittens this year for sure.

It has been nice seeing all the things you are both doing are doing.  Another gymnastics medal for Taylor!  Hurrah!!  And both of you learning to ride your new bicycles Santa got you for Christmas.  Another Hurrah!!  You are both getting so big I can hardly believe it.

Swimming weather will be here before you know it.  I think we will go to the beach again this year several times and, I hope, down to a nice tropical island like last year.  It would be fun to sail around the Caribbean again on a big sailboat.

I miss you both very much.  My friend's grandson is learning his ABC's and I remember Taylor when he said them for me so I could take a video.  I showed it to little Ian, and he pointed and laughed, then said his ABC's with you.

I love you very much and hope someday to see you again.

Love,
Grandma Nici

Merry Christmas Babies!

Merry Christmas Taylor and Emmerson! Taylor, you are such a big boy now, and all your front teeth are back in. What a beautiful smile you have.

This is our third Christmas I have not seen you or talked to you and it is an awful feeling.

I hope your Merry Christmas was just wonderful. Grandma had dinner with her friend and his daughters and grandchildren who are about your and Emmerson's age. It wasn't like having you there, so I thought of you a lot. I had a great car and a spaceship I wanted to give you and a princess doll for Emmerson. I hope you got some presents you wanted from Santa Claus.

Miss you my darlings. New Years is just a day or two ago. I hope it is a new beginning and I will see you soon.

Love

Grandma Nici

December 2013

I have tried to get your address so I can send you some Christmas presents, but no one seems to know what it is. I asked Grandpa Nick and Linda, but haven't had an answer.

Please don't think I don't love you and think of you often, because I do. I think of you almost every single day. I can't begin to describe how much I miss you.

I went to Ireland for Thanksgiving, and realized I was very close, but still so far. How wonderful it would have been if you had been able to come to Dublin and see me.

Another year is almost over. It has been almost three years now. I am so afraid you will not remember me, Taylor. And Emmerson never knew me, so I would be a stranger. Maybe you can try and remember for her and tell her about me.

Merry Christmas my darling children, you are everything in my heart.

Love, Grandma

July 2013 and Happy Birthday Taylor

July 4th and lots of fireworks. We saw them from the top of a tall hotel - so we could see all three barges full of fireworks in all the colors. Grandma loves fireworks!! When Taylor was little he loved the pretty colors but didn't like the sounds. We would sit inside watching the fireworks on television. He would always want me to record them so he could watch them over and over. Emmerson - do you like fireworks??

My friend and I went on a long vacation down in the British Virgin Isles. We sailed on a 40 foot sailboat for 7 days, going from island to island. The first day on the sailboat was Taylor's birthday and I thought of you all day, wondering how your birthday was. I saw the pictures later and you looked like you had a lot of fun.

Happy Birthday Taylor!! A big "7"

Grandma swam in the ocean, walked over a lot of rocks, and sailed the boat all by herself for a little while. The weather was wonderful and I really liked it.

I saw The Sleeping Beauty ballet early in the month. Emmerson - you would really like this ballet because there are a lot princesses in pretty dresses - you should go see it whenever you can.

I love you both and miss you.

Grandma Nici

June 2013

Well, as long as I am catching up - let's see what June has in store, shall we?  Firstly - it's been a whole year since I broke my arm and wrist - and it is doing pretty well.  Still stiff from time to time, but I have about 90% usage so I can't complain too much!!  I have enough strength that I've let my hair grow longer again and you need wrist strength to hold the hair dryer!!!  Now - what's happening this month??

First, a lovely play with John Turturro playing the lead role.  He's a famous actor, and his wife played his wife in the play!  The Master Builder is an Ibsen play - you will learn about that playright in school.

Then my friend's birthday, so we went to Hastings-on-Hudson and stayed with friends in a HUGE mansion with 27 rooms overlooking the Hudson River.  It was quite special!!

We saw The Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary concert in Philadelphia, going there and back on a train.  Then went to see Swan Lake, the ballet - a magical experience.  We had some other plays and movies too.

But the best thing is making plans for vacation this year.  We are chartering a big sailboat and cruising the islands around Tortolla where the pirates used to live.  Maybe I'll see someone with an eyepatch and a sword??

You have been on adventures too.  I hope you remember me, Taylor, and you can tell Emmerson what it was like to have a grandma who loved you SO much.

Love you and miss you my darlings,

Grandma