The Kassel Family Project Life 365

As a surprise for Laura, we stopped at Coldstone Creamery for ice cream after I picked her up from school.  Laura had chocolate ice cream with M & Ms and I had the “Coffee Lovers Only” Signature Creation (coffee ice cream, roasted almonds, Heath toffee bar, and caramel).  It was super yummy!  About halfway through eating her ice cream, Laura yelled, “This is a super awesome treat!”  The college student who was working there got a big smile on his face and a good chuckle out of her.  He said, “I think that’s the most excited I’ve ever seen a kid over eating ice cream.  That’s awesome!”

The Hendersons gave us their old LeapFrog Leapster and three games to go with it.  Their sons have outgrown it and Jenna thought that our kids would enjoy it.  After finding a new power cord, we got it out today for the first time.  Laura loves the “Cars” game.  John didn’t play with it as Laura wouldn’t let it go, but I predict he’ll be enjoying it quite a lot as well.

Andy returned home today from his trip to the Chicago area.  He brought a few things with him from Grandpa Blume’s house.  Among them were one of his watches, a coffee grinder, a radio, his bible, Grandma Blume’s wedding dress, and the below.

This is one of those things I didn’t expect Andy to bring back, but I love it.  It’s a shadow box and in the center is a picture of Andy’s great grandparents (Grandpa Blume’s parents).  Surrounding the picture is the bridal veil and a small flower arrangement.  I love this type of thing and I can’t wait to hang it up.  It is amazing and beautiful and I will definitely cherish it!

Laura’s special good morning picture for Daddy…

The awesome….  John is watching his first Star Wars movie!  He LOVES it.  I mean LOVES it.  He is freaking out over the ships, the guns, and Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber.  I think I’m in heaven.  (BTW, Dad, this is my first picture with the Rebel and, oddly enough, I meant for John’s head to be fuzzy while the background is clear!  I’m in LOVE with this camera!)

The not….  After daycare, I needed to stop at Moser’s (a local grocery store) for milk, bread, and pepperoni.  John started to complain that his tummy hurt.  He’s potty training and I figured he had to go the bathroom.  So, I ask, “John, do you have to go potty?”  He says, “Yes, Mommy.”  I take one step and he proceeds to vomit FOUR times.  He finishes vomiting and is crying because he’s covered in it.  Not to mention, it’s all over my hands and the cart.  Despite that, he says, “My tummy feels better now Mommy.”  So.  NOT.  Awesome.

Andy’s Grandfather, Grandpa Blume, passed away early Christmas morning.  He lived a good, long life.  I never knew him well, but I loved Grandpa Blume.  All you had to do was see him with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know the type of man he was.  They all adored him.  His Memorial Service was today at Geils Funeral Home in Bensenville, IL.  Unfortunately, the kids and I could not attend with Andy.  Kristena did take a few pictures, including one of the altar.  Andy said the service was very nice.  I’m really sorry that I missed it.  I’m grateful that Andy could go and have the opportunity to say goodbye to Grandpa Blume.

While sitting at work today, a memory from the Summer of 2004 popped into my head.  We had gone to the Chicago area to visit Dave, Kristena, and Avry.  We stopped in to see Grandpa Blume for an afternoon.  He was so excited to see us and spent the large part of the afternoon answering tons of questions that Andy had about their family tree.  It was amazing watching Andy in such awe listening to Grandpa Blume.  It was one of those moments that you don’t want to end.  The afternoon flew by and we were all disappointed when it came time for us to leave.  Andy admitted later that he could have sat there for hours longer just listening and taking it all in.  I suspect that Grandpa Blume could have sat for hours longer just talking about it all.  His excitement that someone wanted to know the answers was infectious.  Kristena took this picture on that day.  (No, that isn’t Laura in the picture.  That is Avry as Laura wasn’t even a thought in our minds at that point, though I was surprised to see how much Laura looks like Avry did back then.)

I’m so thankful that I have memories of Grandpa Blume like the one from that sunny summer day in 2004.  Goodbye Grandpa Blume.  We love you and we will miss you.

…oh, how I love you!  Thanks to friends who told us all about Amazon Prime and Amazon Mom, I am enjoying another 4 months of free two-day shipping on anything that is eligible for it from Amazon.com.  That wonderful feature coupled with Amazon’s Subscribe and Save are just brilliant.  We are saving almost $6 per case on John’s Pampers Easy-ups alone.  In this wonderful box, there are another two cases, totalling 144 Easy-ups, and I only spent $38.38.  You can’t buy that particular case size of diaper in the big box stores.  I can only buy cases of 60 Easy-ups and they are roughly $25 per case.  Plus, I don’t have to worry when I get close to running out.  I just log in to Amazon, change my delivery date, get free shipping, and another two cases arrive on my doorstep two days later!  Oh, Amazon Prime, did I mention I love you?????

On another note, please keep Andy in your thoughts and prayers.  He leaves for Chicago later today for the memorial service for Grandpa Blume.  I wish I could go too, but it’s not possible with Laura in school.  He will get to see his brothers (Jim is flying in from South Carolina) and the rest of his family so he’ll have good support.