Happy 93rd Birthday!

It was a perfect day. I arrived at Hubbard Hill at 10:30 this morning and helped Mother get ready for the day. I walked her down to lunch (her breakfast) and told her that because it was her birthday, I'd play piano while she ate. That makes her day!!! (I've played two other times during dinner time and it's fun knowing the residents like it. If getting stopped by every person I walk by as we go for our walks, is any indication, I don't doubt that it makes them happy or I wouldn't do it.)

We returned to her room but Mother suspected nothing. She was thrilled and very surprised when  Paula and Ron arrived followed by Tom, who had picked up the cake. Paula and I got things set up while Ron and Tom entertained Mother. Soon, Carl and Erin showed up and we took Mother from her room next door to the Celebration Lounge. Let the celebration begin!!!

Mother, Paula and Ron greet Carl and Erin Williams

"You girls! What have you done???"

Erin and a "famous" resident, Paul Randall

Laura Carr and Brian Williams

(Looking forward to a wedding next year!)

Carl and Erin Williams

Laura,  Mother, Debra, Ron, Carl, Erin, Brian

New Grandma Paula shows pictures of her new grandson, Elliott Grey Bowman to Sharon

Tom and Keith

Mother was thrilled to see Granddaughter Kelly

Mother reads cards from Great-Granddaughters, Layla and Marley

Kelly brought gorgeous flowers from her folks and sister, Gayle

Kelly and her Uncle Ron

Brent (Feb 28th birthday) and Jen (March 4th birthday) 

Keith and Niece Kelly

Resident Curtis Brown, Keith and Mother

Angie Paris and her Mother, Treva

(My cousin, Treva lives in Bristol but we seldom see each other.)

Treva and I are thrilled to see each other.

We really love each other very much!

Resident Phyllis Kauffman visits with Mother.

Phyllis went to Central Christian Church while our kids were growing up in that church.

She was thrilled to see Brent and Jen since she has known them since birth.

Phyllis then attended Trinity Methodist where Tom and I attend.

Now, Phyllis is at Hubbard Hill and has become friends with Mother.

Small world....and I love it!

Treva, Angie and Mother share stories.

Curtis Brown, Paul Randall and Brother-in-Law, Ron Bowman

Bless this man!!! He visited with these men for a long time and I know it made their day!

Ron has a gift for talking to anyone about anything and making them feel very important!

Thank you Ron!!!

Laura and Kelly

Mother and my dear friend, Nila App

Layla, Brent, and Jen visit with Ron

Marley takes a moment to pose for a picture

Phyllis LOVES Tom. It was Phyllis that told "the powers that be" at Trinity

that Tom needed to be a Worship Leader. (He did for 3 years thanks to Phyllis.)

Brent and Jen visit with Ron.

Layla and Marley finish a jigsaw puzzle.

Larry and Nila have known Paul Randall for a long time.

Larry has made DVD's on Paul who is a world champion rower

and  on Paul's experiences as a bomber pilot.

Visit www.storiesretold.com for more of Larry's work.

It was a great day. Mother was thrilled to see so many family members. It was wonderful she didn't know anything about her party because she would have stressed over it.

Everyone was gone and the room put back together by shortly after 5:15. I walked her down to the dining room and said my goodbyes.  She told me several times what a wonderful day it had been. She also told me that she thinks she will sleep well tonight.

Thanks to everyone who made today special and

thanks to everyone who sent cards.

She will enjoy rereading them for a long time.

Happy Birthday Mother!

Feeling Proud!

The windchill is below zero, but then, what's new. Today started out like any other day until there was a text from Brent that Layla was to receive an award during an assembly on "Wednesday, February 28". Hmmmm. I called the school. It was today. Tom and I grabbed our coats and headed to Southside. Layla and Marley have received several "lifeskill" awards during their school years and being 'good at life' makes me proud. My grandkids all make me very proud. I got to hug and kiss on both girls and that made my windchilled heart very warm.

 

Both awards were for "common sense".

One was from her 4th grade teacher.

The other was from her music teacher.

Layla does have LOTS of common sense.

Proud PopPop

Hi Marley!

My sweet girl!

Getting to see my girls wasn't in today's plans but seeing them was better than anything else I would do today. I am proud of them both!.

 

Tom and I are home again until we meet Kathy Thies at the Mayberry for lunch. It will be good to see her and hear about her new great niece.

 

In the meantime, I just looked out the window and, in spite of the snow, it made me know that spring will be coming...some day!

February Babies

Kendra and Brent are both February "babies".

Kendra Leigh Kattau was born on February 13, 1973 at 1:10 p.m.. She weighed 9 lb. 7 oz and was 22 inches long.

Kendra's first trip to Northridge High School

 

 

 

Kendra and her proud parents

 

(Found hand-written by Tom in black marker on a legal sized yellow pad in Kendra’s baby book:)

                                                A+
                                 By John David Carlisle

He interrupts

the correcting

of examinations

to mark

his daughter's

first day at home

 

He has learned

without a professor

how to hold

this fragility

 

Under her head

his hand

and next

to his heart

promoted

by a father's

 smile

she takes

top honors

 

 

Brent David Kattau was born on February 28, 1977 at 6:55 p.m. He weighed 6 pounds 14 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long.

Brent gets a "talking to" from his daddy

Kendra and Brent with their daddy

 

 

 

Taken during our year in England

 

 

 

 

Our family in August 1978 upon our arrival in Elkhart

after living in England.

"My how they've grown!!!"

 

Kendra and Brent have grown into wonderful adults. They have provided Tom and me with moments of

great joy

pride

frustration

excitement

fatigue

exhilaration

and

boundless love.

 

Until we became parents, we had no idea what

'love'

really meant.

Our children taught us about love.

We are so blessed.

 

Happy Birthday to Kendra and Brent!

 

 

Wild, Wacky & Wonderful!

I haven't had a chance to get to Noblesville since October so I am making up for it this month. Tom and I were here for a couple of days last weekend and are here for a couple of days during this week. Last week was Blake's wonderful performance as Peter Pan and Nicholas making the only points in his Upward basketball game.

This weekend brought great joy for the family as my sister, Paula and her husband, Ron, became grandparents for the first time. (They have certainly been "grandparents" to my 3 Noblesville grandkidlets since they were born because they live only 8 houses from Kendra.) Elliott Grey Bowman was born Monday, February 10th to Andrew and Miranda Bowman. They live in Bellingham, Washington which is a long, long way from Noblesville. Paula and Ron will be heading that way March 3rd and Aunt Heather hopes to make a trip that way soon. If I had photos of that beautiful baby, trust me, I would put them on my blog!!!

During the two weekends that Tom and I have been here, the boys have been keeping busy around the house with this and that.

Silly Boys

 

 

Then there were puzzles to complete with PopPop Tom and Pops:

 

"I think I can finish  it PopPop!!!

I have the last piece!"

 

That was one 'busy' puzzle!!!

 

 

There are always K'NEX to put together:

 

 

And books to read:

 

Blake (9 years old)

Nicholas (10 years old)

 

Then there were the "Alexis" activities:

 

Last night, Tom, Paula and I attended the "Friendraiser for GiGi's Playhouse Indianapolis". Kendra is on the Board that is working diligently to open this new facility. The "Friendraiser" is for families, friends, professionals, and people interested in continuing the education and support of the Down syndrome community. We are very excited that this GiGi's Playhouse will become a reality soon!

 

Tonight, we were able to watch Alexis during her therapeutic horseback riding session at Agape Theraputic Riding in Ciscero, Indiana. What a joy!!!

 

"Walk on!"

 

"Whoa!"

 

It has been such a wonderful couple of weeks.

I'm so proud of these kids. Best part: they are just plain good kids!

 

On top of all of these fun things, TODAY is Kendra's 41st birthday!

How is this possible???

She definitely deserves her own blog entry

but here is a teaser:

 

Happy Birthday Kendra Leigh Kattau Smith!