Nico messing about while Nana is out of town!

Nana, please come back, look what these guys are doing to me!

OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Today is our 40th anniversary and we are celebrating in Barcelona. We have been here 3 full days enjoying the city. We have taken bus tours, walking tours and bummed around on our own. We have had fideau, sangria and are still looking for tapas. Tomorrow we depart for France. Ron is a little nervous about the driving thing. We have rented a car. Wish us luck.

I would love to add some photos but I am afraid that if I do I might lose all my pictures. Perhaps I can go this far for now and add some later. I do wish everyone I love could be here to share this anniversary.

SUNDAY WITH THE KIDS

Anthony and Alice got all dressed up for an outing today.

We went to Costco with Rick, May and Nico. From there we stopped by Target where Nico sampled various Jumperoos. He loved them all, so we couldn't decide which to purchase yet.

I can't believe that we are leaving for Los Angeles tomorrow. We fly from there to Barcelona on Wednesday evening. I will miss these little ones so very much.

Here is that family photo I have been promising of Ron and Amy with their babies.

SATURDAY AT HOME WITH THE TWINS

Today was relaxing and enjoyable. We had another delightful day with Anthony and Alice.

Aunt Cristina and Uncle Aaron stopped by for a visit.

In the afternoon Ron and Amy left Poppi and me to babysit for a couple of hours. I just loved having Alice sleep on my chest. Heaven for sure.

NICO AT HOME

We surely have not forgotten Nico. Rick took this amazing natural light photo.

I also added some snapshots of Nico with his cowboy kerchief on his cow skin rug. Actually the rug is in Rick's office. Rick and May had us for dinner on Saturday night while Ron, Amy and the babies were still in the hospital. How I am enjoying my grandchildren!

PAPERS SIGNED AND INSPECTION PASSED

It is difficult for me to begin to realize we have just bought a home in Camas, Washington. It is at Lacamas Lake, not on the lake, but very close by. There is a owner's only park and boat dock. I will attach some photos.

Leaving Ashland will be somewhat traumatic for me and Lisa says the same. So many dear friends will be missed that I can't even begin to count. However, moving nearer to family is the number one value at this time. Missing any time watching the grandchildren grow up would be insane. So a new chapter of our lives begins. We are already planning Friday night pizza/movie times and spaghetti on Sundays. There are miles and miles of hiking trails right from the house and exploring Washington and the Columbria River area should be great fun. We will have room for as many guests as possible and look forward to sharing our new place with them. My kids have suggested a family reunion because we can put up so many people.

We sign the final papers on April 7th when we return from our Barcelona/southern France trip. We haven't even put our Ashland house up for sale so there will be tons to do including closing down our place in Palm Springs. Most of all I plan to be here in Portland helping with all the adorable babies. It is all exciting, fresh and new.

BUSY WITH TWINS

Ron and Amy are doing an amazing job here. It is difficult to imagine the time it takes to take care of two little ones. I do what I can with the cooking, wash etc. All four of us use our arms to cradle, rock, stroke, bounce and all those other delicious baby joys. But Ron and Amy are in the midst of the trenches. They handle the "up all nights" pretty much independently. I am, of course, on standby.

As for Alice and Anthony they are really good as gold. As long as they are fed and loved (which is always) they snuggle on down and sleep or give up some really excellent active alert time to all of us. We are so blessed. Last night I just had to snap pictures of Anthony sleeping on Poppi's chest and Alice and her daddy taking a nap together. Oh yes, Alice is in the pink and Anthony is wrapped in blue.

REMEMBERING DAD

This day was one of precious memories. It would be the anniversary of Dad's 86th birthday. How much he was on the minds of his four children (and I am sure his grandchildren)! Steve, Patty, and I couldn't help but remember last March 5th and our celebration of Dad.

He is so very missed, as is Mom. God, in his infinite goodness, saw fit to bless us with the parents whose love will only spread from generation to generation. I am eternally grateful.

So at 6:00pm last evening we gathered to drink a toast to an amazing man we all admire beyond words. In Portland Ron, Rick, Ronnie and I raised glasses of Premieres Cotes de Blaye. It was the best wine Ronnie had in the house. I couldn't help but think that Dad might have liked Charles Shaw as well. He often would say that about fine wines. But we offered up our best in our toast. Praises of Dave Cosley were shared among us. I know he was with us in Los Osos, Nipomo, Stevenson Ranch and Portland in spirit.

We love you, Dad!

BABIES' FOURTH DAY

As anyone who ever brought babies home from the hospital knows it is a big day.

Today was Alice's and Anthony's homecoming. They didn't like getting their hats on at all, especially Anthony. Mom was as proud as could be though, Dad too of course. As for Nana, it is all so very beautiful. Watching your own children become such special parents is just such an incredible blessing.

Due to questions on the comment page here is the identification-----Anthony on the left and Alice on the right in both pictures. And yes, it is Alice who all of us think looks like Ronnie. Anthony has the Vrooman/Pearson side of the family going. Such great fun!!!!

BABIES' THIRD DAY

Well, as might be expected, each day Alice and Anthony are a little more awake. And I hear they are even more awake at night. Ron and Amy have been lucky to get more than an hour or two sleep at night. Those little pumpkins take a lot of time to feed, rock, change, soothe and love. Their mom and dad are enjoying every second of the process, of course, but they look a bit exhausted to Nana. One must remember that Ron and Amy are my kids.

I spent 9:00 am until 2:00 with them and went back from 7:00 to 10:00pm. It was so great at 10:00 because their nurses had a slow night and took the babies just to play with them for a few hours so Ron and Amy could rest. I am hoping that is what happened. Everyone will have more energy this morning if the plan worked.

So there are a few less pictures today. The baby being snuggled this time is Anthony and we have a portrait of Alice. My favorites for today are the face to face snapshots. Those two sweeties just love to be together. It looks like Anthony is going to bite Alice's nose off. Isn't that precious?

BABIES' SECOND DAY

Still short on that family picture that I promised. Ron did take some portraits though. First one is Anthony and the second is Alice. Cousin Nico stopped in again and we couldn't resist taking another photo of the three of them. Doesn't the last photo look like Alice is saying her prayers?

We also decorated the front of the house with balloons and lawn signs expressing our joy.

MORE PHOTOS

Ok, today was very busy. Not the best photos yet. It took most of our visit to just get everyone moved to a regular room on the "mommy/baby floor". Everyone is fabulous and I promise some more portrait- like photos tomorrow. As you can see everyone is thrilled. Mike, Amy's Dad, is the man in the red shirt.

As you can see, it is Nana with babies, Poppi with the babies (sorry I cut off Rick's precious hold), Grandpa Pearson, and Amy moving to her new room (with Amy the babies are Alice on the right with the dark hair and Anthony on the left with a more auburn colored hair) . Poor Amy she had a growth on her lip that she picks when she is stressed and then it bleeds and bleeds. Well, she gave it a workover the last week. I told her nothing could make her more beautiful than these last few days. I am not sure that she believes me, but she is too happy to care.