Gramma Great's Party

We've had quite a season of traveling. This past weekend we headed off to Detroit for Chris' grandmother's 90th birthday party. Ryan and Lucie were very excited about the trip. As we were leading up to our departure, we'd ask them, "Why are we going to Michigan?" Ryan would chime out, "For Gramma Great's Party!" Lucie then liked to put in her correction, "Actually, it's two parties." She knew this because she helped me pick out her dresses and party shoes for dinner on Saturday and the big party on Sunday. This girl knows her parties.

This was the third time Gramma Great has seen Ryan and Lucie. She's been out to visit us twice, and enjoyed so much spending time with R & L. They bring back memories of her twin grandchildren, now in their 20's. Although they haven't seen her since age 14 months, Lucie and Ryan talk about Gramma Great often. She's so wonderful and loving to them – sending them care packages of stickers, drawing paper, and special treats at holidays. She sent them two full-sized blankets last year that they refer to as their "Gramma Great blankets", and use as pillows in their cribs.

We had a very nice time visiting with family, including many cousins who had never met Ryan and Lucie. R & L were spoiled with all sorts of gifts and treats from family members. They received enough stuffed animals to set up their own "Michigan Zoo" on the hotel couch. One of the biggest highlights of the weekend for R & L was staying in a hotel room just doors away from Grandma and Grandpa, and Uncle Greg and Jessica. They'd head off to breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa in the morning, thrilled to explore the hotel breakfast room in their pajamas.

Though exhausting at times, traveling with twin two year olds is always an adventure. Lucie and Ryan seek out and appreciate all the seemingly mundane aspects of travel. I've never seen such joy and excitement over airport shuttle buses, moving sidewalks, and airplane bathrooms. They could have spent an entire afternoon in the Detroit airport jumping from moving sidewalks and counting how many times the tram went by. Thank goodness for simple pleasures.

Happy Birthday Gramma Great! Here's to many more happy and healthy years to come.