Week in Review

Pictures from this week...

Grandma Rooney

As you may have noticed, the blog has been silent for a while.

Last Tuesday morning my Grandma Rooney passed away. I've spent the last week thinking about how much I miss her and what a wonderful woman she was. She grew a large, loving, beautiful family- 6 children, 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. We all feel a little lost without her. My grandma was the center of our famliy. She was the go-to person to get a quick update on the entire famliy, allowing us to feel that we were all so close even though we're states apart. She was the glue that held us all together. The entire family came together for Grandma's funeral and celebration of her life. It was perfect and she would have loved it.

I've also been thinking about how lucky I am to have had my grandma with me for 29 years. And I've really been thinking about the special relationship between a grandmother and grandchild as reminisce on my childhood memories with my grandma. My god, I loved my grandma! I now see my own mom and mom-in-law in a new light, as the grandmothers of my children, and I can see the unconditional love my children have for them already and watch as their unique bonds grow. I hope they are lucky enough to have their grandmas with them for 30+ years.

Helen Rooney was an outstanding woman and a very loved mother and grandmother. I hope to be a wonderful grandmother just like her someday.

Cabin Season Begins!

The Rooneys and Waltons united to kick off the cabin season!

As we drove up north last weekend it was only 37 degrees and Lake Mille Lacs was still filled with icebergs (unusually cold for this time of year). We thought about turning around but it felt so good just to get out of town and see the cabin again. Eventually it warmed up and we had a wonderful opening weekend. It's always exciting to open up the cabins, smell the pine and fresh air, and see the changes that took place over the winter. You never know what you'll find- will the power/heat/water work after the long winter? Will you be greeted by animals who have taken residence over the winter? Will there be a tree down on the land or on a cabin?
This was a very smooth and easy opening this year.

Only one disappointing change occurred over the winter. We went to the Hawk on Bay Lake to get pizza on Friday night, where we had our fabulous wedding reception, only to discover they had closed down over the winter due to bankruptcy. We are so sad! It's still for sale and hopefully will be purchased and re-opened this season.

Ethan's perspective

Ethan's new hobby is photography. He loves to use our camera and run around the house taking pictures of his most favorite things...

(trains!)

(rainy evening on the porch)

(Neighbor friend's house)

I took this one

Nana Walton Masterpieces

Just after we found out the sexes of the twins back in October, when I was 19 weeks pregnant, Nick and I thought it would be fun to keep it a secret. We swore to each other we would not tell anyone the sexes of the babes. We had a ton of fun keeping the secret and enjoyed hearing all your guesses and laughed at attempts to trick us into giving up the info.

Well, we kept the secret from everyone except one person...Nana Walton (Nick's grandma).

Before leaving for Florida in November Nana asked, "Bre, I know you aren't telling anyone the sexes of the twins, but would you consider telling me because I'd like to make quilts for them?"


Now, we were tough on everyone else and refused to spill the beans...but how could I say no to that!? Of course I told her, without thinking twice. Nana came over to show me the fabric before leaving for Florida and we were both giddy about these beautiful quilts she would be making.


After 5 months of working on these gorgeous quilts, Nana and Bompa came back from Florida this weekend and rushed over to meet Cal & Teagan for the first time and give them their quilts.

Here is the unveiling of Nana's works of art...

On the back is her signature:

Made for Teagan Kay Walton (& Calin Pierce Walton)

by Great Grandmother, Scotty

Margaret Fleming Walton

2008

We have a few other "Nana Walton Originals" around the house. Here is a picture of Ethan on his "Nana Quilt" when he was 8 months old. By the way, check out how much Cal & Ethan look alike!

THANK YOU NANA!!!

78 and Sunny!

Today was a beautiful day- Spring is finally here!!!! After what seemed like the longest winter of our lives, we are excited to get out of the house and hibernation to enjoy life again!

Grandpa & Grandma Rooney bought Ethan a new bike while we were in the hospital with Cal and Teagan a couple weeks ago. He learned to ride it that week in their empty living room (empty because they are painting). The timing couldn't have been better. He is great on the bike and loves riding to the park, shops, library and bakery. A couple months ago I was worried about his transition to a bike, in fear that he'd just want to ride in the stroller. No worries now!

Here was our day today...

The day started with a smile!

We biked to the park...
Grandpa stopped by...
Mom's view, on the way to the library...
Home again to play outside...

Mesmerized by the Mobile

Cal and Teagan love their crib mobile. This is how I find a few moments alone to escape to the computer to update the blog...

Tubeless Teagan

She did it! Teagan took her feedings vomit-free for over 36 hours. And in that time her oxygen saturation went up to 99%, from around 89%, so they removed her oxygen tube!

After monitoring her without tubes overnight she was given the OK for discharge and we brought her home last night!

Go Teagan! Now she just has to gain some weight back to catch up with her 10.5-pound brother.