My Little Keichs: 01/01/2011

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

~The Gift~

Bernadetto Papili (Benny)

aka:

Ben, Dad, Pops, Gramps

Uncle Ben & Mr.Roper

just to name a few.

I'm not quite sure where to start.

How do I begin to tell you about this incredible

87 year old man,

married to my Grandmother for 63 wonderful years?
Lucky were so many of us to know him our whole lives...

His 2 children...His 3 grand children

and

His 3 special great-granddaughters!!

Grandpa had a love for his family...

and his garden

and The Yankees

and lottery tickets

and the Casino

and Pizza!!

The best was when you got a call early Sunday morning.

It would be him requesting that we all get together

at their house.

He was treating for pizza & wings!

We could never say no to him...

...just like he never said no to us.

And that smile...

...just one look & you were hooked.

You couldn't help but smile back at him.

Grandpa was someone you could trust.
Someone you could count on to show up to
your dance recital...your chorus concert

or your ball game.
~Grandpa sure had a love for his family~

Grandpa was a fighter.
He was on kidney dialysis for almost 8 years.
It was a tough road.
It had it's ups & downs.
However, he took the good
with the bad.

After Grandpa was moved to the nursing / rehab facility it was hard on everyone...Gram especially.

In June we were lucky enough to bring him home one afternoon. He sure enjoyed spending the day with his Great Grandchildren.

Did I mention that Grandpa had a love for his family?

On Monday, January 24 Grandpa was transferred from St Joe's Hospital to Hospice. Later that evening we all visited...

Gram, my Mom & Dad, Brian, Hannah & I, Uncle Mike & Aunt Barb, Danielle, Mike, Dominic & Maddy and Mike & Janine. We were all together with Grandpa...kinda like our pizza parties. At one point, someone even said, "Hey Gramps, do you have money for the pizza?"

~Grandpa had lots of love for his family~

If I only knew then what I know today...Monday was our last "pizza party." That night, after my family had left, Brian, Hannah & I stuck around for just a bit longer. We talked to Grandpa. We let him know that we were there and that we loved him. Then we said good night.

I now look at Monday night as a gift. Not many families are lucky enough to receive this gift. If my Grandpa could write a book, I know this is the ending he would have chosen. Thank you Grandpa for such a wonderful gift. One I will remember forever.

~A farewell is necessary before we meet again. Farewell Grandpa, until we do meet again~

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Girls Night

When Brian told us he was going to the Sabres game Friday night,

we decided to have a fun girls night...

...and we did just that!

Hannah requested pizza & wings for dinner.

~yummy~

Kailyn wanted to play the Wii.
For Christmas we bought the girls
Just Dance Kids Bop
for the Wii.
I'm not sure if I have more fun
dancing myself
or
watching the girls cut up the rug.

If you look close,
Kailyn's in the air
and
you can see Rusty watching at her feet.

We finished the night in our pj's.
I made some popcorn, we grabbed the sleeping bags
and we watched
Toy Story 3.
Another great Toy Story movie!
~~~~
It was a fun "Girls Night."

Monday, January 17, 2011

A Morning with Maddy

Our morning started at 7am.

Hannah made sure she was ready, with

more then enough time to spare, before Maddy arrived.

Hannah enjoyed feeding Madyson her breakfast.

Cereal, fruit & a bottle...

I remember those days:)

Big Cousin Kailyn enjoyed the morning too.

I think Jasmine was a bit surprised when she
came out of the bedroom Friday morning.
To her surprise, the baby toys & bouncy seat
were back...
...along with a baby.
What is going on??