celebrate

Last week, my Grandfather would have been 100 years old.

(my Grandpa, a HUGE A's fan, holding tickets to the '89 World Series, I believe. Always has a game on the TV...or Lawrence Welk)

Many of my Dad's siblings celebrated his birthday by going to my Grandparent's favorite Chinese restaraunt and bowling (my Grandfather was quite the bowler). We could not join them, as we are in Washington and the celebrating was done in California.

My Dad had to work the day of my Grandpa Brownie's birthday. He sent out an email to his children reminding us to remember him. Since we couldn't have a little party on his birthday, this last Saturday, we got together to go bowling.

We are not nearly as good as my Grandpa...okay, not even close. Most of us didn't score over 100.
My Dad had the best score of 149.

He reminds me of my Grandfather, quiet and hardworking.

Cody asked his mom to make a mohawk. Cody cracks me up. Such a funny little man.

After bowling, we all went to my parents for some of my Dad's chocolate cake and the best frosting ever. We sang Happy Birthday and Brinley and Cody blew out the candles.

To be honest, I didn't know my Grandpa all that well. We didn't grow up around them and moved closer to them when I was in high school. I do remember the vacations we took to go see them. We would always get there late at night and slept on their concrete kitchen floor in sleeping bags (NO WAY I could do that now).

They always had these pastries in their fridge that they would heat up and put butter on (like they weren't fattening enough). They sell these pastries at Costco and everytime I walk by them, the thought of my Grandparent's pop into my head.

My Grandpa always had a stash of mini 3 musketeers. Every afternoon, he would have one. If we were at his house, he would always share with us.

He would pull out his harmonica and play for us, it never seemed to be planned, just whenever he felt like it.

I think every one of my cousins remember his wet sloppy kisses. We still joke about these, and once in a while, we give one to my Dad.

My grandpa always had a nice garden and a huge cherry tree (my brother loved shooting birds out of that tree). He always took good care of his yard, I'm guessing that's where my Dad got his green thumb.

Happy 100th Birthday Grandpa!

We love and miss you!

And because I don't get pics of my little family all together that much (what a bad mom), here is one of my girls and my sweet hardworking husband, whom I hardly ever get to see much of.