Raindrops...and the color GREEN...

Hailey...
I heard you fell down the stairs and have a boo boo on your elbow. How is it today? Did it bleed? When I come, I'll kiss it for you, ok?
It's raining here. That is a wonderful thing where Gramma lives because we don't get much rain. But I know you do and then everything turns pretty when the water gives the grass and trees a drink. The color green is one of my favorite colors. What is your favorite color? Does Trinity look good when she has green on?
Did you know that when the boys and I get off the plane, your mommy is picking us up and bringing us to your house for the day and then I will sleep in your sister's bedroom, right? Can the boys sleep in your room or do you want them to sleep downstairs on the floor in the living room? Let me know, ok.
I took a picture of water on some flowers I'm growing. Thought you might like to see the raindrops up close.

Now, here's a lot of green!


Forever your gramma.

P.S.-Would you give mommy, daddy and especially Trinity a juicy kiss from me and Grampa? Thanks, sweetie!

...Oh, one more thing...

Here are the pictures I promised of my new sewing room...can't wait until one day you come here and we sew together. That will be my highlight for the year!

We're counting the days!!!

Hailey and Trinity,

Girls, girls, girls! Are you ready to have your boys come over and play? Are you ready for gramma to kiss your faces so much that you will be red? Are you ready to play outside (let's hope it will be warm when we're there!) together?
I hope so. I know I am. It's only fourteen days before we board that plane and head your way.

In the meantime, I'm thinking about all the things we should do...

1. Kiss and hug a lot!

2. Read books together.

3. Give mommy and daddy a date nite.

4. Walk to the mailbox together.

5. Sing songs.

6. Play dress up.

7. Let mommy highlight my hair again!

8. Pray together.

9. Call Papa lots of times.

...and 10. Think about when you'll come down here and we can go swimming at Sea World together and ride the roller coaster!~!!!

Now, it's your turn to write me ten things you want to do while we come visit, ok?

Forever your gramma.

How the days drift by without any words or thoughts...

Hi, Girls!!!

I miss you. I saw your picture two days ago and haven't stopped thinking how beautiful you two are and yes, you are carbon copies of your mommy!...and each other.

I've been painting this weekend...my 'shop'/'studio'/sewing room'! It's a yellow color on the walls and a green just like the green you had in your living room before mommy painted it. I love it. I would show you a picture, but my camera battery died and I am waiting patiently for a new one to come in the mail...it's part of my warranty and if I bought a new battery while I waited it would cost $40+ dollars and I don't want to spend that right now on that! So, when I get the battery in the mail, I will take a picture for you! Here is a picture before I painted it...

How are you? I heard from great Gramma Bell that you were supposed to get 2-4 inches of snow! Yuck...do you like it? I don't like to be cold at all.

Oh, I wanted to let everyone see your wonderful letter to me...

Dear Gramma,

i want you to give me a present and i'll give you my name and so i'll send you a letter for you and i'll spell mommy's name and trinty's name and the end dear gramma, i love you so much. we went to a walk gramma and we have a good time and i want to see polar bears at the zoo with you and i really want to get luch with you and go on the slides with you but i'm ganna be cold if i wear these clothes, and the end i love you soo much and we have fishies and i like butterflies. the end i love you so much even when you're at florida, the end gramma. i want to go to sesamea street with grace and jordan and gramma and i wanna see them and i wanna go to a bonfire with you gramma and gracie and jordan tell gracie if she's at house if you see jordan too tell them you want to go to sesamea street, and you listen to me gramma and if you're tired then you can do it. and i wanna go to easter with you and easter with gramma and gracie. i wanna get jelly beans in the eggs, the end. i have a turtle too ok gramma, and i love my apron, and i have summer clothes, and a barbie shirt, and a green skirt witha flower on it and a bracelet foryou and i'll give it to you cuz you don't make bracelets, and so...hummm....i have someping to color with gramma and i have bears to see at the zoo, i have nothing to say mom...

Love, Hailey

Let me answer your questions...and comments...

About a present...I want to wait until I come so I can give it directly to you, ok?

Hailey, I love you so much, too!!!

Oh, our fishes both died...Isaac and Caleb were very sad because they had taken good care of them...we don't know what happened. But it's ok.

What are you doing on Easter? WE are acting on Easter at our church...but I don't know what kind of acting yet. Please pray for gramma to be ready and not scared, ok? Thanks.

Well, I am going to go to sleep.

Have a great day and...

I'm forever your gramma.

Good Morning, Girls!

The itsy bitsy spider on a sunflower head that just finished blooming!

It's Thursday, April 2, 2009 and I just wanted to be the first one today to remind you two that Jesus, along with a whole lot of other people-mommy, daddy, gramma & grampa Ritenburg, and your great grandparents celebrate and love you very much...along with your uncle Caleb and Isaac, Josh, and Dan, too. Then there's your Sunday school teachers, your friends, and I can't even name everyone else...just know how special you are and treasured.

Today, I am thinking of some things I am thankful for...what are you thankful for?

For me, your gramma, I am so thankful for the day you were born, Hailey, and I watched you come out and the doctor say, 'It's a girl'! I jumped up and down with joy...a girl, and I knew you'd have red hair...

What color is Trinity's hair now? Could you have mommy send me a picture of Trinity, please?

I am also thankful for being able to sing. Are you singing a lot? What songs do you sing?

Why not write me a note? I loved the last one you sent...may I post it here so everyone can read how wonderful it was?

Forever your gramma.