May 19, 2006 1pm

My dear Johannes,

Today I dug some dandelions between the house and the incubator shed and I didn’t have you to point them out to me. It wasn’t as much fun without you. It’s time to go get the mail and I don’t have to put on your shoes so you can go too. I haven’t wound the cuckoo clock since you left. The first time I gave you a bath after your mama flew to Anchorage, you giggled mischievously when I played “peek” behind the shower curtain and your boat was loaded with water to be thrown at Grandma when I opened the curtain. The only time you used the potty chair for me was before your bath. I had to read a “potty training” book while you sat on it. Then you flushed the toilet and sat on the seat for another book. After 3 books and 3 flushes, you took a bath.

For awhile you liked Playskool “Sit and Spin” (bought Mar 9 for your birthday). You spun on it or put a stuffed dog on and listened to the music. Your birthday was on Thurs. We took ham, spinach and angel food cake to Grandma Joan’s house and you blew out the 2 candles. You slept at prayer meeting.

At Uncle Micah’s wedding you stayed with Mama at the Plains Hotel after the Country Buffet rehearsal dinner. We enjoyed the wedding verses and Jared’s toast and the dancing at the reception. The snow on the way home was kind of scary. Sharon from HI and I drove the grey 1991 Honda Civic. Sunday we served lasagna to Uncle Roger and family at our Bennett house. Jen left at 7pm. Monday Uncle Roger flew away at 4:20am. That day Bethany pulled 3 dead goats.

Mar 13, Mond AM your mama and you left with Matt & Mary (Isely) for Walla Walla. Mar 20 Charity Isely brought you home in a snow storm. Since I-70 was closed she had to take the Airpark Rd. Mar 21 was Grandpa Bruce’s birthday. We went to the Nevada St. house while the inspector was there. He met the new renters, Wayne and Veronica. The house had an uneven wood floor and a water leak in the basement. For dinner Grandpa and I had filet mignon and Belgium chocolate pudding on Alan Gay’s ticket. He’s a financial counselor. Your mom helped teach piano to Ciara Benner. I think she built a snow man with you. The next day you sat on the snowman’s “seat”.

Mar 22 you tried ice skating with Bethany. One time was enough.

Mar 24 you tried to be brave on the trampoline and whispered “jump” as you barely changed positions. You were especially scared of the chicken with the “hat”. At Andy’s HS grad party May 13 you were jumping high on the trampoline. When I cleaned the garage you used the rubber mallet on a can for a drum. You like our tilapia for supper. For a short time you helped Grandma snap twigs for the fire.

Mar 29 was my 31^st anniversary. We bought some “rubber” puzzles for you on our way to Red Rocks grill. You met Christian Isely at his home on Kipling. May 30 you discovered the wheat grain in my drawer. You put one grain in your mouth then ran to the piano to play until the kernel was finished. Then you ran back for another grain. We took your picture with Benner’s Nubian goat on the hay.

You remembered James Bilisoly after the one time he carried you to the greenhouse. Apr 6 you discovered the gravel pile and we slid down together. Apr 8 Grandpa Bruce watched you in the tub while Bethany and Mama took a long hike down our road. When you came upstairs April 9 you noticed a shadow moving on the wall. The sun reflecting off the moving greenhouse plastic caused the shadow through the Venetian blind. Apr 12 you had a cold. Apr 13 you sat on the Rhino tractor and played in the gravel pile again. At meeting that night you raised your eyebrows at people. I couldn’t believe how quiet you were. Apr 14 you slept at Steve Huff’s while they went to Hawaii with Earl and Mary for their 50^th wedding anniversary.

Apr 16 we heard Cousin Dan Mittelstadt asked Karen Beagles to marry him. Apr 17 you liked playing in the empty 50 gal barrels with Grandma. Apr 18 I put a cardboard apple box over your head. When it fell off I pushed you around inside the box. While Mama and I talked, evidently you tried to sit in the box and slide down the basement stairs. Perhaps you went end over end. We heard a thump, thump, THUMP down 13 stairs. After your 5 min of crying you came to Bennett with me. You liked the bank sucker and playing at the playground. I got a $18 ticket for no chain on the trailer and I bought cracked corn at Roggens elevator.

Apr 19 you found the portable chicken (kitty) coop and climbed inside. After playing inside you had to play in the gravel pit, watch the emus, swing in the grocery cart, see the 3 koi in the greenhouse, walk around on the trampoline, and smell the apple blossoms. That night we had dinner with Barbara McCornack at “The Rainbow” in Ft. Collins before Tanya Kunkel’s viola recital. Barbara enjoyed watching you dance and clapping and saying “yay” at the end of every pause in the music. I-70 was closed on our way home.

Apr 21 you followed Grandpa Bruce when he did his chores after work. Mama left for Anchorage at 6:30pm. You cried until the exit for rental cars.

The next morning you walked into the computer room and said “Mama?” Grandpa said, “She’s in Alaska.” We took you to the Botanical Gardens. You liked watching the other children and trying to find the source of a croaking frog. At home you played with the drippy water, fed grass to the goats and chased the chickens and cats. For supper we had ham, rice, corn, scone, and banana.

Sund Apr 23 you came to my bedroom at 5am. You sucked on your pacifier. I read you books then you jumped on my bed until 5:45am. You napped 1 hr while we drove to Colorado Springs. During Bill’s afternoon meeting I had to change your dirty diaper and you had no nap. You drank a bottle of water going to Paul Wilson’s house. There you repeatedly jumped into my lap while we were on the couch. Aunt Grace gave us ice cream cones delivered to the door. (forgot the brand). At Dana’s Wessley and Tanner were noisy and you didn’t know how to play with them. Tanner fell on his head. You liked the farm set and the pull phone. At 10:15pm you went to bed with your clothes on.

Before you went to bed you liked me to read you Bingity, Bangety School Bus-a Golden book Aunt Marilyn gave us years ago. At each page you said “Bingity, Bangety”. And then there were one or two more you had to hear.

Apr 24 you watched Grandpa play pool upstairs. Apr 25 I missed my physical appointment. One hour before my new piano student, McKennah, you vomited in your crib. At 3:15 you vomited in my arms. And Mckennah came at 3:45. I let you watch the gyration of the washing machine as I taught. At 4:20 you vomited in my arms again and I said goodbye as I backed away with you.

Apr 26 Wed, you played in the window well while I dug dandelions. There was a dead rabbit in the first one so you played in the second one. Apr 27 you drank ½ bottle of milk in the AM then threw up on me. You were watching the baby kittens while you sat on my lap when your mama came back from DIA and her Alaska trip. You liked the stuffed eagle she brought you. Apr 28 you felt good; woke at 4am. Apr 29 Jared, Ben, Camrianne , Dave and Andy and Beth Ann came for spaghetti and pool and talking. Your mama vomited at 10pm.

Sunday Apr 30 Totems brought pork to the mtg room and your mama recorded singers. I walked to the Belleview Park creek with you, Kevin, Susanna, and Elianah.

May 1 you rode in the van to Watkins Grain Elevator and watched them load the sunflower screenings into the barrels. Your mama taught my 6 piano students and you sat on Jordan’s motorbike. May 3 we enjoyed the organ concert starring the music major and the lady who can only play with 1 or 2 fingers and no leg motion.

May 5 we cleaned for Lelia’s bridal shower. May 6 Danielle wanted me to buy some cottage cheese in Bennett. Two driveways before I returned home a large PU pulled onto Schumaker Rd. and hit the driver’s fender on the Plymouth Acclaim. It would cost $2500 to fix it. Farmers Union offered us $1000 and today the tow truck came and pulled it away. I spent all morning trying to siphon out the $30 tank of gas. I never could reach gas. I sucked on the tube and the fumes hurt my lungs. Jim the tow man said the reason was because the tank had a ball in it to prevent the gas leaking out if the car was inverted. Later the Farmer’s Union said they would send me $30. Ho-ho.

May 7 Totems brought roast to our house and recorded singing.

May 9 your mama accompanied my piano students at their spring recital. [added 8 8 2013]

Katie Jordan 6 Alfred Prep level A Solo Book p. 20 "I Like You".

Matthew Jordan "Up on the Housetop" Alfred Prep level B Christmas Joy p. 6

John Jordan 10. "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle", Faber's Playtime level 1 More popul p. 6

"This Land is Your Land" Faber Playtime level 1 popular p. 4

Amy Jordan11 Sailor's song. Faber's showtime p. 8-9

The woodchuck chucks wood Faber Showtime p. 16-17

Ciara Benner 11 Young Hunter Faber level 1 lesson p. 13

Go tell Aunt Rhody Suzuki p. 22

[2020: 5 9 2020 we visited Cousin David Rochat & Lisa Miller & new Alex at their home in Castle Rock.]

May 12 we bought Aunt Bethany a ticket from Denver to Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

May 13 we sold one Scottishfold/Siamese mix kitty. While I was standing at Bilisoly’s trampoline, you ran to me and said, “Grandma, I wuv you.” Other times in greeting a favorite, you said “Tickle, tickle” as you tickled my face and neck.

May 14 at the rest home sing you walked from room to room with me but you were afraid of the old people. They delighted in seeing you. At home you can’t go down basement stairs without jumping or doing some daring act. You fed the goats weeds then walked and ran up our road, sometimes in the ditch. You poked at a clump of animal holes.

May 15 you planted 2 Hubbard squash seeds and watered them using a laundry cup dipped into the cat water and walking about 25 ft between the water and the seeds. That kept you busy a long while.

May 16 I bought a suitcase for Grandpa Bruce to use when he flies to Sao Paulo May 31. And I brought you a heavy cardboard puzzle that you can poke the piece out through the hole in the back. Grandpa Dwight and Joan came for fish and marion berry pie (sent by Gr. Rochat with Danielle).

May 17 Karen Romer and I took you to DIA. Your mama learned she could carry 70# to Brazil instead of 50# on United. You arrived home May 18 8pm but your luggage stayed in Chicago! I helped Deana prepare for the carpet cleaners who came today May 19.

I’m sure I’ll be reminded of you in many more ways. When I cook, you want to “see” so I scoot a chair over for you to watch. You like to scoop biscuit mix and strawberry-apple flakes together. Of course, when I built a fire you added the sticks. “Marble works” by Discovery toys kept you occupied. If I pee, you like to flush. You are quiet if we read the Bible or someone plays the piano.

Now that you are two, I won’t see you as much. Since you can talk better and better we’ll talk on the phone. Aunt Bethany is through her Firefighter II class next Tues.

Love

Grandma-- Dorothy Weeks