We had lists of things to see and do while they were here for twelve days!
The downtime was also on those lists and arts and crafts for each of them.
Keeping three kids on the go – with rest times.
Bode and the crafts he made – along with his stuffed shark.
While he did the crafts by himself – we had to read a lot of the instructions to him so he would understand them. He will be in second grade in the fall.
He did very well and made the contraption to pick up items from the floor.
Taylor with her crafts – the picture frames they all picked out the colors.
She would much more like to ride a horse but she was game and made the things you see here
even stitching the leather notepad holder.
She is our reader – books and books – always reading.
This is Cassidy’s element – she loves her arts and crafts!
She is so talented – making things – she made the cards – painted the switch plate covers –
painted rocks and copied the American flag that President Bush painted – exactly like he did.
Cassidy’s drawing with a pencil.
Cassidy’s other little girl drawing.
The list was long – but downtime was important and it showed in the arts and crafts.
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One is the oldest granddaughter while the second is the youngest granddaughter with her twin sister.
One is in her third year at University of Lynchburg – Enviromental Engineering major.
One is in the fifth grade – so caring she calls or zooms her grandmother almost every day.
One starts at the attack front position for the ranked lady soccer hornets soccer team.
And had played in 13 games as a freshmen – started her Sophomore year and again as a junior.
One moved to sit beside her older cousin at the soccer game.
Both are dear to our hearts!
Cassidy with MARLEY – the newest addition to her family!
Always smiling – always caring – always protective of her brother – just who she is. Cassidy
Maddy – a junior at the University of Lynchburg – Environmental Engineering – playing soccer and carrying above a 3.80 GPA! Next to Papa in the picture.
Number 13 – left front attacker – crossing a dribble with her left foot to get around a defender. On a top 25 team in the Division III national polls.
Granddaughters – oldest to youngest – youngest admires the oldest – both exceptional to us –
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Many times when her father was alive – we would go on vacation with them –
then when he passed away – we continued taking GIGI with us where ever we went.
The grandchildren all loved their GIGI – and today – the grandkids call Sherry – MORMOR – Swede for MOTHERS – MOTHER
You see GIGI ( Barb) was Swede through and through – her mother was born in Sweden.
In Mount Jewett where they lived – was an early Swedish settlement from immigrants.
The men in 1886 built a replicant of an eight-sided Swedish church – and the one in Sweden still stands as does the one called Mount Nebo in Mount Jewett – in NWPA!
Every year in that little town in NWPA – a Swedish festival is held.
Both Barb and Bill at one time were the king and queen of that festival.
GIGI – holding Taylor – Maddy holding Cassidy – Sarah and Ella
Memories of GIGI for the grandkids was she was always laughing – smiling – red cheeks –
Holding her hand as they walked or climbing up and sitting beside her.
Learning how to sing a song in Swedish and singing it to her.
Those are memories not lost – but retained in our minds.
GIGI is ever there watching over us.
Thanks for reading Papa’s World – where memories come alive and live on.
I have always been a history buff – ancient history – but also family history.
My sister and brother were fifteen and ten years older than me.
So when I came along I had missed the family fishing trips to Canada each year.
And my sister became the family photo taker and camera buff.
All the family history was passed down to my sister’s daughter and then suddenly she passed away.
Unknown to me – a friend of their family cleaned out everything and threw it away.
Everything was gone except the few pictures I had and my brother had.
I decided that what happened there would not happen for me and my family.
So – by being encouraged by my wife Sherry – we set up this blog – where all the family history and pictures can be in one place for all to see and read.
Sherry and Papa ( Tom)
She has encouraged me to write it down along with pictures for future generations to look back on.
Our family before Bode
I have two sons from a previous marriage – Troy and Shawn who still live back in NWPA.
Shawn runs an energy company contracting out to the state and large power companies.
Running state audits and working through state grants to insulate senior citizens’ homes from the harsh winters.
He covers the entire western part of Pa.
Troy – built homes from the ground up – anything you wanted he could do.
After years of doing this ( he was in high demand) Shawn talked him into coming to work for him –
His business has grown to almost seven days a week.
Troy runs the insulation and energy side while Shawn concentrates on the Audit side.
Troy is learning that side and taking tests and courses to also step in and help.
I am very proud of both these boys and trying to talk them into taking a break and coming down for a visit.
Shawn and Trisha ( our daughter-in-law)
Winterizing homes in Eastern USA for the elderly has become big business – conserving energy
on the power grid for major corporations in order to provide heat and electricity –
He has tapped into a business that for him is seven days a week.
He constantly is looking to hire people and train as auditors.
Troy started working for him a couple years ago.
If anyone is looking for a career out there – contact me – fitztdf@aol.com and I will put you in contact with him – he travels the whole western part of Pa. North to South.
Shawn ( young one ) and Troy – my sons back in NWPA!
For them I write – post pictures and give them memories that I still have in my head.
Ryan – our oldest grandson
Ryan lives in Tenn. and we have stayed in touch with him – he manages a hotel
and recently opened a bar – restaurant business with two other partners.
We attended his wedding a few years ago in Nashville, Tenn.
He has visited us once a few years ago – he served his country
and is like his father(Shawn) making his own way in the business world.
Dylan Shawns youngest son
He just spent four years in the service and is now out – living with his mother or in that area.
He reminds me so much of Shawn.
While we do not often get to see either one – both are in our memories and hearts.
Hoping they can come and stay with us in the future.
Bode – the youngest grandchild from Tammy – is the only boy with five granddaughters.
He is all boy – cars – trucks – bikes – and always without shoes and socks – even in winter! LOL
Bode’s parents and sisters and their puppy Marley.
Debby and Mike and their three daughters – Ella – Sarah and Maddy
This is my “WHY” for writing this blog – my memories put forth in words and pictures for all these grandkids and our children to read in the future.
Life in pictures in words – memories – past – present and future to come.
I want to thank my wife who is the driving force behind this blog.
SMILES – LAUGHTER – PEACE – HARMONY and POSITIVE THOUGHTS!
That is WHAT PAPA’S WORLD is all about.
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From that little one to an adult and a junior in college. Maddy was the first and now there are six.
TAYLOR and Papa.
Cassidy – TAYLOR – Bode
TAYLOR – today – who is going to be taller than all the rest – no longer my LITTLE ONE!
ELLA ( tiny) and Maddy
ELLA ( tiny) now a Freshman at Randolph College
We called her the nickname from her father – she always had a soccer ball or basketball in her hands.
Today – she is the starting midfielder for the college – playing almost every minute of the games.
Tiny now is taller than Sherry who is 5′ 9″.
CASSIDY and Taylor
CASSIDY – the caring little mother to Bode.
Today she is the smaller of the twins – with the biggest heart – always protecting Bode when not arguing with him! LOL, They should have been the twins they are so much alike!
She is the one who counts the days down to when she can see us – who zoom calls every week.
A little fireball with the biggest heart of them all.
SARAH and Ella
SARAH – Bode – Cassidy – Taylor and Ella.
Today – Sarah is almost as tall as Ella who is 5’10” – the fashion girl who wants to go to NYC!
The twins adore her and whenever we get together – they are three peas in a pod.
She is only a Freshman in H.S. – already was a contender for prom queen.
She is her own self – funny – outgoing – and just might have been a very good soccer player like her sisters.
Cassidy BODE Taylor
Taylor BODE Cassidy
So much like Cassidy that they should have been the twins – yet – he is growing –
and someday I think will be taller than Taylor who he is built just like at seven years old.
Full of energy – always on the go – wear no socks or shoes most of the time.
Or a jacket or gloves!
Out of the six grandchildren – the only boy.
Bode Ella Cassidy Taylor Maddy and Sarah
Here today at Christmas day for presents – memories from the past to the present.
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The twins turned eleven years old – Cassidy and Taylor birthday!
Yes – they are twins – and they had to be taken out early because Taylor was taking all the nourishment!
Today – Cassidy is normal for her age but Taylor is going to be real tall – like her MORMOR –
Swedish for MOTHERSMOTHER!
Sherry is 5′ 9″ and she will be taller than that.
Bode – who turns eight is also going to be tall and here is cousin Sarah – who at soon to be 15 – is gaining on Sherry!
We went back to NVA to watch the little ones and the puppy Marley – and Sarah came for overnight!
MARLEY at six months old – a puppy who likes to play keep away and run and run.
She is adorable and is a Goldendoodle – judging by her feet – she will be very large! She is so friendly and loving.
But – you must make sure to keep things out of reach as she tends to chew – thus she stood up and grabbed the hat of our son in law and that became history! LOL
And at night – after all day with MARLEY and the little ones – sleep was welcomed! LOLA very proud grandmother – Sherry with all four – missing the two oldest who are in college – best birthday among
the cousins celebrating by a road trip with Debby and Sarah into Washington D.C. to the city ZOO!
Before the Pandemic hit – we were flying to Phoenix for a health conference – then it was canceled –
So we have had all this money tied up in two vouchers!
Fast forward – “Why not use part of them for flying back to NVA – instead of driving – to watch over the kids!”
Their parents had a out of state ( Vermont) family wedding – no children – adults only – and we said yes –
we would come up for the long weekend – and stay with them and the new puppy – MARLEY!
MASKS ARE REQUIRED IN THE AIRPORT AND PLANE THE ENTIRE TIME – I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT!
We had to arrive early at North Myrtle Beach International airport – and there in was a problem.
The week before we had taken our drivers test ( stressed out for two months) for N.C.
Hint for drivers test – study all the signs and know what they are for even if they are blank!
There are special shapes!
And we passed – new drivers license ( paper form) and real ID to come in the mail.
We put our VA. license away ( mistake number one) and our new paper ID in our wallets.
(mistake number two) Keep both of them until in the mail you get the hard real ID!
Even though we had TSA clearence – we had to go thru as if we were fakes and maybe
causing a problem – which meant everything had to be searched( I had no problem with this)
and mistake number three ( take your passports when flying)!
All of that could of been avoided – it was our own fault – but we made it only to worry ( STRESS)
the return from NVA through a much bigger ( DULLES) and more stringent examination due to the fact
that the agent was training a new agent! ( NO PROBLEM WITH THAT!)
And yes it was stressful but we made it!
Waiting at MYRTLE BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR OUR FLIGHT ON AMERICAN AIRLINES!
It all worked out and now I can laugh at it!
Just a senior moment – we knew better but hey – we are old and sometimes not as organized as we used to be!
But – we arrived – our daughter picked us up and we were on our way to their house – the grandkids and MARLEY!
MARLEY and CASSIDY – the new puppy and one of the twin girls – fraternal twins!
This was the beginning of a six day stay – two days with the parents – leaving and coming back –
and four days with grandkids and the puppy – a GOLDENDOODLE – who is going to be very large!
But – in our senior wisdom – we had plans to keep them busy and with these three –
it is when you get done “PAPA – when are we going to do the next thing”?
They are busy all the time except when on IPAD’S or BODE asking for my phone!
Then it is complete silence – except MARLEY who as a puppy gets into everything!
All has to be put up out of reach but she is really good – goes to the door when she wants out –
and plays run and hide and stay out of reach when you try to catch her to bring her in –
towel off her extra big feet – I found holding dog food and saying treat she would come! LOL
Taylor – who is on her way to being six feet tall – 11 years old – Bode – who never stays still except on my phone – Marley who is only six months old and is going to be huge – and Cassidy – who although shorter – is right on spot being a 11 year old!
Taylor is the quiet one of the three – always doing what told – and is the one who tkaes full care of Marley.
She is a sweetheart – sometimes you do not even know she is around!
BODE is in motion all the time – all boy and in the dead of winter – no socks and no shoes and outside!
Soccer – riding bike – golfing with his father – smart and outgoing – but can be a handful!
Cassidy – sweet – does crafts all the time – loves her MORMOR( Sherry) and calls and zooms all the time.
She takes after Sherry and is by her side all the time.
It broke my heart when it was time to leave – she came out for the third time to say goodbye –
hugs and asking when we will see her again –
then as we are pulling out to go to the airport – inside the garage standing on the step –
peeking out to us so she could see us leave – so lonely – and not wanting us to leave!
She misses us more than the other two!
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This picture has Debby – sitting on ground in front – Tammy – with her arm around Sherry’s fathers shoulder – Sherry’s mother second from Tammy’s left in back row – and me holding Nathan – this was taken almost 32 years ago. Cassidy looks just like her mother Tammy !
We have always been a close knit family – Barb and Bill have passed on – all the cousins have children.
Sarah – who now is almost as tall as Sherry – has always wanted to dance.The twins as babies – Taylor and Cassidy – then Sarah Maddy – Debby and Ella – who starts college and will pay soccer against Maddy.
Taylor – our grand child who loves to ride horses.
They are growing up so fast – I still call them the little ones!Bode – blond hair and a smile – who searches me out in the morning to sit on my lap!The little ones when they were samll but just a few years ago.Maddy – Ella and Sarah – grwoing up – no longer the small ones – young ladies now.
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Marcus – Cassidy – Tammy – baby Bode – Taylor THE KROHNS!
They now live just outside of Leesburg Va. about 30 minutes from where we used to live.
Whenever we do go home – we have a bedroom and bath in the basement – along with a suite of other rooms.
There is a walk out to the fenced in back yard.
Out there is a fire pit – huge patio and a pergola – multiple chairs and some rockers and a outdoor table and chairs we left behind.
A Boce court that was there when they bought the house – really beautiful setting!
The back yard fountain next to the patio and fire pit.
Now – there is a new addition – MARLEY – the goldendoodle – Tammy’s dog – that she wanted – a big dog to walk!
Marley and Tammy – waiting for the storm to roll in!
She has always wanted a dog – but it had to be THE DOG!
The kids love her – Taylor has a way with her as she does with horses!
She – Marley – has now become a major part of the family! Here – she sits looking at the neighbors Mastiff – she runs over and they race back and forth on each owns side of the fence.
Marcus has now taken up cross country on his bicycle – going 89 miles through hills – gravel roads etc. in a race with other’s – finishing well up in the pack for his first race!
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