Tag Archives: Grandchildren

The Importance of Family

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One of the most heartwarming aspects of my cancer journey has been the unwavering support of my family. Throughout my treatment, they came to visit, even traveling long distances, made meals for us, and continually checked in with me by calling or FaceTiming. I just knew they were always there for me. And spending that time with them was especially precious.

At the start of 2025 and passing the one-year anniversary of my cancer diagnosis, I set some goals for the year, and #1 was to “maximize time with family.” It wasn’t hard to commit to that, as being with them fills my heart and re-energizes me. Not surprisingly, my grandchildren’s activities are often the driver for visits, and gives me a chance to support them in their interests.

Certainly top of the list for this spring was Saige’s baptism. Erik and Katie wanted to share this special occasion with all their immediate family, so they flew back to the Twin Cities to celebrate it in the same church where they were married. Rich and I snagged some extra time with them to enjoy an outdoor dinner at our favorite restaurant.

The baptism was a private and intimate ceremony, shared by close family members. But the tradition ran far deeper than that. They had 2 vintage baptismal gowns, one made for Katie’s mom and her siblings which was now entering its third generation. The other was made for my dad 111 years ago, continuing its trip through its fourth generation! Saige modeled both, and the emotions ran deep as I felt everyone in my family history sharing in this moment.

At least 11 of us there wore the same baptismal gown

Rich and I got away for a nice weekend in a Bed and Breakfast, and on a whim we visited Carl and Chelsea at their cabin! It was a bit of a detour from our route home, but was worth it to spend the warm spring day watching the kids run around and enjoy the outdoors. The highlight – and source of great laughter – was seeing Maren and Crosby jump in the lake. The equivalent of a Polar Plunge at that time of year!

Dance drew me to the Cities for two additional family weekends. Granddaughters Mya and Isabel are both in dance competition, and I was eager to feel the thrill, drama, intensity and excitement of those affairs. I attended a full day of the weekend-long event. It all started at home with Karen braiding and styling the tight bun in Mya’s hair, and applying all her stage makeup – oh my! I loved seeing Mya in numerous dances, rushing to change costumes, waiting to go on stage and just hanging around between dances. The energy and brilliance of all the dances, from youngsters watching one another to get the right moves to polished high school dancers in near perfect precision. Never having taken dance lessons as a little girl, it was a whole new world to me, and one I loved sharing with Mya and her family.

The end of dance season always brings a big recital, so I was back to see both Isabel and Mya dance. It has been so much fun to see them progress from year after year. At 13, Mya has blossomed with confidence as well as skill, and learned the art of facial expression to express the emotion of the music. 9-year-old Isabel has moved from the faltering back row to front and center, where she craves the spotlight!

Just as important, is sharing time at home with the kids. Playing games, riding bikes, walking the dog, reading aloud, snuggling and just hanging around together.

But there are adult moments too that I savor. Karen took me to a new musical called &Juliet at the Orpheum Theater. We spent a full evening together, starting with dinner at a Thai restaurant. The play was fun, rollicking, colorful, funny and unique, depicting what might have happened in Romeo & Juliet if Juliet had lived. Filled with pop music that rang out with a skillful band and talented singers, it was an evening of uplifting entertainment, pure and simple. As well as precious mother/daughter time.

And finally, Rich and I celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary. A testimony to the person who has been with me throughout my cancer journey, and most of my life. Last year, we went out to dinner in the middle of my chemo treatments. This year it came during Rich’s radiation regimen. Life is different compared to 42 years ago, and promises more changes and challenges to come. But also more joy. More support, love, and moments to cherish. Because family is so important to me.

It Never Gets Old

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There is nothing like being a grandparent.  Seeing your children become parents and cradling that precious newborn are some of life’s greatest pleasures.

This is our eighth time around, and it is every bit as special as the first.  Our daughter, Karen, has four children ages 7 to almost 15.  Son Carl has three, from 3 to 8.  And this winter our son Erik and his wife Katie welcomed their first child, Saige Elizabeth.  It was such a happy moment for the whole family, as we have long awaited this big event.

Our flight to Seattle couldn’t come soon enough, and I readied myself with knitting needles and yarn to knit a cap for Saige on the way.  Anything to pass the time!  As soon as Erik brought us home from the airport, Katie greeted us with Saige in her arms and promptly handed her over.  It was heavenly, seeing her at last!

I had no expectations for our visit.  My whole goal was to help in any way I could and just be part of their new lives. I’d brought meal plans and wanted to free up Erik and Katie to soak up time with Saige. We would be on Saige’s time, so I was prepared for everything to be low key and flexible.

Erik had returned to work, but we all had a nice weekend together, including Saige’s first dinner out at a restaurant. Rich returned home after that, but I was not even close to getting my Grammy fix. So I stayed on for 11 days as planned. Precious time.

I admit I felt a bit rusty and wanted to get the hang of Erik and Katie’s parenting style. Everyone is different, and there are always new approaches to handling a baby. I was pleased when I mastered the art of calming Saige (deep knee bends were the key!) and was glad when I could free Katie up to attend to her MBA studies when needed.

Being the outdoors people they are, Erik and Katie wasted no time introducing Saige to fresh air. Erik had a 50k cross-country ski race, so Katie bundled Saige into the front pack and the three of us cheered Erik on for a full morning!

Katie and I ventured out for walks with Saige every day. Given Seattle’s propensity to rain, they had all the necessary gear and we headed out no matter the weather!

But the best times were snuggling with Saige. I could never get enough of her sweet face, and the tight bundle in her swaddle (something we never had!). Even in the time I was there she began to enjoy time on the floor, looking at the toys hanging overhead. I could never get enough of just sitting with her and watching.

The end of the week brought a real treat. For Erik’s birthday, Katie had made reservations at their favorite Bed and Breakfast in the Methow, a cross-country ski mecca in the Cascade Mountains. The four of us headed off for a weekend of snow and fun. I loved being part of several firsts for Saige, most notably snowshoeing and skiing! There is no doubt this little girl is going to be an outdoor sports enthusiast like her parents. Nestled snuggly in the front pack, she mostly slept through the adventures, while we relished the winter retreat including downtime in the BnB.

All that was over a month ago now, and I eagerly await photos, videos and FaceTime to see Saige grow and reach new milestones. No matter how many times I watch a grandchild grow, it never gets old.

The Yellow Sweater goes on TV!

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Recently I was contacted by someone from the Minnesota Live TV program on KSTP in the Twin Cities. The woman happened to be a grade school classmate of my daughter-in-law Katie! But what she really wanted was to ask permission to feature my Little Yellow Sweater blog post on their TV show. She found it endearing and wanted to share it with their viewers. After getting permission from my kids to show the photos of them and their children, I responded “Yes!”

You can watch a video of the show.

I feel honored to have not only my writing but our cherished family traditions honored in this way.

My son and his daughter in the Little Yellow Sweater

The Little Yellow Sweater

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I first set eyes on the little yellow sweater over 40 years ago. We were expecting our first child, and Rich’s mom got it out of storage and gave it to us. It was tiny, hand knit with extra fine yarn and tied in front with two white satin ribbons. Rich and his two brothers had worn it home from the hospital – way back in 1953, 1956 and 1959. It was such a treasure, laden with family history, just as my dad’s baptismal gown has been.

Karen was the first of the second generation to wear the sweater in 1984. As proud new parents, we were excited to dress her in the sweater, take pictures and buckle her into the car seat wearing the sweater. Carl came next, two and a half years later. Out came the sweater again, and he too wore it home. After each child I carefully packed it away, so when Erik was due to arrive in 1990, I pulled it out, ironed the ribbons and put it in my hospital bag. Apparently, he and Carl dressed alike for their trips home!

Karen 1984
Carl 1986
Erik 1990

The sweater took a long hiatus as our family grew up, but when the time came, I knew right where to find it. The little yellow sweater was moving on down to the third generation! Karen gave us our first grandchild, Ben, in 2010 – such an exciting moment! And it was all the more precious when she too dressed her first child in the little yellow sweater. Mya followed just 22 months later, and she also donned the sweater.

Ben 2010
Mya 2012

Next the sweater found its way to Carl’s house for his first born. Maren wore it home in 2017.

Maren 2017

To be clear, we don’t have a perfect record here. Somehow the sweater missed the latter two babies in Karen and Carl’s families. But who’s counting? The fact that at least one child in each family works for me. And after all, we all know that life gets more complicated as the family grows.

In fact, with the impending arrival of Erik and Katie’s first child, I almost forgot about the little yellow sweater! It suddenly dawned on me when we were visiting them for Christmas that I had neglected to bring it to them. With their due date looming just weeks away, when we got home I wasted no time going straight to the box where I kept it, only go find it empty! How could it be? How could I have let it stray? I racked my brain for memories of which grandchild had worn it last. I dug through my photo files to see when I last had a picture of it. All to no avail. Frantic texts to Karen and Carl initiated immediate searches, but it didn’t turn up. I too looked high and low in our house with no luck. And then it came. A text from Karen – “I found it!” She mailed it to Erik and Katie in Seattle, arriving shortly before the impending due date. Whew!

Saige joined the line of models for the sweater, wearing it home just over a week ago.

Saige 2025

On a side note, I should explain the presence of the bears. On the day each of our children was born, Rich went out and bought them a bear. It stems from his own Tommy Bear that he received as a baby, and still has. That too is a tradition that has been passed down. I don’t have a picture of Rich in the sweater, so Tommy Bear will have to do!

It remains to be seen whether another grandchild will wear the little yellow sweater. But I have to admit, I hope it makes it down to the 4th generation!

Continuing the Tradition

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I’m up to 12 yards of snuggly fleece fabric. That’s what it takes to outfit 8 grandchildren and 8 stuffy friends in Grammy Jammies. Along with 10 solid days of sitting in front of my sewing machine. But the smiles on the kids’ faces and the love that it brings make it all worth it.

It’s no surprise any more. After 15 years, they come to expect the Jammies, and I love that they do. This year the guesses began in September. “What color will they be this year?” By then the fabric was already stockpiled in my sewing area. But they know better than to expect me to answer. My friends also quiz me on the progress, awaiting the unveiling of each year’s model.

October was serious production month. It started with cutting out all the pieces – the most tedious part of the project, in my opinion. I’m always relieved when I know I have enough fabric. Serious sewing came next. I’m in my own zone when I’m in that mode, ticking off the jammies day by day. Meals and sewing dominate my days, along with easy listening audio books.

Grammy Jammies always come in the same cloth Christmas bags. They were a gift from a dear friend years ago, and I made more to accommodate the growing population.

By the end of the month all was in readiness, at least for Round 1. Kid jammies are delivered around Thanksgiving so they can wear them leading up to Christmas. I was fortunate to find a time when our whole family gathered in November for a baby shower for Erik and Katie, who are expecting their first child in January. Naturally, Baby Girl had to have her first pair of Grammy Jammies!

Round 2 is shorter, as the jammies are a fraction of the size. But they still entail all the detail work of the larger model. Friend Jammies are my special addition, and arrive at Christmas.

And yes, Baby Girl got a new Friend too!

Isabel has already put in her order for next year. “No feet next time.” At 9 she’s migrating toward the next stage. It starts with dropping the slipper feet, then moves on to Jammy Pants. I’m fine with that. Kids grow up, and if that’s what it takes to continue the tradition, I’m all in!

Grammy Jammies Times 21

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I’m now in my 14th year of creating Grammy Jammies. The grandkids wait with eager expectation at Thanksgiving time, knowing I will bring out the fabric bags that contain the newest iteration of Christmas fleece and footies. ”What color do you think they will be?” they wondered this year, inventorying all the past colors and designs. I never give away my secrets.

It’s a joyful mayhem, untying the bags, pulling out the contents and rushing off to don the new soft Jammies and present us with a style show. Karen’s kids were at our house for the festivities. Ben and Mya have self-selected out of the footies by now, but still willingly sport matching jammy pants.

Unwilling to miss the fun at Carl’s house, I made a special trip to Milwaukee for the presentation. I barely got in the door before they clamored for the bags. There’s nothing like hugging wiggly laughing grandkids in fleece.

That brought the tally to 7.

Not one to shirk my duties, I continued on to outfit the furry friends as usual. Many of them are the same shape and size, and thankfully they do not grow or change from year to year! I can dash off at least two of those in a day.

Now I was up to 14.

But this year there was more. After at least a year of not so subtle hints from the parents, I took on the challenge to outfit them as well. Even though jammy pants are naturally loose and baggy, I found that fitting adults was trickier than the forgiving slipper jammies on the kids. Especially when compounded by a rather outdated pattern that assumed we still wore pants up to our natural waistline! So I took a graduated approach, making two pair at a time, altering them after try-on sessions, and learning as I went.

Karen and Matt were my first guinea pigs, and thankfully they took my outlandish productions with a great deal of humor and good sportsmanship.

For the record, I managed to tame their pants down to more reasonable proportions.

I arrived at Carl and Chelsea’s house equipped with sewing machine and measuring tools. Fortunately, my latest revisions served me well, and their jammy pants required just minor adjustments.

By the time I got to Erik and Katie, I had the process down to a system and quickly modified theirs to fit.

The good news is that I now have six individualized patterns that should suit everyone for future years!

So that brings the total to 20 pairs of jammies this year. A credible effort, and weeks of fun in the process. But wait, the title says 21! 

Ah yes. Stay tuned for the next blog post to reveal the finale. (And no, I’d never get Rich to wear jammy pants!)

Christmas in July

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I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. I knew it would take a lot of ingenuity, time and patience but I just had to do it.

A year and a half ago we made reservations to rent out a whole resort on Lake Vermilion for a family vacation. It’s a small place, and although we only needed four cabins we rented all five so that we could have the place all to ourselves. Just coordinating the work schedules, family plans and kid activities to find a mutual week for ourselves, our three kids, spouses and seven grandkids was daunting, but we finally agreed on the week of the 4th of July, 2023. The idea that each family would have their own space appealed to everyone, and as the summer began the excitement ratcheted up.

Knowing those seven kids would all be together, mingling day in and out at the resort, images of them in matching jammies kept dancing through my head.

The trick lay in the fact that these had to be summer jammies. Fleecy Grammy Jammies would not do. I couldn’t rely on the proven sewing patterns I’ve been using for 13 years, that I can make in my sleep. But I did know exactly what they should look like. I made them for my own kids year after year. Little knit t-shirts and shorts, or versions with long sleeves and full pants with ribbing at the bottom. I still had those patterns, but times have changed and even kids styles have evolved. My kids sported loose comfy garments. Today kids favor slim versions hugging their bodies.

Turning to the internet and the community of resourceful crafters out there, I found t-shirt patterns that not only suited today’s fashions but offered slim versions. For the shorts, I decided to alter my own patterns, taking tucks to narrow the flair. Whew, step one completed.

But what sizes to make? Pattern sizing is not uniform, so how was I going to translate the paper outlines to real kid sizes? The only answer was to be sneaky.

Both families with kids were due to visit in June. During each stay, stealth Grammy took action. When no one was looking, I swiped jammies lying in the hall. I snuck into their bedroom and rummaged through the pile of laundry. Suitcases held samples as well. I dashed into the laundry room with them, taking critical measurements and laying them on top of the patterns to match them to a size. Sometimes their clothes rendered different results. Waist measurements seemed to range all over the board. Were these well-fitting garments, or about to be discarded as too small?

My brain was spinning with the mental gymnastics and angst of trying to get the best fit. It was all a guessing game, but I ultimately had to commit to seven sets of patterns to use.

From there I was in familiar territory. I had already procured more than enough fabric. Now it was just a matter of cutting out the pieces and sewing them together. Soon I had seven little piles ready to go.

Three solid days of sewing later, the line-up was complete.

It was tempting to leave them out to admire, but I needed to package them up before I began to second-guess my work. That part was easy. The only fitting presentation was to use the same Christmas fabric wrapping bags that hold the Grammy Jammies every year.

It was so hard to wait…

But indeed, we have Christmas in July!

A Labor of Love

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It starts in September. I begin trolling the fabric stores looking for just the right fleece. The holiday prints start appearing then, and I know I have to act fast when I find the right one. Something cute and Christmasy, with small enough prints to be recognizable on a baby yet still appeal to an almost-teenager. This year, the perfect fabric jumps out at me – I just have to have it.

But first I have to do my homework. Grandkids grow each year, so I need to solicit the moms for current sizes. Then there are adjustments. Extra length in the legs for this one, slimmer through the body for most, feet or no feet. The almost-teen has aged out of the one-piece model, and wants fleece jammie pants. A new pattern is introduced.

Then the guessing begins. Seven Grammy Jammies adds up to 11.5 yards of fleece fabric. But combining all those pieces on the fabric means I can fit them on a smaller yardage – the question is how much less? My search turns up only small quantities in each store, so I take a leap of faith and go online to order a whole bolt of fabric, 10 yards.

Soon my kitchen island turns into a conveyor line. I roll the fabric across its massive length over and over again, laying out all the pattern pieces, breathing a sigh when they all fit with room to spare. Taking a deep breath, I dive in with weights, scissors and ruler, cutting and collecting the pieces child by child, designated by post-it note names.

The best part is yet to come. With the necessary logistics behind me, I can finally thread my machine and commence sewing. I start with the largest ones first, as they take the most time and I can finish each set in less time. This year adding my new serger into the mix lets me zip through those long seams, assembling and binding in one pass.

One by one, the jammies come together and join their partners on the couch. They are usually completed within a week, and already I visualize them snuggling the little bodies of my grandchildren.

Grammy Jammies are always presented around Thanksgiving so they can be worn during the lead up to Christmas. And it has to be in person. By now, the contents of my fabric gift bags are no secret, and the kids dive in to reveal the newest model.















As the calendar turns to December, I begin the second round. Each grandchild has a special Friend who also wears jammies, which are gifted for Christmas. It all started long ago, and in some ways is my favorite part of this whole project. The first two Friends were uniquely shaped, and required quite a bit of ingenuity to develop a pattern. But after standardizing on cuddly JellyCats, I was able to replicate the same size across the remaining Friends.

That is until Isabel had an urgent need to clothe “tiny bear” as well. Measuring under 6″ tall, it was an exercise in miniaturization, but I took on the challenge.

This year we were able to assemble the whole family for a special New Years weekend together in Milwaukee. A chaotic photo op ensued, capturing 15 Grammy Jammies in all. And lots of love.

Back by Popular Demand

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“Did you make Grammy Jammies this year?” 

Ben in the first Jammies 2010

The frequency of the question came as a surprise.  Apparently my annual sewing spree has spawned a following. It’s nice to know that a simple, homespun and creative work of love can capture an audience. Amidst the stress and anxiety surrounding our Covid-laden lives, it’s heartwarming to be able to contribute some whimsy to the world.

The answer is “Of course!”

What started with a single pair of slipper jammies 11 years ago has blossomed into seven pairs of Grammie Jammies and six Grammie Jammies for special friends this year. Thinking that a newborn was a bit young to have adopted a favorite friend yet, I added a matching stuffed animal to the assembly for him.

With each passing year, the kids get older, the Jammies bigger and I hold my breath as I check with the oldest ones to see if they are still “in.” Now topping out at 11 and 9, I realize this ritual may be nearing the end of its lifespan for them. But this year they came up with their own creative solution. “Can we have them without feet?”

“Yes! I can certainly do that!” and the tradition lives on.

I admit that I let this venture consume my fall. Once the Jammies are all cut and ready to sew, my obsessive side comes out. I develop tunnel vision, waking only to ponder how many Jammies I can complete by the end of the day. I feed material through the machine, clip threads, insert zippers, zigzag seams, top stitch, stretch ribbing, wind the bobbin and start new spools of thread all the day long. Admittedly, I still do my share of ripping out stitches and do-overs as well. Practice doesn’t always make perfect.

To date, I’ve made 51 pairs of Grammy Jammies, out of 16 different patterns of fleece. Expanding into friend Jammies four years ago adds another 20 miniature Jammies. Taking the numbers game even farther, here’s what it took to produce this year’s Grammy Jammies:

  • 13 zippers
  • 9 yards of fleece fabric
  • 5/8 yard ribbing fabric
  • Gripper foot fabric
  • 1 snap
  • 3 large spools of thread
  • 3 old Kwik Sew patterns, sizes newborn to kids XL
  • 1 44 year old sewing machine

By now the kids all know what comes in fabric bags, and I’m always as excited as they are when the latest creations are unveiled. And the best part is snuggling in together, surrounded by soft fleece clad bodies and a whole lot of love. Just like what went into the Jammies.

I can only hope that they will be back by popular demand again next year!

Just Say Yes

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Emotions don’t have to be logical.

“I miss our kids. And our grandkids.” It had been weighing on me all day. I just had to say it out loud.

“You just saw them. We were in Milwaukee a few weeks ago, then we went to the Cities. You’ve had lots of time with family.” Rich tried to reason with me.

“That’s not the point. I miss them NOW.”

The isolation of COVID, the forced inactivity of post-surgery recovery and life had gotten me down. I went to bed thinking Rich didn’t get it. He didn’t understand my feelings. He was made of different stuff, didn’t need family like I did.

I tossed and turned, and in the early morning hours Rich snuggled up and said, “I think you should get up and go to Karen’s.”

“No. That would never work.” I already had my day mapped out. Writing assignments to finish. Clothes to wash. Church. A bike ride. Karen and family were probably busy.

“Call her,” he insisted. I dragged myself out of bed, brushed my teeth. Texted with no response. Washed my face, looked in my closet for something to wear. Took a deep breath and called.

“That would be great, Mom! We have no big plans for the day. When can you be here?” Karen’s voice was all I needed.

I’m not very good at being spontaneous. At changing course on a dime. But that morning I was out the door in record time, and rolled into Karen’s driveway by 10am.

Michael ran into my arms as soon as I came in the door. Isabel and Mya took me on tours of their Minecraft houses. Ben lurked somewhere, it was enough that he was close by. They had already made my day. That’s just what I came for.

As promised, the day was loose and unstructured. Having left all my to-do’s at home, I was happy to go with the flow. It was a day for just being. Being together. Being with family.

Dabbling in paint, crayons and markers
A family walk
A mother/daughter bike ride
Playtime
Yummy brownies
Reading bedtime stories

I was home by 10am the following morning. Refreshed, fulfilled, happy. My heart overflowing with the hugs and the time spent together. My to-do list still awaited, no worse off for delaying a day. Rich did get it. I’m so glad he pushed me to go. And that I just said yes.