Monday 11 March 2019

Growing Up So Fast

Today would have been Colin's 62nd birthday and I said when he died that the saddest thing is his grandchildren won't remember him. So I have to make sure they know me.

I go and visit youngest daughter and  eldest granddaughter in Leiston most weeks but when I miss a week she seems to suddenly grow up.

Florence aged 2 years 4 months................ and she rarely sits still!




Son, DIL and  youngest granddaughter are much closer for visiting. Willow, who I share a birthday with, will be 1 in April and I'll be .....a bit older! She's crawling now and pulling herself up. Time to move everything off the coffee tables before she arrives! She's very like her Daddy when he was little which is fine as long as she doesn't grow to be 6 foot 3 inches tall with a beard!




Don't get to see grandson so often, he's the oldest grandchild and will be 3 at the end of May. But Eldest daughter came to stay for a couple of nights so Jacob had fun with all of the cars and other toys at Nana's house
This is my favourite photo of him from the weekend

On Saturday afternoon all grandchildren were together and with a bit of persuasion we managed to get them to sit them still for a few seconds




Colin would have been a such a lovely and loving Grandad.

Back Tomorrow
Sue

41 comments:

  1. Beautiful grandchildren. Bittersweet time for you, Sue. Colin will be kept alive for your - and his - grandchildren by all the photos, memories and stories you tell them about him.

    I love your sofa throw.

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    1. My dear FIL died in the year between our two children, and Sooze is exactly right! ((( Sue )))

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  2. Oh my goodness they have grown so much! Sue they are precious! Do they all have those beautiful blue eyes like Jacob? You have some wonderful pictures. I know this must be difficult with Colin's birthday but I know your grandchildren will hear all about him as they grow up and they most certainly know you very well. You are such an important part of their lives now and always as I know they are to you as well. Thank you for sharing these lovely pictures!

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  3. What they said! Beautiful photographs and bittersweet memories, but I know you will keep Colin's memory alive, and that is what matters. I am sure as they grow you will see something of him in them - and tell them that's what their grandad used to do or say.

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  4. I can't believe how quickly they are growing - beautiful children and you must love them so very much.
    They won't remember Colin first hand but your memories will go a long way to them know about him and I am do glad they were with you for this bitter-sweet time.
    xxx

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  5. You have to keep the memories going as they grow, and yet you must live with the sadness but I am sure healthy happy grandchildren will also keep you happy.X

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  6. Beautiful beautiful smiles on all three xx Have some cake today xx

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  7. They are such lovely precious children and you will get to know them as they grow. Sharing memories and stories of Colin will keep him with the family.Take care Sue wishing you solace at these difficult times.

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  8. They are such lovely precious children and you will get to know them as they grow. Sharing memories and stories of Colin will keep him with the family.Take care Sue wishing you solace at these difficult times.

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  9. What lovely grandchildren you have. Like you say, a rare photo opportunity to get the 3 cousins to sit and pose all together!!

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  10. As everyone has said they are gorgeous and must bring you all much laughter as well as sadness that Colin can't share your delight in them.
    You will be particularly important to them as they grow up and it's really important to keep talking about Colin to them.
    One of my grandfathers died before I was born.
    My grandmother never mentioned him and it wasn't until I became an adult that anyone else did.
    The result was that he was a scary figure to me which is sad because apparently he was a delightful man.
    Another “first” hurdle over and a beautiful photo of the cousins to remember the day by.
    Sue

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  11. Happiness tinged with sadness. Make the most of your time with those little Cherubs, time goes too fast.

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  12. What a wonderful weekend you had with all the grandchildren meeting up. Such a special time on a special day. A moment you will all treasure.

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  13. Beautiful children, so lovely to see them together. Hard day for you though. Best wishes to you.

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  14. Beautiful photos Sue.You must be very proud of them!While you still talk about Col to them and show them photos,they will always remember him.My great nephew was 4 when my Dad died and my great niece was born the day before my Dads funeral,so we managed to get photos of all of us,including the new born for my Dad to hold in his hands and take with him.Obviously,the older Grandkids still remember him and talk about him to the younger ones,so when they come in to my Mams house and see all the photos,of my Dad..they point and say Theres Grandad Stokey!.They called him that after his life long support of Stoke City.We took a photo of 2 of the eldest ones a few months ago and was amazed...and all the family could see it...that it was my Dads face on one of them!.You will see Col in at least one of them as they grow..a glance..some mannerism..the way they laugh.I really believe that they live on inside us.And when your feeling sad and down..just touch your heart because thats where he is living now.And smile because that is what he would want you to do!xx

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  15. My beloved Nana died when I was just 3 but thanks to my amazing Mum and Grandad she is with me every single day. I know her likes and dislikes the ways in which I take after her and her stories. Nothing can ever make up for the one who has gone but I think it is very true that you live on in those around you. Your Grandchildren will grow up knowing Grandad and how wonderful he was. Much love Sarah x

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  16. The grandchildren not remembering him and not seeing them grow up was one of my husbands biggest fears when he found out he had terminal cancer so I promised him that I would make sure they did and their parents do the same. It's nearly two years since my husband died I see the grandkids regularly and we talk about him all the time. He would of been 60 this June which will be difficult but as a family we will get through it. Heather

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  17. I was 14 weeks pregnant when my Dad died. I placed a scan photo in his coffin( I'd had a scan the week before he died due to problems with the pregnancy) and wrote him a letter telling him that our new baby would know him. She's now 23, and definitely knows him as we have always talked about her Grandad. I'm sure you will keep Colin's memory alive for your grandchildren so that they feel that sense of knowing their Grandad, just like my KL does.

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  18. Sad about Colin but he lives on through the children and grandchildren.There is part of him in every one.I think you are an inspiration in the way you cope.love Barbarax

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  19. Beautiful grandchildren you have and so pleased you had a lovely photo. My grandson Dean was 8 mths old when my husband died, he well be 33 in July we still talk about him and Dean knows so much about him and will still ask question. My Grandaughter is 26 and I tell her lots of things about, I don't live in the past but they enjoy knowing what we did. I had a lovely weekend with my young sister yesterday and we chatted about my Mum and I learnt quite a lot about my mum. A really nice post Sue thank you.
    Hazel c ik

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  20. Nice set of family snaps there. It would be good to have them in an old fashioned type of photo album to flick through - when all the pages are full it is especially good.

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    1. Just loaded lots onto a memory stick to take into Boots and print out several to share all round the family and keep in a photo album

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  21. Oh, your last line made me fill up ... he really would have made a wonderful Granddad as they all grew up You did your very best during his last year, taking photos, making the memories you could. I'm sure through talking to you and their parents all three gorgeous grandchildren will end up knowing so much about their Granddad ... especially today on his birthday.

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  22. AS you share Colin's photos and stories of his life, he will become a part of the fabric of your grandchildren's lives and memories. That has been true for my four children who were ages 1-9 when their grandfather died, but we over the years we have continually shared memories of things he did or said. They are all in their 30s/40s now with children of their own. One of the most poignant gifts given to me a couple of years ago was a photo of one of my small granddaughters holding a framed photo of my father in her lap. His memory lives on in a new generation.

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  23. Florence is exactly the same age as my Great grand-daughter in Glasgow - I see her quite often but the difference is always staggering in spite of that. Yes, Sue - it is sad that Colin won't see them grow up - I know the feeling from my first husband's death and his grandchildren growing up. Best not to think about it I found - he would wish you to soldier on and you certainly are doing. x

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  24. What beautiful children. It's so sad that Colin didn't get to be that wonderful Grandad he would have been.
    It is so scary how quickly they grow up. Ruby is all of a sudden nine years old and Marlowe will be three in ten days.
    Hugs-x-

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  25. So nice to have your grandchildren close by. Two of ours are a 10 hour drive from here and the close by one is moving this summer and will be 5-6 hours away.

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  26. Share stories and memories and Colin will not be forgotten. May these beautiful children continue to bring you joy xx

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  27. I have gone over to FreePrints for my photos of the family which I take on my phone. Send direct from phone and you only pay for postage. I’ve been very pleased with the results so far.

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  28. It is sad I know, but I am sure you will have many wonderful stories and memories to share with them. x

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  29. Lovely photos, Sue. I think if share photos and memories of Col they may not personally know him, but they'll know all about him and what a lovely man he was.

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  30. Your grandchildren are adorable. You'll keep Col alive for them by sharing the memories of him as their parents dad and all the fun things that they did.

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  31. You will keep Col alive for your grandchildren.

    Love the photo of Jacob! They are all such happy, sweet children.

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  32. Beautiful grandchildren! What nice photos, and oh, how they've grown. Especially Jacob and Florence, but Willow, too.

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  33. What beautiful grandchildren! They look like they're enjoying one another. I'm sure today was very difficult for you, and I'm so glad you have your children and grandchildren in your life.

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  34. It is so hard when the grandchildren grow up and Col or like me Grandmother is not there. I told stories about her all the time when they were growing up. Too bad all our photos were burned in a wildfire. They talk like they know her.

    cheers, parsnip

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  35. Almost missed this post - it brought a tear to my eye for you - a lovely picture of happiness of all 3 beautiful grandchildren together tainted by a little sadness that Colin is not here to see them (but I am sure he is watching from above).

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