Today was Popa Ron's birthday. Our first without him here with us.
Popa Ron always brought the boys cars every time he saw them. So today the boys picked out cars from Popa Ron.
Calvin decided to leave his with
Popa Ron.
It was a tough first milestone. It's been almost a year of firsts with out our
Popa Ron.
I asked the boys to write down some of their favorite memories of times with
Popa Ron.
Calvin: When
Popa Ron came to our Super Bowl party and Christmas. It was so fun he gave all of us footballs. And when he took us to the movies. The movie was
Shrek 3. I remember bowling with them up in Washington, we had lunch with them there too.
Luke: When
Popa Ron
brang Hot Wheels cars to us. And I got to pick my car. And for Christmas he gave me a football. We went to see
Shrek 3 and he got us candy. We went bowling with
Popa Ron and Grandma Kandy. We had lunch at the bowing alley. I didn't get any strikes.
We brought some bubbles for the birthday celebration.
Here is what his son (my husband) had to say at his funeral:
1960. The year the Oakland Raiders came in to the NFL. Shortly after that, as some of you may know, my dad became a Raiders fan. He was a big fan of football but a HUGE fan of the Raiders.
1974. The year I was born and unknowingly became a Raiders fan. I think if I cut my hand, you may see silver and black actually in my blood.
1983. The last time the Raiders won the Super Bowl. It was Super Bowl XVIII. They played the Washington Redskins. The Raiders were the first ever Wild Card team to make the Super Bowl. Heavy underdogs and on paper, completely outmatched. But, there dad and I were, sitting together and watching the game expecting the Raiders to win. Not only did he teach me about football, I could, at the time, tell you every Raiders player from numbers 1 through 99. I remember it very well, watching the game in our living room in Visalia, CA. We recorded the game and watched it over and over again. The Raiders defense smothering Joe Theisman. Jim Plunkett closing his eyes and just heaving the ball down field for Cliff Branch to run under it. Marcus Allen going outside to the left, only to find there was nowhere to go, reversing his field and cutting up the middle for, at the time, the longest run from scrimmage in Super Bowl history (74 yards for those that are interested). If it weren’t for the passion that my dad and I have for the Raiders, I’d probably remember that they won the game but not a whole lot more.
I tell you this because I think he had an unwavering devotion to the things he held close to his heart. His family, his friends and of course the Raiders.
Don’t get above your rasin’.
Something my dad has told me for years. For the longest time I couldn’t think of why he was talking about raisins. I can’t stand raisins so I really didn’t get it. Then finally one day it clicked. He was telling me to keep my feet on the ground and to not forget where you come from. I think he lived that in many ways. He never needed lavish things. He didn’t need a big house or car. He was happy with what he had. His devotion to his family was, I believe, the key to his phrase of “don’t get above your rasin’”. I love my family very much, my family will come first, last and always and I will never “get above my rasin”. And for those five little words, “don’t get above your rasin’”, I am forever grateful to my father.
Popa Ron you are missed this day and every other.
Happy 6th Birthday, Luke!!!
On Sunday Trevor put on a concert so that all of us could enjoy his trumpet playing.
Luke & Uncle Jason getting ready for the singing of the Happy Birthday!
Popa & Kaleb
Quite the good lookin' group!!
Ryan (Jason's girlfriend, Ryndi's son). Isn't he just adorable!!
Luke opened his presents.
And more presents!!
Luke had a "swinging" good time.
Kaleb monkeyed around.
Dad & Kaleb
Kaleb is so cool that he even coordinated his outfit with the playground equipment!
Ummm......I think Calvin is a little bigger then Kaleb.
Calvin being cool!!
Dad & Luke doing some batting practice.
Trevor trying to knock the cover off.
Dad making the boys in the outfield work for it.
Our 2 skater dudes!
Calvin & Kaleb were fun to watch.
And then finally rolling down the hill.
This Sunday, we will be treated to the trumpet stylings of T. S. Banes.
Trevor and Luke played a Fire Fighter game.
Dad found a few games that kept his interest.
Calvin, Kaleb & Luke, trying to collect tickets.
Of course I had to play some games too!!
My Honey got me a bear with his ticket winnings. Awwwww!!
Luke had fun playing all kinds of games.
We are going to check into having one of these installed in our house. Most people see play toy for the kids, I see the ability to lock them up in one spot.
My cheesy Kaleb!!
Yeah, maybe it's not just Kaleb that's cheesy!!
We went to visit his grave and took balloons. One for each year. This year we began to wonder if there was room in the car for all of them.
