My Grandpa

My Grandpa Fowler passed away today. Peacefully while he slept. I kept having dreams about him all last night, even woke up crying three times. I wasn't surprised when I got the phone call in the morning. Growing up, a lot of my favorite memories include my Grandpa and Grandma. Fly in's at their home with all the cousins and family around. Swimming in the pool, eating good food, watching the planes fly in and out at the runway. The smell of all the flowers in their yard during the summer is my favorite smell in the whole world. Skiing at Schweitzer, time spent at their condo up there. Weeks that Kristin and I would spend just with Grandpa and Grandma at their house in Spokane during the summer. When Grandpa was a dentist, we'd come once a year for our yearly check up. He wasn't the most gentle dentist, but he sure did take care of my teeth. I just had my first cavity ever filled last week the day I found out he went into the hospital. My new dentist said to commend Grandpa on teaching his grandchildren such wonderful oral hygiene. Lately every time I'd see Grandpa he told me how proud of me he is for losing all that weight I've recently lost. I could see it in his eyes how happy he was that I had gotten healthy. As a child, I saw my Grandpa as a man of few words, and hung on every one that he spoke to me. As an adult it was his smile, chuckle, that little twinkle in his eye and his habit of eating his paper napkin after dinner that made him endearing to me. I love my Grandpa and will miss him very much.

The black and white photo's are taken from the book "Looking back on Schweitzer, The History of Schweitzer Mountain Resort" I thought they'd be fun ones to share.

Grandma and Grandpa's wedding reception

I don't know what Grandpa is doing in this picture, but when I saw it, it made me smile.

Grandpa and Grandma at The Keg up at Schweitzer

Grandma and Grandpa at our house last Christmas for Christmas dinner. We were so happy they joined us!

Grandma and Grandpa up at Spirit Lake two summers ago

Hoopfest 2009

We had another fun year at hoopfest! The largest three on three street basketball tournament. The city does a great job putting it on and it's always well organized and fun. Keith was on a team this year and Kelly won a contest with the Sea Gals (Seattle Seahawks Cheerleaders) and got to cheer with them and be on T.V. She also had lunch with them. That was a real treat for an 8 year old who loves to cheer! After the last game of the weekend, we headed out to Mom and Dad's where they hosted an incredible BBQ for us all. Thanks Mom and Dad you're the best! It was a really fun weekend.

He looks so grown up to me in this picture. How did that happen?

Mom, Kristin, and Adrian

Don't worry Keith had already eaten his snow cone. He was not being left out!

Our neighbor Josh and Kelly

Our neighbor Rylan running through the fountain downtown. He is happiest cold and wet!

Tired at the end of the weekend. Scott lets Erin lean on him. So sweet!

Three of the boys on the team Brandon, David, and Keith. Two of his closest friends.

Ryan and Stacey's Wedding

I had a hard time narrowing down pictures for this trip. There are a bunch of them. And it's going to take me forever to download them all, but the memory will be worth it. We flew in on a Wed. to PA. On Thursday night Brenda and Jeff had a family BBQ for all of us to get together. It was really fun and Brenda was excited to make her homemade ice cream. YUM! Well, it churned and churned and churned. Eventually she realized she never put the milk in! It was like butter ice cream, but I thought it was tasty. :) As you can imagine she was given a hard time the rest of the week and will probably never hear the end of it!



Friday we all met up at Red Robin in Hersey PA. We had a great lunch with Steve's family and got to meet Ryan's sister, Mom and niece. Then we all headed over to the Hersey Hotel to see where the wedding would take place. It was beautiful. They were to be married in the formal gardens under a big white gazebo. It rained this day and was in the 60's, we were all really hoping for nice weather for the wedding the next day. The hotel had a beautiful restaurant where we were going to have dinner after the wedding. I didn't get any really good pictures of the restaurant, but the painting in it was beautiful. After seeing the hotel we headed to Chocolate World. They have a fun little ride that gives you the history of Hersey and of course the kids were excited to get chocolate at the end. Kelly had her eye on this massive chocolate bar. The thing was bigger than she could carry. I had her settle for the second biggest chocolate bar in the place. The picture is a few down.

All of us cramming into the elevator at the Hotel. We are a rowdy bunch.

Friday night Brenda and I had planned a surprise dinner for Stacey and some of her friends and family. I'm not so sure she was surprised, but we had a really good time anyway.


On Saturday morning, Stac, Jordan, Kelly, Brenda and I all headed to the salon. We had hair done, and nails done. Kelly got her hair cut short. She had been begging me for months to have her hair cut short, so I allowed it. Then the girls headed to the hotel to get ready. It was a nice day. Not rushed, and the weather was perfect! 80 degrees and sunny. Couldn't have asked for a better day. The wedding was simple but elegant. Ryan and Stacey were so happy and we were all so happy for them.

Brenda doing Kelly's makeup

Stacey and her daughter Jordan

Stacey and her brothers

Steve's Mom (Carol) and Kelly

Chris and Carol

Steve's Dad Lyn and his girlfriend

Keith and and Trey

Saturday night Steve and I took Jordan, Trey, Keith and Kelly back to Stacey and Ryan's house. Stacey and Ryan spent their wedding night at the hotel. I got up in the morning and had to take a quick run to Target, so Jordan went with me. When we got back, Steve had Ryan's car in the driveway and had washed it. He and Keith were taking it out for a spin. Steve tells me it is the fastest production car on the market. And he LOVED driving it. Thanks Ryan for allowing him that little treat. It was probably one of he and Keith's favorite moments of the trip. :)


Ryan has a niece named Reiley. Kelly and Reiley were instant friends, and were calling each other cousins instantly. She is a super sweet girl and it was fun for Kelly to have a friend to play with.

Sunday we spent at Stacey and Ryan's house. Trey had some friends over and a wiffle ball game kids against adults began. The adults won both games with the boys giving up on the last game. Sunday night Ryan, Stacey, Steve and I stayed up until 4 in the morning playing pinochle! Girls won of course! :)






On Monday Ryan, Stacey and Trey took us to the Philadelphia airport to head home. Before getting on the plane we headed to Geno's for cheese steaks. We'd eaten there once before, and I don't know if it's just because my taste has changed ever since my diet or if it just wasn't that good, but I didn't really care for it. Last time we all loved it. This time not as much. But the experience in itself is fun.




We had a great trip, filled with lots of wonderful memories. Thank you Ryan and Stacey for flying us out for this special occasion. We are so happy you two decided to marry and we now have Ryan as a brother-in-law. We know you will have many happy years together!