On Christmas morning, we lost Grandpa. Grandpa fought a brief, but very couragous battle against cancer. It has been so hard to accept that he is gone from our lives. A big part of the sadness lies in the fact that Kellen has lost his Grandpa, and that there will no longer be any memories for Kellen to make with him. Kellen loves his Grandpa so much. He continues to say goodnight to a picture of Grandpa every night, and continues to ask about him. I am so happy that Kellen was blessed to have this wonderful, generous, and amazing man in his life....if only for a short time. Good-bye Grandpa - thank you for the memories.
Kellen's first memories with his Grandpa began in the hospital, the day he was born. Grandpa and Lita came up for a few days (waiting for Kellen's arrival...which took a long time!)....but once Grandpa saw his 2nd grandson, it was true love! Here are some pictures of Kellen and his Grandpa.
Two of my favourite guys together for the first time....
We are backtracking a bit here....here is Grandpa hanging out with me while we waited for Kellen's arrival - if we only knew that it would be 51 hours before Kellen would make his arrival! Still, it meant the world to me to have my Dad with me during this moment.
The following pictures are not in any particular order....I have so many pictures of Kellen and his Grandpa together. I thought I would put a few of them together to remember their times together.
Here we are on Kellen's first birthday. I think Grandpa was more excited about his birthday, than Kellen was!
Kellen relaxing before his 1st birthday party with Grandpa....it was the first time Kellen didn't nap - and it showed!
Happy 2nd birthday, Kellen - Grandpa really wanted to be the one to bring out Kellen's birthday cake...
Hanging out with Parker during Kellen's 2nd birthday party.
Kellen and Grandpa were having a blast playing with Baby Hedgehog....Grandpa would quickly move hedgehog and Kellen would burst into laughter.
Grandpa enjoying time with his grandson - and loving that his mother (Kellen's great-Nana) was able to enjoy this moment with him.
I love this picture!
Kellen loved getting cuddles and lovings from his Grandpa.
Kellen's first trip to see Lita and Grandpa....it was the end of April 2008 and Kellen was 6 weeks old.
....and Grandpa was sold - he loved Kellen so much.
One of Kellen's many, many visits with his Lita and Grandpa....Kellen has been blessed with having such loving grandparents. It will always be sad that there will not be any new memories to share together, but Kellen has many memories of his Grandpa, and he will live in Kellen's heart forever.
Kellen and Grandpa hanging out in our old apartment!
Kellen now hanging out both with Grandpa and Lita.
During another visit with Kellen.
Kellen came to visit for Lita's birthday, 2008....and spent many, many hours just hanging out with Grandpa.
Kellen and Grandpa during winter visit in 2008.
One of Grandpa's favourite thing to do was to take Parker and Kellen for walks. Here he is taking Kellen for a walk in the spring of 2009. He was such a proud Grandpa.....and his grandsons were so proud of him.
Here are Grandpa and Kellen being silly together - this was when we moved into our house in Ajax - Kellen was 16 months old.
When Kellen was 18 months old, he had his first ear surgery. Lita and Grandpa came up to support Kellen during his surgery. That night, we went out for bite to eat. Kellen was still feeling loopy from the medication (and got super, super sick after the surgery)....luckily, he had lots of lovings from his Grandpa.
During a visit from Grandpa, Kellen introduced him to his pirate ship. I can only imagine how tired Grandpa was of having to play (and lean over!) pirates with Kellen - but he never complained and sat outside with Kellen everyday for so long...
Last spring, Kellen and I were super sick. We were both in the hospital with meningitis. When we were released from the hospital, Grandpa came all the way to Ajax and help take care of us. It was so nice having him stay with us for a few days....
Grandpa being silly with the little ones...
Easter 2010. Grandpa had so much fun helping Kellen and Parker find Easter eggs around the house....Grandpa always loved family moments and spending the holidays together.
I love this picture....Kellen and his Grandpa.
At the cottage in 2009 - Grandpa playing the harmonica for Kellen. Kellen always loved hearing Grandpa play the harmonica...he even has his own harmonica that he would bring out and play with Grandpa during their visits together.
Still playing his harmonica for Parker.....we will miss these moments.
Grandpa always loved the cottage - he was always so relaxed and truly enjoyed being closer to nature. He loved fishing, swimming, and just relaxing.
At the cottage in 2008, Kellen loved having quiet moments with Grandpa. Here they are having cuddles together.....
Grandpa wanted to start Kellen as a future fisher as early as possible!
Christmas, 2009. Kellen gave Grandpa a memory book.....here is Grandpa enjoying the memories in the photo album. We are going to miss his smile....
Christmas 2009. Kellen was 2 1/2 years old. Kellen loved doing puzzles with Grandpa. We were all in the kitchen, and I decided to take a picture of this quiet moment between them.
During Kellen's first Christmas (2008) he would lie in bed between Lita and Grandpa....Grandpa loved to bring out the flashlight and flash it everywhere while Kellen tried to "catch" the light.
Kellen hanging out with Grandpa and Great-Nana.
Just relaxing with Grandpa.
Kellen wasn't even born yet.....here we are during Christmas 2007 - having fun with Parker.
This past spring, Grandpa got pretty sick with a respiratory problem. We came to visit him in the hospital. Kellen thought the hospital was pretty cool (it has a piano!).
Our last Thanksgiving as a complete family - Thanksgiving 2011. It was so important to my Dad to have a family picture taken....I think we are all feeling so happy and blessed that we decided to do this picture together - for our final family holiday together.
On November 25, 2011 - Grandpa and Lita came up for a visit. Grandpa was in so much pain during this visit, and we were worried about what the outcome of his upcoming doctor appointments would be....even though Grandpa was in so much pain, he made a point of going to get Kellen from daycare (I am so happy he got to see Kellen's daycare), and take Kellen to the Bulk Barn for snacks. Kellen made cookies with Lita and here he is feeding them to Grandpa. This was the last visit between Kellen and Grandpa - I will cherish memories of this visit forever. Exactly one month after this visit, we lost our beloved Grandpa.
We will always love you, Grandpa. You will forever live in our hearts and our memories. Goodbye, Grandpa.
Daddy and Kellen playing "Where's My Water?" on the IPod together - I don't know which one of them is more hooked on this game!
Christmas was a very sombre time for us....however, we made good on our promise to Grandpa - we came home from the hospital, had a quick sleep, and woke up to give the little ones a good Christmas......just like Grandpa had so badly wanted. After opening up stalkings and presents, we all just hung out and played with all the new toys. Then, Lita made our traditional Christmas meal - it was enjoyed by all.
Merry Christmas, beautiful boy.
Lita - watching her grandchildren open up their presents.
Christmas morning chaos....oh, so many presents.
Kellen was completely covered up with all of his presents....he looked pretty cute!
Where is Kellen!?!?!?
Mommy and Kellen.
The doctor is in the house....Kellen and Parker both got doctor's kits for Christmas.
Last weekend, Great-Abuelito and Lita came for a visit. It was so nice to see them. They stayed at a hotel close to our house - Kellen loved going to the hotel because it has a pool - Kellen loved going to the pool! He would jump in and swim around (with help from Mommy and Daddy because he is not allowed to get water in his ears).
Mommy with Great-Abuelito and Lita.
Great-Abuelito and Lita.
Two of my favourite guys together for the first time....
We are backtracking a bit here....here is Grandpa hanging out with me while we waited for Kellen's arrival - if we only knew that it would be 51 hours before Kellen would make his arrival! Still, it meant the world to me to have my Dad with me during this moment.
The following pictures are not in any particular order....I have so many pictures of Kellen and his Grandpa together. I thought I would put a few of them together to remember their times together.
Kellen relaxing before his 1st birthday party with Grandpa....it was the first time Kellen didn't nap - and it showed!
Happy 2nd birthday, Kellen - Grandpa really wanted to be the one to bring out Kellen's birthday cake...
Hanging out with Parker during Kellen's 2nd birthday party.
Kellen and Grandpa were having a blast playing with Baby Hedgehog....Grandpa would quickly move hedgehog and Kellen would burst into laughter.
Grandpa enjoying time with his grandson - and loving that his mother (Kellen's great-Nana) was able to enjoy this moment with him.
I love this picture!
Kellen loved getting cuddles and lovings from his Grandpa.
Kellen's first trip to see Lita and Grandpa....it was the end of April 2008 and Kellen was 6 weeks old.
....and Grandpa was sold - he loved Kellen so much.
One of Kellen's many, many visits with his Lita and Grandpa....Kellen has been blessed with having such loving grandparents. It will always be sad that there will not be any new memories to share together, but Kellen has many memories of his Grandpa, and he will live in Kellen's heart forever.
Kellen and Grandpa hanging out in our old apartment!
Kellen now hanging out both with Grandpa and Lita.
During another visit with Kellen.
Kellen came to visit for Lita's birthday, 2008....and spent many, many hours just hanging out with Grandpa.
Kellen and Grandpa during winter visit in 2008.
One of Grandpa's favourite thing to do was to take Parker and Kellen for walks. Here he is taking Kellen for a walk in the spring of 2009. He was such a proud Grandpa.....and his grandsons were so proud of him.
Here are Grandpa and Kellen being silly together - this was when we moved into our house in Ajax - Kellen was 16 months old.
When Kellen was 18 months old, he had his first ear surgery. Lita and Grandpa came up to support Kellen during his surgery. That night, we went out for bite to eat. Kellen was still feeling loopy from the medication (and got super, super sick after the surgery)....luckily, he had lots of lovings from his Grandpa.
During a visit from Grandpa, Kellen introduced him to his pirate ship. I can only imagine how tired Grandpa was of having to play (and lean over!) pirates with Kellen - but he never complained and sat outside with Kellen everyday for so long...
Last spring, Kellen and I were super sick. We were both in the hospital with meningitis. When we were released from the hospital, Grandpa came all the way to Ajax and help take care of us. It was so nice having him stay with us for a few days....
Grandpa being silly with the little ones...
Easter 2010. Grandpa had so much fun helping Kellen and Parker find Easter eggs around the house....Grandpa always loved family moments and spending the holidays together.
I love this picture....Kellen and his Grandpa.
At the cottage in 2009 - Grandpa playing the harmonica for Kellen. Kellen always loved hearing Grandpa play the harmonica...he even has his own harmonica that he would bring out and play with Grandpa during their visits together.
Grandpa always loved the cottage - he was always so relaxed and truly enjoyed being closer to nature. He loved fishing, swimming, and just relaxing.
At the cottage in 2008, Kellen loved having quiet moments with Grandpa. Here they are having cuddles together.....
Grandpa wanted to start Kellen as a future fisher as early as possible!
Christmas, 2009. Kellen gave Grandpa a memory book.....here is Grandpa enjoying the memories in the photo album. We are going to miss his smile....
Christmas 2009. Kellen was 2 1/2 years old. Kellen loved doing puzzles with Grandpa. We were all in the kitchen, and I decided to take a picture of this quiet moment between them.
During Kellen's first Christmas (2008) he would lie in bed between Lita and Grandpa....Grandpa loved to bring out the flashlight and flash it everywhere while Kellen tried to "catch" the light.
Kellen hanging out with Grandpa and Great-Nana.
Just relaxing with Grandpa.
Kellen wasn't even born yet.....here we are during Christmas 2007 - having fun with Parker.
This past spring, Grandpa got pretty sick with a respiratory problem. We came to visit him in the hospital. Kellen thought the hospital was pretty cool (it has a piano!). 
Our last Thanksgiving as a complete family - Thanksgiving 2011. It was so important to my Dad to have a family picture taken....I think we are all feeling so happy and blessed that we decided to do this picture together - for our final family holiday together.
On November 25, 2011 - Grandpa and Lita came up for a visit. Grandpa was in so much pain during this visit, and we were worried about what the outcome of his upcoming doctor appointments would be....even though Grandpa was in so much pain, he made a point of going to get Kellen from daycare (I am so happy he got to see Kellen's daycare), and take Kellen to the Bulk Barn for snacks. Kellen made cookies with Lita and here he is feeding them to Grandpa. This was the last visit between Kellen and Grandpa - I will cherish memories of this visit forever. Exactly one month after this visit, we lost our beloved Grandpa.
We will always love you, Grandpa. You will forever live in our hearts and our memories. Goodbye, Grandpa.
