Easter with Lee & Our Family

Aunt Heather & Uncle Jeff

The sweet new family

Great Grandma holding her 23rd great-grandchild!

Grandma, Grandpa & Lee together. :)

Gerald Lee Stevens holding his namesake Lee Gerald Stevens.
91 years old & 12 days old

4 generations of Stevens men

Great Grandma with Lee (12 days), Lars (5 months) & Anders (5 1/2 years)

Aunt Heather holding her brother's son!

Not sure who these guys are. Kinda scary looking, huh?!!!
(Every family has a few nuts in the family tree)

Love, love, love being grandparents!

Such a nice setting & beautiful afternoon to take pictures in Robin & David's
backyard (which Philip designed)

The Stevens Gang

What a handsome family!

Home From the Hospital

Here is the little family in front of the door of their studio apartment.
Welcome Home!

Mama Mina took this picture as Philip came out to the waiting room at the hospital. We all then went in to see Lee for the first time. Thanks Mina. :)

The Moms talking & enjoying the sweet baby boy

I brought dinner & came straight from school, thus the school shirt. :/

Abby said that these booties stay on very well.
They are so big compared to his little legs!

Oh, so precious!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, Just a Few More Pictures!!

Love this family!

He's so tiny!

So precious!

Happy in Daddy's arms

Oh my goodness, I'm in love with this little guy!!

"Smile at Grandma!"

"Auntie Lynnie" Weber & I went together to visit the new little family.

The highlight of my day. :)

Lee Gerald Stevens is born!

Here I am crying over my new grandson!

The beautiful family!

Yea! It's a boy! Lee Gerald Stevens. 6 lb. 6 oz. 20"
(named after Grandpa Stevens, Gerald Lee
& Philip Lee, and Aunt Terri Lee :))

The beautiful Mom!

First-time grandparents!!

Love this one :)

4 generations of Stevens Men (with the all-important Mommy)

Lee was born on what would have been Jerry & Helen's 70th wedding anniversary. So now we have a new reason to celebrate this day. So special for Grandpa to have a namesake born TODAY, March 27!

Love this one of Abby. So sweet!

I finally settled down so I could hold him. So soft & precious & alert.

Mom's Birthday Tea

Before the tea at Biola, we spent some time touring & listening to the docent explain the present collection on loan from the Ahmanson Family. It is a 20th century British collection with a religious theme. Here is Mom studying a water color.
(We talked about all of the art shows we attended here put on by our talented nieces)

This was my favorite.
"The Renting of the Veil" during Christ's crucifixion. Click on it to enlarge and you will be pleasantly surprised. The detail and even the 3 crosses in the upper right corner are very moving.

Then we walked over the Caf' for a lovely tea.
It also included a chicken, mash potatoes, veggie dinner! Yum!

Here we are

Mom with her birthday cards & flowers.
What an amazing lady!!

A Special Gift from Greatmother

Back in 1984 Greatmother (my Grandmother Seelye) and her sister Anna Bell Taber (Auntie Bell) wrote this note to us:

Gretchen & Kirk,

In these "reclining" years we ruminate on life. God has been with us all the way, and we've constantly thanked Him for all of you. The sad days and tears have drawn us closer together.
The five grand children brought us great joy--four sweet girls [Luanne, Robin, Gretchen, Jeri Lynn], started by just one boy [Randy]. As these lovelies chose their mates our happiness increased. Five weddings to share, and guess what happened?
Babies came and our hearts o'er flowed for each. And here, today, we have our family complete. Fourteen great grands for Anna Bell and me! [Heather was yet to come]
We think ahead to all the years we won't be with you, and we want to leave our blessing on Lo! the Next Generation!! We've made blankets for you to lay away for your First Grandchild!!
Lovingly,
Grandmother & Auntie Bell (Christmas 1984)

What a special gift & legacy! Heather read it for me, as I knew I would not make it through without crying. Not too many dry eyes on this one!