Ellie's a Heart Hero

Ellie's a Heart Hero!

Here is a snippet from Ellie's school newsletter:

Physical Education
Thank you to all who helped raise the money to continue the research needed to save lives with heart disease.

We were able to raise $1,362.47 at our Jump Rope for Heart event.

Our Heart Hero who raised the most money this year was Elana in Mrs. Ks class.

Elana will get to be the PE teacher for the day and will receive the Heart Hero metal. She raised a whopping $200.00!

Did you know that Grammy...

Dear Mila, Ellie and Nevan,

I hope one day you are able to look back through all of the posts that Grammy has and continues to make on this blog and cherish them the same way I do. They sure are special times!

Grammy is one of the most amazing women I know.

Did you know that Grammy worked hard for over 40 years to provide for her family?

She did! That is older than I am right now typing this! :) Wow!

Grammy is a wonderful example of selflessness. She sacrificed a lot of personal time and freedoms as we were growing up so that her family would never go without. It is funny the things we remember over the years; I specifically remember Grammy's coolots! She always seemed to wear one of three pairs because she never wanted to spend money on herself that could be used for the family. I never liked those coolots back then but now I see the reason behind so many things that she did...and now I love her coolots! :)

Grammy has always put everyone else's feelings and needs first. When Daddy lost his job my Mommy worked multiple jobs, even late into the night, so that she could provide for us. I sit back now and wonder how it was possible that she did all of that in addition to being a Mommy to me and Tiff; how hard that must have been for her.

I will try and share more stories about Grammy as I think of them; Grammy truly is a treasure and I hope you three know that about her and are enjoying every single moment that you can with her. You have already learned a lot from her and will continue to and will learn and grow from her example.

Love, AuntJen

When I grow up!

I spent Sunday October 30th with the kids at the Boynton Beach Halloween Festival.

We had lots of fun and afterwards went for a visit to my apartment, which Nevan was quite fascinated with. He ran all around then found Daddy's old cars and began playing with them on the floor for a good 20 minutes.

On the ride home the girls were asking me about working and what I do everyday.

Somewhere along the way Ellie exclaimed, "When I grow up I want to work at Party City and put all of the party stuff back on the shelves!"

Mila agreed,"Oh yes, well and I will blow up all the balloons for people!"

;-)

Love and marriage

Mila and Ellie each earned a certificate for free pizza at Pizza Hut by participating in the county library summer reading program and the other night I was invited to go with them to Pizza Hut which I did. While there Mila sat with me on my side of the booth. She looked up at me with a very excited expression on her face and said Grammy I have a surprise to tell you. Her next words were Guess what? I have a boyfriend! My response: You do!?!, tell me about him, but don’t get married too soon (a phrase I have said to her hundreds of times without reaction other than giggles).

Yes I do and we’re not getting married soon but we did talk about our wedding today. Grammy his name is Constantine, and he speaks three languages! Grammy I love him SO much (with enthusiastic emphasis on the “so much.”

She was just so excited!
I felt older than dirt, thinking about how grown up she seemed at age seven! What a wondrous treat it is to be near my grands, and this particular event was extremely special! I pray I have more years left to enjoy them all. The three sweetest children in all God’s world.

I am so blessed: first two special daughters of whom I am so proud, and now my grands: Mila and Ellie and Nevan all of whom I could start hugging and continue forever and ever.

Pescaphobe / Pescaphile

Mila: "I think fish is gross. But it's so tasty."
(scarfing down Aaron's pan-seared tilapia)

National military cemetary

Such a beautiful honor...love you eternally, Daddy.

What a beautiful honor. I love you,Daddy!

The United States of America honors the memory of Edward Leon Gresh. This certificate is awarded by a grateful nation in recognition of devoted and selfless consecration to the service of our country in the Armed Forces of the United States.

~Barack Obama, President of the United States

He's all boy!

From the first few moments of meeting Nevan, it was so apparent that he would be all boy. He loves to do things I've never seen the girls take any interest in. The latest concentration that is so cute is that he has discovered how to turn on and off lights. He flips the wall switch for room lights, not too spectacular, but I love this one: He "discovered" my remote control in the living room that controls the ceiling fan and the light that's part of it. He first discovered the button for the light and was happy turning the light on and off. Now I saw him yesterday hold the remote close to his face while studying all the buttons. He finally chose one and Eureka! it was the one that turns the ceiling fan on high which pleased him greatly. He is not shy about trying new things. I'm sure he will keep discovering how things work with his natural curiosity and no fear of failure holding him back.He's game to try anything it seems. He seems so mature in many ways. He is utterly and completely adorable and charming.

One proofreader and one knowledgeable gamer

Yesterday the girls were having a fairly brief "playdate" at Grammy's while Mom went to an appointment.

Ellie quickly retrieved the "trouble" game and began playing and asked if I would play too a little later, which we did although she kept having to keep me straight with the rules, I messed up many times but she always corrected me quite patiently.

Mila had brought over a book with her to read, "Swiss Family Robinson," which she completed fairly quickly. Once she was done she announced she had already finished the whole book. and then said "Grammy, there's a mistake in this book," and looked astonished that an error could be in a printed book. She turned right to the page of which she spoke and showed me the typo she had found!!! It was E comma lizabeth. [E,lizabeth] She was annoyed they put a space and a comma in the middle of her great grandma's name.

Learning the world isn't perfect can be a shocker.

Mila's 7th Birthday Party - Ahoy Matey!

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/100116215755264107987/albums/5666138526857139585

Finally figured out how to blog from my phone. Woot. Love technology!

Ellie is fantastic

Per text from Tiffany 7//28/11
Mommy, I'm all sweaty from riding my bike without training wheels and most of the time not falling! - Ellie

EDWARD L. GRESH Obituary by Gainesville Sun

Edward Leon Gresh, 65, of Gainesville, FL passed away May 4, 2011 accompanied by his family in the E.T. York Hospice Care Center in Gainesville after having suffered a sudden heart attack on April 23rd.

"Big Ed" will be remembered as an outstanding Cox Cable employee and gregarious Tropical Sno owner-operator during the 1980s and since then a highly recognizable character around the UF campus. For more than twenty years as Senior Communications Engineer he designed and built campus-wide networking solutions and earned many accolades, including the University President's Award for Excellence.

He will also be celebrated for his efforts to help those in need, his abiding love for his children and grandchildren, and his unmistakable zest for life.

Ed was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and spent most of his childhood there; he lived in Hawaii as a toddler and in Raleigh, North Carolina as a teenager. He attended East Carolina University and was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity for two years before enlisting in the Air Force. He ultimately served as a telecommunications engineer at Clark Air Base in the Republic of the Philippines, where he married Myra N. Cash in 1968. After his honorable discharge he moved to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida and later raise his family. While Ed and Myra divorced in 2004, they remained affectionate friends, fondly keeping in touch over the years. In July of 2009, he and Peggy Goldberg held a beautiful wedding ceremony in the Baumann Center on Lake Alice, followed by a Hawaiian honeymoon.

He was preceded in death by his father Lt. Col. (USAF) John Andrew Gresh, mother Wilhelmina "Eleanor" Masavage Gresh, stepmother Audrey Hope Gresh, and his guardians Marvin Reynolds and Martha Adeline Masavage Reynolds ("Aunt Agum"), whom he treasured as dearly as beloved parents.

He is survived by his loving wife "Peggy" Margaret A. Goldberg of Gainesville, his devoted daughters Jennifer Gresh of West Palm Beach, FL and Tiffany de Berry of Lake Worth, FL, and his cherished grandchildren Kamila, Elana, and Nevan.

An open house in celebration of his life will be held on his beloved UF campus Saturday, May 21st from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Atrium Room 200 at Ustler Hall. E-mail jengresh@att.net for details.

Ed was a proud Galloneer blood donor, and his family asks all who are able to honor his memory by donating a pint of blood to their local blood bank. Memorial contributions to E.T. York Hospice Care Center are appreciated.


Published in Gainesville Sun from May 15 to May 16, 2011

Healing dancers!

Mila, Ellie and Nevan all began to dance around for Grammy on Sunday, April 17, 2011.
I truly believe their dancing helps her heal!
Talk about three angels.
I couldn't resist sharing the video I captured on my iPhone. So darling!
Or as Grammy says, "Bless their little hearts..."

The park pose!

Mom emailed me this picture taken on her iphone from the park on 4-6-11.
So you know me, I just had to share it's so cute.
Mom said that Tiff was using her phone to take a pic of the girls playing in the tree and when told to smile, Nevan came running over and wanted to be in the picture, too!
SO adorable. I sure do love you Mila, Ellie and Nevan!
Hugs & tickles, AuntJen

Ellie and Mila have a phone in their room

Ellie called me the other day at 8:30 a.m. and asked what I was doing. When I said I'm still lying in bed because I just woke up, she said that she thought maybe Mila had already gone to school because she was alone in her room so she thought she should check with me.

We chit chatted for a couple of minutes before she said she had to go downstairs and "check on" Mommy and Nevan.

So grown up!

Girls sleepover at Aunt Jen's

iPhone video of the girls dancing to "Thank You" by Mozella....such fun!

Jupiter dog beach memories

This is one my all time favorite pictures of Mom and Nevan!
Taken Sunday, April 4, 2010 at the dog beach in Jupiter.
Such a special Sunday--one I will never forget.

Sweet Nevan is growing up!

March 30, 2011 Facebook post by Tiffany de Berry:

Viewing a slideshow of newborn pics, he pointed at each, saying "bebe."
Then changing his diaper he could still hear the music, and said "bebe!"
I asked him if he was un bebe or un nino, and he said "nuhnuh" :-)

Nature lovers

March 30, 2011
Facebook post by Tiffany de Berry:

Overheard discussing a classmate before his birthday party...
Mila: Does he like nature?
Ellie: Yes! When we're outside he sometimes likes to kill spiders!