Happy 21st Birthday for the 3rd time!

I had a great time planning Rocke's birthday party this year. I was working on his birthday invitation when we came up with the "Happy 21st Birthday for the 3rd time" theme. The invitation turned out great and I wanted Robin and his family in California to see the invitation, so I sent it down to them, knowing that they would not be able to make the trip up for the party. To my surprise, I received an email from Robin telling me that he received the invitation and wanted to "surprise" his dad by flying in for his birthday. He wanted to bring Megan, our youngest grandaughter, to meet us. She was born August 13, 2003 and we had not had the chance to meet her, yet. WOW, I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. Would I be able to keep this "secret" from Rocke for two weeks?

Now the fun of planning the party and Robin and Megan's visit was in the works. Robin contacted his brothers Ross and Ryan to began planning his surprise visit to Portland. Ross would be picking Robin and Megan up from the airport on Friday the 13th of February. They would spend the night with Ross, Heather and Austin. Ross would bring Robin and Megan over to our place early on Saturday morning and they would spend the rest of their trip with Grandpa and Grandma. We would go down to Salem on Saturday afternoon and spend some time with Ryan, Sarah and Zach. Sunday, everyone would be at our home to celebrate Rocke's Birthday. All of us could hardly wait for the arrival of Robin and Megan and at the same time keep it a secret from Rocke. Could we do it? Yes, we did!

Finally, it was Friday and time for Robin and Megan to arrive. Uncle Ross picked Robin and Megan up from the airport and took them back to his home so that Megan could meet Aunt Heather and cousin, Austin.

Rocke and I had just gotten back from a business trip to Seattle Friday evening. My son, Michael and his wife, Sylvia were coming in from The Dalles to help us celebrate Rocke's birthday. They arrived at our place on Friday evening, after enjoying listening to some music at the Trails End in Oregon City.

The "Big" day arrived and we were finally going to meet Megan. Saturday morning, when Rocke answered the door, there stood Robin and Megan. "SURPRISE"! Rocke was speechless and had the thought of "that looks like Robin, but it can't be Robin". It finally sunk in that "sure enough" it was Robin with Megan. Robin told Rocke right away that it was just him and Megan. His wife, Mary, and our other two grand-daughters, Erin and Kate could not make the trip this time.

This was Megan's first airplane ride to Portland to meet Grandma, Grandpa, and her aunts, uncles and cousins. Robin said that Megan was an "angel" on the airplane ride. She either slept or played and some of the other passengers were surprised to find out there was a baby sitting so close to them on the airplane.

Robin, Megan, Ross, Heather and Austin came in and we all visited until time to go down to Salem to visit with Uncle Ryan, Aunt Sarah and cousin, Zach. Rocke and I could not get enough of holding and playing with Megan. She is a "Little Angel"! Megan was not shy about letting Rocke and I hold and play with her. She is a "mellow" baby, very easy going and laid back. Nothing seems to bother her. What a "doll"!

In Salem, Megan got to meet Aunt Sarah, Uncle Ryan and cousin, Zach. We all had a great time visiting and watching Megan play with and get to know her cousins. After the visit, Rocke, Robin, Megan and I returned back home to our place, where we were going to meet Michael and Syvlia for dinner. They had gone down to hike Silver Falls State Park, while we were at Ryan and Sarah's.

Sunday morning while Rocke, Robin and Megan visited, Sylvia, Michael and I went to pick up Rocke's birthday cake and balloons from the Party Store. After getting back home, Sylvia and I got busy and finished decorating the house for the party. Ryan, Sarah, Zach, Ross, Heather, and Austin arrived and the birthday party began. What a "great" party!

After the party, Rocke and I took everyone out to dinner at Calamity Jane's Hamburger Parlour Restaurant. Much to our disappointment, Michael and Syvia were not able to join us to continue the festivities of Rocke's birthday, as Michael had some business to attend to on the way home to The Dalles. We all enjoy the dinner, visiting and listening to the piano player at the restaurant. Everyone was having such a great time, we hated to see the evening come to a close. That meant Robin and Megan's visit was just about over . . . way to soon! There were three babies at our big table, all under two years old and you would not have known it. Not one of them cried or made a lot of noise. Such great grandkids! Everyone said their good-byes at the restuarant and Rocke, Robin, Megan and I returned back to our home.

One more evening of visiting for Rocke and I with Robin and Megan. Early Monday morning Robin got Megan up and ready for the flight. Rocke and I did not hear her cry once about being up so early. She cooed and played while Robin dressed her for her flight back home to see mom and sisters. We had Robin and Megan to the airport in plenty of time to catch their plane back home. We hated to see them leave but know that Mary, Erin and Kate could not wait to get them back home. Robin said that Megan slept and played on the airplane ride back home to Temecula, California.

Rocke says that this is the "Best" birthday he can remember. He is still talking about what a great time he had. Rocke and I can never thank Mary, our daughter-in-law, enough for letting Robin bring Megan up and surprising Rocke with a visit. Thanks Mary, you are the greatest!