Rain

We have grandchildren staying with us this week. 

We have had a great time together.

We have been to the park, museum, and lake.

We searched for colored eggs and ate a feast.

Church was more fun with 3 little ones to share it with.

We tried to go to the Zoo earlier in the week, but were turned away?!?!?

The schedule opened up to try again today.

The weather report said clouds early in the day and rain this evening.

We set out on the hour drive,

Half an hour later the first drops appeared on the windhield.

The phone rang and there were reports of hail at home, still we pressed on.

A quick stop to procure some rain panchos and we were ready.

The zebras and lions were still.

The gorillas and chimpanzees were active and happy, showing off for the few who ventured forth to visit.

It was cold and wet, yet we stayed dry and warm.

It was worth our effort to go.

We had a great day.

No one melted even though they were all so sweet.

perfect summer day

Today was the perfect summer day.

It was neither hot nor cold--just perfect.

The grand children played happily in the yard

We had grilled corn and fresh fruit with lentils for dinner--easily made and cleaned up

The hammock beckoned as the ice cream maker did it's work

We took a delightful stroll through the neighborhood

The ice cream tasted delicious just before bath and bedtime

A happy, relaxing summer day

Perfect

Bright and Clear

When I was in kindergarten they took all of us to the school nurse's office to view the E chart.  After that brief experience my mom took me to the doctor's office to look at his E chart.  I put my little hand up, down, to the right and to the left, it was fun waving my hand at random.

When my oldest went to kindergarten they had a vision screening for siblings.  My second daughter was three and I wondered how she would be able to decipher the E chart, but to my amazement they showed her small drawings she could name.

My husband recently went to get his eyes checked, they showed him the WHOLE ALPHABET!!!  Then they put this giant pair of glasses on him and asked him if he liked 1 or 2  as they changed the lenses.  Can the answer be neither?

The first day I wore my bright blue glasses I noticed there were leaves on the trees.  WOW, who knew--individual leaves you could see.

My sweetheart was 3 when he got his first pair of glasses.

My daughter was not quite 4.  My youngest son was in Kindergarten.

My oldest son looks very distinguished in his glasses that he has worn for a few years now.

My oldest had 5 children when she got her first pair of glasses and my youngest daughter got hers last month.

I still have one son with perfect vision, so perfect that he is a sharp shooter on the SWAT team of  the police department he works for.  Keep eating those carrots, Kevan.

I have been blessed with 17 grandchildren.  Victoria wears clear lens glasses occasionally because she thinks they make her look smart.

This week I am visiting my grandchildren in Charlotte.  Connor looks so natural in his new glasses.  Last night I was sitting with his mother when I heard him calling from his bedroom.  He had been laying in bed reading and was ready to go to sleep.  He handed me his glasses and asked me to put them in his glass case--so responsible.

He is the first of 17.  He loves his new glasses.  I told him the story of me and the leaves on the trees.  Then he said of course trees have leaves, but it is nice to see them individually.  Connor is in 3rd grade and he can now see the world bright and clear from where he is standing.

I took my husband in for some new frames to go with his bi-focal prescription.  I think he looks handsome and distinguished with his silver hair and the wide ear pieces.  We also chose some sunglasses.  The first thing the children said was to remember to take them off at the beach-- another story for another day.

Marching On

My how time flies when your head is stuck in jet lag.

Add daylight savings time and you have one messed up woman.

These are the things I have a foggie recollection of happening:

My Connor celebrated his 9th birthday

My parents celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary

We celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary

We picked out some pretty flowers in remembrance of our sweet baby Caroline

My Denim will celebrate his 3rd birthday this week

My brother celebrated his birthday

and my husband's niece, Taegan decided to get baptized

Life is good and if you don't slow down you might miss some of the best parts

Road Trip with Connor and Ella

Last week was a wonderful adventure for two cousins and their grandparents. We put 2500 miles on the car as we made a circle from NC up through 2 more states before spending the weekend in IN. On Monday we headed south driving all day until we found GA where we spent the night and celebrated Grandma's birthday with a bit of ice cream from Cracker Barrel. Tuesday we finally entered Florida and checked into our amazing hotel.

The bathroom was the highlight of the lodgings, the tub was free standing and when you turned on the water it fell from the ceiling. We had two bedrooms and a fully stocked kitchen, a balcony and lovely living room. WOW. Grandpa and his points sure do treat us nicely.

On Wednesday we were at Disney's Magic Kingdom before it opened and we stayed until after it closed--8:30am until 1:30am--seventeen hours of full on magic and fun. We had a touring plan, rain ponchos, a water bottle, snacks and extra socks (we needed it all), With the plan we never waited in line except at Pirates of the Caribbean and then only for about 20 minutes. We rode all of the rides we wanted to and a few twice or three times.

On Thursday we lounged by the pool, went miniature golfing and had dinner with the King and Queen watching the jousting matches at Medieval Times. It was fun to wear a crown and be called Sir and Milady, we felt quite royal.

Friday we got up early and made scrap books of our travels before heading to the pool for one last ride on the water slide before settling back into the car for the ride home. Along about SC we decided to extend the trip for a few more hours and got a hotel room. Of course we headed to the pool for some water fun before turning in for the night. Saturday morning we were off and running again, dropping Connor at home and then taking Ella back to our house to meet her parents who were on the road as well.

2500 miles with two 8 year olds was quite enjoyable. They had movies to entertain themselves with. We listened to books 1 and 2 of the Harry Potter series. They had their personal entertainment devices as well as a book to read and notebooks, colored pencils and stickers for artistic impressions.

A trip like this with 8 year olds is nice because they are old enough to take care of themselves yet young enough to think that the speed grandma and grandpa go is just fine. They go along with whatever we come up with and never complain. They are cousins, not siblings, so the bickering is minimal, if at all. All in all, one of the best trips ever taken with children.

We did this two years ago with Logan and Dallin, and a side trip with Victoria. Now, as 10 year olds they had sage advice for their cousins and siblings. The two years since their big roadtrip our relationship with them has deepened and matured. I think it was worth the effort.

We are scheduled to go again next year and almost every year thereafter for the next 8 as we take little ones on a road trip to Disney with grandma and grandpa. I wonder how we will do when we are 65 and 71?? I try to remember that 8 year olds are young enough to think it is fun no matter how slow or silly it is to be with grandma and grandpa. I also know that this grandma and grandpa are enjoying the adventure of being with 8 year old cousins, watching them have a fun time, building bonds to last forever.

Load 'em Up and Head 'em Out

The week is running away with me. Gotta get the car washed and oil changed. Gotta load up the ice chest and suit cases, find the kid movies and organize the snacks. It is time to take two wonderful 8 year old cousins on a grandma and grandpa trip.

We did this two years ago with our first set of 8 year olds, now it is time to take the second set. The last trip was the BEST TRIP EVER, and we have high hopes for the same success rate this time, after all, how can you go wrong when you mix children and Disney??

We will leave on Friday afternoon and drive the 3 hours to pick up Connor. Then we leave early Saturday morning, (Connor loves to wake up at 4am early) for the first real travel day as we head up to Indiana to pick up Ella. It will take two days in the car to finally make it back south to Florida and the Magic Kingdom where Grandma and Grandpa have a comfortable hotel waiting.

We are planning to be at the Park before it opens and stay until it closes. We have our comfortable shoes packed, a water bottle, some small snacks and our hats. It should be a great day.

I love taking the 8 year olds. They are old enough to take care of themselves, yet young enough to think that Grandma's ideas are fun and good. They are cousins, not siblings, so they get along well. We are taking them to visit Mickey and the gang. The dynamics of the trip are quite favorable.

I love Disney, I grew up just a short drive from Disneyland and loved to go there at least once a year. That was back in the days of the "E" ticket. I think I found a few of those old tickets hiding in my 'keep it' drawer when I was cleaning out last time. Happy memories and happy times.

We have been so busy with missing the whole month of June (that was Germany and Alaska). We ripped out the laundry room and pantry over the 4th of July, and here we are, ready to go again, trying to get our minds out of the paint cans and excited about Disney and two wonderful 8 year old cousins who are waiting for their turn.

I only have a few things left to put away and clean up before we load it all up and head out for the trip of the summer. It will be fun and memorable. Connor is already packed and ready to go, Ella gave me her list of favorite travel foods--I think it will be a good trip--48 hours in the car--it will be fun-----

Reviews

After 3 days of service I had two contradicting reviews of my grandparent skills.

Review #1
"You're not that old--You are a good grandma--Grandma's are supposed to be fun--right?"

Review #2
"You don't do it like my mom"

Also heard from the back seat, " I am lucky--I chose good parents!"

I have to agree with that last statement, my grandchildren all chose good parents.

I also agree with review #2--I don't do it just like mom, but I have learned that your very own mom is the best mom for you. No one loves you as much as your own mother, no one understands you as well as your own mother. A grandma loves you and cares about you, she has your best interest at heart as well as experience and time on her side, but she is not as good as your very own mother. But, sometimes change is good for both mom and child --change is as good as a rest and helps you appreciate what you sometimes take for granted.

As a side note, I remember now how I was able to stay thin when the children were small--no time to eat and you run all day long. Guess more grandma time is needed to loose these extra 20 pounds. Okay everyone--get out the calendar and sign up for your week. We'll call it the grandma workout, you will be doing me a favor.

Change

September

I love spring and summer.

Lazy slow days--at least in my mind--no need to put on a coat or shoes. I am not freezing.

No alarms, schedules slow down.

Today is the first day of September. Change is in the air.

School has started.

Soon the weather will change--some will rejoice--I will freeze.

Schedules have changed--homework, catch the bus, hurry to bed, set the alarm.

Hurry seems to be a word for winter.

Poor Connor has had a lot of change in his life this week. School started and his new baby sister came all at the same time. Today I reminded him that by Halloween everything would be better. He asked how?? Time is my answer. By Halloween we will be used to the new changes in our lives that fall has brought. Time helps us adapt to the changes in our lives and understand them better.

The only constant thing in our lives is change.

My mom often reminds me that:

This Too Shall Pass

Everything must eventually change. Even the good things change. Our ability to manage the challenging improves with time and practice.

Eventually everything changes.

It is our attitude that makes the changes easy or challenging. Some changes are welcome, some are not.

Change is in the air.

Attitude is the key in change. Only I can control my attitude.

If a situation is not the best the only person to change it is me.

Change is in the air. I control my attitude.

September is here.

REWARDS

My grandson paid me a back door compliment the other day.

He told me "Grandma, I sure like you a whole lot better at your house!!"

His mother clarifies the statement meaning that he misses living close enough to come over more often. But as I thought about what he said, he was right,. I like to be the fun grandma.

I did the responsible thing when my kids were young. They ate their vegetables, were encouraged to finish their homework. Please and thank you were common reminders out of my mouth. Bedtime was a routine and a schedule for practicing was set. I did those tasks with my children so they would be healthy, happy and respectful.

Now I am the grandma. If the kids do not want to eat all of their vegetables at grandma's house it is still okay to have ice cream for dessert. If the bell tolls 9pm and we are still awake watching a movie or reading a book it is not panic time. That is my reward for surviving the teenage years with my own children.

Connor

Today Connor turns 7. Wow, how the time flies by.

Connor lives in Charlotte with his mom, dad and little sister.

Connor is a sweet and intelligent little boy who loves to read and play his DS.

Connor's bus comes at 6:45 in the morning and he is up and going with a smile when I swore, after all those seminary years, I would never be up again.

Breakfast for dinner is his favorite meal.

He can beat Grandpa with his Wii race track games and loves going to piano lessons.

Connor has a certain way of doing things, like all small children do. The other day he wanted hot chocolate and was quite upset that grandpa may not know the right way to make it.

When I asked what kind of cake he wanted he said 'death by chocolate'!! Now that is something I can do (see recipe on the right). I'm glad that he will not be here to watch me bake it though, because, I know I will not do it just like his mom. But, there is something I have learned over the years--There is no one that can do it as good as your very own mother.

Hopefully this grandma cake will be a close second.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR!!!