Little Girls

We were able to have our 4 oldest grand daughters come stay with us last week.

We had a great time sewing, crafting, cooking and designing.

We went to the beach and aquarium, church and of course, shopping.

They giggled, laughed and made memories.

I am exhausted.

My house has remnants of fabric, paper, beads and yarn littered in all corners.

A great time was had by all.

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-----

-Ella

Welcome to Birthday Week in December.

Today we recognize Ella Ruby.

She is 8 and ready to be baptized. She has 3 brothers and misses her baby sister that passed away 6 years ago.

Ella is full of energy. She loves to create. She has a ready smile. She is all girl. She loves to shop and was excited to get her ears pierced recently. Her first words whenever she sees me are...."What did you bring me?"

I am thrilled that we will be going to visit her later this week to see her dressed in white as she enters the baptismal font with her father. The whole family is excited for her big day.

Ella Ruby is a jewel that makes me smile. I love her very much and can't wait to see her.

Happy Birthday, Ella

opposites

I have two granddaughters that both have beautiful hair.

One has thick, sleek and silky dark hair. When I run my fingers through her hair it feels like silk ribbons in my hand. She can have beautiful braids and her hair swishes when she moves her head.

The other has beautiful curly blonde hair. Her mother spends time putting it into french braids and spraying it with water to help the curls define. It is a gorgeous halo around her head.

The one is always asking me to curl her hair. We try. It stays for 2 minutes and then the sleek silky tresses return.

The other asks me to straighten her hair. We try. It stays for 2 minutes until the humidity hits and then the curly halo returns.

Isn't that the way we all seem to be in life?

What the other has seems more desirable--just because it is different from what we have. What we have been given is perfectly beautiful and desirable but we can't recognize the beauty or enjoy what we have for disappointment in what we do not have.

Life is full of opportunities to accept or change circumstances we live with. Sometimes if we take time to assess what is our lot we may find that it truly is a desirable situation worth cultivating. Sometimes looking at a situation with different eyes helps us to see the beauty of what is already ours.

A curly halo OR sleek and silky.
Both desirable.
Both beautiful.
Equal,

just different.