July 9 We say goodbye

Wednesday:  I arrived at the Pahman household (!!), as scheduled, at 2:00 in order to give Dylan and Kelly some last-minute time to get their stuff in order for their big trip across the pond. Sarah was arriving in time to make dinner for the kiddos, so I was basically here to "ease the blow" of the departing parents. Grandma's are NOT parents ... but ... I do intensely love these little people, and they know that. 

We played a little bit here and there around the house. Cal very badly wanted to build a railroad layout, so he brought up a little bin of tracks for us to use on the floor in their dining room, alias laundry processing area ... it's difficult to explain. Trust me on this--the room is kind of an "everything" room. I suppose it was designed to be a dining room--but who on earth needs a formal dining room anyway? These kids need space! I hope you know I am being somewhat facetious ...

I don't have many pictures to post because ... too many sad little faces to photograph.

A family friend came by to pick Dylan and Kelly up a little after 3:00 to take them to the airport. Their first flight was to Chicago and then from there ... all the way to Ireland ... with a destination of LONDON for Dylan to receive his PhD. 

I played with the children until Sarah arrived and made dinner for them. While they were eating INSIDE, I got to work on cleaning the outside deck. I brought my leaf blower and some cleaning supplies to help me do the job. After about an hour and a half, I got to the bottom of the deck (!!) and ... I think it looks improved. It could really use a power wash, but I don't know how to do that. I actually own a small power washer that I purchased for my brother David to power wash my house last fall--which he did--but then he also used it to power wash my sister's place and ... something happened where it wouldn't fire up anymore. David thinks it just got water-logged. Anyway, it's out in my shed awaiting for my brother to return over Labor Day weekend to show me how to actually use the crazy thing.

BUT ... I felt that my mission was accomplished for the day at least. The kiddos were doing really well with Sarah (she is an amazingly lovely person) and were preparing for a "movie night" with popcorn and other treats. They were not a bit phased as I left. This is good.

Here are two pictures Dylan and Kelly posted on FB of (I think) their first full day in Ireland:

This is Dylan at Trinity College Library in Dublin! Doesn't he look happy to be there?

And here is Kelly at St. Brigid Parish, Kildare, Ireland. Kelly's craniosacral practice is named of this lady. PLUS ... Kelly is just a tiny bit IRISH (ha!).

You look super pleased to be there, Kelly! I am happy for you!