June 1 "Tramping" again with KT and kiddos

Tuesday Afternoon:  We picked Kaity up at her bus-stop again this afternoon. We had our "Altitude" socks with us and were ready to JUMP!

"Altitude" is very liberal with their HOUR timing. Every time I have been here with the kids, our playtime has exceeded the allotted hour by at least 20 minutes. It is a scream just watching these guys let loose ...

Erin (below) pretending she has died ... tongue extended for full dramatic effect.

Battle Zone! Brendan and Kaitlynn are pretty equally matched on this beam. I did not keep track of their wins and losses today.

More of Erin being "dead."

They all really enjoy burying each other in these foam blocks ...

This darling child is thinking of her next move ...

By the time we dropped Kaity off at her house and then drove through traffic to get these kiddos home, it was a little after 6pm. We played outside for a little bit while we were waiting for Dylan and Kelly to come home from work. 

Tuesdays are really blessed days for me. Being a grandma is just about the best thing ever.

June 1 Grand Rapids Township Park

Tuesday morning:  Pre-school is OUT for the summer, so ... no more trips over to Mayflower to pick up the littles on Tuesday mornings. Brendan's homeschool cooperative is also on summer break. We decided to make a playground stop on our drive to my house.

Since Grand Rapids Township Park is right on the way to my house, we stopped there this morning. I was not prepared for the upgrades at this playground! NICE! Playground equipment had been moved to different spots. Some stuff had been removed altogether and replaced by better things. There were several new monkeybar apparatus(es) ... we were excited to be there! I did not have my Canon with me, so I was forced to just use my phone for pictures--but, good enough.

Thankfully, the sand pit and diggers were still there! This was the first place Erin played today. She kicked off her "cat" shoes (which are darling, by the way) and hopped right in and got to work!

Brendan enjoyed all of the brand new monkeybars!

The tire swing is still here! YES! And they added this new fancy swing (below) ... Erin LOVES to go as high as possible, laughing her head off all the way. Her happiness goes right into my heart and fills it right up.

Brendan played in the sand with the trucks for awhile too. It was super hot today and very humid ... so Brendan stayed mostly in the shaded areas. Smart.

Here is Aidan Paul conquering the digger--which is no easy task I might add. This thing weighs a ton and is very hard to maneuver.

This child wearing his U.S.A. hat and huge glasses. Kelly told him the other day that he looked just like a grandma with the glasses on ... which just made him crack up.

Please, please, please, Aidan ... don't grow up!

May 30 Memorial Day Parade

Monday: I drove downtown to the Memorial Day parade today--mostly because Jesse was coordinating the movement of individual units and others IN the parade--I am not much of a parade-goer generally, but I wanted to be there for Jesse. I am always thankful on this day NOT to be a "Gold Star Mother" ... so glad Jesse was returned to us safe and sound--and actually in one piece. There are so many others who were not so blessed.

I'm going to post some of the pictures I took--my computer is "acting up" and it took FOREVER to upload these from my camera to my computer ... I won't add too many comments because I'm not exactly sure of details. I'll ask Jesse to give me some information about WHO these folk are and then add comments later.

The parade participants met under the 196 bridge and Division. I parked on Ionia, about a half mile from there, and walked on down. There were police baricades preventing drivers from getting any closer--traffic had to be adjusted in order for the parade to be possible on this route.

I like this vehicle (below) ... The Kent County Veterans Honor Guard.

Here is a closer look at the Grand Rapids float.

And this is the first shot of JESSE on the parade route, conversing with participants along the way.

All of the parade folk finally arrived and started getting set up and in the correct places ...

Jesse was right there helping all of these people line up so that the parade could start on time.

Jesse was also "live-streaming" the parade, so he was quite occupied with a bunch of stuff all at the same time.

I like these pictures of Jesse ... I love him so much.

The parade began and progressed down Division to Fulton Street, turned on Fulton and went to Veteran's Memorial Park for the ceremony.

The Park got a bit of a renovation several years ago and is a job really well done. Makes a person proud just to have known someone who has served our country so selflessly. 

This is where the ceremony and speeches took place ...

This is Jesse with the gentleman who evidently is in charge of all of the veteran affairs in W. Michigan--I cannot remember his name. He and Jesse are on quite friendly terms.

I left the ceremony before it was over. I had an appointment to keep with a dear friend. As I was walking back to where I parked, I approached this car parked in the oddest of places! I thought to myself: "Who on earth would park their car HERE!?" And then ... I realized it was JESSE'S CAR! Goodness! I had to laugh!

I love you, Jesse. I sure am glad you are no longer in active service. I share in your grief for friends you lost in Iraq and Afghanistan and pray your heart will be comforted by "the God of ALL comfort."