August 22/23 Cal's sleepover

Friday Night: We didn't leave the restaurant until nearly 7pm and dear little Cal was already quite tired. Since school went back this week, his bedtime is now around 7:30 or so; plus, he had been awake and getting ready for school quite early this morning. So he was legitimately exhausted.

That's okay. I figured he would sleep better and he did. But first, we did play for a little while. Cal brought an extra bag with him with clothing and THREE stuffed animals to sleep with--the two T-rexes are Cal's. Cal made an entire speedway in the spare room and we raced the only race car we have that still operates properly. The dinosaurs were very impressed.

Look how tired little Cal is!

We turned out all of the lights--by this time it was nearly 8pm and thankfully, it was getting dark outside already. Our blue race car has lights that actually work. Cal loves to see it go around and around the track with its lights on--so he was a happy camper.

We added to some tunnels to make it more exciting to watch the car zoom in and out of ...

And Cal brought in the MagnaTiles and added a very nice building, requesting my little candles and magnet people to complete his project. 

By now it was nearly 9pm. I grabbed two short books that we read together while we cuddled. We had a few cookies with some chocolate milk, and then Cal was tucked in for the night. It didn't take him long to fall asleep either. We'll have some fun playtime tomorrow before I return him back to Dylan and Kelly.

August 22 ME Day!

Friday:  Today is my 72nd birthday. I'm old. BUT ... I'm not through living, so here I am! Birthdays become a rather NON-day when you reach a certain age--after your kids have grown up and are on their own; and when even three of eight grandchildren are old enough to be living independently from their parents! I find it difficult to ... move on, so to speak, without that role of active "mother" and "grandmother." I am super thankful Dylan and Kelly still have children young enough to still want a grandma in their lives on a weekly basis. I think my older grandkids are just so far beyond that and so I struggle sometimes to know just what kind of relationship we can have with each other. Last weekend was such a JOY to me to have Emma, Matt, and Kaity-Girl here to celebrate Emma's birthday. I have to be satisfied with this very occasional relationship with them and trust them to the Lord. How on earth do people get along without the daily comfort of the Lord in their lives anyway?

Dylan and Kelly invited me out for dinner to celebrate my birthday tonight ... at one of my favorite restaurants! We met at The Score at around 5:30 and ate OUTSIDE, which is a first for me. I've always wanted to, but whenever I have eaten there in the past, I have been with people who really did not prefer to eat outside, so we didn't. AND outside eating is only available from May through October (I think). The Score brings in palm trees, a TON of sand, have a live band that plays, and there are all kinds of interesting places to sit--some overlooking a small lake! Let me show you pictures ...

Here is a view of the small "lake" aka former gravel pit that is unnamed on any Mapquest map! But I think it's lovely--but then, I love WATER of almost any kind, be it rivers, streams, lakes or oceans!

The Score set us up at an outside table with this view and everybody scanned the menu to see what to order. I already KNEW my order because I love their boneless chicken wings cooked in parmesan and garlic sauce--which I have not eaten since Ruthanne and Terry moved to Georgia back in early May. So I was long overdue!

While we waited for our food to cook, Kelly and I took the kids over to the outside play area. We had to wander all throughout the outdoor eating area in order to reach it. Look how great the outside is of this restaurant!

Cal and Erin captained their own ship!

Is there anyone I would rather spend my birthday with?!?!?! (Other than my other boys and grandchildren?)

Erin was showing me how FAST she could go on this Ski-doo. She kills me.

After our delicious meal was eaten, we came back to this play area and let the kids run around and dig in the sand. How nice to have sand without having to drive 45 minutes to Lake Michigan! It is an inferior substitute, but beggars cannot be choosers!

After dinner, I got to bring young Cal home with me because it is HIS TURN for an overnight at my house. See next post ...
 

August 19/20 Neighborhood flowers

Wednesday/Thursday:  On my way to and from the "work-out" building here at the Village, I've been snapping a few pictures of the beautiful flowers in my neighborhood. Have I been working out?!? Valid question. Well ... I've been over there 3 days in the last 6. I'm using their bike to strengthen my sore knees. The first day, I biked 2 miles; the next 2.5, and then yesterday I biked 3.5 miles. However, last night I was walking around my front room moving furniture around to vacuum and I stubbed the top of my left foot on the rungs of my wooden rocking chair. It HURTS! So ... I didn't bike today. I'll try it tomorrow before I pick Cal up for his sleepover.

Here are a few pictures of the blossoms:

I love the colors, shapes, details, delicacies ... they amaze me and point me to the AWESOMENESS of Almighty God. How anyone could look at these flowers and not SEE God is beyond me.

Thank you so much, Lord, for the beauty You have created.

August 18 Summer's End

Monday:  Today will be the last time, for the next few months at least, of having all four of these beautiful grandkids with me at my house. They are a busy bunch! I am an OLD lady ... so I do get a little bit stressed at times when I can't quite listen to four conversations all at the same time, or look at what each them wants me to see ... because I only have TWO eyes and TWO ears! Mostly, though, everyone does okay with me and we have a good time together.

When I drove into my little driveway today, I announced that Paco and Ramone were threatening to pack their bags and move to Mexico. When the children inquired as to why, I told them that Paco and Ramone feel very neglected lately--that when the grandchildren come over, NO ONE plays with THEM!

SO ... upon entering my house, dear Brendan went right over to the puppet basket and picked up Paco and dressed him up with "tusks" and did a little skit for us! Ah, Brendan. You have the most tender of hearts.

Erin is always ready to pose beautifully for a picture--unless she is in a mood to make faces--but she wasn't today. She was very happily wearing one of the new dresses her mama bought for her for the upcoming school year. Look how beautiful she looks!

You would make a lovely child model, Erin!

Brendan has somehow figured out how to play PacMan on my computer--for free! He played for a long while and was able to access a few other games ... until ... suddenly the computer flashed all kinds of warnings about viruses, etc. Everybody panicked because these "fake" warnings are very well made--they are LOUD, very colorful, pulsate, and it's impossible to even think while it is all happening. I've had this happen to me several times now and I've NEVER EVER called the phone numbers listed to "help" a person clear the viruses. First of all, I have a MAC and they do NOT get viruses. It's all bogus! In huge letters across the screen they caution you NOT to turn your computer off without dire consequences!!! So I shut my computer off and left it off for 10 minutes. We were able to turn it back in without further incident; but I think we need to steer clear of these "free" video game sites. Poor Brendan. I assured him that this has happened to me multiple times, and I usually call my Apple support people to fix the problem.

Young Callaghan busied himself with the space LEGOs. Cal is a very good builder of LEGOs and finds a lot of happiness building with them. I'm so glad!

Erin took the regular LEGOS into my bedroom where she could play without being interrupted.

Meanwhile Einstein Aidan was in the spare bedroom creating an entire CITY complete with race track, stadium, parking lots and multiple other attractions. He was very pleased with himself.

It actually worked quite well to have the kiddos in separate spaces today. They needed to just be able to create something on their own, without someone else intruding on their ideas and projects.

While I was trying to do a little clean-up, the kids watched the first 30 minutes of a movie titled, "IF" which stands for ... I forget! NO, no, no! That's not what it stands for. I can't remember! I got a lot of my house cleaned up while they watched the movie, and then we headed back to their house. We didn't get there until nearly 3:00!

I can't believe the summer has flown by so quickly. The kiddos return to school this Wednesday--all FOUR of them will be in school full time this year. Kelly and I are still trying to decide which day will work best for both of us for me to be with the kids after their school day. Also, I hope to have an overnight, one-on-one every other week ... this Friday is Cal's turn! I will pick him up after his full day at school and bring him here to play with me. I am looking forward to it very much.

August 16 Emma's Card

Here is the card I made for Emma's 23rd birthday:

Inside of the card:

Back of the card:

Both the photo on the front of her card AND on the back of her card are from the weekend she and I spent in Chicago when Hope got married (my cousin Annie's daughter). I'm pretty sure this occurred the October of Emma's 17th year. I love these pictures of her.

The photos on the inside of her card (the top ones) are those I found on my blog. I was specifically looking of pictures of Emma and I together--which are difficult to find since most of the time I am the one taking the pictures. I included others, too, because I LOVE them of her.

Do you know what? I think Emma actually likes the cards I have made for her!