Father's Day Water Fun & Time With Grandma

Father's Day was a great low-key day with the grandchildren, Mike and Paula, and Suzie and Eric. Our pool is in the process of being repaired and so we decided to come up with some alternate water activities. We set up a slip & slide, a little wading pool, and a lizard, that when attached to a hose, squirts water. The kids had a wonderful time. Claire told me a couple of times what a great pool party we were having! It doesn't take much to entertain children and actually, considering how watchful we have to be in the pool area, it was probably more relaxing as well.

Papa had a dentist appointment this week on the day we were scheduled to visit Chris, Chloe, and Claire, and even though they were very disappointed that he wasn't there, we managed to have a fun morning. When I got out my camera, Chris made a beeline for the bench in the entryway. I rounded up the girls and they were all happy to pose for a picture. That is not always the case.

A little while later, Claire became concerned that someone had put some garbage at the top of their driveway. Given that it appeared to be a yellow plastic bag, I assumed it was a new telephone book, but decided it would be a good activity for them to go check it out. They put on their shoes and headed up the driveway.

Claire was quite relieved that it wasn't garbage.

They stopped along the way to examine a blossom on a plant. They are so much like their Daddy in that respect and there is always something new and beautiful to look at in their yard.

They always want breath mints when we are with them, and once I had given each of them one, they moved down the hallway and announced that they were having a 'mint party'. Chris joined right in. He follows the girls around like a little puppy dog most of the time and so far, the majority of the time, the girls let him join in.

June has flown by and the summer is going fast. We are looking forward to time with the three C's on Tuesday of this week. Enjoy your week!

Time With the Toddlers

Are four year olds still considered toddlers? I'm not sure, but it made for a catchier title today. Sometimes those blog titles don't just "pop up" for me. The week before last, we had a day with the grandchildren. We were all headed for the park but Chris started to show strong signs of sleepyness and so we paused in our preparations and within minutes he was asleep. Mike came home about then, so we took off to the park with just Claire and Chloe. We stopped and picked up some lunch and had a picnic before moving on to the swings. Both girls are proficient in pumping themselves now but they still like occasional pushes from Papa or me.

Chloe and Claire love this slide, so eventually we moved to the area where the slides are and enjoyed watching them run, play, and slide for quite a while.

Sisters....you can't beat having a sister for a playmate which brings me to a conversation that Paula overheard and then passed along to me.

Chloe: "Claire, I love you more than I love Mommy and Daddy."

Claire (ever the diplomat): "Well Chloe, I love you JUST the same as I love Mommy and Daddy." (Maybe she sensed Mommy was listening.) :)

Claire with her collected items, rocks, sticks, and leaves.

Chris was awake when we returned, none the wiser that he had missed out on lots of fun. He was ready for some time on Papa's lap.

Later that week their family went on an overnight camping trip to a nearby lake area. The girls called when they got home bursting with stories about what they had experienced. They were most excited about the trilliums and marsh marigolds they had seen. Since their Daddy is really into a trillium project at the moment, which you can read about here, I guess they have caught his enthusiasm. They also saw lots of crayfish and had "so much fun with their flashlights in the tent" when it was dark. I can tell you that Mike and Paula didn't enjoy the trip quite as much as the kids did, but I am sure they will go again and again.


This past week on Tuesday we arrived with some apricots fresh off of our tree. Chris LOVED them as evidenced below. What a character, I finally had to say no more, I was worried he would get a stomach ache.

Unfortunately shortly after we got there Chloe began to feel rather lousy. She was very feverish and spent the rest of the time either on Papa's lap or mine.

We turned on the TV to keep things quiet and calm and Claire and Chris were glued to whatever was on.

A little book time before we left and then our time was over. Chris eventually got the bug as well, but the last I had heard, Claire had escaped it. Thank goodness.

We are so looking forward to time with the "toddlers" again this week. Stay tuned.

A Fair to Remember!

Papa and I were invited to meet the C's and their Mommy and Daddy at a nearby county fair on Friday. It was such an enjoyable outing and fun to see the kids in a little different setting. Chris was as happy as a clam riding in Daddy's backpack seat. He didn't miss much of what was going on and watched the girls with great interest as they rode a couple of rides as well as the ponies...one of their favorite things to do.

The Merry-Go-Round was the first stop and was enjoyed a second time later on before our time at the fair ended.

Claire and Chloe love, love, love the ponies.

Chloe pets a lamb through the fence before moving on to see calves, goats, bunnies, pigs, and more sheep.

A little time on the tea-cups with another little girl that didn't have anyone to ride with. They were happy to have her in their "cup".

Driving the motor course......

Mommy took a turn with the backpack. Don't know how they manage, but it sure is better than chasing him. Chris was done with his hat...so we tried some sunglasses. Those didn't last very long at all.

Daddy takes the girls for a little indulging........one of my least favorite things in the world....cotton candy. It is clearly not Chloe or Claire's least favorite thing. I think they would have eaten their whole bag had Mommy not helped them decide to save some of it. :)

The girls tried their skills at a carnival game...squirting water at a target.

Chloe won the first round, and got herself a hat.....

Claire won the second round and also got a hat.....

One last turn on the Merry-go-round...

And then a final ride on a neat little train that goes around the perimeter of the fairgrounds (even through a little tunnel). Grandma wanted Chris to go and after his train ride there was no more backpack for him!

He always wants Papa's cane and off he goes with it again.

It was definitely a highlight of our week to see the grandchildren and enjoy their outing. We were so impressed at how the kids conducted themselves. Not one meltdown and lots of "pleases" and "thank yous" were heard. Life is good....

It Was A Happy Mother's Day!

We spent one day with the three C's this past week. As I believe I have mentioned before, picture taking is way harder now with the littlest "C" in the mix. He is way too busy to be bothered most of the time, and I am way too busy watching what he will do next...this was a rare moment. Mike and Paula hosted a great Mother's Day party today. Here are some of the delicious goodies that we had in addition to some home made ice cream following the BBQ lunch. Everything was yummy and Paula, though she made it look easy, had to have put in many hours of work to prepare. The strawberries dipped in chocolate were some of the best I have ever had, just the right combination of chocolate and berry.

Chris is helping Papa and Uncle Paul get the ice cream going.

And posed for Grandma for a split second.



Our beautiful daughter-in-law and her Mom.

Chloe loves babies and here she interacts with cousin Emma being held by Emma's Grandma, Aunt Patty.

Papa and Grandma with the C's. Claire wasn't unhappy but she had just gotten poked in the eye with her toy and was having a hard time shaking it off. Ouch that hurts!

I am once again reminded of how blessed we are to have healthy grandchildren as well as family living near that we can celebrate with.

Happy Mother's Day to you as well!