Under Arrest!

 Every Tuesday I grab Locklan, take him to kickboxing

And then we go out to eat.

Every Tuesday, same restaurant, same table, same server and we order the same food.

He loves it!

This week, Tuesday was also his sixth birthday.

I bought him a hat and badge...

Our server fussed over him.

He was having a ball.

While we were waiting for our food we played a game with coins.

We make it up as we go along.

I had my back to the restaurant when I heard a man's voice

saying, "I hear there is a birthday boy in here!"

I turned around to see four state troupers walking towards us,

cookies in hand.

One by one, they gave Locklan a cookie and then posed for a photo!

This kid was over the moon!

It was a birthday to remember!!!

~sigh~

It's been a while since I told you

I LOVE BEING A GRANDMA!

This Little Piggy

Teagan loves to sit on my lap, kick her shoes off and play

This Little Piggy.

By now, she knows it by heart.

I just say, "This little piggy..."

She says the rest.

Yesterday, she climbed up on my lap to play.

This was her version:

This little piggy went to market.

This little piggy went to the market too.

This little piggy had poptarts.

This little piggy didn't have anything.

This little piggy went tickle, tickle, tickle, 

all the way to home.

Gosh, I hope she's not going to be the family clown.

I'm loving every minute of it!

What a weekend!

I thought this would be a nice, easy weekend

Ashley was out of town, Andy had other plans...

Tony and Mindy and Henry decided to come to camp.  

Later that day, we got a text from Mark's brother, wondering if we were going to be at camp on Saturday.

They sent a few hints...

And on Saturday, they came up to take us for a ride!

What a great boat!

Henry liked that he could move around more than he could on our boat...

until he got tired...

Finally, he fell asleep on Dada's lap.

We certainly hope that Mike and Michelle invite us to go for another ride!

After Mike and Michelle left, we settled down for some 

serious Camp Manfreding, if that is a word...

Tony took Henry out on the kayak to get to the other side of the river to throw rocks and wade, 

we had a good dinner and a slow and easy boat ride!

On Sunday, by time Mr. K and I got to camp, Andy  and kids were already there, along with Tony.  Mindy and Henry would join us after Henry's nap.

Tony and Andy decided to take the kids across the river to (of course) throw rocks and wade.

Of course, Tony had to ride the kayak down the hill into the water.

It's tradition!

Teagan was ready to go!

After dinner, we decided to take a ride up river...

The guys threw in the anchor, donned life jackets and jumped in!

Teagan always wants to do what the guys do.

and she usually does!

There is a rope swing upriver from us.

It's been there since before we moved in, 11 years ago.

Of course, the guys have to take a turn or two.

Andy went first!

Then Tony...

And then Locklan wanted a turn.

Suddenly Teagan decided she wanted on!

And of course, Daddy and Uncle Tony made it happen!

Where was Henry while all this was going on?

At first he seemed interested...

Then he decided he'd rather play with Mama's phone!

Just wait until next year!

By time we got back to camp, the kids were so tired that they let Andy photograph them.

What a day!

We're so blessed that although we are staying safe, we can still spend time with family.

How about you?

Here Comes the Rainbows!

Yesterday Ashley Face Timed me...

The kids were making Rainbows...

Quarantine Rainbows!

I asked Locklan if he would make me one.

He said no, that he would teach me how to make one.

That way I'd have a rainbow any time I wanted one,

I could just make my own.

Even though we face time,

Even though Mr. K is entertaining at times,

I miss those kids!

Stay safe, stay home.

The Hardest Part...

 Social distancing almost doesn't bother me...

I am pretty much a homebody.

I don't mind staying home, not going shopping.  I even almost don't mind eating at home...well, more on that another time.

What bothers me the most is social distancing when it comes to these guys...

I'm used to seeing  them often

My own kids have been so kind...

I do get to visit the grands every day via face time.

Last night I even got to watch Henry take his bath!

Almost but not quite the same, 

but I'm trusting it's all worth the sacrifice.

Oh, want to see what the kids were working on?

Ashley dropped them off on our porch!

Stay home.  Stay safe.

Stop the World, I Want to Get Off!

Whew!  How long has it been?

Was I really MIA since December 20?  How could that be?

We did go to the party at Mark's nephew's house and had a good time...

Considering we had kids...lots of kids!

We had 7 kids with Locklan being the oldest of them...

Yes, 7 kids under 5 and one 8 year old.

I felt grouchy and couldn't wait to go home!

I had a schedule so that all my chores and Christmas duties could be completed 

at a pace that was not too demanding.

Saturday, I felt worn out but agreed to have my little buddy spend the night.

We blew up the air mattress and slept under the Christmas tree...

On Sunday, Andy came to reinforce the gate connection to keep Teagan and the dogs from running up the stairs.

Of course, Locklan helped...

Andy is so patient with him!

I was feeling like I had been dragged through the mud so I fell slightly behind on my schedule...

Monday, I woke to find Andy and the kids, the cleaning people and Ron all needing my attention.

I went back to bed and slept 16 hours!

On Christmas eve, I was up before the chickens

and managed to have everything done by time my 

family arrived at 5.

We had 14 people here for dinner.

The only person missing was my oldest grandson, who turned 27

that week.

It was amazing, and no, I don't have a plethora of photos.

I was too busy loving it.

More later, but before I go, here's a picture of Henry, who is quite a character...

Too cute, right?

I'm off to get ready for breakfast with friends!

Short and Sweet!

I can't believe that Christmas is almost here.

I've been busy, had to take mom to the oncologist

(where Teagan and Locklan entertained everyone in the waiting room).

Mom had been complaining about feeling drained and fuzzy headed.

She chalked it up to being 88.

Her doctor sent her to the hospital for a blood transfusion!

They gave her 2 units of blood and she says she feel like a new, 88 year old, woman!

I still can't get around very well, but it's so much better than if was 4 or 5 months ago.

I downsized my decorating...

Went from 5 trees to two, one inside, one outside...

The inside tree has been decorated, undecorated and redecorated several times...

I let the kids do it!

A couple of years ago, I bought a Tree Dazzler after Christmas for $5

and promptly forgot about it.

I found it this week and got it out for the kids...

They decided it was more fun to decorate themselves...

Kids!

We took the kids to the mall, just to walk by Santa.  

Locklan actually talked to him, from a distance.

Teagan just screamed!

I had some shopping to do, but to leave the mall, we had to walk past Santa.

He saw us and waved and said bye bye.

Teagan waved and said bye to him.

The next day, she pointed to a picture of Santa and said Santa!

I asked her what Santa said.

Her answer:  Bye bye!

I'm done shopping but have not begun to wrap...

I had one snafu...

I bought a gift for Ashley from Amazon...

I checked online and it said it had been delivered to my mailbox!

I sent Mr. K out to retrieve it.

It was not there!

Amazon's web site said to give it 48 hours...

I did, still no gift.

I called Amazon, talked to a robot who authorized a refund on my credit card.

I reordered it.

It came in two days

The original came two days after that, 

The envelope had been torn open, wrapped in packing tape

and held together with a rubber band!

Someone opened it (hopefully by mistake)

and decided I deserved it.

I think I have as many returns as I do gifts!

Tonight we're going to a party at Mark's nephew's house.

I feel so blessed that the family still includes me.

Now I have to find an ugly Christmas sweater!

Wow, guess this isn't all that short.

Hope it was sweet!

Just be 'cuz!

Last week, my cousin, Leslie, and her husband, Peter drove up from Georgia for a short visit.

Leslie's mom was my dad's sister and she grew up with our houses almost back to back.

Of course, we girl cousins had to get together.

Of course, where girl cousins gather, there must be food!

We met at a local restaurant.

There were 8 of us including my mom.

There was much laughter...

Memories shared...

Hugs dispensed...

And most of all...

A renewed sense of family!

~sigh~

Cuzzin love!

Whatta Week This Was!

Wow!  I can't believe it's been a week.

Where have I been?

Monday,  I had two fun guests...

First, our family artist...

Who also colored her goldfish crackers...

Accompanying her was her handsome brother!

That afternoon, Andy told us he had been working on a special project...

more on that later...

It took half of Tuesday to recover and bright and early on Wednesday

I popped in to sit with the kids at their house!

That's when I found out that Teagan has a little stool that she pushes around 

so she can climb on things...

dining room tables...

Kitchen sink...

Ashley's recliner

and the door knob to Locklan's room where he was asleep!

I kind of expected this when Andy sent me this photo a few days before...

I finally got to see what Andy had been working on...

He made Locklan a mini buggy out of an old lawn tractor!

Yes, it runs!

The guys had pretty special plans for this weekend...

They were going to an off-road mower event!

It was quite an occasion, they even had trophies

(courtesy of Andy)

Locklan was sooo excited to be able to drive his buggy through the muddy trails!

He hung out with the big guys...

I think they even put him to work!

He did have one mishap, though...

Buggy up a tree!

Meantime, Ashley and Teagan had a girl's day...

And we all know that an all-girl day means selfies!

Can you tell they are related?

How did I end my week?

Picture this...the 60th class reunion of an all boy Catholic School!

Mr. K in his youth...

Mr Math honors...

Mr. Perfect Attendance...

I can't remember the rest!

First time I went to a class reunion where they celebrated Mass.

It was fun!

 For Now, Mr. K is waiting for me to take him out to dinner.

Tomorrow is his birthday but I'm leaving in the morning for my happy place...

Thousand Islands.

If you see Mr. K out and about (in my VW convertible), wish him a happy one!