Pouring Lessons

"Grandma, if you need me, I'll be busy in the kitchen. I'm giving Teagan pouring lessons."

Yes, he was teaching her how to pour water from one container to the other.

Apparently it's serious and important work, they were at it long enough!

Oh, check out Teagan's hair.

She had none for so long, now it's just wild and crazy!

It has a mind of it's own!

Ahhhh, grandma life!

Oh Henry!

Actually it's Henry O. (for Oliver)

and he's quite a character!

More often than not, when they face time me,

he has something on his head...

a bucket, a box, occasionally a hat.

This was last night...

Tony took this one while we were talking...

Apparently, earlier in the day Henry found out that markers don't taste as good as they smell...

Tony found out that washable doesn't mean it comes off your kid.

What a kid!

Last night I heard him say grandma!

ahhhhhhhhhh, grandma life!

Now stay home, stay healthy and stay safe!

Celebrations!

On Saturday, we celebrated Locklan's fifth birthday

a week early, so everyone could be here...

We ended up with 21 relatives,

6 kids 5 and under...

two guests over 80 and lots of noise and balloons!

He's five?

How can that be?

Andy sat on the floor with Locklan to open gifts...

Of course, Teagan had to help!

People wonder why Mr K and I live in such a big house...

Technically, we have five bedrooms, plus a bunch of other rooms...

THIS is why.  I love family get togethers!

I still can't believe Locklan will be 5!

Einlauf? Seriously?

On Saturday, Ron and I took another road trip (translation:  eating in a restaurant that is more than 15 miles from home).  We ate at the Allegheny Grille Restaurant, right on the Allegheny River.  We had a wonderful dinner, so wonderful that I had two thoughts...  1.That we should not eat out on Sunday, 

2. That I didn't want to cook at home.

Then I had this great idea!

I picked up my phone and called my mother.  I asked her if she was in the mood for some great German food.  Of course she said yes, so on Sunday afternoon we headed down to get mom and dashed her off to Max's Allegheny Tavern for some good old fashioned German food.

Mr. K's first question, no matter where we are, is what is the soup today?

The server told us they always have French Onion (In a German restaurant?) and Einlauf.

Okay, what's an Einlauf?

Here's what the menu said...

Einlauf Soup • Cup 2.95 - Bowl 3.95 A light, rich chicken broth, generously sprinkled with homemade Einlauf noodles and

seasoned with a delicate blend of spices. Our Einlauf noodles are made by pouring a

seasoned mixture of flour and eggs into briskly boiling chicken broth.

It was magnificent!  It was delicious.

The chicken that they used to make the broth must have been a millionaire,

it was that rich!

But still, we kept asking what an einlauf was...

No one could tell us, so I did what any adult with a smart phone would do...

I went to google image and found this...

Over and over...it was either this or maybe a soccer team?  

Hmmmmmm?

I think my cup was a little more attractive, what do you think?

A bit of this...a bit of that....

First off, Mom is doing well.

 

When I reported in last time, they weren't sure what to do with her.

 

I walked in the door of her hospital room and my phone rang.

 

It was her surgeon.  He said he had just been in to talk to her and they decided to do surgery that day.

 

It went quickly and smoothly, two hours from start to finish.

 

They found adhesions blocking her small intestines and removed them.

 

Of course, with mom, nothing is that easy...

 

This time they kept her in ICU a few days because of low heart rate and low blood pressure.

 

It involved transfusions and other things, but she is home and doing well.

 

Whew!

 

Like I've said before, it's not easy raising parents!

 

So, since I'm frazzled and dazzled, how about a little of this and a little of that...

just whatever is sitting on my desk top this morning.

 

First of all Tony and Mindy went on an adventure of a lifetime with friends...

Eight adults and Annabell, who is only a year old!

A week in California which included...

Four Penguin Games

 

 

Where Miss Annabelle got the puck!

 

 

And made the Penguins' Instagram page!

 

Alcatraz Island

 

 

The Price is Right

 

 

Disney

 

 

 

 

And wow, so much more.

 

In January, 2017, Mindy and her family went tubing...

 

 

This year, since they had the old people along

(Yes, me and Mr K)

We went bowling instead!

 

 

Locklan loved using the ramp.

 

Getting the ball there was half the battle!

 

 

 

 

Uncle Tony showed him how to bowl...

 

Aunt Mindy was much more fun.  She let him swing on the ramp!

 

 

Grandma? She was just good for hugs...

 

 

Even the most accomplished athletes get tired.

 

By the end of the second game, he was content to watch a video and rest...

 

 

He was asleep halfway home!

 

My desk thermometer says it's 16 degrees,

it snowed last night!

 

Stay warm!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is too cute!

I never had an imaginary friend, but my late sister, Carol, did.

 

Her friend was named Jeanie.  Jeanie appeared when I went to school,

disappeared about the time Carol went to first grade.

 

Locklan has an imaginary frog who lives on the top step in my house.

 

When you go  down the stairs, you have to be careful not to step on him.

 

When you go up the stairs, you have to stop to either tickle the frog or hug him...

there are days when Locklan expects you to kiss the frog.

 

Last week, Locklan had chapped lips.  Being the indulgent granny that I am,

I gave him his own chapstick.

 

He was very good about using it...although he used a half stick on his lips...

the other half on the top step...apparently the frog had chapped lips too!

 

~and no, I did not get a photo of that...was too busy cleaning the step~

 

The next day, after I explained that frogs did not really have lips, so there was no need for chapstick,

he was walking up the stairs in front of me...

 

He stopped and placed something on the stair.  I couldn't see what it was until he turned around...

 

 

 

I looked again...

He had taken the bottle cap from my Bai bottle, took a tiny scrap from my sewing room

 

and made a bed for his frog!

 

 

Isn't he just too stinkin' cute?

 

 

 

Oh my!

I got these photos from Andy and Ashley the other day...

 

They were at the tree farm...

 

The same Christmas Tree farm Mark and I always took the boys to when they were young!

 

 

 

 

Other than the fact that Andy used a chain saw,

it was so much the same!

 

 

 

When I saw this photo of the tree on the back of Ashley's jeep I did say oh-oh...

 

 

But Andy's spatial perception has always been good...

(not like his mother who once got a school bus stuck on a

 bridge that was at the bottom of a steep hill )

 

So I was shocked when he sent me this photo...

 

and told me that this was taken AFTER he cut 12" off!

 

 

Oh well!?!

'Tis the season!

 

Getting there!  Locklan is getting excited and so am I!

 

Go! Go! Go!

A while back...so long ago that I can't remember just when,

Mr K was out of town on business. 

Since I like hanging out with my family,

I talked (some of) them to hit the local Go-Cart track.

 

 

Andy and Locklan (and sometimes Andy and Tony) have been

zipping around in their Go-Cart, so it might have not been such a big deal for Locklan...

 

 

 

 

 

But it was for Grandma!

 

 

Of course, Uncle Tony and Aunt Mindy were thrilled to hang out with him too...

 

 

 

 

 

Ashley wasn't feeling up to driving in circles, so we let her act as our photographer

while we hit the bumper boats...

 

 

 

 

 

And then we all got together and watched the other families enjoy themselves.

 

 

 

~sigh~

 

It's all good!

Trick or Treat!

Yesterday was Locklan's first trick-or-treat night out. 

 

 Mom, Ashley, had to work (she's a RN) and Tony was late leaving his office,

so after Andy and I got him in his costume,

 

 

And he got to liking it...

(even though he was the one to choose it)

 

 

(He calls it his horsie)

 

He headed out the front door!

He saw neighborhood kids and shouted at them,

"Hey guys, I have a horsie!" 

Mindy joined them and they headed out into our neighborhood.

 

 

It was soooo cute, his little tail wagging!

 

But I think he enjoyed passing out treats to the other kids...

 

 

 

But it was a long night...pretty soon he was ready to come in

and play with Dad, Uncle Tony and Aunt Min...

 

 

Incidentally, this is the same pumpkin!

 

 

 

 

Family!  Gotta love it!