Wrapping Up Christmas

We missed these grandchildren at our recent family gathering.  How good to see their smiles!

This is our Christmas Wrap-Up! 

from Zimmerman Christmas @ Heritage Inn

Swimming, making bags for the treasure hunt, fun times with cousins, good desserts, jelly beans, games and singing...

Fun on Saturday

We started the morning with a brisk walk to the donut shop!  Abby got her Bavarian creme filled donut and Titus chose Christmas sprinkles on his.

 Then we spent some time setting up the farm.

 Grandma even figured out how to build a Lincoln log cabin!

 

Our farm has 26 cows (including 19 milking cows), 3 ducks, 6 pigs, 4 dogs, 5 chickens, 2 cats, 18 sheep, 13 horses and 1 bird--for a total of 98 animals!  We also have 4 people.

We went to Pizza Hut for lunch; then tried some thrift store shopping.  Our favorite was closed.  The other two were crowded and messy.  Now back home, we have some books to read & some presents to wrap!

Grandpa at the Football Hall of Fame

Slide Show!

All of these photos were taken by C & C using a spare (old) cell phone camera! Grandma tried her hand at making her first slide show! ENJOY!  (And forgive the spelling mistake.)

It's YOUR Birthday, Taniah!

We love you bunches!
Be sure to dance to your Birthday Song.

Grandpa and Grandma
XXX
OOO

Future Sports Writer/Caster???

Our grandson (the one on the far right in my blog header) wrote this report.  It was selected to appear on the Scholastic Website! We are very proud of him.  His father did a report on Jackie Robinson over 20 years ago.  I REMEMBER!

The Life of Jackie Robinson

By: Caden G.
Illinois, Age 9

Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia in the year of 1919. He was the youngest of five kids. After Jackie was born his father left the family and they moved to Pasadinia,California.He went to high school and college in California.Jackie Robinson played in the Negro Leages before he took a try out with the Brooklyn Dodgers.After the try out the Dodgers choose him to be the first African-American baseball player,but because he had dark skin,he couldn't always eat at the same restaurants sleep in the same hotels,and worst of all,he couldn't ride the same bus as his team.Halfway through his rookie season he married Rachel Isum.At the end of his first season he won MLB's first ''Rookie of the Year Award.''Jackie Robinson died Oct. 24, 1972.He was introduced into the Hall of Fame a year or two later.Jackie Robinson is famous for breaking baseball's ''color barrier''.

Happy Birthday, Emma Rose!

Grandpa and I LOVE you, Emma. Sure wish we could celebrate your birthday WITH you.
We're sending a birthday song for you.  Hope you like it!

For Abigail

Skirt I found for Abby...

See the tiny pocket INSIDE the pocket?

The Bible holder Linda Stubbs made.

That's a little notebook covered in blue and placed in pocket on the outside!

(The skirt colors in the last two pictures are more accurate.)

Aaaaaaaaaah!

Missing our big brother!

She Starts School Tomorrow!

Our oldest granddaughter begins school TOMORROW.  We had great fun together TODAY!
Click to see closer up.

School Daze

Our grandson (on the left) and his buddy.  First FULL day of kindergarten...
          ... and his brother and a friend on their first day of
preschool.

Happy Birthday, Amy!

For who you ARE,
for all you DO,
for all you SERVE,
for your pure HEART,

I am SO thankful.

I'm proud of you and love you more than I communicate 

and more than you know.

Love, Mom

Back to School I

Four of our grandchildren started school this week - two in kindergarten one in first grade, and one in third grade!  Have a great year, kids!  John, buddy, Grandpa and Grandma are SO proud of you!  You look FANTASTIC in your Bears shirt with your new tote bag! 

The Smiths Go to Michigan

While the Obamas vacation at Martha's Vineyard (and the Gulf Coast), the Smiths are in Michigan enjoying a retreat with the student leaders from Moody Bible Institute where these children's father is employed...

Have fun, kids!

Water, Water, Everywhere

There are waterparks in Kansas, too!

I didn't realize the title I used for this post came from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner...

Day after day, day after day,

We stuck, nor breath nor motion;

As idle as a painted ship

Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, everywhere,

And all the boards did shrink;

Water, water, everywhere,

Nor any drop to drink.

Saturday Pleasures

 Saturday morning.  T was ready with his basket to collect candy thrown from floats and other paraders!

 What's a parade without a band?  Here's Woodlan's!

In the afternoon we went to watch the Grand Prix Corn Crate race.  Here, Grandpa & T look over the entrants prior to the race.

 In lieu of Saturday night baths, T chose the fountains at Headwaters Park in Fort Wayne.

What a great way to end the day!

The Kansas "Krew" Rides and Reads!

At the library...

Love to see you guys wearing those helmets!

Wish we could read with you.

Tuesday with Two

A stop at the downtown library held many surprises including this space ship with special reading modules!

 

Picnic at Headwaters Park was followed by a romp in the fountains!

We stopped in to visit cousins and Great-Grandparents...

...before a trip to Auburn to see thirteen life-sized statues!

Later, at home we made s'mores.  A perfect end to a wonderful day.