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.

Grandparenting Fun!

'Tis the end of our first (partial) day. We met the boys & their parents about 1/2 way between our two homes.

The boys played a travel game in the backseat a lot of the way home!  We had a hard time finding a dog, a ladder, and a few other things that we thought would be easy!

Once home, we soon were playing some games - Stay Alive, and a couple of new card games Grandma taught us.  "Slap" was one of them...

We each selected a napkin ring to identify our napkins to be used for a few meals.

Dinner included cantaloupe, strawberries, grapes, celery with Ranch dressing dip, and hamburgers in whole wheat sandwich rounds.

After a walk, we had some blueberry/strawberry fruit smoothies that Grandpa made (above).

Then we played the Corn Hole game on the driveway.

Bedtime followed after Grandpa read some books. (They were almost ASKING to go to bed!)  The end of a wonderful first day!

Look Who's 6 Years Old!

Happy 6th Birthday, Abigail!  Grandpa and Grandma L-O-V-E you!

Almost Birthday

I've furnished the rooms of the doll house we're giving our granddaughter for her birthday this weekend with extra pieces I have on hand.  The scale is not quite right, but there are enough pieces to keep her busy.  She loves to arrange and rearrange the furniture in the doll houses we have here.  The exterior of the doll house (before and after) can be seen HERE.  The attic room is the nursery/toy room.

Before and After

Our oldest granddaughter got a haircut!  Doesn't she look like her American Girl doll, Kit?!

Sunny Sunday Afternoon in Chicago

Baptism Eve

Grandma traveled from Indiana and met 4 of the Smiths in El Paso, IL.

All five of the kids swam. The water was COLD, so they frequently retreated to the warm shower!

After swimming, we had dinner at McDonald's next door to the hotel. Then we returned to the breakfast room to play Uno and Skippo. Great fun!

 Amber & the three Smith kids are sharing a room at the hotel with Grandma.  Tomorrow morning we'll meet up with Josh and family and go to church where Caden will be baptized.  What a special day!

Feeding Ducks

Feeding the ducks on a clear Kansas evening...Grandma wishes SHE was there!

Pictures from the Kitchen Table

We don't get to see our Kansas grandchildren often enough!

Grandparents' Day 2010

While we waited for the time to go to school, Grandpa played outfield while Carson practiced batting. 

After arriving at school, we found Caden's class.  He showed us some of the story he was reading and gave us poems he'd written.  Grandma Roth was there, too.

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Before we knew it, it was time for lunch.  Spaghetti, peaches, tossed salad, bread and margarine, and chocolate milk!

 

Recess was next.  Caden played tether ball and then ran down to the playground equipment.  When the bell rang, he and Grandpa walked ahead of the Grandmas to line up to go inside.

 

When we got back inside, the grandparents had to take a timed math test.  Grandma G did pretty well, huh, Caden?

Then he interviewed us using ten questions and writing down the answers.  We also saw some slide shows about the butterfly festival, gingerbread house making, and the visit to the apple orchard.

After all that, we went outside to watch gym class.  We were really proud at how fast Caden ran.  (The girls started out ahead of the boys.  Caden never stopped running the whole two laps!)

Then the kids got in groups of four and tossed a frisbee.

Before we knew it, gym was over and it was time for us to go back to Indiana! We had a great time.  Thanks, Caden, for inviting us.

Good Advice

Don't get into a habit of giving your children expensive gifts and clothes.  Your children only want  to feel safe and secure.  They want to spend time with you and to feel loved - that is the most precious gift available, and it can be given every day.  

For more great advice about building financial security, read this post: Simple Living in Your 30's .  I couldn't have said it better myself!

Happy Easter, Dear Grandchldren!

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

I didn't get you any candy this year, but here's something fun to do!  Have your Mom or Dad  take you to this place.  Then see if you can arrange this play house JUST the way you'd like it!  Have fun!

I serve a risen Saviour,
He's in the world today;
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy,
I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him
He's always near.
CHORUS
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives
today!
He walks with me and He talks with me
Along life's narrow way.
He lives, He live, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
He lives within my heart.

 

These are two of Grandma's favorite Easter songs!  I hope you know them, too!