Animal Day at Grandma Honey's

I decided to label a few days the Grands will be here 
with a theme....

Yesterday was Animal Day. When I told the kids they got all 
excited and nearly jumped up and down. And that was before I 
even explained what that meant.

We started off with a farm fresh breakfast....
The idea was to explain to them the bacon came from a pig, the 
eggs came from a chicken....but I forgot to mention any of that.


So moving right along....



The big excitement of the day was trying on animal 

masks....preparing to all be an animal at dinner hours later.

I found some animal pictures I had had for years. 
So they got to color those...even cousin Téa.



The masks were a big hit 
wearing them on and off throughout the day. 



Even their Dad got ready for the evening!


Farm fresh food for dinner....
corn on the cob, cantelope, turkey burgers. 


Again, I forgot to explain why we chose those foods.
Oh, Grandma Honey.


We ended the Animal Day with little sister playing with the farm 
animals we had hidden and found multiple times earlier in the day. 




With her brothers getting ready for bed 
she finally had the animals all to herself. 
   

I also want to mention something else. 

Years ago my sister Peggy told me about an adventure with kids that she went on
...actually it was decades ago. 
I have thought of it many, many times, including this week. And I'll explain why.

She and her friend Gina, had a bunch of kids to take care of and entertain. Can't remember the details 
of that but this was before Peggy and Gina were married and now they are both Grandmas so it was a 
long time ago. She said they wanted to take these kids on a "picnic" but had no time to get ready for 
that or buy the food, etc. So they just quickly made up some PB sandwiches and threw some other 
little food items they had in a bag and off they all went for their "picnic." She came back and said the 
kids were so excited and they all had the best time...with like 5 minutes prep time. 

So often, before her story, I would think I didn't have the time or the energy or money 
to do many adventures with my kids. 

But since that story I realized that just 
labeling an experience and working with what you have
is all it really takes for a grand time. 

A Scary but happy day

They're B-A-C-K......





So Karen and Tyler went back to Vancouver 3 weeks ago to pack up their house that sold while visiting us earlier this month. 


So with the house all packed up and put in a POD, 





They were ready to come back here to us, 
while they wait for their home in Idaho to close escrow.

However, fires are raging all over California, 
especially the Carr Fire in Redding, Ca area 
where they had to pass through to get to Clovis. 

We were hoping they would just check into a hotel for a few days 
giving the fire a chance to die down before going through that area. 
But they decided it was best to "power through." 

And they did. 


We were so thankful to finally get them back with us....
about 10pm last night!

It's just so nice once again sharing in their routine.


Just in the 3 weeks since they were here last, 
Karen is feeling better. 
Even the nail polish she used on Juliet, did not bother her. 
While this is her 4th pregnancy it's been no easier than the other 3.

The boys are back to work...Leo setting the table... 


And Richie making out the menu!



 We have lots of plans ahead for the next 2 weeks.


We are so happy Karen is beginning to feel better. 
Hurray for the little baby girl 
who gets to join their family in December!


Mothering in 1979

I discovered this short clip from a reel to reel "home movie" from 
my father in law's collection. I had never seen it before last week, 
and it's 39 years old! 

Very short clip. Shows me with my baby Logan. 

From 1979, most likely in May, since he was born April 17, 1979. 

I can't go back, but this clip makes me feel like I sort of did a little.

Kylie's Baby Shower



Once upon a time, 13 years ago, Logan met Amy, 
and her 5 children....and they soon married. 


We loved watching them grow and become a part of our lives....

Now they are growing up and moving on. 


Kylie got married a few years ago, 
and now is expecting her baby girl in 2 months. 

By the way, I thought this game below was really a good one. 


All us guests answered these questions 
and then Kylie's favorites won a prize. 
Your most valuable parenting tip
Diaper Bag Essentials
Things you are going to miss
Never leave home without

(Do you know under "Things you are going to miss" someone wrote, "Happiness." 
Obviously this was written by someone who is not a parent yet!) 


Brynn Aly will be Amy's 3rd grandchild!



This sister picture would be complete if only Téa were in it.
She was running around the house somewhere.

Kylie, Macie, Laurynn



I remember the day Kylie said 
she was going to name her Brynn Aly.

She was so pregnant sick that day (months ago) and looked so sad, 
but she totally lit up when she told me the baby's name. 



It will all be worth it.


I think she should wear that crown to the hospital


Lots of people attended and many I did not get pictures of....



But here's just a few....




I think the one to the right barely survived the party.


Excited to meet Brynn Aly in a few weeks!



The grands set the table

Our grands from Vancouver, Wa (soon moving to Idaho) set the table. 

We don't eat in this dining room every night, but for some reason 
this room seems to have a calming effect on us all. 

They get to use the goblets in here, we put the music on, and just 
before we start to eat, we bring out the candles. (the turning on 
kind) What a difference it all makes. 

But the best part for me is watching them set the table. 

They know I like the comfy chair in the corner so that's where they 
set me up! So thoughtful they are. 



Memories of Romie

20 years ago this month, 
my little nephew Romeo very sadly left this world. 

He will always be a part of our eternal family. 

In the process recently of trying to restore many of my VHS tapes, 
I came across about 4 1/2 minutes of Romie, taken just weeks 
before he passed from this life. 

On a side note, notice my nephew Nick all dressed in his cub scout uniform. I didn't think 
he was 8 yet so I couldn't figure it out. Until he explained he wouldn't be an official scout 
for another 5 weeks. He was ready!








The part of the story I didn't tell....


When Brock and Erin were over a few days ago, 
they told me I left out a part of a certain blog post I did.




They said I really should have included it.


I told them I wasn't too comfortable 
about exposing my Grandma fail. 


But then, they talked me into it.



So a couple weeks ago I did a blog post about taking their daughter 
Violet to visit two little neighborhood libraries. 

If you want to refresh your memory, Go Here. 

Right before pressing publish on that post, I was curious about the 
name of the book Violet chose at the first little library. 

I don't have the best eyes anymore, 
so I made that picture bigger and this is what I saw:


Okay, I don't want to do this, but here's a bigger version of it.

When I saw the title of it I gasped and thought....."Oh no, I just sent 
her to visit her Grandma Lynn with THAT book!"

I kept thinking, I HOPE she hasn't started reading it yet! 

I quickly found my phone and sent a quick text message to her 
Grandma Lynn explaining what happened, including that picture 
above, and a plea for her to find that book and get it away from her. 

Then I waited.

No response.

More waiting. Time sure slows down at times like this. 

I had to remind myself...sometimes it's even a day or two before I 
see my texts on my phone. How can I expect instant text back.

Finally, I decided to call her. I asked if she saw my text. She said 
she had been in the pool with the girls. Oh, of course. 

Then I told her my story. 

She said she would find the book and take care of it. 
Lynn was so sweet and understanding, as always. 

She soon sent me this text:



As for Violet's parents. They checked out the book and laughed 
their way through it, knowing their 7 year old never saw it!



Update: After reading Richard's comment below, I decided I'd better show a review 
I found about this book on Amazon:

"So sorry to have to say so, but this was not at all what I expected.. I thought it would be full of funny 
Southernese, sort of like Fanny Flagg or Lewis Grizzard. Nope. It is about sex, sex, and more sex. Some 
chapters are just downright crude. It held a lot of promise, and could have been hilarious, but the Queen chose to 
take the low road too often. Too bad."

After reading several similar reviews I feel the need to 
THANK GRANDMA LYNN again for rescuing me that day!




The grands visit the great grand




Rich and Leo explain to Great Grandpa that they are moving, 
although they have 2 different versions. 

A moment with Karen and Tyler....

My son Tyler, and his wife Karen and of course Richie, Leo, and 
Juliet arrived Saturday to spend lots of time with us. (more on that later)

We had a very early fireworks display tonight....

I laughed because it was so early
we were the only ones out celebrating on our entire block.


Leo said as he was smiling, "This is SO much fun!"


Afterwards, I couldn't resist capturing this. 
They truly are a very sweet family. 

(6 1/2 year old Richie is in the next room over reading book 2 of Harry Potter.)





Elora and Hailey

They don't look like this anymore.

But it was funny that this was the very picture I decided to get 
made into a canvas right before they arrived last week....and 
coincidently Hailey sent this very picture to Elora the same 
week...right before they came.

It was fun to see these 2nd cousins being reunited after 2 years.



That very evening we all went to the school 
while Elora fed and walked her goat, Aida.


Chickee could hardly believe the name of the Elora's goat.
She said, "That's my Grandma's name! Grandma Aida!





The girls spent lots of time just talking.
I DO remember that about being age 14 and 15.


Snacking on granola....


Out to lunch at Cravings...
we take the girls there every time they are together.


And Sweet Tomatoes.
Lots of history here, too!



Elora, Steve Cleveland, my brother Richard (AKA Papa to Hailey)

Wendy AKA Chickee, Kip. and Hailey

As you can see, I did little cooking that week.

Salsas for Mexican Food


left side: Dave, Robin, Wendy AKA Chicken, Hailey
right side: Richard, Den, Grandma Honey, Elora

Thanks to the waitress who offered, I got to be in that picture.

Chickee took the girls on a few adventures too. 


Then it was waffles and .....


and as Elora was saying, "This is the part I don't like" 
...it was GOODBYE.




I have to say I felt Hailey's mom a few times during those 3 days. 
I'm convinced she stays close to her baby girl. 


For days I've been trying to find the picture of the very last time I saw Hailey's mom....still looking.
Hopefully I will be back with it.

Found it! Here it is....





Look what happened last night

  Just a little pre-graduating gathering for our DIL Amy.... Not everyday a Mom of 7 and a Grandma of 7, graduates from college. It was not ...