Monday, May 30, 2011

Pool Party

It was a hot, hot day but a wonderful breeze was our friend =)

After a cook out Fahnestock lunch we headed to Ellen's baseball game. Marcy and I stayed under a tree which provided relief from the sun. After that it was to Coach T's home for a pool party and more food! Ellen loves playing in their pool.

Ellen and Emily getting in slowly.
The water was a bit cold but it wasn't long till
 they were splashing and enjoying it!

Elizabeth heading in.

We found a nice spot in the shade to eat.

Ellen with her two best buds...
Nicole and Elizabeth

Ellen is content to float in the shallow end.

Many conversation areas.
I took this picture while Dale and I were sitting on some
 vintage rocking chairs which were under a tree in the lawn.
So cool!

Somehow we eventually convinced Ellen that it was time to go home.
What a fun, full day!


Ellen slept in this morning. First thing out of her mouth when she came downstairs "Is there a parade today?" Yes, there was a Parade in our little town. Her Daddy took her to see the one marching band, the veterans who marched, fire engines, police cars and a few more cars in the short parade. Ellen proudly brought the little flag home that was given to her. She loves a parade no matter how small!

Now Hubby is staining the deck, I'm finishing up some ironing. I have some chicken thawing which I will marinate and have a mixture of ingredients chilling in the frig to make ice cream later. I must sweep some floors then  I guess I will head outside to give the picket fence a coat of white.

Holidays are made for working to the bone...correct??

Happy Memorial Day to all!


Saturday, May 28, 2011

Hot weather, Holiday week-end ...YEAH!

Temps in the 80's heading to the 90's! Where did that come from?? Oh well, if there ever should be a week-end with warmer temps, it should include a holiday.....don't you think?

It will be busy....bushes to trim (Hubs already working on that), flowers to purchase and plant (kinda dread heading to the green house today. I'm sure it will be packed and HOT!), food to prepare for two special get togethers on Sunday, a bit of cleaning around the house, deck and fence to power wash, deck to stain, fence to paint......lots to do!

Corey, Christy and the kids left for a week-end at the beach yesterday. I've been asking Aidan if I can come too. He said 'You don't have a bucket"! He said the same to Pop Pop and Lynn yesterday but thought maybe they could borrow one =) In his sweet mind, why go to the beach if you don't have a sand bucket!

Sunday will be filled with two cook-outs (Fahnestock lunch to be with Lynette and John visiting from Maine), a baseball game and pool party. Sadly, we have to miss the third event on Sunday. My step-Mother's family and my family are getting together in the evening. I hate to miss it. But we will honor Ellen this time and attend the pool party at the home of the Coach after the game.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day week-end! This week-end brings back some memories each year since 1998. That's the year our daughter Marcy was in a boating accident that changed her life forever. While it was a traumatic time, for sure, we have so much to be thankful  for. What a testimony she is for living her life to the fullest. One can be filled with joy even when living with a physical disability. She truly is amazing!

May we never forget those who served our country....Have a wonderful Memorial Day!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Zoe

Zoe finds the chalk after Brother finished his artwork on the chalkboard.....

This looks like fun!


Started to draw ....

Took a closer look at it and
put it to her mouth....

This is the look she gave Nana
when Nana shook her head and said "Zoe, no"!


She went back to using the chalk for it's intended purpose =)

Good girl, Zoe!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Cake Making date with Paityn

Paityn came to stay with Pop Pop and Nana last evening while her parents attended a Young Adult gathering at church. We knew just what we were going to do.....make cupcakes! After dinner was put away, Nana and Paityn went to work. Paityn measured and poured, cracked an egg, turned on the mixer, filled the pans with cupcake papers. What fun!

Workin' hard!

I'm almost finished, Nana!
Notice the flour on her belly =)


While they were baking we went outside to the front porch. An earlier rain shower made everything wet....again! The porch was dry so Paityn used the sidewalk chalk and drew all over the porch. She is quite an artist!


Signed artwork by Paityn =)


Well, it seemed to take forever but the cupcakes got cool enough to frost and decorate....



Pour it on!

She's a good cake decorator!


And then it was time for.....

Tasting!!

For Pete's sake....
start at the TOP!

We ended the evening with a movie (she chose Barny) and some PBS kids games on my little computer. 

Thanks for hanging out with me, Paityn! Let's do it again soon!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Baseball and Grandchildren

Challenger Baseball.....

Batter up!

Taking a swing at the ball

And she's off to first base....

Good job, Ellen!

Paityn wants a better view!

Ellen's cheering section =)

Paityn acting shy!

Kim and Andrew came too. It did not turn out to be a warm day. In fact it kept getting cooler as the afternoon progressed. Ellen played with her jacket on....she said she was too cold to take it off!


Paityn came with us when we left the game. We needed to stop at Weis to pick up some burgers to grill for dinner. Paitytn chatted the whole way! She thought it took forever to get to the grocery store..."Are we there yet? It's taking a long time...are we there yet??" 

By the time we arrived home, everyone was already here! Kinda cool to come home to a house filled with your kids chatting and laughing =) Hubby got busy firing up the grill and Greta and I prepared veggies and fixings for the burgers.

After dinner, I went to the living room with Zoe where Aidan and Paityn were playing. Zoe zipped from one thing to another all the while chatting in her own language. Love these littles!

Paityn and Aidan look at Clifford books.
My kids loved Clifford too!

Zoe checks out the Piglet movie.
I placed the bench in front of the TV to keep her from pressing buttons which messed up the movie.
 She loves to press buttons!

Gotta check out what Brother and Cuz are up to....

Look at the books on the floor!
Zoe checks out the Piglet movie case...


What ya doing, Paityn?

Can I watch too?

Thanks!

Aidan is really into that book...
but I think he may be thinking about another activity......

Hula Hoop fun!
Zoe is in the middle of that too!

I left to get out the ice-cream.....
while I was gone,
Aidan and Paityn took the cushions off the sofa and chair.....
they were jumping from the chair on to the cushions........
Paityn tried something daring....
she ended up with a bloody nose.......
kids will be kids =/


Today is cloudy again. I have lots of clean-up and laundry to do. No littles today. But Marcy and Scott might come for dinner before they go to church for Young Adults. Paityn and I have a cake making date this evening......can't wait!!

Praying for those who experienced devastating storms yesterday. God be with them!

May your Monday find you living life to the fullest! Blessings!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Sunny Saturday!!

It has rained aaaallllllll week. In fact, our weather guy said on Thursday that we have had almost 20 inches of rain since March. Folks, thats a lot of rain! But today, the sun is shining and the sky is a beautiful blue! Outside my open kitchen window I can hear Hubby sharpening the lawn mower blade. Humm, wonder what he will be up to soon ;-)

I kept Aidan and Zoe on Thursday and Friday this week. It was a whole week since I had seen them....oh how I missed these sweet littles! On Thursday I had a Bill Gaither video playing on the TV. Zoe pulled herself right up in front of it and started singing loudly.....it was sooooo cute! For this singing Nana, hearing my littles sing just makes my heart go pitter-patter =)

Every time there was a break in the never ending rain, Aidan wanted to go out and swing and slide. I had to keep saying, no, it was too wet. He has a wonderful pouty face that instantly melts my heart. Maybe next week we can be outside....I pray it's to be!

Last week Corey was looking at my camera and took these pictures of his kids....Enjoy!


Aidan enjoys one of his favorite treats....
a fruit smoothie.


What a cute little Love Bug !!

There is lots of room to move around on the deck....no furniture on it! Because we do need to stain it again and the weather has not been nice enough to be out there anyway. Maybe this week......

Have a great week-end!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Last Georgia Past

After packing up items used at the wedding, we all went to Rose and Bob's home. Everyone helped to carry gifts, bottles, books and more....into the house. Then it was time for a little relaxing, laughter, chatting. What a great day it was.

The next morning we packed up our suitcases again, checked out of the Hotel and made our way back to the Wichterman's. It was good to see their home in the daylight!

The Wichterman Homestead

Rose gave us a tour
then it was prep time for lunch.
We had left over chicken, pork, baked beans from the rehearsal dinner.
And wedding cake too. yum!

Some ate in the dining room

Another shot of the dining room bunch

Some ate in the kitchen

Bob and Claire chose this cozy spot.
Let me tell you, this is one sweet couple!
It was a delight to be with them.

Matthew, Bob and Bill chose the outdoors too.

Not a clear picture...
Olivia and her cousin having some fun.
Not sure where they ate!

Scott chatting with Bob and Claire.

After eating, Bill , Dana and their family had an airplane to catch to DC.
Goodbyes were said and we settled for some more chatting before we had to leave.

Bob and Rose were gracious hosts =)


Scott and Matthew settle in with some music making.
These two are regulars at family gatherings
and they are AWESOME!

We look at pictures of the wedding on a computer.

Claire is viewing her pictures on the camera....
isn't it so nice to not have to wait?



Checking pictures on Scott's phone

It was time to say our goodbyes ....
so sad our time together was over so soon.

Back on the road heading North we went. We drove and drove, stopped to eat at Shoney's along the way, then called it a day about a half hour to the TN/VA boarder. We found the Comfort Inn but had to wait in the parking lot of the restaurant in front of it before getting to the hotel.... Because a rollback wrecker was loading a car right across the driveway that we needed to get to the Hotel!! It was 9:30 at night and we just wanted get there! Oh well it soon got the job done and we made our way to the hotel.

It was a short night. We ate breakfast at the hotel (free). 

Greta gets to GPS fired up and ready to go

Loading the car for the last time!

Will it shut?
Nope....

Rearranging....

It all fits and we are ready to go!

We left at 7:45 , stopped at another Shoney's in Harrisonburg for lunch. Had some rain,
slowed traffic for an accident and construction....
Finally home after 5pm!
Ellen was home, Nancy came to stay with her till we arrived. Ellen had a good time at Grandma and Nancy's house. When she left that morning to go to school she asked them when can she do this again!


Today I have my little ones to keep me company.  It has been a week since I had seen them!

Before they came, I took Ellen to Hershey for a follow up appointment at the Orthopedic Dr. Dr. Fortuna is having nights splints made for her. Both feet are really tight. We are also going to have new inserts made. Ellen will probably have to have some bones fused in her right foot some day. When she had the first surgery, that Doc thought he would work on her heel at a later time. He has since left Hershey and Dr. Fortuna would like to avoid that surgery because of the needed fusion.

If you made it to the end of this l-o-n-g post.....aren't you happy to see the end?!

Have yourself a great evening!