Helpful

We like to pretend we are super helpful while we are there, so we'll ask for some tasks. 

Grandma got the boys to move her screened porch platform. 

So we could clean out under it.

Ben found an old action figure weapon under there and a pile of crayons. 

Cooking bacon outside is about the best way to perform that task. 

And men watching boys transplant a tree seems about right. 

We'll even call feeding the chipmunks work, since grandpa didn't like the brand of popcorn he had and needed to get rid of it. 

While We Were Out

We went ahead and closed on our new house in North Carolina!

 

And we welcomed ourselves in before having to pack up and head home for now.

 

The kids had no problem finding their living area and settling in. Thankfully phone service is good there.

 

Strikingly similar to our previous house in Texas, we think we'll make ourselves right at home during our April through June staggered move.

 

And, I have no high hopes that this will actually organize the flood of shoes, but perhaps it will help keep them dumped in an out-of-the-way area for at least a little while.

While I Was Away

Now I understand why Patric suggested that perhaps I look for some cowboy boots while I was gone....

What good were the Star Wars toys doing in the attic anyway?

I hung this shirt out of the laundry last night with no clue what it had been through until seeing this picture this morning. Good job on the laundry Patric!

Suspiciously getting past bedtime while playing with grandpa.

I think that's what grandpas get to do, and I hear that he spent a wonderful birthday with the grandkids.

Maybe Yes, Maybe No

We'll see how I do on a picture-a-day during workation.

Goggles courtesy the bushes outside the cabin this past weekend.

Alive and Well

Where on earth did we go?

Did we really grow that much hair along the way?

Nicholas even perfected his pirate face.

We'll have more stories to share soon.

Just had a little workation and busy end of summer stuff going on lately.

Last Week: Photographic Proof

Toy Story Garb

Big Girl Shoes

Pretending to be Cats

Dancing

The Corndog

Before Cookie Making

During Cookie Making

Proof that these people are a big, wonderful mess most all of the time.

Guest Blogging: Grandma's Week

Words from grandma's week below. Pictures tomorrow, they are languishing at the moment on my computer at home. Thank you Gayle for soldiering through the week for us. Let's just say that as I was watching this in the mornings, she was getting her workout:

First of all--I HAVE to day--I DO NOT know how you do this every day, every week, all the time! I have LOVED being with them, but it is exhausting. For me, the saving grace is that I do not really have a schedule and don't have to worry about being any place at any particular time. Also--I can do clothes and dishes while I work!

SO given that--it has been a wonderful week. Thank you for letting me have such a wonderful experience! I hope I have [sic--I hope at least...] totally messed up your routine at home. The kids have really been great--a few meltdowns here and there, but -- hey!--they are kids!

The girls love being a princess and announce it often. The boys are into Buzz Lightyear thanks to the new Toy Story movies. And, I might add, new movies have been a life saver this week. We have used the kitchen table for those 'markers' which has worked fairly well. Elaine has beautiful nails (or is it snails!?), of course, but overall, the pictures are beautiful and it has kept them busy.

Grandma's challenges:

Before Mom left--how to use the garbage disposal, dish washer, and garage door opener (except for the button in the car!)

Monday morning--how to close the garage door. Ben knows there is a button somewhere, but with the Robot Car, who knows what all the buttons would do. (by the way--the car beeps all the time and I can't figure it out!) Thanks to Ben's suggestion, I call Mom just before she boards the plane to find out which button to push so we can get to school!

Afternoon--OK! The kids get to use the markers and we watch the new Toy Story which keeps everyone happy--twice!

Tuesday--overall, went well. The kids are really helping out--and seem to be OK with Grandma not really knowing how to do all the stuff they usually get from Mom! We played with the new play dough toys that Aunt Kate sent--they have enjoyed them and send their "thanks" to Aunt Kate!

Movie night--we watched Ratatouille--a movie that Nick requested. They liked it-no princesses, but not bad.

Wednesday--the major challenge was the Washing Machine craziness. I closed the door while washing sheets and towels and the machine was apparently unbalanced. It moved across the floor, in front of the closed door, and--imagine the rest! Fortunately, I managed to get my arm through the door, shut down the machine, move the door enough to get through, and all was well!

Movie night--back to Toy Story 2~ and markers. Dinner was corn dogs, green beans, mac n' cheese, and ketchup! Remember the corndogs--

Thursday morning: Every time I tried to put the left shoe on either of the girls, they cried and said it hurt! The shoe fit yesterday--what was the problem??? It turns out, that Elaine lost a corndog the night before--we couldn't find it--looked everywhere. Well--once I finally stuck my finger into the shoe--I found it! The shoe fit and all was well--

Thursday night: Making Cookies night--I took before and after pictures and the cookies tasted great. Ben likes the dough (me too) and everyone liked the chocolate chips. Might explain tummy aches later in the evening, though. The weather was great--and they played outside before movie night (Toy story--fortunately, I really like it!)

Friday: my last day as a 'lone grandma'--Took the kids to school, washed clothes, and am now catching up with emails. Mom comes home late tonight. The kids and I are going to make some pretty "Welcome Home' Pictures--and -- Saturday Morning--Welcome to Mom! Have I said it--you are a GREAT mom!

Gayle

Ready Or Not

Here I come.

And I think I actually miss these faces.

Yeah, I definitely miss these faces.

Now I'm Wondering

If she's found my Alleve yet...

All I Can Wonder

Is when grandma will blow through her bag of tricks.

(Well and perhaps when Elaine got so big.)

All I Can Think

Is surely grandma can do a better job of keeping them clothed and fed than I do for just five days...