The Actual Big Day :)

So Sunday was Hannah's actual birthday and the festivites were to begin at 3:00 and end at 6:00.  Hannah wanted grandpa and I to come over early, so that's what we did. We got there around 1:00 after stopping at the dollar store for a gift bag to wrap up the collage blanket we ordered for her. The blanket is a 'story' of sorts with old pictures of mom and dad as they were growing up, right up to their wedding picture and a picture of all 4 grandparents on her 1st birthday :)
  

    
Grandma had forgotten the amount of energy and noise that 10 little girls, plus a younger brother and a couple cousins thrown in for good measure, could make LOL!  The time did go back quickly though between painting little clay pots, melting chocolate, rolling cake pops in the various colors and letting the kids put sprinkles on the chocolate covered cake pops. We had an assembly line formed and it went very well.  Before the girls were leaving to go home we wrapped each clay pot in clear cellophane so they could take it home as a little sovernir :)

  

Then it was time for pizza, ice cream cake, juice, jello and we can't forget gift opening!!
  

Oh what a fun afternoon it was. It did feel kind of strange however that grandma didn't work all morning decorating a huge birthday cake for Hannah. On the other hand though it was actually good that I didn't have too as our side streets were VERY bumpy with the packed/slushy snow. Any cake wouldn't have survived the drive over LOL!

Grandma loves you and is still trying to recuperate from the weekend LOL!
xoxoxoxo

Another year Older!

Wow, I can't believe that our little Hannah had her 7th birthday this past Sunday....and I can't believe that I've been so busy all week that I haven't been able to write about it LOL!

Yes, little Hannah is growing like a weed...but a very beautiful weed :)  Grandpa and I took her out shopping for gifts last Friday night. I never knew a 7 year old could spend so much time in a shoe store, looking at shoes. She must have tried everything on that even slightly resembled what she was looking for....hehehe!

Finally after a half hour she had decided on white highheel sandals :)  As grandpa was paying for them I spotted some cute purses by the check out counter. Hannah spotted me looking at them and just fell in love with a little tan colored purse.  You have to understand that Hannah has a 'thing' for money...and purses....and a thing for not spending her own money, but rather saving it in wallets and purses LOL!  So just as grandpa was grabbing her bagged new high heels, we went over with the purse...which didn't need to be bagged but instead grandma adjusted the long shoulder strap so she could wear it right there and then.

Was that it you may ask? Hardly LOL!  Turning right at the entrance to the shoe store we ventured further down the hallway and stopped at Justice.  Justice is in my day we would call a "hippy" clothing store....hehehe....very popular with young girls today and selling only very vibrant colored and sparkly clothing, accessores, shoes...you name it, they have it to attract the youngsters.
 

Modeling her new purchases.

Notice those high heels  :)



It didn't take her long to decide on which outfit she wanted and as she was trying it on in the change room, she said she would like one more thing....LOL....not clothes grandma, but one more thing. With so many 'things' to look at we thought we would be there for another hour before she decided.  Finally after touching, picking up, inspecting things that caught her pretty brown eyes, those pretty brown eyes looked up and there on some shelves were pillow letters! Yup, fuzzy pink fake fur in the shape of the alphabet! We asked the sales clerk to find an H and off we went.
 

While waiting at the cashier, Hannah spotted some lip gloss....wouldn't you know they purposely put these things at the cash so you are tempted to spend more than you intended.  The girl kindly directed us to another stash of lip glosses that were on sale....3 for $7 something or other.  Quickly Hannah picked the 3 she wanted and could hardly wait to get the wrapping off each of them so she could try each one!  As we went along our merry way to the accessories shop for bracelets, brooches etc, Hannah was sporting bright red lips LOL!

More walking, searching then she saw a few things she wanted...another H was added to her stash in the form of a brightly colored H on a silver chain...along with a head band and wrist covers.

We then decided to look for a belt for her new pants at Wal Mart. Along the way she started sniffing and said "mmmm...that smells good...are we close too....?" Yup, right around the corner is the little meat shop that sells her favorite turkey kielbosa. She had a piece that they put on the counter and I asked if she wanted me to buy some. Her eyes got big and she said yes, can I have some now. So the gentleman was kind enough to cut a few slices for her to munch on along our way to Wal Mart. Her tummy was satisfied for now LOL!

Wal Mart was a bust on belts. Nothing to be found for her size.  Onward and upward to the car so we could drive to the Bulk Barn for candies to layer inbetween her ice cream cake layers. Thankfully it didn't take too long. Grandma needed to stop at the fruit market on the way to the restaurant for her birthday supper, and the birthday girl wasn't happy...hehehe...she asked if she had to go in and I said no, that she and grandpa could wait in the car. I only needed a couple things.

Okay, on to our last stop....our favorite greek restaurant just a few minutes away from home. It was packed but didn't take long for our food to arrive.  A deal was brokered in that I told Hannah she could have an ice cream sandwich back at out place instead of dessert in the restaurant. She happily agreed, and quickly took her boots/coat off at the back door when we came in and wanted her ice cream sandwich :)

Taking only minutes to devour she washed her hands, went into her bedroom and came out modeling all her new purchases....hehehe!  She sure likes to dress up, and everything looks great on her!

Once her new clothes were put away it was time to put together her ice cream cake...she loves ice cream, and jello.  She and grandpa unwrapped all the ice cream sandwiches and she helped me layer them in the casserole plate, then layer with cool whip and smarties, then another layer of ice cream sandwiches. She decorated the top by herself, making sure every inch had at least one candy on it LOL!

  

Okie dokie....time for a bath once the ice cream cake was put into the freezer. She had fun laying around the tub for a good half an hour and it didn't take her long to get sleepy :)

All in all it was a very fun evening and she quickly fell asleep laying between grandpa and I in our king size bed.

The next morning it was swimming lessons at 9:00...and what did she want for her snack after swimming. A couple slices of bread with what else....turkey kielbosa slices LOL!

Can hardly wait to see what next year's birthday shopping will be like :)

Grandma loves you
xoxoxoxo

It Doesn't Take Much.....

No...it certainly doesn't take much for kids to amuse themselves at times.  Our oldest son, wife and the 3 grandkids came over for a visit and supper last night. And before you ask, we had spaghetti LOL!  It's the only food that all 3 kids can agree on....well, actually, it's the only food that I can get Hailee to eat without getting into an argument....hehehe....Hannah and Cade will eat just about anything, so they're easy to feed :)

Anyway, after supper and one of their favorite desserts...jello made with ice cream that gets firm enough to eat with your fingers...they got into play mode.  Downstairs to play library with grandpa, then upstairs to see what they could get into in their bedroom, making cards for mom and dad etc.

While playing we could hear the kids calling out to grandpa...."oh Mr. Bob" and "hey, Bob the builder" LOL!  At one point Cade brought a card out to the living room where Mom, dad and grandma were sitting. He had grandpa help him print out "mom and dad" on the card and was shocked that there was an "o" in mom's name.  He told mom that she didn't have an "o" in her name but she explained that there was indeed an "o" on the word mom, but not in her real name, Angele LOL!

Shortly after that he was playing around with his scissors and came pretty close to hitting dad with them, so dad took the scissors away until Cade apologized. Well, needless to say a good 20 minutes later dad was still waiting for his apology, Cade crying and fussing the whole time....hmmm....stubborn little guy, isn't he LOL!  Cade then announced that he was taking dad's name off the card he made....hehehe!  We had a great laugh at that one!! Thankfully by the time they left, Cade had decided that dad was in his good graces once again and his name could remain on the card LOL!

Once an apology was finally given the kids went on with their play.  In the living room we could hear this giggling coming down the hallway from the kid's bedroom.  First thing you know there came the girls....laughing and almost falling over. Each was stuffed into a leg on a pair of old lounger pants of mine that Hailee found in the closet LOL! 

I have no idea why I even bought the lounger set many years ago...it was big on me back then....but I liked the feel and color. I'm sure I imagined myself being able to relax some evening after soaking in a nice bubble bath...putting my feet up, reading a good book and letting the world pass me by.  Wrong....never did happen LOL!

Now it dawned on me why I had never given the set away, or thrown them out.  In the back of my mind I must have thought "ah ha...one day our grandkids will be able to have fun playing with these pants" LOL!  And fun they had.  Each had to take a turn with the other, being stuffed into the pants....more giggling, laughing and falling over!

What a great picture to have in my mind while I fell asleep last night!  You kids keep surprising grandpa and I with your creativity and love of having a good time. Never stop and never grow up....hehehe! Thanks for coming over!

Grandma love you
xoxoxoxo

What goes up.....

Well I think you know the rest of that sentence :)  Yes, the girls and Cade have taken up skiing and snowboarding....to be precise, the girls are snowboarding and Cade is skiing.

They've been at it for about 3 or 4 weekends now and with the weather being so darn cold I wasn't about to go stand in the subzero temperatures to watch them come down the bunny hill LOL! However, yesterday was the day to venture out. 

They called around 1:15 to let us know they were having lunch then heading to town to the ski hill. It really is surprising how many layers of clothing a person can get on when faced with standing in the cold for a couple hours LOL...but you already know that we grandparents will do just about anything to see a smile on our grandkids little faces :)
  

  Here's the gang, ready for their afternoon of fun!

Don't you just love those little skis that Cade is

learning on? LOL!

 

So off grandpa and I went...not sure if I'd ever be able to sit in the car without popping some piece of clothing LOL!  We arrived and waited until the gang got there a few minutes after us.  The hills were quite busy, especially the bunny hill, but it didn't stop their enthusiasm to get their boards/skis on and hit that hill!

Grandpa had gone once before to watch them and help with Cade, so Cade was in full grandpa mode, wanting Papa to walk up the hill with him, help him get his skis on and then follow him back down the hill to help him back up again LOL!
 

Grandpa and Cade halfway up the hill

getting Cade's skis on :)



 
I must say I was quite impressed and amazed at how quickly they all picked up their new sports of choice!  Very little falling, bruising or complaining....as long as grandpa was there to help Hailee and Cade up the hill....hehehe! 

It was a great afternoon watching the grandkids experience this new activity, and to see their huge smiles as they came swooshing towards grandma, and often, swooshing right on by.

We're really looking forward to the next time...as long as the weather cooperates LOL!

Grandma loves you
xoxoxoxo

It's a Bronze!!

Yes indeed! Our oldest granddaughter Hailee was in her very first Floor Hockey tourament today and her team won the bronze, out of 20 teams!  She even got her very first goal! We were so excited for her and the rest of the girls. She almost looked like she was in shock when the goal went in the net....hehehe!

And here she is, sporting her Bronze Medal

Job well done Hailee! Can hardly wait until

next year's tournament :)

  

After sitting in a gym all day long on a folding metal chair, grandma was very happy that she had brought a fluffy blanket with her to sit on....hehehe!  It also brought back many, many memories of the times grandpa and grandma spent in arenas, gyms, ball fields and soccer fields following daddy and his brothers to every sport imaginable. They sure got involved in everything they could, and that meant that grandpa and I ended up driving along to watch and cheer on....and cheer I did, ringing my big old cow bell to get them going....hehehe! Like I said, great memories.
 

The happy team after their exciting win!

It was a close one, with Hailee's team

scoring the winning goal with only 15 seconds left

in the game....yeah girls!!



 

It was so nice to see Hailee win her first medal. She has really come out of her shell this past year and is getting involved in a lot of things.  She even got to read to the Day Care kids at her school last week. She's blooming into quite the little social butterfly and it's wonderful to see. We love it :)

Grandma is tired after our long day, but I wouldn't have given it up for the world.  Until your next event Hailee.

Grandma loves you
xoxoxoxo

You didn't just come for the beef, did you??

LOL...let me explain the post title!  A few days ago when visiting the grandkids (actually we were bringing Hannah her cleaned betta tank so she could put a new fish in that we bought to replace the one that wasn't "feeling well") our little guy Cade came running down the stairs saying "mama, mama...." and went on so quickly that all I got was, sleepover, Hannah, Sam, Saturday....hehehe!

Turns out that big sister Hailee was going to a friend's last night for a sleepover, Hannah was having a friend over for a sleepover last night and Cade decided that he was going to come to grandma and grandpa's house for a sleepover last night :) This decision by the way made Hannah very happy. She did not want her little brother around while her friend was there for a sleepover LOL!

Grandma thought she'd make roast beef for supper because Cade absolutely LOVES my roast beef with mashed potatoes, gravy and carrots. When I say he loves it, I mean he loves it. I've never seen a 4 year old get so excited about eating roast beef. McD's? Spaghetti? perhaps, but not roast beef LOL!

They all had swimming lessons yesterday morning at 9:00, so we told mom that we would just take Cade with us for the day too. Our DIL had a sinus lift on Thursday and needed some rest. Her face is swollen and she can't eat much but liquids.

So home we came with Cade in tow. He kept us going ALL day long. Wow that kid is busy...hehehe! I don't think I sat down once until it was time to eat that famous roast beef LOL! He went outside to help grandpa shovel the fresh snow we got, but not before giving me instructions for hot chocolate when they were done :)  He had to make sure it wasn't candy cane flavor too...hehehe...so he was happy.

When he and grandpa were done outside they came in and he helped me make their hot chocolate. He asked for marshmallows but this was one of the few times that I didn't have any in the cupboard. So instead, I looked in the fridge and surprised him with canned whipped cream...so yummy and so "good" for you....hehehe!

Then it was time to play, so it was on to "bears"...had to be in a dark room, or the sauna, and pretend bears were coming to get us LOL....Alphabet Bingo, cars, puzzles....then it was time for supper. He was so hungry that we were eating at 4:00 LOL!  Two helpings later, plus extra carrots on the side, he decided it was bath time...then he would have his ice cream that he and grandpa went to the store to buy. Cade had it all figured out :)

All was going well then he piped up...he wanted to go home to sleep.  We didn't push him and said he didn't have to go right away, but could decide later.  So we continued to play Alphabet Bingo and then cuddled on the couch to watch The Smurfs :)  He flip flopped about 3-4 times while watching the movie...I go home, I stay here, I go home, I stay here...you get the picture LOL! 

Grandma called mom to let her know that our company had decided to go home for the night so she said they would come pick him up.  By the time they arrived Cade was in "I go home" mode, so that's what he did.

So, now you may understand the post title....were grandpa and grandma just being used today for our roast beef dinner?? LOL!

Grandma loves you
xoxoxoxo

Start the Year Off Right.....

Seeing as we missed our usual New Year's Eve with the grandkids sleeping over because we were at Great Wolf Lodge, it felt good to have the girls and Cade here from yesterday afternoon until this morning!

They were all SOOOO good this visit....not that they're not usually good, but this time there were NO fights, NO bickering, NO hissy fits, hehehe...it was wonderful!  They even ate well, especially Hailee! Yipeeee!

To start with we picked them up yesterday afternoon around 2:00. As Hannah and Cade's betta fish had gone to Fishy Heaven the last couple of weeks, we promised them we would go fish shopping. Grandma had cleaned out both tanks and the water had been sitting for days, so everything was ready to make a new home for whatever bettas they picked for themselves :)

Luckily, the first pet store we stopped at had quite a few bettas, all beautifully colored. Of course before the bettas could be looked at the kids had to explore the whole pet store to see what other goodies/animals they could find :)

We went from creepy crawly snakes and lizards, to fluffy and cute rabbits and guinea pigs, not to mention all the little furry, and not-so-furry, critters such as hamsters, rats, mice and even "naked" rats! Yes, they have rats with no fur. Hannah said they looked like little pigs....hehehe!

At last our attention was focused on bettas....blue ones, burgundy ones, multicolored ones, white ones....all beautiful in my mind, but then I'm partial to bettas and their cute personalities :) Yes, bettas DO have personalities and are very good pets. They recognize people and will follow your finger and come swimming over to you if they think they have a chance for a treat :)  Plus, no allergies to worry about LOL! You can't ask for more than that!

After bringing a few different ones down to a level where Cade could have a good look at them...and only changing his mind twice LOL....he chose a beautiful teal colored betta and Hannah went for a burgundy one. She has to make sure whichever betta she gets that it has to match the pink gravel in her tank you know....LOL!

Grandpa had the honor of paying, as he usually does...hehehe...and off we went.  We had decided beforehand that we would drop off the fish at home so the water could come to room temperature in each of their bedrooms. But on the drive home we had a rousing discussion on fish names...hehehe. Cade first came up with Fishy, original don't you think for a 4 year old? LOL!  Hailee had some suggestions for both Cade and Hannah, but deep down I'm sure she was thinking of names for when her fish goes to fish heaven and she needs a new one :)

Finally the decision was made.  Cade loves the tv show Caillou, so his betta became Caillou!  Hannah asked if her fish was a boy or girl. After explaining that all fancy, long tailed bettas are boys, she decided on Perry...as in Perry the Platypus from Disney...hehehe!

Cade laughed and said that when daddy heard he called his fish Caillou, that he would say "booooooo" as daddy doesn't like that show, but it didn't matter. We told him it was his fish and he could call it whatever he wanted too.

Once the fish were dropped off at home our next stop was the Dollar Store for things to paint.  I'm sure the girls and Cade are no different from any other kids when they get into a Dollar Store. They want everything...and I mean everything LOL!  It doesn't help that when they were really little grandpa and I would let them do that, but now we tell them ahead of time "we're going in for such and such...and nothing else, okay."  LOL!  It worked.

They picked up a couple things to paint...but we didn't leave without a little toy they each wanted. All in all it was a great trip to the collar store!

Mom had made some yummy cupcakes for their football party they were having last night, so she sent a few home with us. That's all Hailee could focus on....when will we be at your place grandma....can we eat the cupcakes as soon as we get there....do we have to paint first...do we have to wash our hands etc etc LOL! 

So not to extend her pain any further, I said as soon as they washed their hands when we got to our place, that they could have their cupcakes.  How cruel that grandpa put them on the kitchen table to sit while grandma worked around the dish of cupcakes to make room for plates etc. It was all worth it in the end though. Talk about yummy :)

Cade was happy that I chose the cupcake with chocolate icing as he said that's the one he decorated just for me :) He kept asking if that's the one I was going to have :)

On to taking off good shirts to get ready for painting....tablecloth rolled up, placemats in place, brushes, water, paint...that was shaken up very well by three little pairs of hands...and we were ready to begin. Each had what they chose at the dollar store and began the task of making it look good...hehehe! And as always, they indeed did look good :)

Grandma had made a big roaster of spaghetti sauce before we went to town, as as usual, all the kids were impressed to see so much spaghetti sauce in one spot LOL!   So I guess you can tell what we had for supper last night LOL...yup, their favorite, spaghetti. Not before cucumbers for the girls though and a bowl of cauliflower for Cade. He sure loves cauliflower and brocooli!

We weren't sure if they'd eat much after having their cupcakes, but eat they did....very well. Hailee even asked for seconds. Something she never does!  Good job Hailee!!  Cade wasn't feeling very well....darn sniffles....but he managed to eat a bit of spaghetti after his cauliflower. Hannah, as normal, ate well LOL!

Grandpa and Grandma went grocery shopping on Friday and we picked up some Skinny Cow dixie cups...Cookies & Cream. So it wouldn't cause friction, we bought ALL of the dixie cups the same flavor LOL!  Didn't take long for those to disappear either!

Cade wanted his bath right after eating but the girls wanted to wait, so Cade enjoyed some time in the tub playing with his pail full of toys...and I mean a pail full LOL!  After the girls had their baths they spent some time looking at their journals that grandma started for each of them when they were born. They love looking at all the baby pictures etc :) Actually, those journals are the reason grandma started writing this Blog. It just got to be too much to write 3 separate journals every time we were together, so as I mentioned in my very first blog post, these blog musings will be what eventually will be printed out and placed in each blog :)  With lots of pictures too, so don't worry. Those journals will get done Cade LOL! Being the youngest he doesn't understand why he doesn't have as many binders as the girls do...hehehe!

Cade had decided who was sleeping with who, and where....and it ended up the same as it does every time they sleep here.....Hannah in the kingsize bed with Grandma....he and Hailee in their bedroom with Grandpa on a foam mat LOL and Hailee and he on either side of grandpa.

Must say it was an earlier morning than usual. Grandpa, Hailee and Cade were up at 6:00 this morning!  Yikes. Hannah and grandma wanted to sleep in, but with all the noise...yes, I said noise...the other three were making, it made it impossible to actually sleep, but we did stay in bed until 8:00 LOL!  It's kind of funny because Hannah is usually the early bird and expects everyone to get up when she wants to be up early! Today she got some of her own medicine :)

Hailee picked the color of pancakes this morning...PINK....and they were all full, dressed, hair brushed, teeth brushed and ready for mom and dad to pick them up.

And do you know what they were doing this afternoon?  They were all having snowboarding and ski lessons!  Yup. They'll be flying down the slopes next winter I'm sure.  I know they'll have fun, but grandma and grandpa will keep our feet planted firmly on the ground...er...snow...thank you very much LOL!

Until our next visit....
Grandma loves you!
xoxoxoxo