Birthdays, babies, and beauty

This was a really quiet day for me.  I had an upper endoscopy early in the afternoon and was told to do no driving the rest of the day.  Dick brought me home around 2:00, I took a nap, and got some phone calls made - something I really struggle to find the time to do.  And now I'll catch up here.

First of all I'll share some nature pics.  Monday evening I came out of Weis Markets and saw this sunset.  I quickly got my camera from the car before it would change too much.

This morning when I walked into the kitchen I almost needed my sunglasses when I looked out the kitchen sink window!  

On Sunday after church we drove to Reading to celebrate Destiny's 16th birthday a few days late.  First we went to the mall so she could buy some things with birthday money from her mom, then we went to our very favorite place to eat, Jumbo China Buffet.  I think that's becoming our birthday tradition with her. 

Even the smell of that place makes us feel happy!  There are SO many delicious choices!!

Grandpa loves it too!

When we were finished there, Destiny had a "girl date" with her mom and aunt to get pedicures at a nearby nail salon, so we said our goodbyes there, then Dick and I checked out the bargains at the Boscov's tent sale down the street.  They had a good deal on mums, so we picked out five of them.  When we got to the cash register we found out that two was the limit!  But there had been no sign, and we had spent a good bit of time picking out just the right ones!  The girl told us we could pay for them separately.  So Dick bought two, I bought two, and then Dick bought one more.  Good grief!!  

From there we went across town to Frank and Lauren's.  We hadn't seen them for a whole month, and did Alaya GROW!!  In size and in personality.  

A kiss from big sister Jada.

Little charmer!

She even loves to watch football on TV already, hahaha!!  She was watching so intently I just cracked up watching her face!

On Monday I spent the day babysitting Hunter.  He's growing up way too fast.  We're starting to feel sad already!  I was helping him to work on his balance for sitting up.  At first he would easily lean back or to the side, but after a while he learned to catch himself.  He was quite pleased with himself!

Tuesday was Anthony's 40th birthday.  I told him on FB that no wonder his birth went so fast - he had things to do and places to go!  In fact, he probably had already decided in that mathematical brain of his that he should be born at 9:20 am on 9/20!!  A little fact we did not even think of until years later when he mentioned it.  

We babysat the boys Tuesday evening so they could go out for dinner.  The weather was PERFECT.  We walked down to the pond with Austin so we could get a chance to sit on the park bench at the far end of the pond.  Unfortunately the frog catching wasn't good, and he lost interest long before we were ready to walk back up that hill to the house!

Peace.

On Wednesday I babysat Hunter as usual.   I rolled an inflatable ball to him and a few times he picked it up.  

But mostly he just wanted things to chew on.  We can't feel any teeth getting close to the surface, but he constantly has to be chewing on whatever is available.  

I thought he looked so cute hugging his "burp cloth" while he was napping on the sofa. 

Imagine my surprise when I discovered him not only awake, but rolled over near the edge, and stretching like a champ!!  Thank goodness for the big ottoman!

Tomorrow evening we're looking forward to a 40th birthday party for Anthony at their place.  He's gotten a projector and an 18 foot screen on the barn for watching movies, football, etc.  We'll probably be watching a movie after some good food from Hogfather's BBQ.