On Friday morning I made a pot of chili and prepared all the fixin's. I put half of everything on the top shelf of the fridge for Dick, Anthony, and Austin to have for dinner (Lori had a late day at work). The other half I took with me, and I drove to Lancaster County to Sam and Sammy's.
We had our chili dinner when I got there, then we went to Goodwill so see what we could find. Nothing for me this time. But Sammy found a saxophone!
I loved it! I could play a lot of his favorite songs for him just by pressing the buttons. Plus, there were a whole lot of pre-programmed songs to listen to. Here's a video we made for Jenn.
When we got home from Goodwill Sammy did not want to get out of my car, so we decided to drive around. This time we went back through the Denver, PA countryside, looking at all the spacious homes and farms and farmettes, the "plain" people working and riding their bikes. Eventually we drove by two of my uncles' lovely homes. It was fun. Here's my Uncle Earl's home - a picture I took last Labor Day weekend when I was there for a family gathering. (And my lovely old car parked out front, haha!)
On Saturday morning we went to downtown Ephrata. There was a little farmer's market going on. I also found the Reuzit Shop. I found a 2-quart measuring pitcher to replace the one I recently melted. Next door to that was Sam's favorite toy store. I don't even remember what the name of it was, but it reminded me a lot of our favorite one in State College, The Growing Tree. Outside was a bubble machine. What fun!
Sammy is such a head-turner! People just can't ignore him because he's so CUTE and charming. I know I'm biased, but seriously, it's the truth!
When we got home I had to pack up to leave. There was a first birthday party for Frank's Jada that afternoon in Reading, and I was planning to pick Destiny up at 12 noon.
Destiny had cash with her when she got into the car. She'd been saving it up to buy school shoes. I was so proud of her for not frittering it away on corner store junk food, etc. She knew exactly which shoes she wanted at Champs at the Berkshire Mall. So that's where we went first. To get to the Champs store in the mall we had to walk by a pet store. We indulged ourselves with some puppy holding. This was an irresistible cockapoo (if I remember correctly). Destiny was trying to take pictures of us with my phone.
Then we got the shoes, Nikes of course. And on to the food court for some lunch - Chinese as usual.
And then we went to the birthday party. Lauren had everything looking so festive and beautiful on the closed-in deck.
Jada, the birthday girl.
Destiny showed her the balloons.
Destiny, Jada, and Lauren's daughter Nicayla. So much cuteness!
Daddy and daughter. No question who she looks like!
Birthday cake time. Unfortunately, right after I snapped this picture, Jada reached out and touched one of the candles. That put a bit of a damper on things for a while, but she recovered with some ice.
Then it was gift opening time. She was not the least interested in all the cute clothes she was given. But she LOVED the Hello Kitty chair. And that 20-dollar bill in her hand, haha!
I left a little before 7 pm and was home shortly after 9:30. I enjoy listening to NPR on Saturday evenings as I drive - Prairie Home Companion, a live concert, etc.
I need to add one more picture, one that Lisa posted today on Facebook. George has been away for two weeks of job training, and they're so happy to have him back home. They spent the afternoon at the beach. Can't wait to see them when we go down for a visit in October!
I'm writing this post from my MAC. We've actually had this computer for a few months, thanks to Anthony and Lori's decision to get a new one for themselves. But it was not my primary computer until now. Last week I got the "blue screen of death" on my 8-year-old PC. It had served me well, and thankfully we subscribe to Carbonite, so all my files, including the many, many songs I have arranged for praise and worship teams over the years, were all backed up.
The past two days Anthony has spent hours here getting everything I need up and running on this computer. This monitor is just incredible. I am a very blessed mom. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Anthony!
Austin's preschool was closed this week, so he was here yesterday. Oh, the funny things he says! He picked up my 3-pound weights and said, "These are baby weights." I said, "Well, I use them!" He said, "They're grandma baby weights. When you were a baby your mom and dad got these for you and teached you how to do them."
Later I was doing my face and when I applied my mascara he said, "Why are you doing that, Grandma?" I said, "Oh, it makes my eyelashes look prettier." He said, "They don't look prettier! If they would be purple they would look prettier."
And then there's the story that came from Florida today. Sophie's school had a "meet your teacher" event. Sophie's teacher asked her, "Is your mom the yoga teacher?" Sophie said, "Yeah, but she's really cranky this week because my Dad is out of town and she can't go to yoga." As if that wasn't enough damage, she added, "I'm trying not to annoy her, but I'm not doing a very good job."
It reminded me of Anthony's "meet your teacher" event before he entered Pre-K. The teacher was making visits to each of her students' homes. Anthony was in a boisterous show-offy mood. He tried to be very funny the whole time she was there. At one point he was climbing up on top of the baby changing table and jumping off of it. In my most patient voice I said, "Anthony, would you stop doing that, please?" At full volume he answered, "NO!!!" and proceeded to climb back up again. Ugh. I was sure she was absolutely dreading having him in her classroom. Turns out school was just what he needed and he was an excellent student from day one.
Well, I have a couple of big days ahead, so I need to find my bed.
Sorry, no pictures this time!
We did something for the first time ever this past weekend - we had Sammy here without his daddy and mommy. And I think we passed the test! So did Sammy.
Friday evening we met Sam at a Sheetz gas station above Harrisburg to pick him up. This looks like a good start, right?
That cash register was a favorite, especially the money in the drawer, haha!
He even smiles in the morning!
He remembered his favorite drawer in my kitchen. Do you think I have enough measuring cups?
About mid-morning we went outside, first to the playground below our house.
As with all our grandchildren, he LOVED walking around in the storage area under the house. I guess it feels like a place just their size!
And of course, Grandpa's shed is another favorite place.
And the rocking chairs, especially bumping them against the porch railing.
After his nap we went to Spring Creek Park.
And then to Chik Fil-a for some food and more play time.
I love how blue shirts bring out his gorgeous blue eyes.
After we came home it was bath time. Grandpa was blowing bubbles for him.
After his bath Dick was watching a Steelers-Giants game on TV. I gave Sammy a cheese stick and he got up onto the sofa and watched too. He looks like an old pro already, hahaha!
Of all Sundays, Dick and I were scheduled to sing in a quartet for the special music at Fillmore's service, which is at 8:15. I wasn't sure how that would work, since there's no nursery service there, but my friend Peg had agreed to sit with him while we sang, and he didn't mind at all. I think he liked our songs! He especially liked when they sang Happy Birthday to the people with birthdays this week. He definitely recognized that song and kept saying Happy Birthday after that!
We left after our songs were over since we had to get to Houserville. He totally charmed everyone there. I had to watch my friend Sharon or she might have taken him home with her! He just kept following her around after church was over.
He fell asleep on the way home and napped right there on the sofa for several hours.
Around 3:00 we left for Jenn's parents near Harrisburg, where we met Sam. He was glad to see his daddy. While he did so well for us, he definitely was missing Sam and Jenn. When he would seem to be asking about or looking for them, I would say, "Mommy's in Texas." Then he would try to say "Texas". But then when I would say, "And Daddy's at home," he would start to whine a bit, like he didn't like it one bit that Daddy would be at home without him. This was the longest he had ever been away from Sam! I think I did a pretty good job of keeping both Sam and Jenn well supplied with pictures. I like to send videos to Jenn - mostly stuff that only a mommy and a grandma would love, hahaha!!
Our house is SOOO quiet! Sometimes that is nice, but sometimes a person can have almost too much of a nice thing!
So here's what we've been up to since my last post on Friday. That evening Destiny went with Lori and Austin to DelGrosso's Amusement Park in Altoona. Lori's brother Gary and his son Will were also there. Destiny had a BLAST! It was very late when she got back, but she could hardly stop talking about it. I know that Lori and Gary took pictures, but I have just one that Lori texted to me.
On Saturday afternoon Destiny and I made "brookies". I saw them somewhere on Facebook. We made both brownie dough and peanut butter cookie dough, then put scoops of brownie dough into muffin tins, topped by balls of peanut butter cookie dough and then baked them. YUMMM! If we ever make them again, I don't think we'll put the cookie dough into a ball. In trying to get them out of the muffin tin later, they did not hold together very well. But oh, they are delicious!
The brownie crumbs on top are what I had to scrape out of the muffin tin after I tried to take them out. Not quite like the picture I saw on Facebook, hahaha!
Saturday evening we planned on building a fire to roast hot dogs at the pavilion at Circleville Park, but on our way there Anthony called and said he had already arrived and discovered that a group had the pavilion reserved for a birthday party. Soooo, we settled for going to the airport park and doing our hot dogs on a charcoal grill there. Not quite the same. Anthony and Lori had another little boy for the weekend. Destiny did a great job of playing with them so that we four adults were actually able to sit and have a conversation without interruption. That is indeed rare!!
(By the way, the boys had helmets on because they had been riding their bikes.)
It was a spectacularly beautiful evening. This was the view.
On Sunday after church we headed for Reading to take Destiny home to her mom's house. Of course Penelope went along too. Another reason it seems so quiet around here. There's no little bell jingling, no little attacker jumping out at my feet as I walk by. We don't want a cat to live here, but it was fun to have one visiting for a week.
I can't believe I didn't get a picture of Destiny Sunday morning. She had such a nice outfit on and her curly hair was so beautiful. I discovered she did do a "selfie" pic with my phone though!
After we got her and Penelope and all their things carried up to her mom's apartment (well we didn't carry her, haha!), we headed toward Ephrata. We had not seen Sammy for four weeks! And we hadn't seen Jenn since the beginning of June.
We had such a fun time there. One of his favorite things this hot summer has been the sprinkler. But yesterday was not a hot, humid day and he wasn't quite as thrilled with it as usual.
Later I read several books to him. He's like a little echo machine - so cute!
Silly Sammy!
Before we left I tried to get a family pic of them. He was in such crazy, wiggly mood it was almost impossible. I managed to get this....
and then this. I think this may just be the latest in family photo poses! I LOVE it!
Unbelievably Jenn had to leave today for another five weeks of training for her Army tech job. It was to have taken place next May, but an opening came up for it now. They decided to get it out of the way now. I can tell she's missing him today already. She posted this pic with the caption, "I just love love love this boy."
I pray these five weeks fly by. I'll be down there when I can to give Sam some support. He's such an amazing dad.
I want to share some pictures I took this week. Destiny and her kitten Penelope are here. Penelope is just the cutest little thing. Austin has been here at some point every day too. He is in love with her!
One evening I took the kids to the airport park while Anthony worked on my computer. Pretty much all that Austin could think of was getting back home to the kitten!
We were delighted that this hot air balloon came right over the park. I started singing, "Up, up, and awaaaayyyy in my beautiful, my beautiful balloooooon." Destiny thought I was making it up, ha!
One evening Dick cut down a little tree that for some reason was growing right against our one evergreen. It's been bugging me ever since we live here and now it's finally gone. And we have some firewood for our Circleville Park outings. Now we get a full view of our neighbor's bright yellow truck, haha!
Here's the only picture I could find of the tree. Sorry I have to make you think of snow. I don't want to think about it either. I'm even sad that it's August already.
Dick took Destiny to the Y last evening for rock wall climbing. It didn't start till 8 pm, so that was too late for Austin to go. This is a picture that Dick took and sent to me when she reached the top.
We've had some amazing sunsets this weeks. I have such a hard time looking at one without taking a picture of it!
