Well, my Alex gets his new house this weekend. He will be 4 in June and has always lived in an apartment, so him and his parents are excited to be moving into their first house. It is a three bedroom with a big fenced backyard. Grammy can't wait to see his new room. It is a home that is in a beautiful, older, quieter part of town with large trees. I am so happy for them. He is totally into anything to do with Thomas the Train. One thing about Alex, he is totally dedicated to Thomas. His birthday isn't until June, but his Mom is already starting to work on him to have his party in something different than Thomas this year!!
One day, though, his Mom will look up and Alex will have outgrown Thomas the Train; and she'll wonder where the time has gone. It is so hard for me to believe how much my life has changed over the past five years. My life has been fuller, rich with laughter and silliness, and is flying by faster every year. I am very fortunate to have children that treasure their children and take the time to give them the memories of a wonderful childhood. And I thank all my kids for including Grammy in so much of their babies lives.
LATER
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Carissa Turns Three
We were headed to Carissa's Grandma and Pa's house for her birthday party with Hunter, Carissa, and Colton in the back seat. Colton (18 mos.) is young but already a little agrivator. He would touch Carissa's car seat, she would squeal for him to stop touching her car seat. He would grin (you may could even say he smirked), and would touch it again. I finally distracted them all with silly songs. Carissa will have no problem in keeping these boys in line.
As we drove down Pa's street: WOW, what was that; a large white gloved hand peeking over the mailboxes? Yes, it was Carissa's Mickye Mouse Bounce all set up and waiting for bouncers. The kids only made it from the car straight to the bounce. Colton could not grab the concept of down the slide. He continued trying to slide up the slide.
Carissa's revved up Jeep came out of the garage, along with a motorized spider man 4 wheeler, and a little car you sit on and walk with your feet. After some discussion between Hunter and Carissa, they managed to share well enough to take turns driving for a while. They would make runs to bring us burgers and fries. Colton was hilarious. He could move on that little car pushing his feet almost as fast as the Jeep could go. A fun time was had by all.
Jonda's parents out did themsevles on the food spread, and Jonda did an awesome job on the cake and cupcakes. It was a Mickey Mouse theme right down to Carissa's blue Mickey shirt. Carissa is one lucky little girl because of all the people that love her. She is spoiled in a very good way.
She is only three, but there are some sayings we really need to get on tape, because I could never get these sayings on paper and do them justice. I love it when she starts a sentence with, "Weeelll". You know at that moment that what comes next is something she has thought about. A couple of weeks ago, I was trying to get an idea of what to get Carissa for her birthday. One of the first stuffed animals I had gotten her was a singing Rudolph. She has loved this Rudolph, and it stays out all year. As we were discussing her birthday present, she looked seriously at me with those big blue eyes, put her finger on the side of her chin and said, "Weeelll Grammy, my Rudolph broke. It just broke right there in Pa's kitchen!" In true fashion, Mom and Dad were already on top of it, a Rudolph was already on the way for the birthday girl!
As Pawpaw and I were driving home, the silence was deafening. I am usually so tired after a weekend, but miss them terribly; already looking forward to their next visit!
LATER
As we drove down Pa's street: WOW, what was that; a large white gloved hand peeking over the mailboxes? Yes, it was Carissa's Mickye Mouse Bounce all set up and waiting for bouncers. The kids only made it from the car straight to the bounce. Colton could not grab the concept of down the slide. He continued trying to slide up the slide.
Carissa's revved up Jeep came out of the garage, along with a motorized spider man 4 wheeler, and a little car you sit on and walk with your feet. After some discussion between Hunter and Carissa, they managed to share well enough to take turns driving for a while. They would make runs to bring us burgers and fries. Colton was hilarious. He could move on that little car pushing his feet almost as fast as the Jeep could go. A fun time was had by all.
Jonda's parents out did themsevles on the food spread, and Jonda did an awesome job on the cake and cupcakes. It was a Mickey Mouse theme right down to Carissa's blue Mickey shirt. Carissa is one lucky little girl because of all the people that love her. She is spoiled in a very good way.
She is only three, but there are some sayings we really need to get on tape, because I could never get these sayings on paper and do them justice. I love it when she starts a sentence with, "Weeelll". You know at that moment that what comes next is something she has thought about. A couple of weeks ago, I was trying to get an idea of what to get Carissa for her birthday. One of the first stuffed animals I had gotten her was a singing Rudolph. She has loved this Rudolph, and it stays out all year. As we were discussing her birthday present, she looked seriously at me with those big blue eyes, put her finger on the side of her chin and said, "Weeelll Grammy, my Rudolph broke. It just broke right there in Pa's kitchen!" In true fashion, Mom and Dad were already on top of it, a Rudolph was already on the way for the birthday girl!
As Pawpaw and I were driving home, the silence was deafening. I am usually so tired after a weekend, but miss them terribly; already looking forward to their next visit!
LATER
Sunday, February 22, 2009
New Kitchen and Playroom
First I would like to make a correction to my last post. It is Handy Manny. It is important to get these character's names correct. (Thanks Travis)
This weekend we have Carissa, Hunter, and Colton. We will be celebrating Carissa's third birthday later this afternoon. We started this morning with ham and eggs. Carissa, Hunter, and I made orange cupcakes, with white frosting, blue sprinkles, and three blue candles. Hunter ate all of his, but Carissa and Colton just liked the frosting. Yep they are all hyped up on sugar!!
I had the brilliant idea of getting them a kitchen and making a playroom upstairs. I have shelves that serve as store shelves, a little table for the checkout with the cash register, their Lightening McQeen table and chairs, and other various children's chairs. They need a shopping cart, and they will be fixed up.(and Carissa will not let me forget. We are looking for one on-line) The kitchen was not a bad idea, but the bad idea was getting the kitchen and the kids at the same time. Travis tried to warn me, but I guess I wasn't listening well enough. Odie had plenty of unneeded help to assemble the kitchen. He would like to contact the people that created the kitchen, and I don't think it is to thank them. I decided it was best to take three munchins and take a nap. I got them all to sleep and went to check on Odie's progress. Hmmmm, Shasta (my little schaunzer) and Odie were piled up in the recliner fast asleep. I went to check on the kitchen progress. He had done the majority of it, and I finished it up before they woke up. It was well worth the hassle. Carissa and Hunter played store and restaurant all afternoon and this morning. They have filled Grammy and Pawpaw up on play food. If I could eat more pretend food and less real food I would be a lot skinnier.
Carissa brought Peter Pan with her, and we all piled up in bed about 7:00 last night after all bathes and supper was served. Colton still sleeps in a travel playpen. He watched the movie right along with the "big" kids. Hunter especially loved the alligator. Carissa had watched it before, so she helped Hunter and I keep track of the characters. These are the best kind of Saturday nights!
Well we need to start getting everyone ready for Carissa's big afternoon.
LATER
Friday, February 20, 2009
Birthday Month
Carissa and Hunter both have birthdays this month. Hunter's party was last Saturday (another story). I picked up Hunter last Thursday night and Carissa Friday. I told them we would go to Toys R Us, and they each got $50.00 to spend. Carissa's response was, "Wow, fifty dollars!" Hunter didn't really know what Toys R Us was, but Carissa did and her enthusiasm was contagious. They were both hollering from the back seat, "Grammy there it is. Grammy right there. Turn right there." I was stuck in traffic and not moving nearly fast enough for them. It didn't help that my son taught Carissa to yell at the light to "turn green light". I had both Carissa and Hunter trying to holler the light into turning green.
This Toys R Us that my daughter-in law had directed me to, was the largest one that I had been in. I sat both kids in the back of the buggy. I was surprised that they had no buggies that seated more than one kid. I reminded each one of them again that it was only $50 each. We made it inside the door of this store before they were already finding "must haves". Hunter immediately needed a huge plastic boat and Carissa needed yet another pair of sunglasses. I asked if she was sure about the sunglasses. I am pretty sure she has at least a dozen between her house, her Pa's house, and my house; but "Grammy, I don't have any Backyardagin glasses". Hunter got a pair of Spider Man and Carissa got Backyardagin glasses.
Well we are now about 15 minutes into the store and haven't moved away from the aisle by the front door. At about the third aisle Hunter found a keyboard he had to have on sale for $48. We took the boat back by the front door loaded the keyboard and headed to find Carissa something.
Now even though I have a beautiful blue eyed granddaughter, you can forget the dolly, pink stuff aisle (although since Christmas she is the proud owner of a princess blanket and sleeping bag). Her Dad had taken her to see the movie Bolt, and she wanted the dog Bolt. There were several aisles to get through before we came to the stuffed animals.
On the clearance aisle there was an accessory pack complete with hard hat, saw, tool belt, etc. Hunter needed that. I told him he had a keyboard. "No, here Grammy. I don't want a keyboard. I want THAT!" Carissa wanted one also...no Bolt?
NO, they both needed hard hats. Well by this time I was getting hungry and tired, so I started pulling a Jonda (sorry Toys R Us folks). I was not walking back to the other side of the store to put the keyboard back. It was on sale. We were on the clearance aisle. I exchanged the keyboard for two hard hat sets.
I wasn't sure this was REALLY what Carissa wanted, even though she thought she did; so I thought I would just make a swing by the stuff animals to be sure when she saw that Bolt she still wanted a hard hat set.
Oh no, what a wonderful aisle, that aisle of stuffed animals. We had hit the jackpot. There were disney characters, Hanny Many characters, Bolt, Buster, and fairies. Carissa wanted Bolt, Buster, Minnie Mouse, Daffy Duck. Hunter wanted Hanny Many with a saw with real saw sounds and Hanny Many with a radio to fix.
Well out came the hard hat sets. It's a good thing I can catch. Oh the commotion for Grammy to hurry and get each what they needed. (Sorry Toys R Us folks for those hard hat sets in the Disney section).
All settled. Hunter had a couple of Hanny Many toys and Donald Duck; and Carissa had Bolt, Buster, and Donald duck. I went down the aisle next to the Disney aisle heading to the front to pay. BIG MISTAKE!! We now had dishes, play food, and kitchens to look at. Out came the Hanny Many stuff. Hunter wanted a cash register and food to play store. Carissa wanted dishes.
Finally after 1 1/2 hours, we made it out with a cash register, food, Donald Duck and sunglasses for Hunter. Carissa was happy with Bolt, Buster, Donald Duck, dishes, and sunglasses. We finished the night off with Incredible Pizza and games.
When we got to the house, the fight was on. It was past bedtimes, but my husband had to be picked up from the airport; so they got to stay up later. They BOTH loved the cash register. There was a lot of bagging groceries and Grammy eating food off of new dishes. (Something tells me that before Carissa's birthday weekend is over, she will have her own register).
I want my babies to see this when they are grown to remember how much fun it was to sack groceries, cook and eat play food, and run a cash register.
LATER
This Toys R Us that my daughter-in law had directed me to, was the largest one that I had been in. I sat both kids in the back of the buggy. I was surprised that they had no buggies that seated more than one kid. I reminded each one of them again that it was only $50 each. We made it inside the door of this store before they were already finding "must haves". Hunter immediately needed a huge plastic boat and Carissa needed yet another pair of sunglasses. I asked if she was sure about the sunglasses. I am pretty sure she has at least a dozen between her house, her Pa's house, and my house; but "Grammy, I don't have any Backyardagin glasses". Hunter got a pair of Spider Man and Carissa got Backyardagin glasses.
Well we are now about 15 minutes into the store and haven't moved away from the aisle by the front door. At about the third aisle Hunter found a keyboard he had to have on sale for $48. We took the boat back by the front door loaded the keyboard and headed to find Carissa something.
Now even though I have a beautiful blue eyed granddaughter, you can forget the dolly, pink stuff aisle (although since Christmas she is the proud owner of a princess blanket and sleeping bag). Her Dad had taken her to see the movie Bolt, and she wanted the dog Bolt. There were several aisles to get through before we came to the stuffed animals.
On the clearance aisle there was an accessory pack complete with hard hat, saw, tool belt, etc. Hunter needed that. I told him he had a keyboard. "No, here Grammy. I don't want a keyboard. I want THAT!" Carissa wanted one also...no Bolt?
NO, they both needed hard hats. Well by this time I was getting hungry and tired, so I started pulling a Jonda (sorry Toys R Us folks). I was not walking back to the other side of the store to put the keyboard back. It was on sale. We were on the clearance aisle. I exchanged the keyboard for two hard hat sets.
I wasn't sure this was REALLY what Carissa wanted, even though she thought she did; so I thought I would just make a swing by the stuff animals to be sure when she saw that Bolt she still wanted a hard hat set.
Oh no, what a wonderful aisle, that aisle of stuffed animals. We had hit the jackpot. There were disney characters, Hanny Many characters, Bolt, Buster, and fairies. Carissa wanted Bolt, Buster, Minnie Mouse, Daffy Duck. Hunter wanted Hanny Many with a saw with real saw sounds and Hanny Many with a radio to fix.
Well out came the hard hat sets. It's a good thing I can catch. Oh the commotion for Grammy to hurry and get each what they needed. (Sorry Toys R Us folks for those hard hat sets in the Disney section).
All settled. Hunter had a couple of Hanny Many toys and Donald Duck; and Carissa had Bolt, Buster, and Donald duck. I went down the aisle next to the Disney aisle heading to the front to pay. BIG MISTAKE!! We now had dishes, play food, and kitchens to look at. Out came the Hanny Many stuff. Hunter wanted a cash register and food to play store. Carissa wanted dishes.
Finally after 1 1/2 hours, we made it out with a cash register, food, Donald Duck and sunglasses for Hunter. Carissa was happy with Bolt, Buster, Donald Duck, dishes, and sunglasses. We finished the night off with Incredible Pizza and games.
When we got to the house, the fight was on. It was past bedtimes, but my husband had to be picked up from the airport; so they got to stay up later. They BOTH loved the cash register. There was a lot of bagging groceries and Grammy eating food off of new dishes. (Something tells me that before Carissa's birthday weekend is over, she will have her own register).
I want my babies to see this when they are grown to remember how much fun it was to sack groceries, cook and eat play food, and run a cash register.
LATER
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Last week my sister and went to lunch. I ran into a friend that I grew up with that I hadn't seen in about 13 years. We stood and chatted (her mother, my sister, and the two of us). She has three kids in college and no grand babies, although she is older than me. Of course I was off and bragging about my grand babies. My sister and I went back to our table and ate. When we were leaving, my friend stopped me and wanted to see pictures.
OMG, pictures. I had nothing. Now you would have to know me, to know this was unacceptable. Her comment to me was, "Don't tell me you are one of those bad grandmothers with no pictures of your grand babies." NO PICTURES? I just uploaded 354 from my camera that I carry in my purse that was still on laying on my desk yesterday. The majority of my walls are covered in pictures of the grand babies, kids, parents, and grandparents, but then and there; at that moment I had nothing. My sister filled her in on all the pictures I take. I have three cameras and a video camera since my little ones came along.
Needless to say, I am now the proud owner of a 40 photo insignia, digital key chain. Ask me the next time you see me to show you pictures of my babies, if you dare.
OMG, pictures. I had nothing. Now you would have to know me, to know this was unacceptable. Her comment to me was, "Don't tell me you are one of those bad grandmothers with no pictures of your grand babies." NO PICTURES? I just uploaded 354 from my camera that I carry in my purse that was still on laying on my desk yesterday. The majority of my walls are covered in pictures of the grand babies, kids, parents, and grandparents, but then and there; at that moment I had nothing. My sister filled her in on all the pictures I take. I have three cameras and a video camera since my little ones came along.
Needless to say, I am now the proud owner of a 40 photo insignia, digital key chain. Ask me the next time you see me to show you pictures of my babies, if you dare.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
I became a grandmother a little over five years ago. I am blessed with two wonderful children and two wonderful step children. They have added to my blessing by giving me five grand babies. One of my daughters married a man with a beautiful five year old son (Justin). A year and a half later Hunter came along. He's four now. He was followed four months later by Alex. A year after Hunter was born, my only granddaughter Carissa joined us. A year and a half later our Baby Colton joined us.
These little people are the most awesome people that have ever come into my life. I will share the things they say and do that leave me with a laugh and a good feeling. I hope that however you feel when you enter my blog, you will leave with a smile on your face. The wonder of innocence is alive and well. I witness it on a weekly basis. Here is a little back ground.
Justin lives with his Mom, and I only get to see him every couple of months or so. He loves his game boy, playing with his race track, and watching movies.
Hunter and I are extremely close. I don't go more than a couple of weeks without him staying at Grammy's house. He loves to play with Carissa and cook with Grammy. His imagination is unbelievable.
Alex likes to go places with Odie (my husband) and I, but he doesn't want his Mom to be too far away. He won't stay at night with us, but as he gets older her will. He loves Thomas the Train. I think he probably has almost every movie, train, pj's, and characters there are. He wants every birthday party to be Thomas the Train.
Carissa and I are also extremely close. She is smart beyond her years. Her and Hunter average a weekend every month to six weeks with Grammy and Pawpaw. She's into all of the Disney characters, very particular with all of her stuff animals, and keeps the boys in line.
Colton is my little hellion. After a day with him, I am exhausted! It takes Pawpaw and I together to keep him if we have any other of our babies. He will talk on the phone with us (not that we can understand anything he says) and has a fit when Mommy takes it away from him. He is our dare devil, not afraid of anything!
These little people are the most awesome people that have ever come into my life. I will share the things they say and do that leave me with a laugh and a good feeling. I hope that however you feel when you enter my blog, you will leave with a smile on your face. The wonder of innocence is alive and well. I witness it on a weekly basis. Here is a little back ground.
Justin lives with his Mom, and I only get to see him every couple of months or so. He loves his game boy, playing with his race track, and watching movies.
Hunter and I are extremely close. I don't go more than a couple of weeks without him staying at Grammy's house. He loves to play with Carissa and cook with Grammy. His imagination is unbelievable.
Alex likes to go places with Odie (my husband) and I, but he doesn't want his Mom to be too far away. He won't stay at night with us, but as he gets older her will. He loves Thomas the Train. I think he probably has almost every movie, train, pj's, and characters there are. He wants every birthday party to be Thomas the Train.
Carissa and I are also extremely close. She is smart beyond her years. Her and Hunter average a weekend every month to six weeks with Grammy and Pawpaw. She's into all of the Disney characters, very particular with all of her stuff animals, and keeps the boys in line.
Colton is my little hellion. After a day with him, I am exhausted! It takes Pawpaw and I together to keep him if we have any other of our babies. He will talk on the phone with us (not that we can understand anything he says) and has a fit when Mommy takes it away from him. He is our dare devil, not afraid of anything!
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