It has been a wonderful two weeks with my Carissa, but tonight we hand her back over to Travis and Jonda. Odie commented yesterday that we always have fun with the Grandbabies, but this has been a very special fun filled two weeks with our Carissa. I want to memorialize a few of the highlights of this adventure:
Yesterday, I decided I wanted to get a pedicure. I asked Carissa if she wanted to get her nails done. We walked in, and the first thing that Carissa said was, "I don't think Dad knows about this place." Dad is the official painter of Carissa's toenails. She said it smelled good in there. After about three or four minutes she said it smelled like paint. Since her Dad and her has recently painted her room, she liked that smell. Carissa needed to pick out her polish. No surprise that she picked a shimmery blue. The hard part was that there were several blues to choose from. We went to our pedi chair and put our feet in the water. They put something in the water that turned it purple. Carissa said Mommy would like that. She liked soaking her feet in the water. Lily painted her toes the shimmery blue and asked her if she would like a flower on her big toes. She painted the flowers and put a tiny sequin in the center. Carissa moved to a chair close to me while they did my toenails. She kept looking at her toes. When we made our trek to the beach, she said she wasn't going in the water. She didn't want her flower to disappear. (Travis they use a toothpick to make the flower and sell the tiny sequins at Hobby Lobby!)
A few nights ago, Carissa wasn't ready to go to bed when we were. (imagine that) She was whining a little, and Pawpaw knocked lightly on the wall. Carissa wanted to know who was knocking on the door. Pawpaw said in a funny deep voice, "It's the Boogie Man". This threw Carissa into a fit of giggles. Needless to say, for the next thirty minutes, there was a lot of knocking and giggling. This started a new nightly ritual. Carissa has to get in on the knocking, too. I can only imagine what anyone walking by our trailer could be wondering when they heard knocking, shrieking, and giggling coming from our trailer.
We have played miniature golf, gone to the beach everyday, eaten at BWW3's, played washers, roasted wieners and marshmallows, and she has put miles on the Artic Cat. We have laughed daily at her antics. She has picked out a few skirts. We'll see if she continues to wear them when she goes home. Carissa has been full of magic kisses and has watched her latest Care Bears movie no less that 25 times.
Carissa is only three and as new memories replace the ones from the past two weeks, these memories will fade into oblivion for Carissa. Pawpaw and I will carry these wonderful memories with us for the rest of our lives. Thanks Trav and Jonda for these memories!!
LATER
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Illinois
Carissa and I started our day with catching up on the laundry. We went to Target and ate at Portillo's. She got some clay at Target. We went back to camp, unloaded our wares, and headed out to the putt putt golf course located within our park. She beat Grammy at miniature golf. We got out the clay and sat outside at the picnic table and played with our clay. It even came with eyes, so we could make animals. (By the way, today's high was 67 degrees.)
When Pawpaw got home, we walked the park; so Carissa could drive the Artic Cat. She beat Pawpaw at another game of golf. Carissa and I had to explain to Pawpaw the Carissa rules. Carissa shoots the ball about a foot from the hole. Pawpaw has to shoot from the beginning. We went to the playground, and her and Pawpaw played on the swings. We went to Cracker Barrel for supper. The past couple of days finally caught up with Carissa. She picked out a magic lighted star wand, that Pawpaw told her he would buy provided she ate all of her supper. She ate a few bites of her macaroni, but ate all of a bowl of carrots, a large piece of ham and her cornbread muffin. As she was finishing her carrots, she was closing her eyes as she ate them. She finished the last one, climbed in my lap and was out.
Normally Carissa is a fairly light sleeper. I know that Jonda has sat in the car reading before to let her finish a nap out. When you take her out of her car seat to bring her in the house, she usually wakes up. I carried her out, put her in her car seat, and she never moved. We brought her home, I took her out of her seat, carried her in the house, changed her to her pj's, and she never woke up. I put her in bed and covered her in our three blankets (50's at night), and she never woke up! She slept until 7:00 this morning and woke up going strong. Pawpaw gave her the magic princess wand this morning that he didn't forget last night.
It will probably not even reach the 70's today, so we are looking for alternatives to the beach, pool, and paddle boats. Tonight we are going to have a fire, cook weiners, and roast marshmallows.
We will be off for another adventure shortly!!
LATER
When Pawpaw got home, we walked the park; so Carissa could drive the Artic Cat. She beat Pawpaw at another game of golf. Carissa and I had to explain to Pawpaw the Carissa rules. Carissa shoots the ball about a foot from the hole. Pawpaw has to shoot from the beginning. We went to the playground, and her and Pawpaw played on the swings. We went to Cracker Barrel for supper. The past couple of days finally caught up with Carissa. She picked out a magic lighted star wand, that Pawpaw told her he would buy provided she ate all of her supper. She ate a few bites of her macaroni, but ate all of a bowl of carrots, a large piece of ham and her cornbread muffin. As she was finishing her carrots, she was closing her eyes as she ate them. She finished the last one, climbed in my lap and was out.
Normally Carissa is a fairly light sleeper. I know that Jonda has sat in the car reading before to let her finish a nap out. When you take her out of her car seat to bring her in the house, she usually wakes up. I carried her out, put her in her car seat, and she never moved. We brought her home, I took her out of her seat, carried her in the house, changed her to her pj's, and she never woke up. I put her in bed and covered her in our three blankets (50's at night), and she never woke up! She slept until 7:00 this morning and woke up going strong. Pawpaw gave her the magic princess wand this morning that he didn't forget last night.
It will probably not even reach the 70's today, so we are looking for alternatives to the beach, pool, and paddle boats. Tonight we are going to have a fire, cook weiners, and roast marshmallows.
We will be off for another adventure shortly!!
LATER
Road Trip Day Two
Carissa and I got back on the road at about 7:00. We had spent the night in Joplin, Missouri. She helped me walk Shasta, fill the cooler with ice, and load the car. I looked in the back seat and she reminds me so much of her Dad when he was little. She is only three, but already shows an addictive streak in her with her Leapster game. I am glad it is educational. (Sorry Jonda, but I see my Carissa going to the Casino's with her Grammy when she is grown up).
Evidently, one of her IPhone games is off a little. She would touch a circle or a square and it would say that it was incorrect. I could hear her talking to the Iphone saying, "I DID TOUCH THE CIRCLE". She was so funny.
She had been so good the day before, and we were making such good time; that I started looking for something fun to do. I kept seeing signs for the Fantastic Caverns. The only drive through caverns in America. I asked her if she wanted to stop, and with the enthusiasm of a three year old she yelled "yes". She was a little apprehensive as we started down into the cave. It was okay, and a break from the car for her, but I think Grammy really enjoyed the history of it more. (http://www.fantasticcaverns.com/)
We got back on the road. We made it through Missouri and into Illinois. Carissa was fixed up with movies, but played with her Leapster and iphone almost the entire trip. We made it to the camp about 6:30. I was exhausted, but Carissa was ready to see everything and drive the Artic Cat around. We went and ate at Chili's, and Pawpaw took Carissa to her favorite store (Target). She added Nemo to her Leapster collection.
LATER
Evidently, one of her IPhone games is off a little. She would touch a circle or a square and it would say that it was incorrect. I could hear her talking to the Iphone saying, "I DID TOUCH THE CIRCLE". She was so funny.
She had been so good the day before, and we were making such good time; that I started looking for something fun to do. I kept seeing signs for the Fantastic Caverns. The only drive through caverns in America. I asked her if she wanted to stop, and with the enthusiasm of a three year old she yelled "yes". She was a little apprehensive as we started down into the cave. It was okay, and a break from the car for her, but I think Grammy really enjoyed the history of it more. (http://www.fantasticcaverns.com/)
We got back on the road. We made it through Missouri and into Illinois. Carissa was fixed up with movies, but played with her Leapster and iphone almost the entire trip. We made it to the camp about 6:30. I was exhausted, but Carissa was ready to see everything and drive the Artic Cat around. We went and ate at Chili's, and Pawpaw took Carissa to her favorite store (Target). She added Nemo to her Leapster collection.
LATER
Road Trip
It has been almost a month since I last wrote on my blog, but it has been a busy month. I lost my job and Beth got married. Marco's parents surprised us and flew in from Germany. It was a wonderful surprise to get to know his parents. Beth got married, all the guests went back to their lives, and Carissa and I hit the road to Illinois.
I was a little apprehensive bringing Carissa this far, but she turned out to be an awesome traveler. We left Wednesday morning at about 6:30 am for our road trip. Our first stop was the other side of Houston for breakfast. We actually only made 4 stops during our first twelve hour day. The time passed quicker than I would have thought. I taught Carissa the red truck game that Alex taught me. This game took us through all the Dallas traffic and into Oklahoma. Carissa, Simba, and Grammy all picked a truck color to spot. (Actually Carissa picked a color for Grammy, Simba, and Carissa.) The first person/stuffed animal to get ten of their color won. Needless to say, that Carissa and Simba beat Grammy every time, but it was an enjoyable way to kill and hour and half.
I figured that once I got out of Texas, it would be cool enough for Shasta to stay in the car while Carissa and ate. Boy was I wrong! We stopped at a Denny's for lunch in Oklahoma, and it was 104. We left the truck running for Shast while we ate. Carissa wanted to work the crane and try to win a stuffed animal. She won a stuffed red bear, we named Red, on her first quarter.
About 3:00 or so, Carissa asked how Pawpaw beat us to Illinois. I told her he had flown in an airplane. She said, "Well, Grammy, why didn't we fly?" I decided it was time to take a Target or Walmart break to get her a new Leapster game. We made a stop and got "Pet Pals". I figured I should start looking for a motel for the night and give her a break. She put that game in, and I could probably have driven all night for all she cared. I drove until 6:30, and I had to stop! We swam, ordered pizza, and I watched a little tv. Carissa continued to play the game. At 9:00 I turned off the tv, Carissa continued to play the game....
To be continued...
LATER
I was a little apprehensive bringing Carissa this far, but she turned out to be an awesome traveler. We left Wednesday morning at about 6:30 am for our road trip. Our first stop was the other side of Houston for breakfast. We actually only made 4 stops during our first twelve hour day. The time passed quicker than I would have thought. I taught Carissa the red truck game that Alex taught me. This game took us through all the Dallas traffic and into Oklahoma. Carissa, Simba, and Grammy all picked a truck color to spot. (Actually Carissa picked a color for Grammy, Simba, and Carissa.) The first person/stuffed animal to get ten of their color won. Needless to say, that Carissa and Simba beat Grammy every time, but it was an enjoyable way to kill and hour and half.
I figured that once I got out of Texas, it would be cool enough for Shasta to stay in the car while Carissa and ate. Boy was I wrong! We stopped at a Denny's for lunch in Oklahoma, and it was 104. We left the truck running for Shast while we ate. Carissa wanted to work the crane and try to win a stuffed animal. She won a stuffed red bear, we named Red, on her first quarter.
About 3:00 or so, Carissa asked how Pawpaw beat us to Illinois. I told her he had flown in an airplane. She said, "Well, Grammy, why didn't we fly?" I decided it was time to take a Target or Walmart break to get her a new Leapster game. We made a stop and got "Pet Pals". I figured I should start looking for a motel for the night and give her a break. She put that game in, and I could probably have driven all night for all she cared. I drove until 6:30, and I had to stop! We swam, ordered pizza, and I watched a little tv. Carissa continued to play the game. At 9:00 I turned off the tv, Carissa continued to play the game....
To be continued...
LATER
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