Finally! Just My Thoughts

Summer has begun with a few fun days with the kids. I love being able to pick up and go at a moments notice to take care of the kids. They are such a delight.

Somehow, we always seem to get into trouble when I come or they come to my house. My philosophy has always been to play with the kids as the house will always be there when they are grown and gone. Still believe that to this day!

The sprinkler system came on and it didn't take long for the kids to find a way to entertain themselves! First they just ran through the water but it didn't take them long to find and make a mud puddle. They were so proud of themselves. They knew not to dig in the "new grass" but they decided that it was ok to dig the water. I totally agreed. Anna Claire was so proud of her dirty "hinny". After all was said and done, I had to take a hose to them and their clothes in the back yard. They stripped down to their bare skin on the back porch and thought that was soooo funny. Oh the fun things that delight their little minds.

Back during the winter the boys would ask me how long I was staying when I would come to see them. One time I told them 20 days so now every time I come, they want to know if I am going to stay for 20 days. If I stayed for 20 days, don't think Martha or Chris would be speaking to me as I am sure the kids and I would be in their dog house FOREVER!

Day 1 in the life of grandparents: 4 year old twin boys, 2 year old independent little girl

Martha and Chris have taken off for the annual Chick-fil-A Seminar; this year in sunny, warm, and delightfully full of snow Washington, DC.

Charles and Linda arrived Friday night to begin their 4 day get away! The boys were still up and waiting on us. Miss Priss was fast asleep in her bed. The boys helped us get the things out of the car and were excited to see us. Only a few tears, it was after their bed time, when we put them to bed. Parker was on the floor on the air mattress, Peyton was in his bed, and Linda was in Parker's bed. All was good until about 6:30 or so when Parker climbed into bed with MiMi. She was so afraid that she would soon have nice wet warm pjs but he did fine. Peyton hit the floor about 30 min. later,just when Parker was just about asleep, with the announcement that he was hungry. They immediately wanted to wake Poppa Charles but we held them off until after breakfast.

Peyton ate MiMi's cereal and a sprinkle donut. Parker ate MiMi's cereal, sprinkle donut and half of a chocolate donut. Peyton informed MiMi that they were going upstairs to wake Poppa and that I could not go cause only boys were allowed upstairs. Off they went to see what treasure Poppa had brought them. Peyton came down stairs yelling close your eyes MiMi and then was so happy to share his rocket shooting vehicle with her.

Miss Priss stayed in her bed until about 9:00 - when I walked into get her, she started jumping up and down in her crib. She was excited and of course this warmed my heart. Hey MiMi!

Martha had shared with me that Miss Priss was no longer the breakfast eater that she used to be. Sure enough she ate about 4-5 cheerios and she was done. She got down and played with the new doll that Poppa Charles had brought her. The boys informed us that they were still hungry. We turned around and Anna Claire had climbed up in her chair next to the island, opened the Krispy-Kreme donut box and had a donut in each hand: I hungry, she said. Maybe Martha doesn't offer her the right food for breakfast! Miss Priss and the boys ate the donut.

Poppa Charles started making a grocery list and the boys and Miss Priss were telling him they wanted "Litel Piggies". And, the boys wanted shrimp! They remembered that Charles had fixed thier first taste of shrimp when he was here a few weeks ago.

Off to Chick=fil-A for lunch and cole slaw to go with the shrimp. Parker wanted a grilled chicken sandwich, Peyton some stips and AC ate nuggets. All was well until the boys turned the flowers over on the table and spilled the water, flowers, and vase onto the floor. At least the vase did not break!

It is now 2:00 and all 3 are in the bed. Charles is off to the grocery and Linda is headed for a nap after posting this. Stay tuned for more tales of the grandparents get-away!

Honor Flight SC

My dad and I were fortunate enough to be able to participate in the WW II Honor Flight to Washington, DC. Neither my dad or myself fully understood what we were in for until we experienced this trip. From the orientation breakfast to the trip itself, we were just amazed at the reception that these veterans received.

We left the Columbia airport with people cheering us on and applauding the veterans as we walked through a good-by tunnel of well wishers and uniformed soldiers. When we arrived in Washington, we were greeted with an arch of water from 2 fire trucks. The welcome in the terminal was even more than what we had encountered in Columbia. The people, young and old, shook the hands of each veterans as we disembarked from the tunnel. The band was playing and the people were telling the veterans thank you and patting me on the back and thanking me for bringing them to Washington. Later we found out that they announce over the PA system that the plane is coming in and invited anyone in the terminal waiting for planes to meet the vets. The number of people there were unbelievable. At the monuments, people would just walk up and shake the veterans hands and thank them for what they had done for our country. What touched me the most were the young children who were shaking the vets hands and saying thank you. This just blew me away and brought tears to my eyes.

I had the privilege of being a guardian for my dad as well as another vet. Paul lives here in Irmo and he and my dad made a fast friendship. Paul served in the Navy too so they had that in common. The two of them walked and talked and let me take the pixs. that documented our day. Paul thanked me at the end of the day for taking care of him even tho he and dad had to hunt me down several times during the day. But, he was happy when I presented him with copies of the pixs. that I took. He shared them immediately with his children and was taking them with him when he visited another vet. in Fla. for Thanksgiving.

There was a group of Harley-Davidson hogs that escorted us into Washington. That was a fun thing to see and experience.

When we returned to Reagan International to leave for Columbia, there was a swing dance group there to meet and greet the vets and of course dance with them. They even danced with the guys in the wheel chairs. What a fun time this was in the terminal waiting area. Again, just a very warm reception for the group.

When we arrived back in Columbia, there was even a larger crowd and band to welcome us home. What an experience to walk through this throng of people. As dad and I made our way through, someone kept calling my dad's name. When I got dad's attention, he recognized them as his neighbors. Neither one knew that the other one was going to be there. What a surprise to both of them.

On a funny note: While we were at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, I left dad and Paul so that I could get into position to take pixs. I was one floor up from daddy and kept calling his name to get his attention. He would never look up, so finally I called him by the nickname I gave him as a teenager and the name Martha, Melinda, and the grands call him: Pops! As soon as I called him that, he looked up at me and just grinned.

My dad thanked me the next day for going with him and experiencing this day with him. It is a memory that I will treasure for the rest of my life

Ava told us that she wanted to shoot pictures too.

Pink was her favorite color

We told her to jump

Gotta love those pink shoes!

When Martha lived in Newnan, she lived next door to this amazing family of 4 kids. Ava was just a tad younger than the boys and one of her older brothers, Jaxon was about 18 mos. older than the boys. Jaxon was always over at Martha's and we would have to send him home to tell his mom where he was. Soon, when Ava was old enough, she came along also. We had so much fun getting to know the family. They were from Michigan and I loved to tease Sara about our southern traditions vs her northern roots.

In the spring and fall, when we would have the heat on and sweaters on, Sara and her family would be sitting on their front porch with the doors wide open. I told her that we would tell them were from up north cause they always had their doors open when it was cold outside. We taught her family to "taste/eat" gritts, taught them the language of the south, and just what living in south was all about. She in turn would tell us the best of living in Michigan.

Sara is a professional photographer and I always loved looking at her work. Martha always regretted not having professional pics. of the boys and once she realized that Sara was a photographer, her walls began to fill up with pics. of the boys. Miss Priss has had her pics. taken from just weeks old to pics. that were taken last week.

Well, one afternoon this summer when Martha and the kids and I were back in Newnan visiting all the friends they left behind, I began talking to Sara about my photography skills and the lack of perfection and we hit upon an idea of my spending a few hours with her. Well duh! So we made a date and I drove all the way to Newnan for a day with Sara. We used Ava, her youngest daughter as our model. When I upload the pics. I could not believe the difference in my photos! I was and am so excited about my new learn skill and know that I will be going back to Newnan to see Sara and her family again. Hope you enjoy the pics. of Miss Ava as much as I did taking them.

Miss Priss's skirt

Skirt for friend

The Knot dress is a knock off of the designer Matilda Jane. It looked so stinking cure on Anna Claire. Will be getting a pic. of her in it in a couple of weeks. Planning on making pants to go under it and then Martha has brown Matilda Jane leggins that will go under it.

The skirt was made with an algebric formula. After all these years, I have finally found a use for my high school algebra! At least I found the use of the algebra before I died! LOL.