Christmas 2013 and More

It's been a busy 10 days or so!  The weekend before Christmas, Clinton had an ice storm which was predicted to be worse than it was, but we were so happy to have Mom spend Friday and Saturday nights with us along with Saturday and Sunday!

Joe arrived in Clinton in the wee hours of Christmas Eve after working until midnight.  He was very sweet and stayed up to have coffee with Grandma and me before I went to work.  We had a nice visit.  Mark, Tom and Lenny arrived in Clinton around noon on Christmas Eve, and we all enjoyed a delicious ham meal for lunch.

Ron and I went to Christmas Eve services at church where I played the organ for the service.  After church, we went to the Siegers for dessert and custard and then by Grandma's for a short visit with the St. Louis Mintuns before bedtime.

On Christmas morning, Amanda and family arrived and found what Santa had left in their stockings.  Grandma, Mark, Joe and Tom arrived shortly after 11 a.m., and we changed things up a bit this year and had "snackie" type foods and grazed all day instead of a Christmas dinner.  Cowboy pig candy seemed to be popular along with the meatballs and cocktail weenies wrapped in bacon.  Peyton and Garrison decorated the birthday cake for Jesus after their arrived (hope Jesus likes sprinkles), and they blew out the candles as we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.  We had a fun gift exchange and enjoyed the day visiting.  The kids attacked Uncle Mark with their "Hulk Hands"!

After Garrison's nap, we had our immediate family gift exchange.  Peyton was stunned that her Momma received an American Girl Doll - Emily!  Mommy let Peyton play with her, so all is well.

A highlight was that Peyton and Garrison stayed in Clinton with Grammy and Grandpa for 3 nights - the parents went home!  They enjoyed helping me take down the Christmas tree and gathering the ornaments off the tree.  We played with their Christmas gifts, painted, went to McDonald's, played, went to the Holy Rosary playground (it was 50 degrees!), went to Grandma's for dinner one night and played there, played, and had so much fun!  We baked cookies and Peyton and I made more Cowboy Pig Candy - she thought that was a hoot.  4 days and 3 nights went much too quickly.  Peyton invited Grammaw for a sleepover on Friday night.  Grammaw was basically with us the entire time which was great.

We took them back to Overland Park after Garrison's nap on Saturday.   We enjoyed seeing all the gifts the kids had received and they enjoyed showing them to us and telling us about them!  Chad, Amanda, the kids and us went to Will Jenny's for dinner and had a great time talking about our upcoming Disney World trip in January!  Can't wait!  Peyton loved telling me about the monorail coming up to our hotel to take us to the parks, about the bracelets, etc.  She is pumped.  I think she plans to stay in our room with us like she did at the Turks and Caicos Islands!  We love having her for a roommate.  Maybe Garrison can stay a night or two as well - up to his parents.  He doesn't want to be left out!  "I do it too - I help too".  So precious.  He is such a good sleeper and goes to bed and down for his nap with no complaints.  Peyton and I slept together downstairs in Amanda and Chad's room so we could hear Garrison if needed us.  He sleeps on his big boy bed - which he loves to say - in the main room.  Grammaw slept in Peyton's room on the main level.

Mom spent Sunday at our house (12/29) and had lunch with us.  It was nice to have her with us.

We are off work until 1/2 - probably won't want to go back to work!  I think I could get used to not working.

As we celebrated the birth of Jesus and enjoyed family time, we realize how very blessed we are.  Priceless memories!

Grammy/Mommy/Peyton Day - Gymnastic's Meet - December 2013

Friday morning started out to be a Grammy/Mommy/Peyton Day at Crown Center, however, Mother Nature had another plan!  I made it to KC fine until arriving at the Todd's neighborhood.  It was slick!  After a couple of hours of hanging out at the house and calling off Crown Center due to the risk of the bad weather, we decided it was warm enough to go on an alternative fun day!  We started at Olive Garden for lunch - Peyton's choice.  Yummo!  Then to Oak Park Mall where she rode the carousel, sat on Santa's lap, made a My Little Pony Unicorn at Build-A-Bear, did a little shopping at American Girl Doll Store and browsed at the Disney Store.  What fun.  We ended with gelato with five flavors.  

Due to Peyton's gymnastics meet on Saturday and the expected snow storm, I decided to spend the night with the Todds.  With Grammy there, Amanda and Chad took the opportunity for a date night, and Grammy, Peyton and Garrison had a fun evening by ourselves!  Fun for all.

Saturday morning revealed the snow storm did not come as expected, so Grandpa planned to come to OP in time for the gymnastics meet.  Amanda polished Peyton's toenails and fingernails for the meet, and Peyton polished Grammy's fingernails!  She had a good time.  Around 10 a.m., Chad and Peyton took off for a shopping trip for Mommy's Christmas present, and Grammy, Mommy and Garrison started off to deliver a red bag gift for a needy child, a trip to Kohl's and to get some dog food for Apollo.  We all met at at The Blue Moose for a tasty lunch, then back home for Garrison's nap and some rest time for Peyton and Grammy in the "Main Room" (guest bedroom).  

Peyton's gymnastic's meet was fantastic.  She did an awesome job on the bar, floor, balance beam, etc. and smiled, finished with her "ta da's" and her hands up in the air like she was supposed to!!!!  She had quite an audience of Grandma and Grandpa Todd, Grammy and Grandpa, and of course her Mommy, Daddy and Garrison.  

What a great couple of days!!!!!

Peyton and Garrison's All Around Child School Program - 2013

Grandpa, Grammaw and Grammy were privileged to get to attend the annual Christmas program for Peyton and Garrison's school, All Around Child.  We traveled to Overland Park Thursday afternoon and made a few stops to return things, had dinner at Culver's, and then we stopped by the Todd's to visit for a few minutes before moving on to the Blue Valley High School where the program was taking place.  The kids looked adorable in their Christmas attire - love Peyton's blue shiny Christmas dress and Garrison's dapper vest and holiday shirt!

Garrison's class sang Jingle Bells, and Peyton's class sang Let It Snow - with choreography as well!  They both did a fantastic job, and we were so pleased to get to be there.

Slow week.  Friday, Ron and I were both off for the day and did some things around the house.  Saturday he worked, and I spent the morning with Grammaw, baking a few things.  Mom requested fried chicken, so I will fix it tonight for dinner.  Sunday we will go to church, and then I will sing with David Mills at the annual Vansant-Mills Funeral Home Memorial Service.  Ron and I will have lunch with Mom and dinner with the funeral home - prime rib - yea!

Peyton's Clinton Birthday Party, Christmas Parade & Thanksgiving 2013

It was a busy 4 days!  Thanksgiving Day, Ron, Peggy and Grandma joined the Siegers for a Thanksgiving lunch which was delicious.

Thanksgiving evening, Amanda and family came to Clinton after having Thanksgiving with Chad's family in Lexington.

Friday morning was our 9th annual baking day - and boy did we have fun!  We made several Christmas goodies, cinnamon/applesauce ornaments, and decorated Peyton's birthday cake.  Grammy, Mommy, Peyton, Garrison and Grammaw had a blast all day while Ron and Chad played golf and lunched at the new restaurant, Mallard's.

After a quick dinner, we went to the square for the annual Christmas parade and gathering beforehand at the Elks where the kids made ornaments and we had treats.  Peyton sat on Santa's lap after the parade and told him what she wanted for Christmas.  Garrison - not so much - not a fan!  Maybe next year.

On Saturday, the guys played golf again, and we spent the day readying the house for the Mintun/Arthur/Todd Thanksgiving feast and Peyton's Clinton 5th Birthday Party.  When everyone arrived, Peyton had a good time opening her gifts and appreciated all the fun things she received.  We took family pictures, as it is rare that all 11 of us are together - and that project went well.  We had a delicious turkey dinner which all seemed to enjoy.

Mark, Mary and Tom went back to St. Louis - Amanda and Chad went back to Overland Park - Grandma and Joe went to 810 - and we were the lucky ones - Peyton and Garrison got to stay in Clinton an extra night and for Sunday!

Grandma and Joe came back to our house around 6 p.m. to help us decorate the house for Christmas and to play.  Joe was a great help carrying things upstairs, putting up the tree, helping decorate, etc., and Grandma had a good time playing with the kids.  Peyton and Garrison enjoyed putting ornaments and candy canes on the tree and seeing their pictures from years past.  We had great progress with their help!!!!

Garrison is doing great sleeping in his big boy bed at Grammy and Grandpa's.  Peyton and Grammy slept together downstairs, and we all slept until after 7 a.m.!  We had a quick breakfast and made it to church on time where the kids did great and enjoyed donut time.  Afterwards we all went to Grammaw's where we played and had lunch with Grammaw and Joe.

Back to 1009 so Garrison could nap - Grammaw came with us.  We will head to Overland Park after Garrison wakes up and will stay until Amanda and Chad get home from the Chief's game - they received great tickets in a Field Box - Denver vs. Chiefs - should be good.

We had an absolutely marvelous few days and are so blessed to have our family with us.  We enjoy having our little people overnight and for extended says so  much!!!!!  We are blessed and have many family memories from the weekend.

Quick Visit to the Todds - November 17, 2013

Saturday, Mom and I went to a garage sale and found a couple of things for the kids and then to the third day of an estate sale - the prices were much more negotiable on the third day!  We had a good time.  Then Debbie Sieger invited me to make a quick trip to Hartwell to the antique store which was fun - didn't buy anything but enjoyed looking around.

Sunday, I played the organ at the 8:30 a.m. service at church before Ron and I headed to Overland Park to visit the Todds.  Peyton had been celebrating her birthday all weekend with birthday dinners at Olive Garden and the Salty Iguana, but most importantly by her "friend" birthday party where Snow White was the main attraction.  Peyton enjoyed telling us about her party and how Snow White put make up on her and gave her a wand.  All 11 or 12 little girls came dressed in the Princess best, and each one was dressed as a different Princess!  Garrison fit right in and had a blast.

One of the reasons for our visit was to take Peyton her tiara and princess slipper cookies Grammy made for her to take to school for treats.  See pictures above.  I was pleased how they turned out.  Also, since we were coming, Amanda and Chad took the opportunity to go see Thor and to have lunch at the movie theatre (only in Johnson County Kansas).  We were thrilled to get to have the kiddies to ourselves.  We took them to Freddy's for lunch after some play at home.   Peyton wore Amanda's flower girl dress from Merle's wedding 29 years ago, as she does most weekends when they are home.  A complete stranger came up to her at Freddy's and told her how pretty her dress was!  Ms. Courtney and Mr. Todd and kids - the next door neighbors - came into Freddy's while we were there and made a special point of speaking to the kids and talking to them.  When we got back to the house - 1 1/2 hours later - geez - Peyton told me we should say our goodbyes to Garrison before he went down for his nap, as he would be asleep when it would be time for us to go home - which was right on - however, Amanda said she had no idea how she came up with that!  She's something.  Peyton and I played outside (65 degrees in November) while Ron and Garrison napped, and then we came in to play a few games of Go Fish and Old Maid.  Her giggles when Grammy is the Old Maid - almost every time - melt my heart.

While we were playing outside, she pretended that I was the birthday girl at the restaurant and sang Happy Birthday to me and asked me to make a wish.  She told me she had been making wishes at her birthday parties and wanted to tell me what they were - she said it was okay, they would still come true.  She wishes for a set of legos so she can build everything she wants to, and for bunk beds - and she is going to sleep on the top bunk!  I think the jealous demon has bit her a little over brother getting bunk beds.  I told her my wish was that she and I would be as close as we are now forever.  She told me that would be hard, as she and Victoria were going to live together (her friend from school), and she was going to go out with Troy ?????  Okay then.  She is something!  Amanda had a cute new haircut.  She had given Peyton a marvelous birthday party - lots of time and effort went into it.  Beautiful Snow White Cake with the Seven Dwarfs.

Garrison was a lot of fun too.  He is talking so much more and making short sentences.  His requests for hugs and kisses makes me very happy.  He wanted me to read him a book and rock him before nap, which was perfect for me.  He giggled and giggled during the book.  He never argues to go "night night" - the boy likes to sleep.  As Peyton predicted, he was still asleep when it was time for us to go home.  We had such a wonderful few hours with our precious little grandchildren.

We stopped at the new Sam's Club at Belton.  Built more like a Costco and much brighter, but the same items to purchase.  Bought a few things then came on back home and visited with Mom a couple of hours as we picked up Apollo.

Now, on to the Chief's Game - go Chiefs!

Kansas City Zoo - 11/10/2013

Saturday evening, Ron and I went to the GVMHospital Foundation Gala at the Benson Center and had a fun evening with a delicious beef medallion dinner.

Sunday morning, Ron, Mom and I headed to Kansas City to meet Amanda and family at the KC Zoo for a morning of fun!.  We had a great time riding the carousel, seeing the new Penguin exhibit, Nokita (the panda bear), monkeys, snakes, elephants, kangaroos, etc. - riding the train - riding the tram, and having a picnic lunch.  Great Grandma did great with all the walking and had a good time.  Garrison and Peyton shared rides in the stroller but both walked quite a bit too.  Garrison even had a quick ride on his Daddy's shoulders!

We all went back to the Todds for a short visit and to pick up Apollo to bring him to Clinton for a little visit.  Amanda, Chad, Peyton and Garrison (the kids don't know yet) are heading to the Great Wolf Lodge over by the racetrack for Monday and Tuesday to have fun with the indoor water park, etc., so Apollo will be vacationing in Clinton.

A wonderful day with many priceless family memories!  We are blessed.