Louisburg Cider Mill & Deanna Rose Pumpkin Patch

After an extremely stressful week, the weekend was absolutely awesome - time spent with my two favorite girls in the world - Amanda and Peyton.

On Saturday, I met them at the Apple Cider Mill Festival in Louisburg, Kansas (Chad had Lasik surgery on Friday and needed to stay home and recover - Ron had a Rotary commitment). The weather was fabulous, and the event was very enjoyable. Peyton is fascinated by Elmo right now and was able to get the balloon art man to make her an Elmo balloon - it looked amazingly like Elmo! Like at Olde Glory Days, she wanted to ride the ponies, but when it came time, she was too scared. Poor little thing. We had fun looking at all the booths and eating cider donuts and drinking homemade cider - we even brought home a couple of gallons of it and some pumpkin butter and apple butter. Yummo.

On Sunday, Ron and I ventured to the KC area to run some errands, have a leisurely breakfast and to meet up with Peyton and Amanda at the Deanna Rose Farmstead Pumpkin Patch for another afternoon of fun. Peyton loved feeding a baby goat a bottle of milk, visiting the moo cows, turkeys and chickens and feeding the ducks. She had a great time playing on the playground, especially the slide. We took a hayride (which she did not like) through the farm and down to the pumpkin patch where she had fun playing in the corn box (like a sandbox but corn) and picking out her pumpkins to take home. The hayride (pulled by horses) back to the main area wasn't nearly as traumatic, but when the horses stopped, she emphatically waved her hands and said, rather loudly, "all done, all done". Guess she didn't want to go for another ride.

We then all went to their house where we visited Chad who was still not up to being out and about and then went out to dinner before we headed back to Clinton.

It was a super great weekend.

Weekend Fun

Amanda, Chad, Peyton and Apollo arrived in Clinton Friday evening for a weekend of golf and fun. While the guys played in the Boy Scout Golf Tournament - in which they placed by the way - we girls hit a few garage sales, visited with the great grandparents and enjoyed Panda Garden for lunch. Following Peyton's nap, we all went to the Aquatic Center to watch Peyton frolic in the water and "splash" as she calls it. She didn't have as much of a good time as she did the week before when we were keeping her because there was a little girl there, probably about 5 years old, who insisted on Peyton being her BFF, and Peyton was interested, which caused her some stress, but it was still a good time. We enjoyed the Samaritan Center fundraiser at the Christian Church on Saturday evening, and then the Todds went back to Olathe after lunch on Sunday. Why do weekends go so quickly? We enjoyed every minute of them being here and are so blessed. The first picture is of Peyton having fun in a puddle on the patio following the rain - the second one is of her riding her tricycle - in the kitchen of course! Amanda keeps asking me, "who are you, and what did you do with my mother? You would have never let me get by with the things you let Peyton get by with". Ha ha - the beauty of being a grammy!

Peyton's Clinton Vacation - #2

I forgot some of the most special moments. Peyton baked sugar cookies, frosted them and decorated them with sprinkles as a welcome home gift for her parents and also took some to her great grandparents to thank them for all the fun. Peyton also made fruit loop necklaces for her parents - the best part of that was watching her eat the fruit loops and give them to Apollo and Murray. She was so excited about the whole process. Here are a few more vacation pics to go along with this post.

Peyton's Clinton Vacation

While Amanda and Chad took a trip to Cancun, we had the pleasure of Peyton staying with us for a Clinton Vacation - I think Grandpa and Grammy had the most fun of all!

We couldn't have asked for things to go any smoother. We picked up Peyton on Wednesday evening - she rode home watching her Elmo DVD, falling asleep around Urich. When we arrived home, she woke up momentarily, I laid her in her crib, and she slept all night. She has always been a great sleeper.

Thursday Peyton and I took my Mom to the eye doctor for a shot in her eye (ouch, but that's another story) where Peyton was a trooper. We then had lunch with the great grandparents - Peyton loves to eat. She took a 3 hour nap and was raring to go when she woke up. Grandpa had filled her wading pool in the back yard while she was sleeping, and she was so excited to get to "splash" after her nap and snack. Thursday - successful.

On Friday, Peyton and I started the day by having breakfast with the great grandparents and blowing bubbles, playing with sidewalk chalk, taking a walk - you name it. Peyton and Granny (my Mom) are totally in love with each other and have such a good time. Mom can't see very well, but she manages quite well and lights up when Peyton is around. Grandpa and I took Peyton to the Aquatic Center Friday morning where Peyton had a great time going down the duck slide, etc. After another great nap, we fixed dinner together. Peyton loves to help and had a blast making guacamole, one of her favorite foods. She ate the chopped avocados and tomatoes and fast as I could get them ready. We almost had too much onion salt at one time - Peyton thought shaking it into the bowl was great fun. We took a family walk that evening, including taking Apollo and Murray. Bath time with the foam soap was fun, fun - Friday - Fantastic.

Saturday brought more fun playing, visiting a local playground, having splash time in the backyard again and finding new ways to climb on the Little Tykes slide - bubbles and fun at the great grandparents, visiting Kelly's house to meet the kitties and eat a popsicle and sucker (what's not to like about that), etc. Peyton enjoyed learning to ride her new tricycle with help of course - but she is getting it - if only her legs were a little longer! Saturday - awesome.

Church was our first stop on Sunday for the early service (Grammy took the Sunday off from playing the organ) - we had a great time visiting with everyone at coffee time - many remarked that Peyton looks just like her Momma did at her age - which she does. Great Aunt Mary, Great Uncle Mark, and cousin Joe came to Clinton to see Peyton and celebrate Great Grandpa's 82nd birthday with a delicious fried chicken lunch. Peyton had so much fun playing outside with everyone and eating corn on the cob for the first time. Nap time was short - a 15 minute power nap, but we couldn't complain as she wasn't cranky and it gave us more time with her! More splash time - more fun. Peyton enjoyed an ice cream cone at the great grandparents - and I mean she enjoyed every minute of it as evidenced by the ice cream covering her face. She giggled and giggled. Another good night's sleep - Sunday - wonderful.

Peyton's parents arrived in Clinton around 8 a.m. to see their baby girl - all three of them lit up like Christmas trees when they saw one another - it was a sight to behold and warmed my heart. Peyton had asked about them every day but was fine when I told her they were on vacation and would be back soon. She seemed at peace with that - I think they had prepared her well. Somehow she decided Amanda was on vacation and her Daddy was at work, so I just went with that! We had a great Labor Day visiting with the kids and hearing about their trip, and the guys even took in a little golf. It was sad to see Peyton go home, but that is where she belongs, with her parents who love her so much - and whom she is crazy about.

By the way, our new names are Paw Paw and GiGi (like go). Peyton was so funny - after the Amen after our mealtime prayers, her first word was "Eat" - and a big smile. The child loves to eat. Sometimes she would shake her high chair, saying Eat Eat. She likes to help with whatever you are doing. I had imagined we would have a great time, but the time far exceeded my expectations - we had an absolutely awesome time and are anxious for her to come back for another extended visit. We love her so much - and I think she loves us too.