Garrison's and Grammy's Birthday Weekend

Grammy's birthday celebration started on Friday with a trip to KC with Debbie Sieger for fun, fellowship and SHOPPING.  We had a great day.

Saturday morning, Grammy and Grandpa headed to Olathe for a day of fun with Amanda, Peyton and Garrison and to celebrate Grammy's birthday at On the Border.  We played at home before stopping at Stride Rite to buy some new shoes for both Peyton and Garrison - and as a bonus, Peyton got a new umbrella - Hello Kitty!  The meal at the restaurant was entertaining and delicious - see Garrison's black bean face!  Peyton enjoyed her signature guacamole appetizer.
Peyton came home to Clinton with us to spend the night.  After visiting with Grammaw a bit, we headed to the Strike Zone for a game of bowling - her first.  She loved it but was "done" (as she put it) around the 7th frame - she is a hoot.  Then we walked down to Country Mart for her to take a ride on Lucky Star.

Peyton wanted to pick up Grammaw, so Grammaw and Murray came over to our house for dinner and the evening.  Peyton thought she wanted to take a jacuzzi bath, so I filled the tub and put in some bubble bath.  After watching the jets do their thing while out of the tub, she thought it best to turn them off before she got in - too funny.  She enjoyed the deep water.  Snack, read a book and then to bed.

Saturday morning, Peyton wanted to pick up Grammaw first thing, so we did.  Make believe fun before church, then church, donut time, Walgreens and McDonald's for lunch - a trip to the pond to check on the frogs too - then back to Olathe for Garrison's First Birthday Party.

Garrison had on his new red Elmo shoes and his Birthday Boy shirt and bib for the big event.  His Mommy had decorated the house so cute - balloons galore - all primary colors with 1st everywhere!  He is quite a pro of going up the stairs now - so fast.  After all the Todds arrived, Garrison opened gifts and then we visited and enjoyed a delicious burger/dogs and all the fixings meal before Garrison blew out his candles with help from Peyton and had cake and cookies.  Such a great weekend - priceless memories.

Getting Ready for Move

Amanda and Chad bought a different home, so Ron and I motored to Olathe on Saturday, July 21 to visit, play with the kids and help a bit getting their current home ready to put on the market soon.  We took a family favorite, Pizza Glen Pizza, for lunch - yummy.  Garrison and Peyton got their hair cut - Garrison's first time ever - both looked adorable - Garrison with a big boy haircut and Peyton trimmed and her bangs braided, which pleased Grammy because they stayed out of her eyes all day.  Amanda and Chad had already done quite a bit of packing and getting ready for the move.  We took boxes and brought home some valuables and fragile items to store at our house until the move so the current house will appear bigger and less cluttered for potential buyers.  Amanda, Peyton and Grammy ran some errands in the afternoon - Sam's Club, Home Depot - and drove by the new house, which I liked!  Good neighborhood - close to All Around Child - and closer to Sprint.  Beautiful yard and trees - didn't get to go inside.  Ron and Chad moved some things to the garage so that when their pod arrives this week, it can be loaded more quickly.

Around  5 p.m., everyone was ready for dinner and ready to sit down, so we all went Olive Garden (Peyton's favorite) for a bite to eat.  We had a great time - Garrison was so much fun - he was flirting with a lady in the booth behind Grammy - just giggling and showing off.  Peyton ate so well and enjoyed her meal very much.  After a quick stop back at the Todd's, Grammy and Grandpa made the journey back to Clinton.

On Sunday, I played the gathering music at the first service at church, and a piano/organ duet with Sam Lucas, Organist, at both services for offertory - Softly and Tenderly.  Fun.

I fixed meatloaf, baked potatoes and peach cobbler/ice cream for lunch at Mom's.  Nap.  Good weekend.

Golf Tournament Weekend - July 13-15

The Todds arrived Friday evening, and after some fun play and snacks, the little ones headed to bed.  On Saturday morning, Grandpa, Chad and Amanda decided to play golf while Grammy, Peyton and Garrison headed to Great Grandma Mintun's house for fun outside (sidewalk chalk, balls, bubbles).  While Garrison was napping and Grammaw was watching him, Peyton and Grammy walked down the street a block to an auction - the first one Peyton had ever been too.  It hadn't started yet, and Peyton was a bit troubled that we couldn't buy something - they had some Peyton-size chairs.  I think she thought it was a garage sale (we have been to a few of those).  Anyway, we had a nice block-long walk there and back in the fresh air.  Amanda only played 9 holes of golf, so she joined us at Grammaw's for a little while before she went back home to take a shower.  The kids and I followed shortly after a snack and fun time in the house.  While Garrison was napping in the afternoon, Amanda, Peyton and I took a girls trip to Goody's and Walmart where we had fun shopping.  On the way, Peyton asked me, "Where's your Starbuck's?"  When I told her we didn't have one, she said, "Why?"  Before we went back home, we stopped by to pick up Grammaw who was joining us for dinner - delicious bacon wrapped baked chicken, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and hot bread - green beans too.  Amanda and Chad went to the movie on a date night while the kids stayed with us - lucky us!  .  After some play and fun, Peyton and I gave Garrison a bath in the kitchen sink, and she took a shower after taking Grammaw home.

Garrison woke up crying about 8:15 p.m. while Peyton was still up (very unusual for him to cry) - anyway, she insisted on going downstairs to help me soothe him.  After we rocked him a while (yes, she was in the rocker with us), she said, "Maybe Ron needs to help us" - isn't she a hoot?  She insisted on going upstairs to get "Ron" to help us.  We got him back to sleep pretty quickly, read books and Peyton went to bed.  We sure enjoyed having the kids to ourselves for a few hours.

Sunday, Ron and Chad played in the Cancer Golf Tournament.  Peyton and I picked up Grammaw and Murray and brought them over for the morning.  Peyton and I made funnel cakes for a special treat for breakfast.  We had lots of fun playing around the house adn then had Panda Garden cashew chicken for lunch before the guys returned.  The house was very quiet about 1:30 p.m. after they headed home.

A great weekend.

Olde Glory Days Weekend - 2012

Amanda, Chad, Peyton, Garrison, and Apollo arrived in Clinton Friday evening for Olde Glory Days.  Saturday morning, we all headed to the annual parade - Peyton doesn't like the noisy entries, but she loves the candy!  Garrison was not that thrilled this year.  It was very HOT.  We enjoyed visiting with lots of friends and seeing Grandpa driving the Hawthorn Bank entry.  Great Grandma Mintun joined us after the parade for lunch and an afternoon of cooling down and naps while the guys played golf.  That evening, we headed back to the square for Elk's tenderloins, Keck Root Beer, riding the ponies - which Peyton really, really enjoyed and rode this year some without Grandpa walking along - and some delicious frozen yogurt at Half-Pint's.  Garrison and his parents headed home as it was his bedtime, so Grammy and Grandpa had the pleasure of staying with Peyton for carnival rides.  After riding the carousel, train and motorcycles and enjoying watching the bucking bull rides, we headed home at which time I asked her, "Peyton, did you enjoy the carnival?" to which she answered, "what's a carnival Grammy?"  LOL

Sunday morning, Ron, Chad, Amanda and Peyton played golf - Peyton only played 3 holes before coming back home to play with Grammaw, Grammy and Garrison for the remainder of the morning.  Grammy grilled ribs for lunch which we all enjoyed.  Grammaw had made chocolate pudding.  After naps, the Siegers joined us for homemade ice cream and blackberry cobbler.

On Monday morning, the Todds headed to the lake to visit with Chad's parents until Tuesday evenign when they returned for the 4th of July.  Ron and Chad played golf with Ron's buddies that morning.  Grammaw joined the rest of us for play outside with bubbles and pop-its and then a taco salad lunch.

Great 4th of July celebration few days.