Frozen on Ice - August 2015

Ron celebrated his 63rd birthday on Monday - we had celebrated all weekend, so we didn't do much on his actual day.  His buddies took him out for lunch on Tuesday.

Friday night, Amanda/family attended the Chief's game at Arrowhead where they sat in the Sprint suite - Amanda won a drawing for the opportunity to buy tickets, so they went!  It was the little people's first Chief's game - to start in a suite might have been a mistake!  They probably think everyone gets to do that.

Ron and I went to Overland Park Saturday morning, starting at Garrison's second soccer game.  He had a great time and did quite well.  It was a beautiful day, overcast and only about 75 degrees.  Great game watching weather in August.  Then we all went to Pie Five for pizza for lunch - a new place to us where you build your own personal pizza.  It was good!  We had a good time.  Back home for the kids to rest.  Amanda and Chad took the opportunity to go to a movie while they had us to stay with the kids - which was fine with us!  After they returned and had a few minutes with the kids, we took the little ones to Burger King for fine dining and to play on the indoor play equipment.  They had a blast and discovered caramel sundaes for dessert.  Amanda and Chad went to a fundraiser at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead with another couple and had a good time.  The kids took their baths, we read some books, and then they went to bed.

I took Peyton her new "blanket" (afghan) which she had asked me to crochet for her in her new favorite color - mint green.  She seemed to like it, and it turned out pretty good.

Sunday morning, we started off at The Big Biscuit for breakfast before motoring to the Sprint Center for Frozen on Ice - they kids had a great time (we big kids did too).  Then, we came home.  Boo Hoo.

The posed pictures of the Todds were taken for their church pictorial - good pics.

We are blessed with so many great family memories.  God is good.

Middle Two Weeks in August 2015

I'm a week behind on the blog, so I'm going to lop two weeks together.  It's been a busy two weeks.  I continue to go to water aerobics two times a week and am enjoying it.  My neighbor and I still walk 2 miles every morning - last week it was much nicer weather, making it more bearable.

A couple of Wednesdays ago, I hitched a ride to Overland Park with Ron, who was going for an insurance continuing ed class.  I dropped him off, went to Amanda's house for a little while, then I ran some errands - two of which were very frustrating.  I had managed to take my phone for a swim at water aerobics, so I spend some time at the Sprint Store and the Apple Store trying to get a replacement - with no satisfactory results.  Amanda called her friend Marla who works in repairs for Sprint, and we came up with a new plan to call Apple and get a replacement phone by mail, which also wasn't easy, but I have a new phone, so enough said.  At lunchtime that Wednesday, I picked Ron up from his class for lunch and then we met Amanda at Dickeys BBQ for lunch - so nice to have lunch with our sweet Amanda.  Amanda worked from home that afternoon, so I spent time with her in between her conference calls at her house before she took Garrison to the doctor.  When they returned, she went to get Peyton after her first day of School, and I was able to visit with both of them before picking up Ron to go home around 5 p.m.

On Saturday, we went to visit Mark and Mary at their lake home to celebrate August birthdays, as had become the tradition in recent years.  Tom - also an August birthday boy - was there as well!  So, we celebrated Mark, Ron and Tom's birthdays with a delicious meal and desserts.  As you can see in the picture above, Mary had a close encounter with the floor during a fall at work and ended up with a broken nose and very bruised face.  Ouch!  She is still healing.  

Last Wednesday, Kelly Briggs and I went to the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.  It was a beautiful day with temps starting out in the 60's and ended up in the 70's - a great day to walk around the fairgrounds.  We had lunch at Freddy's (one of my favorites) and shopped at Menards before returning to Clinton.  

Saturday morning, we headed to Overland Park to spend the day with Amanda and the kiddos.  Chad was playing golf in a tournament.  The kids wanted to start out the day outside showing us how they can climb their tree - and, they are good!   Peyton climbed really high, and Garrison, once he got a boost from Grammy to get started - did quite well at climbing too, just not as high (thank heavens).  Then we all went to the soccer fields for Garrison's first soccer match.  He was a little timid at first, but he warmed up quickly and had a great time - running down the field smiling and kicking the ball. Score is not officially kept, however, his team "won" - 6-1 - a fun time.  Peyton took her baby doll and also took a turn as the official photographer!  She had friends there as well watching their younger siblings, so she had girls to hang out with.  Afterward, we went to The Salty Iguana for a tasty birthday lunch to celebrate grandpa's 63rd birthday!  His choice, which we all enjoyed.  We followed that with dessert at Orange Leaf - the kids had a great time making their own ice cream desserts/toppings.  When we returned back to the Todds, Garrison and Grandpa took a nap while Grammy and Amanda ran to Kohl's for a little retail therapy.  Peyton was watching a movie and was in charge!  Then Grandpa took Peyton to her school playground for some fun, followed by Garrison and Mommy joining them, then we all went to their neighborhood pool for some fun in the sun - which we needed because the water was kind of cold!  We adjusted quickly and had a great time.  Chad was finished with golf, so he met us at LongHorn Steakhouse for another birthday dinner for Grandpa (just call him St. Mark) before we drove home.  A full, fun-filled day with our favorite people.

We are certainly blessed with a wonderful family and are making fantastic memories.

2015 Grammy/Peyton Day - Closing on 810

It's been quite a week!  On Monday, I volunteered at the church office.  On Tuesday, I started water aerobics at the public pool (it will move to the Aquatic Center in a month).   Tuesday night, Ron and I went to 810 for him to mow the yard one last time, and for me to bring home a few things that were still left there, which wasn't much.

On Wednesday, I went to Overland Park to spend the day with Peyton - our annual Grammy and Peyton Day!  We began our special day at McDonald's for breakfast.  Next on the agenda was our first visit to the new Scheel's Sporting Goods Store - it did not disappoint.  We were there 2 hours! We rode the ferris wheel - which is inside - 3 times!  Peyton enjoyed bowling on their child-size bowling alley and playing on the indoor playground, climbing, sliding, etc.  They also had a place to practice kicking a soccer ball and shooting a gun!  She found some Tom's "flats" canvas shoes which she had been wanting.  We then went to Nothing Bundt Cakes and picked up an order for Miss Debbie (Sieger) and took them back to Amanda's house so they wouldn't get too hot, and we needed to put Apollo out to potty!  Next was lunch - at Spin (pizza) at Peyton's request.  It was tasty, and we had fun and topped off our meal with gelato.

Peyton needed new tap and ballet shoes for her upcoming dance classes starting in September, so we went to the dance store and found what she needed, plus a new leotard which she loves.  She tried on probably 6-8 different leotards before deciding on the one she thought was just right - it was so much fun.  We went to Famous Footwear and found her some Sketcher tennis shoes which will match her new outfit she and her Momma had already found for the first day of school - mint green - her new favorite color.  We went to Walmart to buy mint green yarn for me to make her another afghan, and we found a couple of t-shirts she wanted and a new swim suit and cover-up.  She had such a good time picking out things.  Then it was to Sam's Club for a return - she had fun testing out what the "sellers" had to offer (samples).  I think that completed all our stops.  We went back to their house and played some games before Amanda returned home from work with Garrison.  What a fun day - such a blessing!!!!!  I'm one lucky Grammy!!!!!

On Thursday, I went to Warrensburg with my friend, Susan Mosley.  She had to have some nerves burned - sounds terrible - and could not drive home, so I went along to drive her home.  Before we started home, we had lunch at the Rib Crib - made me think of fun times when we went to the burg to take Joe out to dinner at the Rib Crib when he was going to UCM there.

On Friday, we went to the abstract office to close on the sale of 810 - finally!  It was uneventful if not a bit sad.  The final part of Mom here on earth is now sold.  Mom would have been pleased that her house and her land sold so quickly and that we had no problems getting them sold.  We were very fortunate.  Ron and I went to dinner at Golden Corral Friday night - had not been there for YEARS - but it was very, very good.  And since I'm now 60, we both had the "senior" buffet!

Saturday was uneventful.  I fixed fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy for lunch - a WJ kind of meal - she would have enjoyed it.  I miss her so much.

Sunday we went to Overland Park to spend the day with Amanda, Peyton and Garrison while Chad played in a golf tournament.  We went to Freddy's for lunch - I gave Peyton a mani-pedi - we went to Costco - played Crazy 8's and just enjoyed the day together.  Lots of memories made.

We are blessed.

Grammy Turns 60 - Garrison Turns 4 - On Same Day!!!!

The weekend before my birthday, Amanda and Chad came to Clinton Friday evening-Saturday without the little people who had gone to Lexington to spend the night with Grandma and Grandpa Todd.  Chad and Ron played golf - and placed first in their flight - in the Ag Golf Tournament.  Peggy and Amanda had a great time just visiting, going to Walmart and Dollar Tree to get supplies for Garrison's birthday party, to lunch at El Camino Real and, I taught Amanda how to crochet!  We missed Peyton and Garrison, but was actually were able to finish a conversation without help from the little ones!  It was nice.

Sunday, Ron took me to lunch at the new Chinese restaurant on the square to start off my birthday celebrations.  On Monday, I went to Overland Park and the celebration continued.  Amanda, Peyton and I started at 4 p.m. with mani-pedis (Peyton's idea).  Then we went to Ted's Cantina for dinner which was delicious and fun.  Then to the Music Hall downtown for the Move Dance Show of Derek and Julianne Hough from Dancing with the Stars.  It was a great show, and we had a good time.  I spent the night with the Todds and took the kids to school the next day.  Peyton slept until 8:30 a.m. - it was a late night for her.  I went back to Amanda's and frosted and decorated the sugar cookies I had brought with me - G's and 4's (cookie cutters Mary had given me a while back - thanks Mary) for Garrison to take to school for his friends party on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Debbie Sieger took me to Kansas City for our annual birthday outing - I'm 60!!!!  We started out at IKEA then shopped at Oak Park Mall.  We had lunch at Freddy's (one of my favorites) then shopped some more.  We went to the new Scheels Sporting Goods Store and then home.

I came home to a beautiful bouquet of flowers sent by Mike and Roberta Edgett - how sweet.  On Thursday, friends Glenna Smith, Susan Mosley and Kelly Briggs had a fun happy hour birthday party for me with pizza and beer.  We had a great time visiting and laughing - more flowers and delicious cupcakes too.  I was spoiled.

On Saturday, Grandpa and Grammy went to Overland Park to Garrison's 4th Birthday Party - Ninja Turtle Theme.  Amanda and Chad hosted a fun party for the little guy.  Around 15 children attended along with all his grandparents and his cousins, Whitney and Wyatt.  They threw water balloons, had a bean bag toss, passed the water game, hit balloons around (they busted pretty quickly on the sharp grass - too funny) and hit the pinata.  They had fun picking up all the candy.  Pizza and cake were served - Amanda did a great job on the cake.  A fun time was had by all.

On Sunday, we hosted our Supper Club - Mexican theme.  We had a great time visiting from 5-10 p.m.

We are blessed.