Pumpkin Patch Fun

It was a pretty slow week until the end - then the fun began!!!!!!  Yay!!!!!  On Saturday, Ron played golf, and I went to Overland Park to spend the day with my favorite people!  Chad had to work, so Amanda and I took Peyton and Garrison to Deanna Rose Children's Farm for the fun activities there, including the seasonal Pumpkin Hollow!  We had taken Peyton there when she was smaller, but we were pleasantly surprised to find they had greatly expanded the things to do at Pumpkin Hollow.  We had a nice hayride with beautiful horses pulling us to get down to the hollow, and then the kids enjoyed a "train" ride (pulled by a tractor), giant checkers, mini-golf, jumping off bales of hay that had been decorated, a huge slide, etc. before each of us chose our pumpkin to bring home (see last picture).

The kids really wanted to eat lunch at Deanna Rose, so Amanda gave in, and we enjoyed a picnic lunch from the General Store - it was fun - followed by ice cream cones.

While Amanda took lunch to Chad and his co-workers at Sprint, the kids and I went to Walgreens to get some Tec-Nu Spray for Peyton's bug bites from the outdoor birthday party she  attended the night before.  They were super good at Walgreens - Garrison only asked for a new fly swatter - poor little guy said he didn't have a red one.  A cheap trip to Walgreens - $1.19 for a swatter which quickly turned into a sister-swatter and a grammy-poker in the car - all boy!

I stayed with Garrison while Amanda took Peyton for a quick trip to the school playground and then to Claire's house for a play date.  It was a wonderful day, full of fun, laughter and hugs - I love my family!

On Sunday, we were in charge of donut time, so we went early to get the coffee made in the big percolator and to get the paper products ready, etc.  I played the gathering music and the first and second hymns with Sam during the service.  Afterward, we poured the drinks for donut time and cleaned up.  I cut back my sad-looking hostas and sent Ron to Aldi to buy a big pumpkin to sit on the little bench in the front area.  I fixed fried pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy for lunch - Mom would have enjoyed it - her kind of meal.
Donna and Bill Martin stopped by to visit and to bring me the lesson for the new Bible Study I plan on attending this week with her.

We are fortunate folks - blessed for sure.

Garage Sale Weekend and More September 2015

Another fun-filled week.  The week started with a trip to the city on Monday with Kelly and Sherri for me - stopping first at Cockrel in Lee's Summit - a great place to shop - lunch at Steak and Shake - a stop at Sam's Club and HyVee and then to Amanda's house to take her her camera and Garrison's soccer ball which had inadvertently be left in the van over the weekend, and then to Olathe to pick up Kelly's new pick-up truck!  Whew - a big day!

On Wednesday, I managed to step off the cart path that Esther and I were walking on very early in the morning and turn my ankle and twisted my knee.  Ouch.  Wore a brace on my knee on Thursday and Friday and didn't walk or go to water aerobics, but they are still hurting today (Sunday) - not as badly though.  Skipping the walk tomorrow - hopefully I will be on the mend soon.

Spent Thursday preparing for the city-wide garage sale that I had with Debbie Sieger.  It was so hot and humid - yikes.  Thursday night, Peyton cheered with her other friends who had attended the clinic the Saturday before, at the Blue Valley football game - cute pictures.  She had a great time.

Debbie and I had our garage sale starting at 7 a.m. on Friday - we had lots of customers and sold so much stuff - but it was another hot and humid day.  I drank and drank, but I didn't go to the bathroom from 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. - yikes again.  Friday night, Ron and I drove to Overland Park to pick up Peyton after their fun run at her school - drove through an area which had a tornado, but we didn't know it until later.  We hung around Overland Park until we were sure the all clear was given for our travel path.  The CHS football game was delayed with everyone there being sent to the gym for an hour while there was a tornado warning.  The homecoming dance was cancelled.  Peyton was very worried about the storms, but we managed to get to bed and to sleep around 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, I left for the garage sale around 6:30 a.m.  Peyton was awake, but she stayed home with Grandpa to wake up slowly and to have her breakfast in leisure.  She told me later that Grandpa made her some good toast with cinnamon and sugar, but it wasn't as good as what I usually make her.  Made me feel special.  Grandpa brought her to the garage sale around 8:30 a.m., and she was ready for her day of selling lemonade, water bottles and cookies.  She had a blast, and I had a blast watching her.  She was so confident and polite.  She made $33.00 and was so proud - I was so proud of her!!!!!  She stayed with us all day and had a great time with Miss Debbie - helping her make lunch, visiting with her, petting SaraSue, talking to her customers - she would say, "customer alert" when people were arriving and we weren't at our "posts".  She was so cute.  It was a real blessing to have her with me all day.  Grandpa left around 9 a.m. to go to Overland Park to watch Garrison's soccer match and to pick up Garrison to bring him to Clinton for the rest of the weekend to join Sissy while Amanda and Chad attended and hosted part of their neighborhood deck crawl.  Garrison had his team pictures taken and did a great job at the match.  He and Grandpa went to Chick Fil A with his Mommy and Daddy for lunch before they drove home.  He slept from Urich to Clinton (only about 20 minutes), but he was rested and ready to join in the garage sale fun when they arrived in Clinton.  He had a great time with SaraSue too and watching Maize.  We all helped with the clean-up and were home by 3:15 p.m., ready for fun, and more fun.  We had beef hotdog octopuses, strawberries, carrots and mac and cheese for dinner along with some mini-ice cream cones.  The kids had a great dinner just in time for showers, a snack a little TV for wind-down time and to bed around 8:15 p.m. (good for Grammy).   Oh - and I almost forgot  - I gave Apollo a bath and took him outside to shake off.  Before I realized it, he wasn't there anymore!  Holy cow!  Ron and Garrison went out the back through the golf course looking for him - I went out front looking for him and hollering for him - Peyton stayed in the house as she didn't have shoes on - and very quickly, here he came at a full run from about 4 houses down the street - I was never so happy to see him!  Still don't know what happened as the tether was not broken, and he still had his collar on.  Anyway, feeling blessed that he didn't run off or get hit by a car!

Sunday morning we got up, had a light breakfast and went to church and donut time.  We came home, and the kids played outside while I fixed us a picnic lunch, then we all went to the park for play on the playground equipment and for a picnic lunch outside on a beautiful day!  Peyton is soooooo strong, and went across the monkey bars umpteen times!  Garrison had a great time climbing and playing in the dirt with a stick.  When we got home, I rocked Garrison for his nap while Peyton and Grandpa went to two other playgrounds and more monkey bars - Peyton ended up with "almost" blisters on her sweet little hands by the end of the day.  She loves the monkey bars and is so strong and good at them!  Peyton and I also went to Walmart so she could spend some of her profits front he lemonade stand, but they didn't have the Rainbow Loom she wanted.  She was disappointed.  I told her we would stop at Target on the way home to see if they had one.

Around 3:15 p.m., we headed back to Overland Park to return our sweet little grandchildren and our grand dog - sadly.   We stopped at Target, and luckily, they had the Rainbow Loom Peyton wanted - she was sooooo happy.  She almost skipped through Target to pay for it!  Such a joy.

After a quick stop at the Todds to deliver Apollo and their suitcases, we all went to Dickey's BBQ for dinner - great meal and a wonderful time of sharing our weekend news with each other.

I called Mark and Mary on the way home - just seemed like the thing to do.  When we would go to Amanda's and Mom went with us, she would always be anxious for Mark's Sunday night call on the way home - she is missed and loved.

We are blessed - wonderful family times and memories being made.  It's nice to remember memories from the past as well.  Peyton said this weekend - again - that she misses Grammaw so much.  They were close - priceless.  Thank you God.

September 2015

Labor Day was rain and more rain.  On Tuesday, there was a celebration of life for Donna Mintun - our Uncle Jim Mintun's wife and one of Mom's best friends as well as her sister-in-law.  I'm sure Mom was surprised to see her in Heaven so soon!  Ron and I attended the funeral, and Mark drove over from St. Louis to go with us.  Mark and I had a nice visit before the funeral, and we all went to the family dinner at the Hampton Inn that was catered after the funeral.

Chad went to Iowa for 3 days to play golf with friends, so I took the opportunity to spend some time with Amanda and the kids.  I met Amanda at their house around 9 a.m. on Friday morning.  We had a great time shopping before we took lunch to Peyton at her school and had a great time having lunch with her and her friends.  More shopping in the afternoon before we picked Peyton up at school and then picked up Garrison at school.  We all went to dinner at Olive Garden after the kids spent some time outside climbing trees and playing.

Saturday morning, Amanda went running with her friends.  The kids and I had breakfast and played before getting ready for the day.  Peyton went to cheerleading clinic at the high school.  Amanda, Garrison and I went to his soccer game - Grandma Todd also attended.  Then we all went to see Peyton demonstrate what she learned at the clinic at the high school followed by lunch at Freddy's.  Then Amanda, Peyton, Garrison and I went to Scheel's to return an item and rode the ferris wheel.  The kids enjoyed bowling at the mini bowling alley, and then we went home for a rest.  Then we went to the Cottonwood Point playground - a beautiful afternoon to be outside.  Several of Peyton's schoolmates were also there playing.  Then we went to Slim Chicken's for dinner.  Home for baths, and then Grammy drove home.

On Sunday, Ron and I went to visit Uncle Jim at the nursing home after church.   He seemed to appreciate us stopping by to visit with him.  We watched the Chief's game and took a nap.

We are blessed with family time and family memories.

Labor Day Weekend 2015

What a week.  On Tuesday, cousin Gloria Miller called and asked me to drive her to Research Hospital where her mother, Donna Mintun was in ICU, which I did and spent the day up there.  Aunt Donna was very ill and not expected to live.  She passed away on Thursday.

On Friday, Ron and I went to OP for a couple of days.  We started the day taking lunch to Peyton at her school and enjoying her lunch period with her.  She wanted Chipolte which was delicious.  This was Grandpa's first time of having lunch with her - I think he was a bit overwhelmed having lunch with 75 first graders!   We ran a few errands, then we picked up Garrison at his "school" following his nap time - then the 3 of us went back to Peyton's school to pick her up.  We had fun with them for an hour or so before Ron, Amanda and I went to Ron's cousin's daughter's wedding at The Guild downtown.  Peyton went to a birthday sleepover, and Garrison and Chad stayed home.

On Saturday, we had fun with the kids while Amanda and Chad did some yard work.  Then we took the little people to lunch at Jimmy John's (Peyton's choice).  After nap time, we took them to the neighborhood pool - great day to be in the water - very hot outside.  Then we took them to Burger King for dinner while Amanda and Chad went to a cooking class - indoor, air conditioned playground - we're no dummies.  After Amanda and Chad returned home, we came home.

Sunday we went to church, then to visit Uncle Jim at Westwood.  I fixed a meal for Gloria/family and we took it over to them.  Going to Supper Club tonight.   We took Fall flowers out to the cemetery for Mom and Daddy's grave.

Aunt Donna's funeral will be Tuesday - graveside.  Ron will be a pall bearer - David Mills and I have been asked to record a couple of songs for the service.

Ron is playing golf Monday morning - tradition.

We are very blessed.