Ron's Birthday Week

Ron celebrated his 64th birthday on Wednesday.  I baked him his favorite cherry pie, and it was very yummy with vanilla ice cream!

On Thursday, we traveled to OP for Ron to attend his annual insurance refresher training.  I dropped him off before 8 a.m., then I went to the dermatologist - had two moles frozen off but everything looked good again this year.  Yay.  I shopped at Kohl's, Hyvee and Sam's Club and went back to get Ron for lunch at Freddy's - Amanda had hoped to join us, but she had a meeting and couldn't get away :(.  I hung out at the Todd's house with Apollo in the afternoon before picking Ron up a little after 4 p.m. to go back home.

On Saturday, we went to Overland Park for Garrison's first soccer match of this season.  He played great and scored 5 goals - he was SOOOOOO happy and proud.  After the match, Chad's parents, Amanda/family and us went to Coach's for lunch.  It was very good, but Garrison threw his lunch up right on the table.  Poor little guy.  I think he was just too hot and ate too fast.  We had just commented on how good he had eaten!!!  Maybe not.  After he got it up, he was fine.  After we got back to Amanda's, he and Peyton rested for a bit while Amanda and Chad went to shop for a new vehicle.  Not sure if they are going to buy one, but they had a good time looking.  Ron took a nap.  Around 5:30 p.m., we took Peyton and Garrison to Burger King (their choice) for our gourmet, usual Saturday evening meal with them and play time.  They had a blast and again ate very well.  They think it is very cool ordering junior whoppers!!!  Amanda and Chad went to a fundraiser at Deanna Rose Farms and had a good time with two other couples.

Sunday morning, Ron, Garrison and I went to Hyvee to pick up some bargains, then we all went to Blue Moose for a deicious brunch for Ron's last birthday celebration until next year - oh - I guess one more will be celebrated next Saturday at the lake with Mark and Mary for all summer birthdays.  Tom's birthday is tomorrow.

Another great birthday with our favorite people - we are blessed.

Two Middle Weeks in August 2016

The first two pictures are from the kids' annual neighborhood summer party, complete with huge water slide and snow cones!!!  It was perfect weather, and all 4 of them had a blast.

We've been enjoying the Olympics on TV - what athletes!!!  Last Sunday, I played the gathering music and with Sam on the hymns at church - we didn't even go this week - shame on us!!!

It was annual well-woman check-up time this week.  I may need to go to a specialist for my heel and for arthritis - an arthritis panel is being run.  I had an x-ray of my heel - good news is there are no fractures or bone spurs - bad news is that it still hurts.

Peyton started school - 2nd grade - on August 11.   Mrs. White is her teacher, and she is making new friends and enjoying previous friends both in class and at Y-Care before/after school.

Garrison has started his pre-school/junior kindergarten program at All Around Child, but he hasn't yet posed for his first day of school pictures - he hasn't changed much - ha ha.

Saturday morning, Amanda, Garrison and Peyton met other girls/families who will be in Peyton's Tiny Tainers Dance Group at McDonald's for breakfast before the orientation meeting of the group.  Garrison was thrilled that siblings of the other girls, age 7 and 9 and boys, were nice to him and sat with him at McDonald's.  Peyton loves her new teacher who is very sweet, and she is looking forward to this new venture.

On Saturday, Ron and I traveled to Overland Park to spend the day with Amanda and the kids - Chad was playing golf in a two-day tournament.  Amanda and Peyton played Twister - Grammy started but was out after two turns - surprise!  Peyton picked Pizza Street for lunch - what a wild place.  The food was pretty good, and lots of it, and then then the kids had some fun in the arcade.  The girls went into Kohl's do to a bit of back-to-school shopping for Peyton (finally) while the boys sat in the van and watched the iPad.  Garrison was good - so was Grandpa.  Peyton was hilarious in the store, telling Amanda, "I got this" when Amanda wanted to go with her to the dressing room - she's growing up!!!  She did come out and show us the outfits after she got them on.  Funny, I usually still go with Amanda to the dressing room to help her when we go shopping for clothes for her - ha ha.  Then we went back to their house for Garrison and Grandpa to rest and watch a movie while the girls ran some errands.  To another Kohl's to get things we forgot, and then Costco, and then Starbucks for Peyton to get a hot chocolate and to Sonic for the big girls to have a diet cherry limeade from Sonic.  We had a great time - lots of laughs. We had fun during the day playing games, etc.  I had taken Peyton a selfie stick which she loved and practiced with - ha ha.  When Chad returned home, he invited us to stay to go out to dinner with them at Red Robin, so we did - great time and good food.  Then home for the evening.  Sunday was a lazy day with some household chores and pizza for lunch - rest in the afternoon.  Amanda and the kids went to the KC Zoo for a day with friends - what a beautiful day for it.  Who knew Elsa and Olaf would be at the zoo - they had kawala bears too for a short stint.

Great family times - we are blessed!!!

Girl Scout Camp 2016/Grammy-Peyton Days/Web.Com Golf Tournament

It was a wonderful, busy week, starting on Sunday/Monday/Tuesday with Peyton attending her first Girl Scout Day Camp!!!  She had a great time zip lining, climbing the wall, swimming and making a seat with a padded top out of a 5 gallon bucket with a lid.  She was thrilled when I used it as a footstool when putting ice on my knee when I was there for a couple of days.  Best of all, Amanda took 2 days off and went with Peyton to camp on Monday and Tuesday as a chaperone.  She had a fantastic time being with her and her friends.  

On Tuesday, I worked as an election judge at the primary election - 5:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. - whew, a long day, but we were so busy, it went quickly.  It's a hard day, but I enjoy getting to work with friends as judges and getting to talk with people who are there to vote.   

I spent Wednesday and Thursday with Peyton for our annual Grammy/Peyton Day(s).  The first day, we started at Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast.  We were lucky to receive free glazed donuts when we arrived!  We went to the dance store to purchase her shoes for the year - new tap shoes, ballet shoes and jazz shoes  -  and "booty" shorts.  She was invited to join the Tiny Tainers this year and is really looking forward to it.  Peyton chose Sonic for lunch with a shake to drink.  She and I fixed dinner for the whole family that night - Amanda's favorite bacon wrapped chicken with mashed potatoes.  We had picked Garrison up early from school, and he got into the act of mashing the potatoes too!!!!  

On Thursday, Peyton and I had a great day.  We went to Casey's to get my coffee - she wanted to eat a donut there - who knew they had tables at Casey's!!!!!  She was happy, so I was too.  We went back home and did some things around the house before going to lunch at Freddy's.  She surprised me and ordered a Brownie Delight Sundae for dessert instead of her normal Dirt and Worms Sundae.  We played jacks and Trash and had a fun, relaxing day, then we picked up Garrison early from school and used the knitting machine she had purchased earlier in the day at The Goodwill Thrift Store.  We had a good time doing it.  Earlier in the day, we baked cupcakes in ice cream cones for her sleepover on Friday evening and went to Hyvee to buy frosting for the girls to frost their own cone.  She did all the mixing of the batter herself and filled the cones.  She is getting good at baking.  After Amanda got home from work, I came back to Clinton.

Chad stayed home with Peyton on Friday.  Friday evening, she had 6 girls and herself for a back-to-school sleepover.  They started at the pool for pizza and fun - Garrison joined in the fun too!!!  After they came home, they decorated their ice cream cone cupcakes and watched a movie in Peyton's room after dAddy moved the main room TV into her room for the evening.  Amanda bought them donuts for breakfast on Saturday before everyone went home.  

Late Saturday morning, Amanda, Chad, Peyton and Garrison went to the Web.Com Golf Tournament at Lionsgate Country Club using free passes a vendor had given Amanda.  They had a great time watching the golfers and enjoy the hospitality room full of food and drinks.

On Sunday, Ron and I joined Amanda and the kids for day 2 at the golf tournament and enjoyed the same amenities.  The weather was great - especially for August - in the 70's, and we had a good time.  Garrison and Peyton loved going in and out to the hospitality tent to get the free food and drinks.  The golfers were kind and would give the kids balls, frisbees, etc.  We all had a good time.

At 5 pm. Sunday, Ron and I went to Supper Club at El Camino Real and then to dessert at the Cupps.  A fun evening of food and fellowship.  A busy week!!!!

We are so blessed.