President's Day Weekend 2017

We babysat Roxie, Kelly's dog while she and Sherri were on a cruise.  The first 24 hours were a challenge, but once we established where she would sleep and that she needed to eat, things went well.

We drove to Overland Park on Saturday to go out to lunch with Amanda/family and for Ron and Chad to go to the Golf Show.  Peyton and Garrison surprised us by asking to come back to Clinton with us for the weekend - a big YES - we were so excited they wanted to come home with us.  Peyton gave up a sleepover and spending Monday, President's Day, with her friends by choosing to spend the weekend with Grammy and Grandpa.  Warmed our hearts.  Garrison was more than happy to give up school on Monday so he could come to Clinton.

We had lunch at Red Rock Canyon - our first time - the kids had been there a couple of times.   It was very good.  While the guys went to the Golf Show at the Convention Center, Amanda, the kids and I went to Kohl's to make some returns and to spend Kohl's Cash - and then some!  We had a good time finding Peyton some new clothes for school and the cruise.  After Kohl's, we went to Dairy Queen for a sweet treat and then home to pack the kids for their trip to Clinton.

The kids and Roxie did pretty well together, but it was challenging at times.  Roxie slept in the front room while the kids slept with Grammy which worked.  I took Roxie out to her outdoor kennel at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning, so the kids were relieved!  We went to church Sunday morning, and the kids went up for the children's sermon.  After donut time, we went to the cemetery to change out the flowers on Mom and Daddy's grave - Daddy has been gone 6 years yesterday.   They had lots of questions about getting buried, etc. and having a tombstone - it was a good day for it as it was nice weather for us to walk around the cemetery.  Then we picked up food at McDonald's and had a picnic at the park and played on the play equipment - a beautiful February day.  We went out to put Roxie out to potty and checked on the rabbits and the 5 baby bunnies.  The kids loved feeding the momma rabbit carrots and hotdog buns.  Garrison said, "Miss Kelly has a lot of animals - they are a lot of responsibility."  He also told us about the Supreme Court being the highest court in the land and that Michelle Obama is a lawyer.  We made jello and meatballs for dinner - Peyton did most of the work until it came time to mix it up with hands - she was not on board for that!   After dinner, Peyton wanted to go out for ice cream and Garrison wanted to stay home for ice cream, so we divided and conquered.  Grandpa and Peyton went to Dairy Queen for blizzards - and I made a banana split without the banana at home.

Monday started out with a requested trip to The Donut Palace for breakfast.   Garrison wanted to make muffins for National Muffin Day, but when we got ready to start, he decided he wanted to play more, so Peyton made muffins.  She followed the recipe and measured all the ingredients, even mixing it with the electric mixer before putting the batter in the mini-muffin tins.  We did a great job, and they were delicious.  They took some to Miss Esther and came home with bags of candy!  We had Spaghetti and meat sauce on the table for lunch with jello, green beans and rolls.   We played before driving them kids back home mid-aftenroon.

Wonderful surprise weekend - love making memories with our two precious grandchildren.  We are blessed.

Early February Visit from the Grands 2017

Pretty unremarkable week - worked at church, went to exercise class, Bible Study and just routine stuff until Saturday.  That's when the fun began!

We drove to Overland Park Saturday morning - stopping at Kohl's and Hyvee before arriving at the Todds to pick up Garrison.  We visited for a bit with Amanda and Chad, then we took Garrison with us to pick up Peyton at dance class.  Garrison and I were surprised when we were invited in to watch Peyton's class dance two numbers before she was ready to join us for our trip to Clinton.  She did a fantastic job dancing, and it was fun to see her in action at rehearsal.

The 4 of us stopped at Belton for lunch at Freddy's.  The kids enjoyed going up to the counter themselves to order their ice cream after we ate, even ordering Grandpa's ice cream and paying.

Soon after we arrived in Clinton, we ventured out to the Aquatic Center for some splashing fun.  It was a bit overwhelming there - too many people!!!!  There was a birthday party going on which brought several there, and there were just people everywhere - both in the pool and around the pool.  The kids had fun, but it wasn't nearly as much fun as when they nearly have the place to themselves, as it usually is.  We stayed about 1 1/2 hours.

We had Peyton's favorite - meatballs and rice for dinner.  Peyton fixed the rice, and we also baked sugar cookie ice cream bowls, using the molds Aunt Mary and Uncle Mark gave us for Christmas.  Yummy and fun.

The kids made valentine cards for their parents and had a great time doing it.  We also tried a science project I saw on Facebook - drawing with a dry erase pen on the bottom of a white corning wear dish, then pouring water over it - then watch your design float.  It worked!

Peyton practiced her piano lessons twice over the time they were here.  She is playing very well!  They played downstairs.  They also opened their Valentine gifts from us - I think they liked them.  We shopped throughout the house for "an antique" for Peyton to take to school.  We settled on a small antique crock bowl and two of Grandma Mintun's marble/porcelain eggs that she always had on the cake stand on the buffet.  Garrison asked to take 2 of them as well for show and tell.  Made my heart happy.

Sunday morning, both kids slept in a bit - Garrison was up first around 7:15.  Peyton had to be work up at 7:40 which wouldn't have been late, except that church started at 8:15!!!!  Unbelievably, we made it to church with 3 minutes to spare!!!!  For the first time at our church, Peyton and Garrison went up front for the children's sermon (Grandpa walked up there with them).  Peyton recited the entire Lord's Prayer which made me smile.  We had donuts and then came home.

Peyton asked to make chicken pot pies for them to take home - she said they were out, and that she loves my pot pies!!!  She measured and mixed up the crust, rolled it out and did most of the work on making the filling as well  She did the edges of the "pies" and was quite proud.  She also made cream cheese mints - pressed them in molds - for her Momma for Valentine's Day.  This was all before lunch!!!!  We fixed pizza for lunch.  The kids had fun just playing downstairs too.

The time went much too quickly while the kids were here.  We drove them back to Overland Park and got back home in time to see the Super Bowl.

A great 28 hours or so - loved it!!!  We are blessed.