Garrison Turns 6 - Grammy Turns 62!

We headed to Overland Park on Friday afternoon - picked up the kiddos so they could eat dinner with us at Culver's.  We all went to the Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park to see Peyton dance with her TiniTainers dance troupe for the pre-show.  It was a beautiful, cooler evening with no humidity - nice to be outside.  She danced very well.   Amanda had baked the cake for Garrison's light saber birthday cake earlier in the week and froze it for easy frosting.  She did a great job decorating it - I helped her by mixing up some additional frosting (it took a lot).

Saturday morning we finished up getting things ready for the birthday party at 10 a.m.  Garrison's guests included his sister and parents, 10 little friends, cousins, all his grandparents - a Star Wars theme.  Amanda and Chad had a wonderful party for the little guy who turned 6.  Entertainment included water balloon fights - dart gun sharp shooting of toilet paper cardboard rolls painted by Amanda to look like storm troopers, a piñata and other fun play time.  Refreshments included pizza and cake - and of course, time for gifts!  A good time was had by all.

We came home after the party.  Amanda/family went to the Sporting KC soccer match with Chad's dad, brother and family.

Sunday we went to church and then met Amanda/family at Union Station for Garrison and my final birthday celebration - lunch at Harvey's which was delicious.  Then Grammy, Grandpa, Peyton and Garrison went to Science City for a short time of fun before Peyton danced with her TiniTainers group at Union Station - she did such a great job.

I had a wonderful birthday - texts, cards, calls, etc. from family and friends - I felt loved.  Wonderful getting to share my birthday every year with my little birthday buddy, Garrison, who arrived 2 weeks early 6 years ago so he could share his birthday with his Grammy.  So sweet.  ha ha

We made lots of wonderful family memories this week - we are blessed.

Henry County Fair and Weekend with Kids

On Monday, I took Peyton's and my entries to the Henry County Fair.  On Tuesday, Ron and I went out to check out how we did - we did great!!!!!  Peyton received 2 blues, 1 red and 1 white ribbon on her entries (duck tape hair bows, cream cheese mints, slime and her Girl Scout Swaps) - I received 2 blues and a purple (cross stitch stocking - blue/purple and cross stitch picture).  We called Peyton to tell her, and she was thrilled - and the best part - she won $10!!!!

On Friday, I went to Overland Park and did a little shopping along the way.  When I arrived, Garrison and Madison were just getting home from Deanna Rose (Peyton was spending the day with Grandma Todd), so I gave Madison the afternoon off, and Garrison and I headed to McDonald's for lunch!  He had to take a nap since he and his Daddy were going to the Royals Game with some t-ball friends and their dads that night, which they did.  Since no one else was home, Amanda took me out to dinner at Salty Iguana to celebrate my birthday early - delicious fajitas and margaritas!  We did a little shopping and then enjoyed the rest of the evening visiting (with no interruptions - ha ha).

On Saturday, I brought the kids back to Clinton with me to spend the night while the parents went to their annual neighborhood adults-only party.  Chad also came to Clinton to play in the Ag Golf Tournament with Ron - they won 3rd place in Championship Flight and $40 each!

Peyton and I made slime (again) - and it was an epic fail.  It looked like scrambled eggs and was tough.  We played Candyland - Peyton won - Garrison second place - Grammy the big loser!!!!!  Surprise, surprise.  The kids had fun playing downstairs, and we all watched American Ninjas Contest on TV - they had seen it before and love it - it was fun watching with them.

Sunday we went to church, and the kids "helped" me while I played the gathering music and the hymns during church.  We went to Donut Palace after church instead of staying for donut time.  Peyton wanted to make glow in the dark slime when we got home, and it turned out somewhat better than before.  We had spaghetti for lunch and then headed back to OP.

We had a great weekend and lots of fun and laughs.  We are so very blessed to have our grandkids (and Amanda and Chad) close by to get to share our lives with.  God is good.

Garrison's Final T-Ball game and Peyton visits Grammy

The past two weeks have been full of fun with the grandkids.  We went to Garrison's t-ball game a week ago Saturday and to his final t-ball game (ever) yesterday - he had some good fielding plays, is throwing so much stronger, batted good and received a trophy at the end of the game.  On to coach-pitch.   Chad, Peyton, Garrison, Grandpa and I went out for lunch at Chili's after the game - Amanda had to take a work call and was unable to join us.  After lunch, we brought Peyton back to Clinton with us.  Chad followed shortly.  Amanda and Garrison stayed in Overland Park - Garrison had a birthday party to attend Sunday and didn't want to miss it.  We missed them in Clinton.

Peyton has been busy getting things ready to enter into the Henry County Fair.  She will enter her Girl Scout Popsicle Swaps, Slime, Mints and duck tape hair bows.  She made slime Saturday evening, and we made the duck tape hair bows too.  We found the instructions on Pinterest.  We had Peyton's favorite dinner - my bbq meatballs and rice, homegrown green beans, mandarin oranges and Hawaiian rolls.  She loves meatballs!  She and Chad hit balls over the pond (or in the pond) on #17 after dinner and played a couple of holes to practice for Sunday.

Sunday morning, Chad and Grandpa played golf in the American Cancer Society  Golf Tournament at Clinton Country Club.  Peyton and I made applesauce (she did most of it), made molded mints for the fair, went to Walmart (she wants me to make her a new afghan and wanted to pick out the yarn) and we bought her presents to give to Garrison on his birthday, finished up her presentations for the Fair, and we had lunch at McDonald's - such a fun, fun morning.

Family blessings - the best!

Olde Glory Days Weekend/July 4, 2017

On Tuesday before Olde Glory Days (from now on OGD), Peyton was doing a cartwheel after her shower in their house and hit her ear on the corner of the desk when finishing.  The first urgent care place would not sew it up as it was on her face, so they took her to Children's Mercy Urgent Care where they put in 4 stitches.   She had been at Girl Scout Camp all week during the day and could not go swimming the final day - Amanda went that day too to camp.

I drove to Overland Park early Thursday morning to pick up the kids for OGDs.  After I arrived, it started raining buckets.  We waited until 9:30 a.m. to start to Clinton thinking the rain would quit, but if anything, it became worse.  The worst drive I have ever had - my hands were numb when we arrived in Clinton, safely, from gripping the steering wheel so tightly!!!!  Peyton helped me read the signs, and she called Grandpa to check the radar.  It rained very hard until Urich.

We stopped by the bank when we arrived to see Grandpa.  He invited the kids to go to the Rotary meeting with him, and they accepted.  They had tacos there for lunch - Garrison only ate salad - and they had a good time.  The speaker spoke about OGD's, so that was interesting to them.  Mark and Mary stopped by on their way to the lake for a short visit.  We played Old Maid and Fight, and Mark played ball with Garrison - we had a nice time catching up.  Thursday evening, we all went to the Sponsor Dinner for OGD's at The Elks Club.  The kids once again enjoyed the Fishin Magician and his wife who came around to the tables to do card and magic tricks. They rode the ponies that evening uptown, and we stayed for the drawing to see if we won anything, but we did not.  They also played some games and won panda bears and big blow up toys.

On Friday, we went to the Ninja Show at OGD's which the kids liked.  Then we went to Optimist Park for the Firequacker 500 Race.  Ron had purchased them 10 ducks each, but again, no winners.  The Fishin Magician was there doing a performance, and they liked that.  We went to the Art Show and voted for the people's choice.  Then we went to the carnival.  Peyton rode the Tilt a Whirl 10 times by herself!!!  They had fun riding all kinds of rides.  Amanda and Chad arrived Friday evening.  The kids made popsicles with gummy bears and skittles in them - a you-tube find.

Saturday morning, we all went to the parade.  Ron was driving the golf cart pulling the bank's float.  Peyton jumped on to finish the parade with him when he drove by where we were sitting.  Garrison wanted to stay to get more candy!!!  We came home for a lunch of heavy snacks - Ron took a nap.   Garrison and I went to the Weenie Dog Races, and Chad, Amanda and Peyton played 9 holes of golf.  Saturday evening, we went to Square 109 for dinner before all going to the carnival.  Chad rode some of the bigger, faster rides with Peyton, and both kids rode a couple of rides.  Garrison got to shoot a cork gun and won a stuffed star fish.  He had seen a light-up sword he wanted when he and I went to the dog races, so I took him to purchase it while Peyton rode the bigger rides.

Sunday morning, I went to church to play the organ for the 8:15 service.  Everyone else played golf.  Garrison only played 6 holes and then came home to spend the rest of the time with me.  He and I had a good time and had lunch ready for the golfers when they got home around 2 pm.  We all had a rest before the kids and I frosted and decorated the sugar cookies they had baked when I was last in Overland Park with them to take to the fireworks show.  Then we ordered Pizza Glen for dinner.  The kids took their baths before we went to the fireworks show that night, as it didn't start until 9:30 p.m. which was past their bedtime.  We had a good time watching the fireworks with the Siegers at the Benson Center parking lot.

Monday, Ron went to work, and the Todds went home shortly after getting up.  I spent the day catching up on some laundry and straightening the house.  The house was eerily quiet after they left - I missed them immediately.  They had been here for 5 days which is the longest they had been able to be here for a very long time.  We enjoyed every minute, and we were so happy they could visit.

On the 4th of July, Ron and I did some chores, I baked banana bread, we went to the cemetery to visit our parents' graves, and had ribs and corn on the cob for lunch.

We are blessed beyond measure.