Yee-Haw!

It is Spirit Week at Storm's school and today is Wild West day. He definitely looks the part!

Having fun!

Oh my. I don't know where the time goes. Every day is packed, but I can't really tell you what it's packed with. It just seems like it's go, go, go around here!

On Wednesday, Gracie and I met up for lunch. We hadn't seen each other since the late Spring so we had a lot to catch up on. It's such fun to have a face-to-face relationship with a fellow blogger!

On Monday and Tuesday Storm was here for Fall Break. And then as an added gift, he was also here for a few hours on Wednesday and Thursday. I was not expecting the extra time with him; what a nice surprise! I didn't take any pictures, but here's a photo of him from Career Day at his kindergarten class. Doesn't he make a good looking police officer?!

That's one of the things I enjoy most about the grandkids: what they want to be when they grow up. Of course, it changes constantly. That's what makes it so fun!

Next week I have Sunny and Thunder for Fall Break. We plan to make Grinch Fudge, go bowling, and have a play date with friends.

This just goes to show you how distracted I am. I keep getting emails about holiday sales and 3-day weekend events. I just realized that this weekend is Columbus Day! Haha... Good thing I have various Christmas countdowns on my phone, computer, etc. Otherwise I might miss it. (Actually there's zero chance of that happening)

Grandkids

When you have grandkids, especially a lot of them, you learn to lower your expectations when it comes to taking photos. There's always someone not looking at the camera or on the verge of crying or caught with their eyes closed or half open. I have come to accept these conditions and cherish the photos anyway. After all, these are the faces of my most cherished treasure!

Pre-school Graduate!

Storm "graduated" from Pre-school last night. It was a fun program featuring four songs, lots of waves and smiles, and of course, the receiving of the diplomas.

Storm has been to Kindergarten Showcase and is eager to get started in the Fall. Well, Fall is a subjective term... Kinder starts for him on July 31st! 

As you can tell, little sister Snow was not impressed with the gravity of the event. She was, however, very willing to participate in eating the cupcakes decorated in the school colors.

Gramps and I are so proud of you, Storm! You are an awesome boy and we're eager to share your Kinder adventures. We love you...

The Grands

Life is so fun, joyful, exciting, and adventurous with the Grands!

Here's some of what's been going on lately...

Snow fell off the bed over the weekend... Twice!

Jessica said after the 2nd time she got her sleeping bag and took it into the loft to sleep. Good plan.

It's raining this morning. Phoenix area kids rarely have the opportunity to use umbrellas so Snow and Storm deployed theirs for the walk from the car to the school!

Sunny is in 4th grade and you know what that means: Science Fair!

It's hard to believe the school year is almost over. I'm looking forward to Grammy Summer Camp in a few weeks. More time with these lovable kiddos!

Take Me Out...

Take me out to the ballgame...

Dan is a huge San Diego Padres Fan. You would think that we would attend their games regularly as they have Spring Training in Peoria, AZ and come to play the Diamondbacks at least twice a year, but no, we rarely get to go. We just don't make time for it, to tell the truth.

But earlier this month, Dan took Adam, Thunder and Storm to the game. They sat in the left field bleachers right next to the Dbacks bullpen.

There were several home runs hit all around them, but they didn't catch any. One was five seats away! It was Storm's first MLB game and he had a blast! Actually, his experience was double the fun because he and Adam rode the light rail to the game.

What a fun time for all!

January 1st

Last night we hosted the grands for a "Cousin's New Year's Eve Party". We went to Peter Piper Pizza for pizza and wings and games. We came back home, put on jammies, and attempted to stay up until midnight eating snacks and watching "Ferdinand" and "Sing". Unfortunately, at 10 pm, they gave up, watched the ball drop in NYC on TV and went off to bed. Fortunately, they did not wake up when the neighbors shot off fireworks at midnight.

This morning we had donuts and pancakes for breakfast, played, and then their parents picked them up at 10 am. 

What a great way to start the New Year!

Group hug at Peter Piper Pizza!

HO HO HO🎅

This year's Santa photos - Enjoy!

Thunder (7), Snow (2), Blizzard (1), Santa, Skye (7), Summer (9), Storm (4)

Grammy's Summer Camp

Well, I HAD intentions to post regularly about Grammy's Summer Camp this year, but it's been a whirlwind of activity and I'm just now getting around to it.

We are halfway through this year's camp and we've had such fun! It's been a little chaotic in that I never know on any given day just how many grands will be attending, but that just adds to the excitement.

My schedule is to have Sunny and Thunder on T-W-Th. Skye drops in as needed. Storm and Snow are here on T-W for the Bible Study I host that Jessica attends and for Movie Day.

This year our overall theme is "Down on the Farm". My DIL Janel and her mom have graciously supplied us with activities related to farming. Our daily schedule includes Time with God, chores, reading time, worksheets, board games, art, science, cooking, Brain Quest, Flash Cards, and of course, swimming.

I made a reading bingo chart for each of them and a chore chart. They also have a daily reading chart to record the minutes read on. At the end of each week they get to choose from the treasure chest if they've completed their reading minutes. They will get money for their piggy banks at the end of the summer for the chores they've completed.

As a side note I just want to say that they're old enough now to do some chores that are really helpful! I told my daughters that having them do chores three days a week is almost like having a maid, hahaha!

Here's a glimpse into our camp so far...

Storm and Snow playing Candyland and 

goofing off the first week of summer camp

At the movies: Storm, Thunder, Snow, Sunny, Skye

Lunch, then worksheets while the littles napped.

Tio Zach dropped in one day and had fun with Snow 

Thunder completing one of the Reading Bingo options - reading in the bathtub

A field trip to Barnes and Noble, learning about Job at Bible Study,

completing a "Down on the Farm" activity sheet

Playing after the Wednesday morning movie

Official Four Year Old Photo

We have two birthdays the first week in June in two different families. This makes party planning a challenge. First up was Storm. He is now four years old. There is a huge difference between three and four and I know the changes we see in him this year as he grown to five will be immense.

He has discovered Spiderman (his favorite) and knows who Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are. He graduated to Junior Legos. He love Paw Patrol and Cars. He also loves trains.

He has a vivid imagination and I love to hear him make up the storyline as he plays with his toys. He loves his older cousin Thunder and mimics him whenever possible. He also loves the girl cousins and his sister. He is an awesome big brother and doesn't get too irritated with her very often.

He knows his ABCs and can count and is ready to start reading.

He is such a sweet boy. We love you Storm! Happy Birthday from Gramps and Grammy...

HO...HO...HO

I was so excited about the grandkids' visit to Santa this year. I literally spent weeks anticipating it. You see in October it occurred to me that since JD, Janel, and Blizzard would be here for Thanksgiving it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have all six grandkids in a photo with Santa! Yippee! I plotted and planned... Katie bought matching "Cousin Crew" pj's for them all to wear. I made a reservation to see Santa so we wouldn't have to wait in line.

The big day finally arrived. We drove to the mall in anticipation of the awesome Santa photos we would be getting.

Alas, it was not to be. For some reason as we approached the first photo station, Thunder decided that he did NOT want his photo with Santa. He started throwing a fit like a toddler (most unattractive in a six year old). We managed to get a shot of him in the first photo, but when we reached Santa he completed revolted.

I am bummed. But, on the bright side, I got a photo of five of the grandkids with Santa. I am focusing on the bright side. Really, I am. Yep, one of these days I'll be able to focus on the bright side.

So, here are the Santa photos, the much anticipated Santa photos...

Skye (6), Snow (1), Grammy, Blizzard (10 mos), 

Sunny (8), Storm (3), Gramps, Thunder (6)

Hmmm, wonder if I could insert a photo of Thunder in here?!

Storm is very into Christmas this year and was thrilled 

beyond words to see Santa!

Skye asked for an Appaloosa, but Santa explained that he 

doesn't bring live animals...

Blizzard's first meeting with Santa went very well!

The last time I had a photo of Sunny alone with Santa was in 2010, 

before Thunder was born

After we left the mall, Katie called me and said that Thunder had a change of heart and went back in to take a picture with Santa and Sunny. {{sigh}}

Thanks for Your Prayers...

Storm was released from the hospital late Monday afternoon. Since he's been home, he's gotten his appetite back and is moving around quite well. Thank you for the prayer support you gave us during this time!

As you can see from this photo, Mom and Dad are relieved and Snow and Storm are only interested in watching Netflix. Thankful that their lives are getting back to normal!

Storm

Prayers appreciated for Storm. He got sick a week ago Thursday and after being sick off and on for 2 days went to the Dr. last Saturday. She immediately sent them to the ER at Phx Children's Hosp. It turns out that he was suffering from Intussusception caused by a Meckel's Diverticulum (feel free to look up on Google, too much to to explain) and had a very small portion of his bowel removed and since they were in the neighborhood they did an appendectomy too.

He is still in the hospital, this is Day Ten. We did not expect this long of a stay. If you're inclined to pray, I appreciate prayers for him to recover fully and swiftly. This is really rough on a three-year-old... and his parents!

Snow is staying with us while Storm is hospitalized. Fortunately, her routine includes going to school every day which we are sticking to. She has done quite well with us, but I know she's wondering what happened to her family, her room, and her toys.

Our thanks to Phoenix Children's Hospital and the caregivers we've encountered. It is an awesome place. We will be forever appreciative!

Grandparents Day

Grandparents Day is one of those holidays made up by Hallmark (in my opinion). According to Wikipedia, though, Grandparents Day was founded by Marian McQuade of Oak Hill, West Virginia and signed into existence by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. While it's a cute idea and I get it that it's important to celebrate Grandparents, it's not a day regularly (ever) celebrated in our family.

Until this year.

Storm invited us to the Grandparents Day luncheon at his pre-school and we were thrilled. Off we went on the appointed day to sit in toddler-size chairs at the toddler-size table in Classroom 108.

He was so excited when we arrived and ran right up to give me a big hug! Then he became shy for several minutes. But as he saw various other grandparents arriving he decided this was fun and grew more animated. There were 13 three-year-olds in his class and six sets of grandparents showed up. I was impressed that grandpas were in attendance as well as grandmas. There were at least three "Grammy's" there, including me.

Storm showed off his artwork and papers hanging around the room. Each child served themselves from the food being passed around. A heartfelt prayer was said and the eating commenced. Upon finishing lunch, each child cleared and cleaned their own spot. Wow! Half of my adult kids don't do that. hahaha

Twenty minutes later, lunch was over. When the kids whose grandparents were in attendance figured out that they had to stay and school and not go home with the adults there were tears. All in all, Grandparents Day was a huge success and we're hoping to be invited again next year.

Guess what comes after lunch? Yep... nap time!

Back to School!

Four of the grands are back to school earlier this month. One third grader, two first graders, and a pre-schooler. I have three school calendars to transfer to my calendar and am keeping my fingers crossed that there is no conflicts of more than one activity on the same day at different schools. I can see that the days of Dan and I having to possibly split school functions is fast approaching!

And as if that weren't exciting enough, my surrogate grandchild, Kyler, moved into ASU this weekend. We are so proud of him!!

Storm ready for Pre-school

Skye standing at her first grade desk

Thunder and Sunny on their first day back

(I love how Thunder wore a tie with his school polo to mark the occasion!)

Kyler with his mom, Marti moving in at ASU

Cousins

A few weeks ago Jessica, Adam, Storm, Snow passed through Kansas City on their way to Branson, MO for a family vacation with Adam's family. They coordinated with JD and Janel to join up together in Kansas City for a visit.

This was the first time Blizzard got to meet relatives from JD's family (except for me and Dan). They provided me with cute photos of the cousins all together for the first time.

I would have been envious, but since I knew I was traveling to Kansas a week later I managed to restrain myself😉

Seriously, I can't wait until Thanksgiving when JD, Janel and Blizzard plan to travel here. I'm eager to have ALL of my grandkids together!

Snow - ready for take-off

Storm - a seasoned traveler

Meeting Blizzard

Three💙💙💙

Turning three years old is exciting. It can also be overwhelming. But eventually, acceptance of being a year older sets in. This year's official photo with Grammy shows the resigned side of accepting that a birthday is occurring and a kiss from Grammy is to be tolerated... barely.

Storm had a great birthday party last week. It was the first party attended by friends as well as family. It was fun to see him and the other little guys down on the floor playing with the train set, running outside to play on the swing set, back inside to play with the train again. 

Storm is into trains, Disney Cars characters, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and Hot Wheels. The theme for his party was trains and he received many trains as gifts. He did not want to blow out the candles this year, as opposed to his first birthday when he wanted to stick his finger in the flame. With age comes wisdom.

Happy Birthday Storm! Gramps and I love you more than you can know.

Gramps enjoyed the train theme!

My great-niece Summer

There's always a cousin willing to help

Tio Zach is besotted with Snow

Adam  - the proud dad

The birthday boy!