Give-thanks Day

Helen told us ... Willam's first words on Sunday when he woke up were "Omi and Papa are coming tomorrow".

Monday ...

... was driving day. Luckily the traffic was light and the sun was shining. After arrival William needed to see us so we all went to a Mexican restaurant close to their house. They had planned ro put a pizza into the oven or something like that but ... their oven had broken and the new one just had been delivered that afternoon and the smell needed to burn off first.

The boy had been so excited when he saw us. But next day was a school day so no sleepover. Even worse: we were missing a part to secure his car seat in the car. We had searched everything in and out if the car. Because we had to fold the backseats down to pack the car, a belt must have been left behind. The problem has been solved though. I called friends in our neighborhood. Larry had found it in our garage (thanks to the code pad he could get in) and Janet had brought it to UPS. It should arrive Friday.

Tuesday ...

... William had been very concerned about the promised sleepover. How would he get to our place since Papa can't get him. His Mommy told him she would bring him and all was well.

No food in the house though. While William was in school James and I went shopping, I made Sarah's receipe "stuffed peppers" for dinner. Later in the afternoon Helen and William arrived. Everybody happy.

We had to make William's bed though. It had been a special offer at our new Aldi in Richmond. We could have set it up earlier but we thought he might have fun being part of it.

 

 

 

Look at this VIDEO!

 

He demonstrated trying it out! Pretty cool. But it wasn't quite time yet.

 

 

No more HotWheel crazy. The new love: Junior Lego. Omi and Papa brought one.

 

 

 

Wednesday ...

... I sneaked a picture before he woke up. So sweet.

 

 

Waiting for breakfast. He wanted Omi's oats and Omi's homemade applesauce. He ate it all to the last spoon not knowing that the applesauce also had carrots and spinach in it.

 

 

We played and did all sorts of fun. When Helen came the three of us went shopping for clothes for William. He has grown so much and buying clothes without him is iffy. He was so cooperative and tried on everything we asked him to. And we were very successful! Yeah!

I felt he really needed to be rewarded for his patience so we went next door to Target to buy a toy.

He was happy because he could stay for another sleepover.

 

Thursday ...

... HAPPY THANKSGIVING to All. And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to James and me. 40 wonderful years ... and still flowers!

 

 

Ben and Helen are doing all the cooking so we can take it easy. We watch the Thanksgiving Parade in our PJs. Comfy and cozy.

 

 

We only had to take care of dessert. Obviously Thanksgiving is an American thing. Pumpkin pies and Pecan pies are not a German thing. Actually no pie is. James had bought a pumpkin and a pecan ones. I decided though to attemp an apple pie. Sarah's receipe from her wedding favor cookbook. I think it look pretty good.

 

 

I think baked it looks really good. Good enough to eat, ha-ha.

 

 

While I did the above James and William went for a walk.

 

 

 

 

William insisted to wear his new socks which I had just finished knitting yesterday. He really loves them.

 

 

Turkey time!

Helen and Ben arrived with all their food. Mops and GeeGee (Ben's mother and grandmother) had arrived too. William was so happy. He loves having all his people together.

 

 

Ben cooked the turkey to perfection and the carving was no problem either.

 

 

We had such a great time that I didn't take many pictures. Sorry I caught William's great-grandmother when she blinked but I think no matter what she is a gorgeous lady. I hope I will be half like that when I am her age.

 

Besides the turkey and the delicious gravy there was the dressing, green beans, Irish mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole and cranberry sauce in the offering. All homemade ... from scratch. A Wahl thanksgiving.

 

 

Ha-ha, at this point Helen jumped up. She almost forgot the cranberry sauce. Something her mother frequently does. Soon there was not much left.

 

 

Mops and GeeGee need to leave since they want to be home before dark. It was great to see them.

Suzanne, longtime friend of Helen, had come by for dessert and was asked to take the group photo. Good job, Suzanne!

 

 

 

Ben wanted to take a picture of William with Mops and GeeGee (see above) but William's photo face is not always natural so Helen helped by making fun.

 

 

It helped. This is a lovely, lovely photo of William with his grandmother and great-grandmother.

 

 

And so the festive day came to an end. Ben, Helen and William went home too. No sleepover today because Omi has to work on the computer. Deadlines! But tomorrow we hope to go for a walk. Walk off some of today's food.

Sarah was in touch too. We saw a happy photo of the Waller gathering.

It was a very nice day.

 

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Grand-baby shower and Turning 2

Saturday November 21 certainly was a busy day. My friend Julie and I hosted a luncheon for a mutual friend who is going to be a grandma. We all are so happy for her.
Lunch is being served and Julie is calling to the table.

I admire Julie and her way of doing things the perfect Southern Lady style. We all had a great time.

Baby-girl will be so loved by Barbara and Rob and many friends!

I did have to rush home though. James and I had to be on our way across the river. Time to celebrate Caleb's 2nd birthday.

Sarah had put a lot of thought into this. Both of my girls are masters in their children's birthday parties and I keep marveling at them.
The book "The little blue truck" was the inspiration for this. It's one of his favorite. Sarah found a used black truck for $20 on eBay and painted it. Took it totally apart and did a great job. It was a huge success.

Friday we had made signs for "Reserved Parking" and the "Petting Zoo" (because of the animals in the book). The animals balloons could be taken for a walk on the leashes. Including Caleb there were 4 toddlers.

You can see that the pot of chilly and the potato bar had been well-liked.

But Caleb kept asking for a cupcake and now the time had come.

Oh yes: VIDEO 1
and VIDEO 2

Time to open presents. This one is from Auntie Helen and family. Since they could not be there I took videos for them.
VIDEO 1

Helen had hit the jackpot. After all the gift-opening he wanted to look at this book again.
VIDEO 2

And then he took it to his Mommy for some more.

We always enjoy meeting Wade's family too and this time even Nana, his grandmother, had come (Caleb's great-grandmother). But we had to leave because there was still one more event for us that day. James and I have season tickets to the Richmond Forum. These are very hard to get these days and there are only 5 lectures in each season. As always it was great and well-worth. Back home after that late in the evening we had to sit in our living room for a while with a scotch to "digest" the day.

We are so blessed. Thank you, Lord.

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OMG - define 'busy'

I was reminded by several of my 'blog followers' that my last posting was from October 23. Really? How time flies!

I will spare you and not list everything - just trust me. I should take retirement more seriously. My problem is though that I like too many things, have too many interests! Oh well, as long as I enjoy it.

Of course the first chance we get back from Nashville is to see Caleb (and his parents, ha-ha). Wade's parents were visiting and we were invited to dinner. The day before (Oct 23 Friday, her day off) Sarah invited me to help her paint.

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 25 - the last Sunday afternoon workshop at the church to work on items for the bazaar. Good thing, I am running out of ideas.

 

 

Oct 27 - evening meeting of the church ladies. I had volunteered to demonstrate how to make pizza in a pan on the stove. We made three different pizzas and the ladies loved it. Somebody else had brought salad and we had a very nice dinner together.

 

 

At the workshops the ladies do all sorts of things for me including cutting out 'turkey parts' so all I had to do at home glue them together. One used with a pineapple makes an adorable centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table.

 

 

This should make anybody feel better!

 

 

All work and no play is not good. James took me for lunch and we had 'bibimbap' (Korean food). Of course we had to reminisce about our travels. Love it!

 

 

 

 

Not much time to 'play' these days but I really try not to miss my Thursdays charity sewing. My latest project (no pattern) is slowly progressing and I have fun with it. I really need to write a 'lace and quilt blog' (see above tab) when I find my round-to it-button. I am very happy to say that I finished three lace Chrismons for my Adventcalendar.

 

 

Halloween! My nice daughters shared photos with me.

Sarah texted that Caleb insisted on wearing his costume to daycare in the morning.

 

 

 

James went over in the evening to go trick-or-treating in their neighborhood with them. They had a good time. It's a nice area they have moved into. Caleb shared his red wagon with a neighbor girl.

 

 

On Sunday Sarah had to work but Wade and Caleb showed up in our pew. Nice surprise. Caleb liked coffee hour afterwards. I have many favorite pictures. This is one of them.

 

 

So we went to lunch afterwards.

 

 

 

 

 

This is my favorite astronaut. Helen shared this picture of William. He knows what he wants. His interest in space is just amazing. I don't think the costume will fit a third year.

 

 

Helen also shared this with me (which first I didn't understand): William said that Omi and Papa had picked him up from school. It's 'our' red Volvo X60 which is lined up in front of the school.

 

 

 

November definitely brings autumn with it. The neighborhood looks lovely with lots of red and yellow leaves. Very early in the morning we even had fog.

 

 

The transplanted camellia really likes her new place. I forgot to take a photo though when it was covered in beautiful flowers. This shows you the importance of the placement of a plant/bush/tree in your garden.

 

 

Caleb likes to walk in the leaves but he wants to go a different way, Papa.

 

 

A busy week. Thursday Nov 12 CR Bazaar 1 to 6:30 - I had promised to help. Sat Nov 14 the St Martin Holiday Market. Our small church did very well this year and we were all happy. Besides, the fellowship is a lot of fun.

 

 

The above photo is cropped to show you our turkeys.

 

 

I was incredibly pleased with the proceeds from our raffle. So many really wanted to win it. I was thrilled to tell Jane (Skype to England) since she stitched all the Chrismons. The drawing was Sunday after church service. On Monday I delivered it to the lucky winner Connie, the hairdresser of many of our members. She was very happy.

 

 

Almost forgot .... I won too. Last day of October I was drawn as the third Block Lotto (see the link on right side) winner of beautiful October blocks. 40 quilt blocks coming my way from all over the USA and 2 from a quilter in Australia. Yeah!!!

 

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