Nashville

On the road again, Monday morning July 25.

Lunch picnic half way.

 

 

James asks what happened? The road is pleasantly empty. We did see some standing traffic. Luckily it was on the opposing lanes.

 

 

Arrived in Nashville and William spends the night. Actually three nights in a row. Besides her Tuesday and Thursday classes Helen was asked to work more days. We had a lot of fun.

Tuesday morning James drove him to Camp Bric, a Lego class from 9 am to 12:30. After James had picked him up and brought him back again we did all sorts of things.

We did have to decorate the "Schultüte" I had made in Virginia. I had to make it since we can't buy one here. "Schultüte" is a German custom, you can read more about it HERE. Children who enter first grade get one on the first day of school ... filled with sweets and little toys. I got one (when I was a "I-Männchen" = firstgrader). Helen and Sarah each got one. William is going to get one.

 

 

We thought it would mean more to William if he helped decorate it. I had brought the stickers. He selected and peeled them and told me were to stick them. What a team we are.

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Camp Bric again in the morning. In the afternoon we baked a dozen choco/pumpkin cupcakes without the chocolate chips for Mops' birthday (his other grandmother) and the rest with. He was a great big help.

 

 

 

 

Every waking minute we build. Traintracks! Houses! Hiding spots! Omi is really quite good at it with good ideas. And Papa is a great sport too.

 

 

Thursday it rained on and off most of the day which made bringing him and getting him back from Camp Brick a bit of a challenge. James gave raving reports of the things the children had built which were on display so he was commisioned to take photos. Love it.

 

 

 

 

 

After they came back William had to have lunch first. But I had promised him to help with an obstacle course. He had seen something on TV and had jumped the previous day from the Sofa onto pillows until Helen explained to me why.

I think we came up with a great obstacle course. We had jumping from island to island, slalom around empty bottles, crawling through a tunnel and swimming in a river.

He asked me to take a VIDEO.

But he really wanted me to take a slow-mo VIDEO (sorry, it is rather long)

 

 

 

At three we had to bring him to Helen with his little suitcase. He wants to sing "happy Birthday" to his other grandma today (Thu 28th). Tomorrow is his Daddy's birthday.

I miss being read to tonight and that marvelous good-night hug.

 

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Celebrations!

I am almost caught up with my blogging. And I was finally "allowed" to blog about the Cotton Robin. It was a lot of fun. Can't wait to do it again. You can read about it here!

I am trying to take care of my flowers outside so they will look nice when we come back. The Praying Mantis was suddenly walking on my arm. Scared me for a moment. Back into the rose bush, please! It is a nice picture though.

When James trained for his first Camino in 2013 he met some people who were training for it too, down at the river. Since then they and others have done many walks together. Tommy, one of them, decided to invite the hiking group and spouses for an evening on Thursday July 21. We were 5 couples who met at his home and he and his wife treated us royally in their beautiful home. After about one hour of refreshments and most delicious appetizers we were driven in their RV to the restaurant. Fun!

The restaurant was the Tanglewood Ordinary. A very old, rustic building with family style dining. It was a lot of fun and we talked and talked and talked. It was so nice to finally meet and get to know people you have heard about so long.

I think we were the last guests to leave. Great big thank you to our hosts! There will be a group photo coming which I will plug in later here.

Probably belonging more into a this and that blog but I couldn't resist. Saw this on Facebook. I hope I have enough years left to work on quilts (and lace) to have a send-off like this.

July 23, a Saturday.
Oh yes! Our younger daughter's birthday. Can't help think back into the past. It was a hot Kentucky summer evening when we rushed to the hospital where she was born just after midnight on a Friday.
... Friday's child is loving and giving ...
I asked what she would like and she answered "a tomato pie". Here it is! Wade grilled on the green egg and all was delicious.

Wade and Caleb had baked and decorated the birthday cookie the day before. Well done!

Caleb enjoyed his Mommy's birthday. He is good at singing the song and he loves sweets and desserts.

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Baby Storm

I learned that a baby shower is sometimes called a "sprinkle" for a second child. Carolyn, Leslie and Katie decided to give a "baby storm" party for Sarah because she is expecting twins.

The party was planned to be at Sarah's because there was no knowing in what state she might be at that time. She let me help her getting the twin's nursery ready on her days off. She wanted large frames as kind of backdrops for the two letters (the names mystery!) she had already. We found these posters and the painting began. That pink needed several coats.

This is how it looked on the day of the party July 9th. I had sewn the curtains several weeks ago already.

Days before the "storm" we had found these onesies on sale and I had bought them. Sarah didn't know though that I wanted to add the initials to have a party gift.

The party was a fun event. Everything was lovely decorated and the food was so delicious. The hostesses Carolyn, Leslie and Katie had done a super job.

After the refreshments Sarah opened the gifts to the twins.

And Caleb helped. I am a proud grandmother because he was so nice about it. No envy.
And here is a VIDEO.

James and I feel that we can help Sarah and Wade probably most after the twins arrive by helping more with Caleb. We thought he might like a little suitcase to visit us overnight. He was happy to unwrap that.

It's a great success.

On Sunday Sarah told me what a success his suitcase really is. When Kathy (Wade'smother) needed to bring Leslie and Katie to the airport in the morning, Caleb insisted that he needed to go to the airport with his suitcase too. So Kathy took Sarah's car with the carseat and Caleb along. He dragged it along on the driveway and tried to lift it into the trunk. Then in the car he told everybody that his suitcase was behind him.

We asked Sarah and Wade whether Caleb wanted to try out his suitcase the following Saturday on the 16th. Sarah had to work until 2 pm but it was their 5th wedding anniversary so the suggestion was welcomed.

But first Wade took Caleb to meet Bob the builder at the children's science museum. He had been so excited and even remembered to take his yellow construction hat. He did get scared though. I "stole" the photo from Facebook.

Afterwards they came for lunch and then Caleb took a nap.

Unfortunately it's really too hot to play outside but we found something to play inside.

He found his parents' wedding album under the coffee table. He was very interested and pointed out all the people he knows.

Well, yes. It's grandparents duty to spoil.

Afterwards it was cool enough to go to Echo Park which we knew has a playground. We stopped for a long time on the bridge because we could see many turtles, ducks and fishes.

At the playground he was maybe 90 seconds. No interest in sliding.

He wanted to go on the trail.

... until he was scared about something and wanted to be carried. Luckily that didn't last too long.

We made it all around the lake. Omi had to take a photo if this flower.

Before going to the car we had to go to the bridge again to see more turtles.

We had a good night's sleep and went to church Sunday morning. When he had arrived Saturday he asked when we were going to church right then so we knew it was going to be ok. And he was very good and quiet in the pew and happy to be with the other children during children's service. He might have been looking forward to the "refreshments" afterwards.

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