All day driving! We usually set our alarm and head out early. We see some snowflakes here and there but overall the weather is not bad and it is a good drive. We arrive in good time.
We are at the TN (townhouse) in good time. William wants to come for a sleepover of course and Helen can have a session at taekwondo by herself for once. William gives the best welcome hugs ever.
Saturday March 4
A leisurely morning. I forgot some of the games which go forth and back VA - TN. But we find a chess board so we make checkers pieces from paper. It works and William and I have several games. He is catching on to it and getting better with every game.
James took this photo.
William comes home with a science project: fill it with some water and tape it to the back patio door we can observe evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection.
Sunday March 5
We all go back to the TH and have some social time. Helen looks amazing!!! She has worked hard to get healthy, fit and trim.
She shows us that William can give her a hug "all the way around".
The rest of the day was spent playing ... like building a house.
Monday March 6
On our last visit in January we had finally looked seriously into replacing the nasty cheap awful looking carpet in the living room. Especially James had strong feelings about that and took action. As arranged from VA the material was delivered this day.
When we emptied the shelf units and sideboard etc we found something which reminded us of our friends in Paducah.
Tuesday
Yeah, yeah, yeah, nothing ever goes quite like plan. It rained pretty much all day starting early. The work crew arrived but we mutually agreed that it made no sense to do the installation this day. Some sawing had to be done and it wouldn't be good to do that inside the house. We agree on next day early 8 am.
When we did some shopping, we saw this license plate though. I love clever things!
Things are not so easy any more since William is now in first grade. It's a long day for him, homework and reasonable bedtime make it difficult to see each other during the week. We manage to meet for supper in a Mexican restaurant close to their house though and have a nice time. It is always nice to have time with Ben too.
Don't know why but I selected not my usual Mexican food. This really was good and hit the spot. It was so much though that I could take home lunch for next day.
Wednesday
Yes, the crew came as agreed and did a super job! When we look at these pictures we wonder why we ever thought we could do this by ourselves.
Thursday
The weather is getting better. James and I can actually do a little walking. Gosh that feels good!
Friday
Helen is off and comes for lunch. She had wished for a tomato pie. A good choice especially in lent with baked fish on the side. Success!
Fixing her shirt ... success too!
Papa picked William up from school for the weekend. Helen had brought the suitcase. William's suggestion so he would be faster with us.
After Helen had left, William and I went to work. We baked cup cakes. William is a big help.
Dessert for the rest of our stay.
Saturday
What a surprise when we woke up. The few flurries we were supposed to get had actually amounted to something. And all without William wearing his pjs inside out and putting ice cubes into the toilette (see a January blog).
We had breakfast and William helped in the kitchen.
Because the snow was unexpected William had not the right close/shoes but Helen came soon because we had sewing plans and brought what William needed. Yeah, he could go outside.
Well, Omi had to help a little. So prepared! I am sure you notice the naked legs.
Papa is a trooper. He took William to the TN State Museum because Mommy and I had a project we wanted to do. We are both participating in the Cotton Robin. Unfortunately at this time it is still a secret and we can't talk about it.
We had been very sorry to hear that Helen had hurt her hand the night before and Ben even had to take her to the ER. Glad I was available to help her with her project. She was gung-ho about it and knew exactly what she wanted to do.
James even remembered to take some photos at the museum!
For lunch they walked down the street from the museum. William wasn't impressed with his mac+cheese but surely liked the muffin which came with Papa's meal.
Some more checkers play before bedtime. This is William's new board.
Sunday
Church of course. Lunch at the TH. More sewing and play. For our "farewell dinner" we all wanted to meet at Logan's (Christa had a hankering for steak) but that was a disaster. Table for five - waiting time about 30 minutes ... and (as James found out because he asked after seeing many empty tables) another 30 minutes waiting time for the food after you have been seated.
Change of venue. Another Mexican restaurant. Locally owned places are really more fun then chain restaurants. Nice family time with Helen, Ben and William and then we have to part ... with the promise to be back for William's birthday!
Monday
We got up very early to get going. A storm was forecast and we wanted to stay ahead of it. We managed that very well except for the last few miles from Charlottesville. When James was driving I knitted on William's wool socks. I seem to be working on these forever and now they are done but for the binding. I hope they still fit!
Time in Nashville always flies. We seemed to have accomplished a lot in a short time. We have arranged a few pieces of furniture differently and are amazed what a difference it makes. So much better.
William is a lot of fun to be with. 6 is a great age!
Wonderful visit! You two are dream grandparents! I had more than my share of grandparents and loved them all, but I don’t remember any of them spending the kind of time or doing the things that you all do with your grands!
ReplyDeletePoor Helen! Hoping for quick healing!!!
Thanks for your praise. It's just that we have been so blessed. I had wonderful grandparents too and James one grandma which seems to have been wonderful but I never met her.
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