Got to have fun

Lots going on lately. James is working on our taxes for example. And Christa (note to self) don't forget to write the weekly letter to William so it can be in the mailbox before the mailman comes.
I had to go outside to take some photos of our lovely spring flowers.

Front left side.

Front right side.

Back yard.

Friday (3-22) Sarah had asked me whether I wanted to spend the night. Her hubby was gone for the weekend. After arrival we quickly did a walk in the neighborhood. Weather was not that nice but the boys were happy to be outside, at least for a little while.

Caleb on his bicycle he can ride now without traningwheels. Colin on the strider. Owen on the scooter. Everybody happy.

VIDEO: 2019-03-22 walking with the children in the neighborhood     (0:35)

VIDEO: 2019-03-22 Caleb showing off on his bike     (0:44)

You can't be outside with the children and cook and the children like to ride in the car. So we all went to little Caesars to get take-out pizza. I waited in the car with them while Sarah ran in. There was some grumpiness. Hunger? Omi's entertainment: looking backwards with the phone without turning around. "I can see you"

Ha-ha, Mommy the photo bomber.

Before we had left the house when we were piling into the car, we suddenly heard a very very strong wind. We sat in the car (in the garage) waiting for a moment. I saw a neighbor's tree crash onto the white picket fence of another neighbor. Sarah saw a very heavy branch come down. When we were driving to the pizza place we saw a tree across the railroad and a house under construction had fallen down.

When we left the pizza place we saw the police, firetrucks etc rushing by. We guessed where they were going. On the way back I took the 

VIDEO: 2019-03-22 scary very strong winds results     (0:30)

The boys were excited.

Next morning Papa joined us and we all went to Caleb's soccer practice. 

The twins were not happy. They wanted to play soccer too and were not allowed. Papa and I took a walk with them. They were not happy. And it was cold too.

Papa spied a playground and we walked over to that. Twins happy.

In the evening we went with our season tickets to the Richmond Forum. Ian Bremmer was funny and very interesting. We were quite impressed.

Yesterday (Tuesday) finally a not so cold day. Aldi had some lamb steaks on sale and this was the first grilling of the year.

 But we had to eat inside. It wasn't THAT nice. But it was yummy. Looking forward to when we can grill and eat outside. This surely has been a strange winter and spring beginning.

Coming back to a very VERY busy week

We really don't like to drive on Sundays. It's the Lord's Day and we should be in church ... but sometimes it can't be helped. HE knows how much we love our children and definitely didn't want to leave even one day earlier. We always pray before we start the car though. This day it was 6 am.

We were surprised how full the highway was even on a Sunday. And they didn't all come out of church. Even trucks. But it was sunshine the whole way. Very nice. 

When we arrived home the first thing I had to do is tie up my orchid. The blooms were so heavy that it was laying down. So beautiful.

Monday March 18

Full steam ahead. First thing I had to do is write the shopping list for James. Not only were Mrs. Hubbard's cupboards empty, we also have to prepare for the dinner for the church vestry (council) Tuesday evening. Bummer, I found that I had left all my recipes in Nashville but I managed. I am so lucky that James doesn't mind shopping because I don't. He did very well with the list.

We also have to prepare the sunroom. On Wednesday morning all windows and the sliding door in that room will be replaced. All the blinds etc. had to be taken down. Builder grade quality has given us trouble over the years. 

Very pleased with what we managed to do today. Since we made great progress and Sarah had asked when they were going to see us, we went "over the river". The children were very happy to see us. I totally forgot to take photos. I did just remember though that I never posted a video I had taken just a little while ago. I think it is very cute. So typical!

VIDEO     (0:34)

Tuesday

The table is laid. This year all invited can come. There will be 12 around the table. Every leaf was put in. We do this every year for the new vestry to get to know each other better. The priest, 9 vestry members, the treasurer and the clerk. 

The trouble is, I never can remember what the menu was the previous year. So, here it is so I know next year: Appetizer: homemade red beets hummus in scoops and (German) white asparagus rolled in Black Forest Ham cut into bites. Next: my German cousins recipe Pumpkin Soup with other veggies including root celery. Main course: chicken wild rice casserole and organic baby spinach salad.

Ha-ha, dessert was a bit funny. Because we are in the season before Easter I made "rabbits in the grass". It's a family tradition every Easter since Helen was a little child and her Aunt Jane gave her a children's cookbook with that in it. Pair halves on green jello with a marshmallow tails etc. And one not-homemade thing: We had just bought Danish Pecan Kringle at Trader Joe's which they have for only a few days before holidays and James was lucky to be there at the right time. 

The trouble is that I am now on the vestry too and need to sit with them. Normally James and I serve every course adorned with the St Martin's aprons and otherwise stay in the kitchen. James did that all by himself ... plating the food, serving drinks etc. He did that last year too and did a great job. I have one more year on the vestry! He should get one of the other spouses to help. Of course I tried to prepare as much as I could (see rabbit above) in advance but refrigerator space can than be an issue too. The downside of downsizing when moving.

I think the dinner went very well. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Needless to say that I was very proud of my husband.

Wednesday

Last night after the guests had left we emptied the sunroom because we didn't know how early the window installer crew might be here. 

By 10 am things were in full swing. 

They finished everything outside because the next day it was supposed to rain. So lucky with the weather this day. At 5 pm they called it a day and said they would come back the next day.

Next day (Thursday) they said it was too wet and they would make the house too muddy because they have to do the sawing outside. 

Friday

We were told that they would come at about 8:30 am. We decided only one needed to be here so James went to Sarah's. After several inquiries two people finally arrived shortly after 12 noon. The guys are very nice and most likely it is beyond their control but ... while waiting I ate an orange. Because I had time to waste I tried something I had seen on the internet.

My proportions are not right but it was a lot of fun. Sorry.

The two window people tried very hard to do as much as they could but there is a problem with the half-round window over the middle one. Nothing is ever clear cut. We will have to make a call on Monday. 

More William time

In the previous blog I wrote about our visit to Paducah, Kentucky. We showed the closed flood gates to William. Look what I just found on the internet: It is a recent photo taken with a drone.

This is exactly where we walked on the "dry side" of the wall.

Wednesday

What to do when suddenly the weather is finally a little better than it has been? Something where you can be outside at least some of the time. We had heard about THE HERMITAGE, the house of one of our USA presidents, Andrew Jackson. There was a modern building which was the museum.

This is the old house, of which the construction had started 1819. We had to wait quite a while until it was our turn for the tour of the mansion. 

Whoever is sitting on the very long bench is going on the next tour. It was very interesting ... but no picture taking!

Out at the back ... and then we walked around on the grounds. Very nice.

Right after, we met Helen for a late lunch at the Olive Garden at Hickory Hollow. Our waitress was very bubbly and outgoing. William loves the breadsticks. She taught him how to love them even more. She grated cheese onto a plate and you dip the bread into it. Oh yes, he loved it.

Thursday

The lovely weather didn't stick around long. It got colder again. But the highlight of this day: Papa suggested the Adventure Science Center. Well, you don't have to ask William twice about that. 

Here William is waiting for a turn to do the "moonwalk".

VIDEO 1     (0:48)

VIDEO 2     (0:35)

In the afternoon Helen came and we all drove to Lebanon. It's about a 40 minutes drive. A good friend of them had invited us for coffee. Betty is a longtime resident in Lebanon and a neighbor of the family farmhouse. We had met her at our last visit too. She had prepared lovely snacks for us and we never ran out of things to talk about. 

Afterwards we met Ben for an early dinner at a Mexican restaurant. It was a full day for William. Lots going on.

Friday

Seems already so long ago. The day started a little later. William says it's his spring break and he should be allowed to stay up later. The boy is just like his mother was as a child. He had trouble sleeping. This might not have been the healthiest day food-wise and he tossed and turned. We woke him at 10am. He liked Papa's granola for breakfast. 

Guess what William wanted to do after lunch. Yes, two days in a row!

Oh yes, one more VIDEO   (1:09)   Papa made Omi happy (if you can't be there!).

Can't remember what else we did ... but playing Wii was part of it, several times this week.

Saturday

Our last day. Time to pack William's things up.

Yeah, really, another nice day with sunshine and warmer temperatures. Papa, William and I went to the Nashville Zoo. That is the great thing about having a family membership in the Science Center and also the zoo. It doesn't matter how often or for how long you go. It is always worth it. And the zoo is not far from their house anyway.

First stop was the Jungle Gym. This must be a child's dream. It is huge. So many different things to see and do. But we were a bit nervous because there were lots of people around. Not easy to keep track of the children. Lots of parents were searching for children. Luckily William is a clever coolheaded kid. He asked us where we would be.

There was lots to see.

Papa and William are studying the zoo map to figure out where to go next. Of course a paper version. But here is the online map.

We had a good time. William forgot that he wanted to go on the Soaring Eagle Zipline and instead took us to see his Mommy's favorites: Spiders, Bugs, Snakes etc. 

Yes, we had fun. He wanted some popcorn. After he mentioned it at three different times we thought he really wanted it ... grandparents are there to spoil. We know.

Back at their house Helen got Chinese take-out for an early supper. Time to say good-bye. We parted with a dozen eggs from the "ladies". William stressed that I should not forget to write a letter to him. I told him that I would like one from him too. He thinks he is so busy. And I am not? Oh well ... Hugs will do.