Somebody is turning 9

Yup. Going to be 9. Our first (which makes hime the oldest) grandson. Have to be in Nashville of course. We drove all day Friday so we had some time with him after school. And then it's weekend. Have to use every minute.

That Friday was his Field Day at school though. We missed that. But Ben shared several videos and photos with us. Great big THANK YOU!
I made one VIDEO   (1:48) out of them. We were so impressed with how fast he has become since last year. Ben said that William's team did very well. And at the end everybody got really muddy. That must have been fun for William too.

Worth traveling for 10 hours when you get a hug like that when you arrive!!!!!

Saturday, Helen's friend Susanne came for brunch. We like her too and it's her birthday this day. William decided we should make a special dessert. Gummy worms in dirt. He and Papa get busy.

William is serving Susanne her birthday dessert ... with a candle.

William loves to read. He found this and showed it to me.

Mother's Day at Helen's church. Special music this Sunday!  VIDEO!   (1:35)

I think it is very lovely and enjoyable.

All seems to be already prepared in the Sunday school rooms for VBS. William loves Sunday school. Today he had to bring 9 pennies since he is going to have a birthday on Tuesday.

Drifter is taking the boys for a walk.

White stuff was flying around like snow. Seeds from something.

To the golf course and back.

Monday evening. After William went to bed it's time to do some preparations for the next morning. Mommy blows up 25 regular balloons. And 5 glow-in-the-dark balloons too.

We got 8 floating balloons which where tied to his breakfast spoon, toothbrush, on each shoe, backpack etc. Happy birthday banners on the bathroom mirror and over the table.

Drifter didn't like that the balloons were all over William's bedroom floor. But William had fun when he woke up on his birthday.

He wanted the same birthday cookie as last year ... a bonfire cake. Helen delivered.

The cousins wanted to FaceTime but William was in school and later the timing didn't work out. 

So, they sent a VIDEO!    (0:34) The cousins love each other which makes the grandparents happy.

On Wednesday he took 2 dozen cupcakes to school for his class mates (and teachers). Helen wrote on Facebook: "Chocolate Enderman and Vanilla Creepers invaded 3rd grade lunch!" The comment was: "Mindcraft". Omi and Papa don't have a clue.

And yes, birthday decorations still around days later!

Thursday was a very busy day. I had volunteered to bake a "Pflaumenkuchen" for Helen's German class (she is teaching right now) in the evening. Thanks to google I found a good recipe. A very German one. Well, this is not the season for the right Pflaumen (Zwetschgen) and I had to use two foil pans instead of the proper "Blech" but it turned out pretty well. And it fit right into the lesson for the day.

At the end of her class she texted this photo to me. I will do this again for sure because we liked it too. I will share the recipe then.

James and I picked William up from his school at 3 pm. It's our last day this trip. We had brought a change of clothes for William and the three of us went to the zoo. It's not far and we get in free because they have a membership.

Papa wanted to see the new tiger exhibition. William read everything there was about it.

Got a few good photo shots too.

Papa had promised. The ride. Actually William negotiated for a second ride after visiting the parakeet exhibition which Papa wanted to see. 

VIDEO   (0:37)

We had a great time until it was bedtime. After all, it was a school night. 

Friday we had to leave ... looking very much forward to seeing him again in July ... when it is vacation time!