Chuck-e-Cheese

As you all know, each year Auntie Jen likes to take the grandkids to Chuck-e-Cheese for an evening.  Aunt Jan comes along for the ride too but this year she ended up waiting a long time for all the coins to be used.  This year the plan was to go for Sam's birthday; however, dad and I went to a funeral in the Cities.  Sooo we just went a few evenings later.  As usual, they had a GREAT time.  Aunt Jen had 250 coins for them to spend - Katie learned very quickly how to use those "nickels".  They started giving her 5 at a time but soon dropped it to 2 at a time; she didn't mind at all.  She even spent time up in the "McDonald's" tubes, which were free.

 

 Here's our sweet princess riding in her coach.

 Aunt Jen and Chase playing the car racing game.  She and Sam also enjoyed this game and they spent many coins on it.

 Princess Katie in the tubes.

 This was a "game" where you laid in the two chairs and chose a roller coaster ride to go on.  There was a screen that you watched and then the seats would jiggle and shake and move.  We all enjoyed doing this one.  Katie, of course had to put her arms up in the air while riding this.

 Katie has been riding this horse since she was a very little girl.  I should find the pictures I've taken over the years.  If you remember, there's a screen that shows them on a racetrack and the horse gallops and jumps in pace with the screen.  Katie liked this one but then she actually liked all of them.

THANK YOU, AUNT JEN for a fun-filled night.

Chase, Sam & Katie (and Gramma & Grampa)

Three Grandkids

I took this picture of Grandma with Katie at the family gathering the other day.  The gathering was mostly cousins of Grandma; however, this year there were actually several of the kids of the cousins which would be of my generation.  It was fun to meet some of my third cousins and visit with them.  Katie was definitely the "hit" of the day - they thought she was the cutest one there.  She was so good but then she was able to play on Grandma's Kindle Fire.

 

 Group picture of the Gorter cousins - oldest there was 93 and she was someone I had never met or even heard of.

 The 3 grandkids playing Legos - Auntie Bonnie you just don't realize how many hours have been spent with the Legos you gave us a couple of years ago.

T

 

Time to get back to work but wanted to send a couple of pictures and a quick update.  Haven't had a lot of free time.  Wil and Linda and Stephanie are coming for coffee sometime tomorrow and we are excited; however, that means I need to do some basic cleaning.  Actually a little more than basic.

 

Have a super, duper weekend.

Love to all,

Gramma and MOM



Painting at Amy's

As you both know, we have been Chase sitting, house sitting and sheep sitting for the last several days.  Well, Chase is so problem; the sheep were no problem until today and the house, well it wouldn't have been a problem except Amy left this looooooooong to-do list for us.

 

Unfortunately, I only got one of my jobs accomplished which was painting the kitchen.  I'm hoping Amy took some pictures of her one wall before she pulled all the blue wallpaper off. 

 

Here are some before and after pictures:

 This poor little telephone has been sitting on the floor since it was installed.  Apparently it didn't fit on the holder on the wall or something - so I decided it needed a new home.  Worked out rather cute, I think.  Amy, I hope you like it too.

 Amy, I know you hate this fan and light fixture but until you get another one, I decided to just paint the other side of these ugly blades.  I think it's a nice compromise.  Maybe you'll even like it so much that you won't want to replace the light and fan????!!!!

 This wall, for those who have not been to Amy's home, had blue flowered wallpaper on it.  While I was in Arizona this winter, she pulled the paper down and did a great job of getting all the paste off the wall.  She had purchased this picture for her wall and this was her inspiration for the colors.  It's hard to tell, but the red is called Manhattan Red while the top is a warm light ivory.  Looks very pretty.
Before and after:

 This little plastic blackboard hung in the laundry room by the backdoor of my parents' house on the farm.  When the girls were young, they would leave messages on it for my teenage brothers and they in turn would leave the girls little notes.  When my mother distributed some of her things, my sister, Evelyn, chose this and gave it to Amy.  Amy, I hung it for you.  It's just a cheap plastic thing but it holds good memories for me.

Just printed the boarding passes for my trip to Washington tomorrow morning.  Dad is still at the farm with Chase so I'll be heading to the airport by myself in the morning.  Can't wait to see those Washington kids again.

I don't think I'll be bringing my computer so there won't be any posts until after June 8th. 

Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

The tulips of Washington

After leaving California, we headed off to the tulip fields of Washington.  I have seen them a couple of times before but if you remember, Dad has never been there in the spring.  He loved them and said it was worth every dime of the ten dollars he had to pay to go see the fields.

 The rest of the pictures are pretty much self explanatory.  There were lots of many colors and many different shapes and sizes.  All of them gorgeous.

 Isn't this one terrific guy - even with the long hair.

 After leaving the tulip fields, we went to the gardens.  We were there on a Thursday but still lots of people were in the fields as well as the gardens.  Lots of photographers.

 This is what was going to happen to the tulips the next week after we were there.  I wasn't sure if the tulips would be finished when we arrived at the end of the week, but as you can see they were still blooming and beautiful.  Makes me sad to see all the tulip blossoms lying between the rows but I guess that's what they need to do to make the bulbs strong so they can produce next year.

The azaleas and many other blooming plants were "showing off" while we were there.  It's almost a perfect time of year to visit the northwest.  But then, as far as I'm concerned, anytime is a perfect time to visit.  I'm so thankful that I have family who say they never get tired of us being there.  Gotta just make sure it stays that way.

Have a wonderful Sabbath day!!!
Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

A Slight Interruption



You may be asking yourselves - what is this hole in mom's kitchen.  Welllll, it's for my new dishwasher.  The small yellow piece of paper is the receipt - PD in Full!!!  As you know, I am very indecisive when it comes to making a large purchase - in fact one of the salesmen said to me that he wished he could just pick one out for me and deliver it.  I had just met him but boy, does he know me.  We went all over Sioux Falls one day and couldn't decide what I wanted exactly.  Uncle Dick told me to go to Edgerton because he found they have the best prices on appliances.  On the way to Chase's band concert, we went by way of Edgerton - only took me 10 minutes and I said - "I'll take that one."  Then dad says but this other one is cheaper - I was deciding between two and I said Nope - you said I could have whatever I wanted and that's the one I want.  What could he say - he just shook his head and let me pay for it.  It will be delivered next week.  I'm so excited!!!

 

 

 This is the first year since we've been in Brandon that dad has tulips and they are blooming so nicely - aren't they pretty?  Nothing like Washington but pretty good for us here in South Dakota.

 It's a bit chilly here today but it's supposed to freeze tonight so dad thought he should probably do some raking in the yard.  This is his hosta bed and in the summer, it's really nice.  He even has a shade cover he puts over it.

 As you know, Brandon had a big ice storm this winter and it took out all the shrubs/trees between the backyards of the neighbor and us.  We can now see almost all the way to the street - I'm not sure I like this loss of privacy.  Dad says we may have to plant something back in that area.

 It's city-wide garage sales in Brandon this weekend.  Couldn't believe the traffic - started Thursday afternoon and it was still busy this morning.  I didn't go to any - it's not nearly as much fun going by yourself.  Amy doesn't go with me since she moved; Aunt Sue was at Ben's graduation along with Aunt Jen.  Oh well, there is NOTHING I need anyway.

Here's our Katie girl with Lola the bunny.  On occasion she even put the leash on Grampa and led him around.  I miss you, Katie and can't wait til you come home with me on the big airplane - soon!!!

 

Happy Mother's Day to two awesome daughters.  What a blessing it is to watch the two of you parent your children.  I thank God for you and your families!!!!

 

Love you always and forever

MOM and Gramma



Reagan Presidential Library

This is a poster that was in a special Disney display at the Reagan Library and I thought it was unique so I took a picture of it.

My pictures actually loaded backwards so we'll see the end of the tour first.  This is a question we can ask even today.

 The grounds of the library were gorgeous and according to a plaque located there, they were donated by Merv Griffin.  I know that neither of you girls will know who he is but he was a talk show host back in our early married life and I really liked him.
At first we thought the grounds were on the ocean but they aren't - if you're standing in just the right place at just the right time, you can see just a sliver of the water but the day we were there, it was foggy so no ocean view.

 The library is located in Simi Valley and this is looking out over the valley.

 Father was cold but then he has turned into quite a wimp as far as cooler temps are concerned.  Maybe he should have just worn long pants.

 The Reagan Burial Grounds:

 This is a beam from the New York City Twin Towers.

 Not only does Reagan have a presidential limo and helicopter in his library but he also has his presidential airplane - one of many Air Force Ones.  We were allowed to walk through it but NO pictures because it is still owned by the Air Force and is merely on loan to the library and that is their policy.  (I asked - not because I wanted to take a picture but I was just curious)  It was not as plush inside as I thought it might be.  They said the current presidential planes are much larger.

 Presidential limo license and one of his  California limos

 As you know, we had razor wire installed behind our trailer in Arizona this last winter so had to get a picture of their version of the Berlin Wall razor wire.  They also had a replica of the wall with holes that the kids could crawl through.  I didn't do that so I'm not sure what they saw.  There were lots of school children there - probably 4th graders.

 There was also an actual section of the Berlin Wall at Reagan's Library but it was outdoors in one of their garden areas.  This would have been a checkbook sign from the American side.

 President Reagan was there to greet us when we first came in.  We had to wait for the doors to open at 10:00 and left again at 3:30.  We were concerned about the Los Angeles freeways and our trip north out of town, but we had no problems at all.  Smooth sailing the whole way.

 Thank you, President Reagan and Nancy for a fun, interesting, informative day.  We hope to be back someday because Dad did not get a chance to read everything. 
This library had iPods that we could rent and then as we walked through, it would tell us about the exhibits.  Dad preferred to read the information but I really enjoyed the iPod.  It even took pictures and then sent them to my e-mail.

I can now cross two more things off my "Bucket List" but then I need to add the two Presidential Libraries in Texas to my list so it just goes on and on.

That's it for today.  The sun is shining here in South Dakota and the temps are quite mild.  Have a super weekend.

Love to all,
Gramma and MOM