Visit to NY – July 1 – 6

We headed for NY early on the 1st and arrived around supper time.  Mom had supper ready for us so we ate and then chatted.  The next day, we hung out with Mom and Dad all day.  They had gotten a digital camera so I helped them figure out how to use it and how to manage pictures from it on the computer.  On Thursday, we all went to the Casino in Batavia.  We’d played the slots and video poker for an hour or so.  As usual I lost but not much.  I think Mom was the only winner.  Afterward, we ate at Main Street Pizza.  They make the best pizza I’ve ever eaten.  I love their sauce.  Friday we went to Warsaw.  First we stopped to see Aunt Peg to help her with computer problems.  Then I ran over to the 4th of July Fireman’s Carnival to get some waffles.  They’re one of my favorite carnival foods – better than elephant ears.  Next we went to see Grandma.  She had a list of chores for Neil and I so we got those accomplished first and then talked for awhile.  We had a date with Mom and Dad for a fish fry at the hotel in Attica so we headed back to the farm.  The fish fry was good as usual.  Sunday we went to church with Mom and Dad and then out to brunch with the church crowd.  After returning to the farm Neil and I went up to see Aunt Elsie and Uncle Jim for a few minutes.  They seemed to be doing a little better than they had been.  During the afternoon, Grandma and Aunt Peg came over for a visit.  After they left, Mom, Dad, Neil and I decided to have ice cream supper.  That’s where you skip a real meal and go to have sundaes or blizzards at an ice cream place.  I had hot fudge on Moose Tracks.  Yummm!  The next day, we headed home.  We had a real good visit and enjoyed seeing everyone.

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Visit to KY – June 30

On the way to NY, we picked up Granny and drove out to see Vic and the boys.  Vanessa, Trae and Layne met us there.  We talked and played with boys.  Before we left, Vic got out a bag of balloons because Ben and Sam love to see them pop.  Sam got so excited that I thought he’d wet his diapers.  Neil, Vic and I blew up and tied the balloons.  Then we gave some to Ben to break and a few to Layne to play with.  In the meantime, Sam kept his distance because he just wanted to watch.  Everytime a balloon would pop, Sam and Ben would yell and cheer and ask for “one mo”.   Ben would put a balloon on the floor, jump up in the air, and land with his butt on the balloon.  If it popped, he would jump up and clap.  It was hilarious to watch and Ben and Sam had a great time.  We went back to Granny’s after that.  John and Diane came over for a couple minutes to say “Hi”.

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To the Lake and Home – June 22-23

We all got up early to get to the lake to beat the rush since the lake is about 30 miles from the house.  Once we got to the barn, we loaded the pontoon and got the Waverunners (WRs) ready to go.  I took the pontoon with the little kids, Vic and Vanessa.  Trae wanted to drive so I let him drive half the way to Budweiser Beach.  In the meantime, Neil, Sonny and Tara launched the WRs.  They passed us half way to the beach and went ahead to pick out a place to beach the boats.  Ben wanted to drive the pontoon so I let him have the wheel in Big Sandy.  He drove us around in circles for awhile until I kept him aimed toward the beach.  He was having a great time.  We beached the boats, put out the plastic chairs, and got out the beach toys.  Sam and Ben played in the sand while the rest of us tanned, swam and rode the WRs.  I took Trae out and let him drive.  He was hesitant at first but got the hang of it pretty quick.  Then I took Savanna for a ride.  Neil was out with Trae at the same time.  Savanna and I turned around at one point and all we could see was the other WR but no Neil or Trae.  They had flipped it over.  Savanna and I went back to see if they were OK but they were already getting back on.  They both blamed each other for the flip but it made for an exciting story.  On the way back to the beach, I let Savanna drive.  Tara was wondering at that point if Papa and G (Neil and I) had lost their marbles.  Neil had flipped Trae and I was letting a five-year-old drive.  What are grandparents for anyway?  Around noon, we headed back to the barn.  We stopped in a cove on the way to ride Mable but no one was much interested in riding.  Vic rode a little while with Sam (after she flipped over on it when it was just sitting quietly in the water) but mostly all the little kids wanted to ride the WR with Nene (Vanessa).  Since only one could ride at once, it was a little dicey for awhile.  Eventually, we headed for the barn, unloaded everything, talked to Dexter, played with Aladdin (Dexter’s new dog), and then headed home.  Vic had put beans on to cook so we had beans and cornbread for supper.  (I think it’s really cool when the kids want to cook for us!!)  Trae finally got his Monopoly game finished.  Sonny whipped up on everyone.  Then we lazed around the rest of the night and watched the kids play.  The next day, Sonny’s family left first for GA after lunch.  Trae stayed behind to spend a week at Camp Nene.  Vic, Vanessa, Trae, Ben and Sam left about an hour later for KY and IN.  The car was so full that Vanessa and Trae barely fit in.  Everyone got home safely.  Neil and I did some cleanup and then collapsed for the rest of the day.  It was a fun fun weekend and we missed everyone as soon as they left.

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Kid’s Visit – June 20-21

Vickki, Vanessa, Ben and Sam arrived on the afternoon of the 20th.  Soon, the boys were out playing in the water toy on the back patio.  They were having a great time pouring the water on themselves and on the patio.  The toy was just a means to get to the water.  Ben would pour a glassful over his head.  The water was cold so he’d squeak and jump up and down.  Then he’d do it again.  It was pretty funny to watch.  Before bedtime, the boys played on our hassock/coffee table.  It’s their trampoline and diving platform.  Sonny’s family arrived the next day.  We went back outside to make play-doh art and then to the water toy to get wet again.  Trae got a game of Sponge Bob Squarepants Monopoly going with Sonny, Vanessa and I.  I was having a bad game so I made an excuse that I had to do something else and ditched it on Tara.  Meanwhile, Vic was making us a huge supper of meat loaf, mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole and macaroni and cheese.  I also picked up three slabs of BBQ ribs at Trolinger’s (a BBQ, gas station, meat market, deli, convenience store in Paris).  We enjoyed an awesome meal and then kicked back for the evening.

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Videos

I’ve figured out how to add videos to my site.  If you look at the column on the right, you see a section called “Pages”.  Underneath that is a link to videos.  Click on that and you should be able to see links to my videos.