We took a trip to KY on Sep11.  On the way, we stopped at Oak Grove Cemetery to visit Pops’ grave.  Then we went on to Granny’s house.  We picked her up and went to the new KY Veteran’s Cemetery  across from Ft. Knox.  That’s where Neil and I have decided to be buried.  It’s a pretty and quiet place.  After that, we took a quick trip to Camp Carlson, the Ft. Knox Campground.  They’ve really done a lot of work on that place and it’s a whole lot nicer than when we used to stay there.  There is a new main office, shower/laundry room building, cement pads, and cabins.  From there, we went to Vickki’s house to see her and the boys.  We talked and played with the boys.  The boys kept climbing on their dresser in the bedroom.  We old folks took turns watching them.  I think it almost gave Granny a heart attack but she had some good quality alone time with the boys.  Granny had a great day and was pooped by the time we got her home.  It was a good day for all.

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Vic, Ness, Ben and Sam arrived in the late afternoon on the 1st.  The boys had toys, tools, etc. scattered everywhere within minutes.  We played with them, talked and had chili for supper.  I had saved some air filled packing material and let the boys pop the air chambers.  (See the latest video on the video page.)  That was a lot of fun.  Ben has his popping method down pat.  After a good night’s sleep we played some more the next morning.  The boys went down for their nap in the afternoon and Vic and Ness went clothes shopping.  It was tax free weekend in TN.  The girls got back just as the boys woke up.  What good timing!  I had picked up The Amazing Race DVD game so Vic, Ness and I started playing it after the boys went to bed.  Vic had to go back in with the boys to get them to sleep so Neil played for her for awhile.  He finally got tired and went to bed.  Ness and I decided to keep going and to play Vic’s game for her.  Guess who won?  Vic.  Ness and I played way to well for her.  That’s pretty good when you can win without actually playing.  The next morning, Ben helped me water my flowers.  He’s a good little helper.  While outside, he spotted the equipment of the construction guys who are building new houses next to us.  He wanted to go ride the tractor.  We gathered everyone and strolled down to try out the equipment.  The boys liked the tractor the best but finally sat on the bulldozer and forklift.  It was hard to get them to come back to the house.  They really like heavy machinery.  Of course, they like light stuff too since Papa let Ben use the leaf blower in the living room.  After some serious deliberation, Vic an Ness decided to head back to KY that afternoon.  We had a fun weekend with the kids.

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We went to GA to help Sonny take care of Trae and Savanna while Tara did some National Guard training in WI.  Our job was to get the kids up and ready for day care/camp.  Then we’d deliver them to their destination.  Savanna went to her regular day care and Trae went to day camp on Robins AFB.  Sonny usually got back from work while we were delivering the kids since he worked the night shift.  Then in the afternoon, we’d go back to pick the kids while Sonny was still sleeping.  In between delivery and pickup, we’d go shopping or hang out at the house.  Everything went pretty well.  Savanna likes playing with her friends at day care.  Trae gets to do all kinds of neat stuff at camp.  Once a week they go to Atlanta to visit the aquarium or some other place.  They also get to swim and bowl.  One day, they had a girls vs. boys dance contest.  Trae’s team won the contest and he was pretty psyched.  On the Saturday we were there, we took the kids shopping to the mall in Macon.  We had to get shoes.  On the way we had lunch at Zaxby’s, Trae’s favorite fast food place.    Tara got home late the night before we left so we got to see her for a few minutes.  We really enjoyed hanging out with Sonny and the kids.

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We went to the lake to mow, weed eat and do cleanup after being gone for awhile.  Missy, Abigail and Ellie were there visiting Dexter and Tammy.  We spent almost the whole day talking with Missy and playing with the girls.  They’re all doing fine and are now living at Ft. Benning, GA.  Neil took Missy, the girls and I for a ride in the Kubota.  Missy and I sat in lawn chairs in the back with Ellie.  Abigail was up front.  After awhile, Abigail got to drive.  She did real good and had a great time.  Getting to drive stuff at the lake is always fun.  We really enjoyed seeing Missy and the girls.

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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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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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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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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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