Two Weeks Later...

I can't believe it has been two weeks since my last Blog entry. One would think, with the lack of posting, that I had no life.

Last week was spring break for the Mini's, Hayden and Bailey. Andie took them on Monday to have lunch with Michael in their Halloween costumes. This is part of their family's tradition and much enjoyed by all. Let's face it, if you want to put a grin on an adult face have kids come in wearing their Halloween costumes and that will do it every time.

Monday afternoon Andie and the Mini's headed to Sadieville for a visit. Another part of the Marx family Halloween tradition is to bring the Mini's over to visit Mimi at the nursing home and also see the other residents.

It's always a burst of energy when little ones enter this quiet home in which two old people reside. It is also always a welcome change of pace for Claude and me. Albeit afterwards we are quite worn out but it is a happy kind of tired.

Tuesday we spent putzing around the house in the morning. Claude and Papa had their shift at the Family History Center to cover.

In the afternoon, it was time for a walk. It worked out well to go then, the temperature was warm enough for a light jacket and the rain clouds were gathering so the sun was not an issue. It wouldn't be long after we finished our wandering of Eagle Bend that the rains and thunder came full force.

We took the necessary gear and headed down Eagle Bend Drive. We crossed to Eagle Creek through an empty lot down the street. Then we followed the creek bank to the dam and the bridge. On the other side of the bridge is a shallower, slower moving portion of the creek. Fortunately, we had not had rain for a good bit of time so the water was really shallow. However, this year the growth along the banks of the creek has gotten very tall.

Andie made a fun science project for the kids. She took those large cottage cheese type plastic containers. She cut a hole in the bottom for the end to put your face at. Over the other open end she stretched plastic wrap and secured it with a rubber band. The object of the science project is to find a shallow stream or pond, place your viewer over the water so that the plastic covered end is in the water, and press down just a bit, with the end result being the plastic will bubble some and magnify the bottom of the creek or pond. Great fun for the Mini's was in store.

It turned out the place we took the kids to try their viewers had an island in the middle of the creek and a line of rocks the kids could walk over the water to the island. In addition, one of our neighbors must have cut down their banana plants and tossed them into the creek and they took up residence of this island. It looked totally out of character for Kentucky but made a great place for little ones to explore and play.

Andie broke off two big leaves for each of the kids and they were suddenly in flight!!

One of the cute things about being along the creek was the burrs on the plants. We first noticed them on my  jeans and jacket. The kids helped me pull them off.  We noticed them again all over Hayden's pants as they played on the island. At one point our little scientist was busy looking for the perfect place to use his viewer in the stream. He needed a rock or log to sit on so he could get right over the water. Meanwhile, Bailey, our little collector of things, yots and yots of things, figured out the plants with the burrs and used her viewer to collect a viewer full of burrs. I was amused at their personalities at work on the walkabout of Eagle Bend.

It was time to head back home. Wings were ready and off the Mini's flew up Eagle Bend Drive to a nice warm house before the rain came.

There were a couple of cute Baileyisms I want to remember. One was as we neared the house after our walk. Bailey remembered she had gathered an armfull of branches and leaves. I suggested she leave them as the end of the bridge while we played in the creek and pick them up on our way home. She cheerfully agreed. Only problem...we forgot to get them and bring them home with us. Bailey and I walked back to the bridge to get them. As we neared the bridge Bailey ran ahead and gathered her arms full of branches and leaves. She looked up at me with those big brown eyes and said, "I'm a happy girl." Awww...

The other Baileyism happened Tuesday morning. Everyone was up and out of bed except Claude. The Mini's like to wake him up. (Actually, this has been a ritual for all the grandmonsters when they were little.) I was working in the kitchen and I could hear that Bailey was ready to head to the bedroom door. I heard Andie call to Bailey and tell her to wait for Hayden. Hayden was finishing up something before he could go in to wake up Claude. You must read this with a Bailey voice to get the full effect. Bailey has a deep, throaty voice for a little one. She was obviously alone in the living room after Andie's instruction. There was a pause, then I heard that deep, throaty little girl voice say (just like Eeyore on Winnie the Pooh), "Mom's right."  It was just too cute. In my mind I quietly added Eeyore's "Oh bother."

Wednesday Papa would come and spend the morning with us. The rain had not let up and it was good to have someone else to play in front of and with. At one point we paused for Chomper Snacks. (Apple slices covered with peanut butter and marshmallows placed on the peanut butter to look like teeth.) It was time for a quick show as they ate their snacks. Bailey chose papa for her table while watching the TV. Papa left to feed Mimi right after the show was over and he literally had to get up and clear away the things Bailey brought to her Papa table. Just to be clear, Papa is holding a bottle of Dr. McGillicuddy root beer.

In the afternoon Claude returned from his morning meetings and had a chance to play with the kids again.

Then we put the costumes on Hayden and Bailey before heading to the nursing home. I sewed the costumes.  Bailey is a blue macaw from the movie Rio. Hayden is Chris from the Wildkratts (a show about animals).

I loved watching Bailey and Claude as they watched one more show while Andie loaded the car.

Mimi was just waking up when we got to her room at the nursing home. It was around 3pm and they begin waking residents from their afternoon naps to get them dressed and ready for dinner. The kids are just so at ease with her. They held her hand, gave her a stuffed puppy to hold and lots of hugs and kisses. This delighted Papa.

The Mini's headed to the multi-purpose room to show their costumes to the other residents. After a bit Hayden looked at me and said, "Let's go exploring." Oh my...what to do with that suggestion in a nursing home.

I stood at the nurses station and had an idea. I know the Ford's really well. Doris is the resident and Jim lives in an apartment. We headed to the end of the hall and found Doris' room. I explained our need to explore and hoped they would help me with the kids a bit. Bless their hearts they asked appropriate questions about the costumes and shook hands and made our little ones feel just grand about their visit.

The Marx van was then off to LaGrange. We did so many more things than are included in this Blog. It was a wonderful visit. Love it when our family comes to visit. The little ones brought rays of sunshine into Mimi and Papa's lives as well in their visit. Can't get much better than that for a fall break from school.