We were blessed to have our two youngest grandmonsters each stay a couple of days with us. This is a treat because we get to focus on just one child and they really love getting all that attention. It is truly a win-win situation.
I went to LaGrange Wednesday, June 12th to pick up Miss Bailey.
Bonnie, my mum-in-law, made a trip to Alaska and sent Claude home from his Utah trip with socks for the Mini Marx's. I took them with me when I went to pick up Bailey. They were very happy to get their treasures.
Our first stop was the brand new Cabela's in Louisville. Bailey was in a Cabela's many years ago as a toddler at the Dundee, Michigan store. She really doesn't remember it. So it was great fun to look at the bright pink kayaks in front of the store and all of those stuffed animals on the walls and racks in the store. Bailey found paw prints in the concrete flooring. She really loved the mountain at the back of the store and found lots of neat animals on it. The icing on the cake of this fun store was the giganormous catfish in the tank at the base of the mountain. Bailey even got the opportunity (and quickly took it) to toss a chicken leg into the tank. That catfish ate the whole thing. Amazing.
This is the conversation between Bailey and Claude over lunch.
Claude to Bailey: You're a pest.
Bailey to Claude: Does 'pest' mean 'I love you'?
Claude with a grin: Yes it does.
Bailey to Claude: Does 'pest' mean 'I love you'?
Claude with a grin: Yes it does.
Thursday, June 13th was full of fun and play. Here are a few pictures of Miss B at play.
A little explanation here...WahWah is Bailey's favorite lovey from her babyhood. The seam was starting to come apart at his shoulder. Bailey packed him up in her suitcase and informed me he needed to be fixed while she was visiting. I repaired him. Then Bailey determined he needed to do a little bungey jumping off the deck with one of my elastic exercise bands from my physical therapy on my arm. Poor WahWah. He continues to fulfill the measure of his creation in fine fashion.
Bailey really wanted to go to the park in Sadieville. But we were spending the day dodging rainstorms. It finally appeared to clear a bit and we quickly packed a lunch and headed to the park. This is Bailey playing on the monkey bars and you can see in the background the storm welling up again overhead. I told Bailey if we heard thunder or saw any lightening we would have to head to the car as fast as we could run. She looked at me and the sky and said, "Let's go now!" We hurried to the car and were not in it long before the raindrops started to fall. I suggested we might go ahead and have our lunch while we waited to see if it would pass. We enjoyed our lunch and the rain passed. We played a few minutes more at the park. That night as I put Bailey to bed I asked her what her favorite part of the day way. She said, "Having a picnic in the car!"
Bailey was a great little gardener. We spent a good part of the afternoon weeding my hosta bed and she dug up the two planters on the patio and planted a number of odd flower seed envelopes in them. I shall always remember that smooth soil ready for planting and her sticking that pointer finger out and making a hole in the smooth soil with it. Then she dropped the seed into the hole and covered it up. I was sure they would be too deeply planted to grow but they have grown quite nicely. I send a picture update to Andie to show Bailey their progress each week.
Friday morning, June 14th, Claude had a ribbon cutting to go to at a new business in Georgetown. Bailey was quite happy to tag along. She enjoyed meeting Jack Conner and loved the sofa in the office of the new business. Jack even gave her part of the ribbon they cut in front of the business and he autographed it for her. This is Bailey on the sofa in the new business.
This picture is proof that Bailey has amazing powers. Claude just usually doesn't enjoy card games. I came out and found Bailey & Claude playing cards on the deck. Michael taught Bailey a card game and she taught it to Claude and they were playing away. This is definitely proof Bailey has amazing powers.
Conversation between Bailey and Claude:
Pa: (after watching the crane fly
away) I could fly up to the roof if I wanted.
Bailey: No you can't.
Pa: I can if I want to.
Bailey: Maybe when you are thin!
Ahh...these two...
We had a hammock mishap the summer Katelyn lived with us. This last winter I found denim fabric on a bargain rack and bought what I would need to make a new hammock. While Bailey was here we put it on the frame and she enjoyed laying on it. Since the old one torn in half while Katelyn was trying to sleep on it, I sent her an eMail with a picture of the new cover just to tease her a bit. The old cover really tore because the fabric was rotted from being out in the weather for several years, not from anything Katelyn did. Then I sent Katelyn another picture later to tell her the new cover sprouted Bailey legs!!
Claude started a tradition when we were having Camp Christensen of having something for the kids to paint when they come for a visit. This time he purchased a flower pot for Bailey and one for Hayden. Bailey would start hers and then finish it when Hayden came for Father's Day.
Bailey had a fun time and she brought lots of joy to Claude and me. She is a bundle of energy and it is a delight to watch the joy she has in life. What a treat to have her for all that time to ourselves. Thanks Andie and Michael for sharing her with us. Thanks to Bailey for bringing so much joy to Claude and me.
