More Little Things...

And...here are a few small items I want to remember...

First, Katelyn requested I made a tutu for Raelyn's first birthday which will happen in January. I purchased the supplies while Claude was in Pittsburgh and put it all together November 22nd. This is the outfit. She has a long sleeved white onesie to wear under the tutu. It is cold in Michigan so long sleeves were important to me. I found silver leggings to go under the tutu. In the Disney store I purchased these bright pink shoes and then got some white socks with lace to wear with the shoes. What fun this Great Gramma had getting this all together. Thank you Katelyn for trusting me with this important moment in Raelyn's life.

Katelyn's next request was based on a childhood memory. We do this when we have children. Katelyn remembered a cassette tape of Papa reading the book 'A Cajun Christmas' which her mom played for them over and over at Christmas time. Somehow that reading was inadvertently taped over. Katelyn wanted Raelyn to have this memory of Papa reading the book. So she asked if I could find the book and have Papa read it while I recorded it. The book was with my Christmas books so it was easily found. I took it to Papa and suggested he read it several times before we taped it. It is written with a Cajun pronunciation. Papa always told Cajun jokes like Justin Wilson when we were kids and so he has a lot of experience speaking like that but hasn't in many years. Papa opened that book and was in heaven. He was so excited to read with that pronunciation. We finally got around to getting it recorded. I sent this picture via eMail along with the recording of Papa to Katelyn. She was extremely happy to get this blast for her past to share with her little girl.

This is Templeton. Named after the rat in the book 'Charlotte's Web'. When Bailey was about 4 or 5 years old, this rat was with the toys in the toy room in the basement. Bailey fell in love with it and carried it everywhere by the tail. Andie had shown them the movie of 'Charlotte's Web' and Bailey immediately named the rat Templeton. I have pictures of her carrying Templeton hanging by his tail as we walked along the creek and sitting on the driveway watching Bailey color with the chalk. He was a treasured friend to her. She slept with him just like she did all the soft lovey's. We were trying to help her learn borrow and return things and she would borrow Templeton and take him home with her and then bring him back when she visited the next time. After a while I just gave her Templeton with no need to return. Over the years he kind of vanished. A few days before Thanksgiving I got one of those notices of pictures from so many years back. One of them was Bailey and Templeton coloring on the driveway at our home. I smiled and remembered the love she had for that hard plastic rat. Imagine my surprise when they arrived on Thanksgiving morning and Bailey came in the living room holding Templeton by the tail!! We enjoyed his presence through Thanksgiving. When the Marx family got ready to leave, Bailey ran to quickly find a sticky note pad. She wrote a note and left Templeton on the coffee table in the living room. The note says, "Take good care of him." Bailey put a smiley face on this note. My emoji loving granddaughter did a handwritten emoji!! Templeton is still sitting on our coffee table and will until I put out Christmas decorations. Then I must find a good place for him to be "taken good care of".

Thanksgiving 2016 in Sadieville...

While our gathering would be small by some families terms, it would be just right for us. The Marx family would come from LaGrange and I would bring Papa out from Georgetown and Claude and me. Just enough to fill up the house nicely.

The Marx family were to arrive late Wednesday evening. Heavy rain was predicted, Andie had a cold, Michael was working late and the decision was made to wait and come Thursday morning. This was the right decision. Hayden sent me a text message to tell me they wouldn't be coming until Thanksgiving morning and said, "I hope you understand." Bless his heart! I texted him back and assured him I understood and it was a wise decision. Two parents who were very tired driving on heavily traveled very rainy roads is just not a great combination.

Thanksgiving morning Andie called to ask me to record the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. It was on two channels so I recorded both so they could pick which one they wanted to watch. It was fun to see the Mini's still enjoy the parade.

Bailey and Michael wore Capri length pants. I thought it was cool inside and outside our home. You know that old saying that you wear a sweater because your mom is cold. It is true!! I went to my bedroom and found my Soft Kitty knee length socks and asked Bailey if she wanted to wear them. Bailey loves all animals and was tickled pink to wear them. I never asked if she was cold. I just found a way to make me feel better about how cold I was sure she might be. Silly Ma!!  

Claude smoked a brisket on Wednesday. That would mean brisket sandwiches for the Marx family whenever they arrived Wednesday evening. They became lunch on Thursday. It was an excellent smoked brisket. The man knows how to smoke a brisket. 

Thursday morning he put the turkey in the smoker for Thanksgiving dinner. To that we added mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and cranberry sauce, moonshine corn, tossed salad and rolls. I was majorly amused that many families dress in their very best, use their best china and crystal and truly have a dining experience. Not so much in our family. Claude looked at me as we were setting up the buffet in the kitchen and asked if we should use paper or glass plates. Everyone came in their comfortable, lazy-around-the-house clothes. We did all sit at the dining room table so I give us points for that. Michael paused the football game so they could pick up where they left off and we all enjoyed a nice dinner together.

Everyone wanted to know what was for dessert so they knew whether to have seconds. We wouldn't tell until everyone was finished eating. Then Claude brought out the ice cream cake. Everyone was happy for an ice cream cake but they didn't quite get the reason for a cake with a spider. Then I explained and the Marx family all burst out laughing.  

Here is the story: Andie has a very nice big mirror over the mantle in their family room. Over a year ago she put a cling-on spider web with a spider in the web on the top fourth corner of this mirror. It was great Halloween decorations in their home. However, Andie took all the Halloween stuff down and put up fall stuff but forgot she had the spider web and spider cling-on still on her mirror. Once she realized she left it, she just decorated the spider for the fall, then a Santa hat at Christmas, a celebration hat for New Year's and the list goes on. It was a fun running joke for all of us to see how she would decorate that spider in the spider web. Fast forward to preparing for Thanksgiving. Claude and I had been wanting a taste of ice cream cake and knew that purchasing one was too much for us. Thanksgiving seemed to be the appropriate time since many people could help eat that cake. There happened to be this ice cream cake with a spider on the top and a web left from Halloween. I mentioned to Claude that I could make a band with feathers for that spider and we could have a little fun on Thanksgiving with the Marx family. It was great fun and got many laughs and we all enjoyed the ice cream cake.

After dinner, the boys went back to their football games. Bailey made for our bedroom. She loves our bed. And I love that she loves our bed. There is something quite comforting to go to your bedroom and find this bundle of energy snuggled up in a nest of pillow listening to music on her iPod. Love this girl.

When it was time to take Papa back to Georgetown, Hayden quickly brought out his birthday gift to show Papa. It is a VR. Basically he connects it to his cell phone and plays YouTube videos that are now 3-D and 360 degrees. It is just great fun and it was fun to see Papa's reaction. Here is Hayden with a thumbs up for Papa's experience with his VR. 

Bailey is our little hyper-active cherub. I had a chocolate chip cookie mix so we spent some time burning a bit of her energy by making chocolate chip cookies on Friday.  

I told her the instructions said to place the balls of dough two inches apart and I had been using my finger for her to find that placement. She has had a little cooking class and wants to do things just right. After we did one cookie sheet full and put it in the oven, Bailey's brain started to whir. She quickly found a sticky note pad and a ruler, measured off two inches on the sticky note, cut it to size, and...assured me she didn't need my finger to measure any more. Very resourceful.  

Bailey and I love to make puzzles. We found a new one that was 100 pieces of a deer and set to work putting it together in the basement. Then we found some wooden games that needed to be painted and we each painted one of those. So, I guess, we also share a love of crafting things.  

The Marx family would leave Saturday afternoon after some more football games. In my quiet times during their visit I was able to crochet a Christmas stocking and start a crocheted baby afghan. Finished that up yesterday. These are both items I will have on hand when the need arises. 

This was a very relaxing Thanksgiving. Not any pressure to get things done. A nice break from reality. Bailey finally learned I have a grid with what things are available for each meal that we can tweek as needed and she was greatly impressed. I shall train this little one up right I tell you! Now we are back to the two of us. The holiday season rat race is beginning to unfold so we are off to the races to get all the things that entails accomplished. May even get a start on decorating the house tomorrow. Maybe...

Home Alone...

Today is Thanksgiving. The Marx family are on their way. I'll go about 1pm to pick up Papa. Then it is full on family for a few days. So, I'm going to get a quick Blog entry in before the world starts to spin quickly.

Claude was invited to at the National League of Cities (NLC) Convention this year. It was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was happy to go. This gave me almost a week at home alone!!! Many would be sad. I am happy. I would miss Claude a lot but I appreciate that change of pace to get some things done at my pace. To be sure I was efficient and kept to task, I filled in a card for each day with the things that were on my calendar to do and some 'to do' items I wanted to complete. With a card for each day Claude would be gone, I was ready to be real 'tasky' and accomplish great and wonderful things...Hmmmm...

I took Claude to Bluegrass Airport in Lexington Tuesday morning. With my list of errands to run in Lexington I first headed to Joann's Fabric. Katelyn wanted me to make Raelyn a tutu for her first birthday in January. She gave me pictures to know what she was looking for and colors she wanted it made in. That was what I went to the fabric store for. When I left the fabric store I had purchased $150 worth of very important things and used $50 in coupons to make my total charge $100. I had fabric for my next purse, restock of supplies like elastic and sewing machine needles, etc., yarn for three more projects, priced card stock for something Claude is doing, and gotten needed supplies for that tutu. I left feeling great because I accomplished more than my list, had a great savings and would not need to come back to the fabric store for some time. Yeah me!!

My next stop was Burlington (used to be coat factory). I purchased 3 Christmas gifts. Then treated myself to lunch at Chipotle's and a donut from Krispy Kreme. Yeah me again!! When Claude travels I treat myself to a meal out each day as some place I really love to eat. Chipotle's ranks right at the very top. Love me some veggie burrito bowl action. Yum!

I zipped over to Michael's and checked out their card stock for Claude. I also purchased another Christmas gift. Then across Sir Barton to Staples and found the last part of the gift I started at Michael's. I had a coupon which paid for that item with one penny left over. Bed, Bath and Beyond had another Christmas gift. Then I strolled through the shoe store next door and found the sneakers I wanted for our trip to China next year. Very successful shopping at Hamburg Pavilion. Christmas wall now all purchased except for one gift and I'm still looking for that one. Know what I want and am sure I'll find it somewhere.

Gas was down at the Walmart to $1.899 so I filled up my little red car and headed to Papa's. Had a nice visit with Papa and then headed home. One very tired puppy. I brought everything in from the trunk of my car and put it by the breakfast room table. I would deal with it Wednesday morning.

Tuesday evening was spent at my computer doing things on that lovely 'to do' list that must be done in my sewing room.

Wednesday I was supposed to take Papa to the Nursing Home to play music for the residents. When I was driving home Tuesday evening, there was a noise coming from under my car that sounded all too familiar. There is a molded plastic piece attached to the underside of my car to protect things under there. The car scrapes when going down slopes like driveways and curbs and wears out the screws that attach that piece to the car. Then it falls down while driving and makes an awful noise. Claude usually climbs under the car and ties it on with those plastic ties. However, I had no Claude at home. He was in Pittsburgh! Wednesday morning the first thing I did was lay down on my very cold garage floor to see if I could tie this thing back in place like Claude does. This time it was on the driver's side. In the past it has always been the passenger side. I could not find a place to attach it to and only marveled that Claude could do this as has his hands are much bigger than mine. I called Frank Shoop and told them my problem and they said they could see me at 2:30pm. In addition, Papa now had a bad cold so I was not going to take him to the nursing home like that. I also called the nursing home and canceled. That gave me time to get the car fixed, visit Papa and have dinner before going to teach Institute. Revised schedule but it would work. Now to fill my morning with tasks.

I went downstairs to Blog. Wednesday and Thursday I would spend some time catching up on my Blog. While I was uploading pictures, I brought the bags full of Tuesday's purchases down to my sewing room and proceeded to wrap presents and put the things away that were not presents. During this process I realized I was missing a bag from the fabric store. I brought two big bags out to my trunk but there must have been a third because I did not have the things for the tutu...and that was what I went in there for in the first place. Geez!! The other thing I realized is the charge slip was put in that third bag. I remembered telling the check out clerk to put it in the bag and the two bags I had at home did not have the receipt in them. I placed a call to Joann's and explained what I did and what was in the bag and asked if they might still have it somewhere. She went to the 'back' and came back to tell me they had it. I assured them I would be there to get the bag as soon as I got my car repaired.

When it was time to leave to take the car to Georgetown, I gathered all the things I would need for the rest of the day and started out. As I turned onto Hwy 32, I felt a change in the front of my car. The noise was awful. I slowed down more and kept driving slowly. I had time. Then it felt like something was weird with my tires. There is a dirt place that I pulled into at the corner of Hwy 32 and Hwy 25. The plastic piece was hanging like a snaggle-toothed kid waiting for someone to tie a string around that tooth and yank to get it out. Now, I am dressed in my nice slacks and shoes to teach Institute. I knelt on the dirt and tried to yank that piece off my car. That was not going to happen. I found it was hanging by two of the ties Claude put on, on the passenger side. Everything else was loose and the tires were running up on it while I drove. Not good at all. How was I to get those ties cut? Think. Think. I know! I have tiny scissors to do my needlework in my craft bag. I got them and then started to work. But I was ruining the knees of my good slacks. Think. Think. I know! I have protective pads that I put on the front seat of the car when Papa's rides with me. I got one of them and put it on the ground to kneel on. I managed to get one of the ties cut but was having a lot of trouble with the second one. I have too much arthritis in these fingers and they are weaker than my younger years. Just then an angel from heaven (a nice strong man) pulled up and asked if he could help me. I explained to him my predicament and he knelt right down on that pad, took the little scissors in his big hands and started to cut. It took him a bit but he cut that tie. I now had a lovely piece of very used molded plastic which I put in my back seat. A neighbor then pulled up and saw me and offered to help but that angel/unknown strong man and already fixed my car so I could go to Frank Shoop. I would now need to purchase new needlework scissors. They were now a mite dull.

Away I sped to Frank Shoop. Pulled in and told Scott I was the one he had been talking to. Then I pulled my 'spare part' out of my back seat and told him this could possibly be the shortest service call in history. I then explained what happened. I asked him if I really needed that part at all. He assured me the car did not have to have it but he could install one if I wanted. In my mind, I'm seeing my dear hubby trying again to attach the next one of these pieces after it comes undone and my answer was easy. No, and do you have a trash can. He assured me he would put it in the trash. I left and headed to Joann's Fabric where I retrieved my missing bag. Whew!!

I visited with Papa for a bit and then went to dinner at Bojangles before teaching Institute. Bojangles is a new chicken place in Georgetown. My meal was delicious. I was able to review my lesson notes while I ate. Then I looked up and realized I was looking at Zaxby's. I suddenly felt unfaithful. Oh My!!

We had a great Institute lesson and focused on 1st & 2nd Peter. This lesson was to cover 1st & 2nd Peter, the three John's & Jude. I prepared all of that but was very strongly impressed to focus on one portion of Peter and if the other didn't get covered, so be it. As it turns out, that is what we all discussed and read and shared with each other for an hour and a half. It was great.

I finally made it home after Institute and down to my sewing room to work on those 'to do's.

Thursday I was supposed to do visiting teaching in the morning and the afternoon with a visit to Papa in the middle. My morning appointment canceled as she was sick. So I was able to visit Papa a little longer and get the cleaning done in his home. Then I visited the next two ladies. My treat Thursday was to go back into Georgetown to Applebee's for dinner. I love their Wanton Tacos and treated myself to those for dinner. Yum!!

Friday was my day to stay at home. There was weeding to do and I was going to get some of that done in the morning. I sprayed myself so I wouldn't get any chigger bites and donned my grubby long sleeved shirt and very old pants and headed to Georgetown. Managed to get that bush like thing out from around the lamp post in front of the caboose and one of the flower bed weeded along the side of the Warring Pavilion. Yeah me!! I was done in.

As soon as I finished weeding, I drove directly to Hardee's to get some lunch for my meal-of-the-day. When I got to the ordering spot, I looked at the menu and couldn't find my Bacon Three Way burger. It is just yummy but it wasn't on the menu. I asked the girl through the microphone if they could still make that. She said, "No." Then I looked to make a second choice and she said, "I mean yes, they say they can still make that." Great. I wanted that as a meal. Then she said, "No, they say we can't make that now." Okay, I told her I would have a ham and cheese. Only to hear her say, "Yes, yes, we can make that." Okay, if she could do that then that is what I wanted. Order placed. Drive to the window. Price was given. I found the money and then handed it to her. That is when I realized I drove directly from weeding. While I wear really good gloves when I weed there is still lots of dirt under my nails and on my fingers. I was handing her money with the most filthy of hands. All I could do was look at her and say, "I'm not usually this dirty. I just finished weeding and came directly here to get lunch before I go home." She said it was fine and gave me my order and I headed home. Guess what...it was NOT a Bacon Three Way burger. It had two patties instead of the one 1/4 pound patty I asked for. I was so worn out and hungry that I ate it anyway and didn't complain. But I did miss that great burger I really wanted.

Friday afternoon and evening were spent working on the Japan scrapbook. It has been over a year and I'm still not finished. And I have Peru/Guatemala trip to make! After weeding for several hours, I am slow and very sore. I must have some kind of arthritis going on in my joints at this point in my life. Getting old is not for the faint of heart.

Saturday I had no appointments except to be with Papa some. I worked on my list and had a long visit with Papa. Dinner was at Zaxby's and I felt better about that after my Wednesday experience at Bojangles. I was not going to get all the things done I wanted but I knew that when I made my pie-in-the-sky list. But I accomplished a lot and did some things that weren't even on that list.

Sunday I took Papa to Sacrament Meeting in the morning and then spent time with him until time to go pickup Claude at the airport. I sent him a text telling him I was at Baggage Claim 2 and would meet him there. It was cute to see him come off the escalator and look for me. He instinctively turned right at the bottom of the escalator and I was sitting on the left. May I just state here that was the best hug ever. We haven't been apart that many days in a row in a while. Before he retired and while working he traveled a good bit and I think I was more used to the long stretches without him. Very nice to have him back.

I enjoyed my 'Home Alone' time. My belief is that makes us appreciate the together time much more. He will make several overnight trips in December but none as long as this one. I shall endeavor to fill them up just as well.

Claude Doing His Thang...

Now that Claude is President of the Kentucky League of Cities the trips are filling lots of days. The following is a pictorial journey of the last couple of months.

This is Claude helping to thank Mayor Link of Edgewood, Kentucky for his work on October 18th.

October 19th found Claude in Owensboro, Kentucky presenting the City Employee of the Year award to City Manager Bill Parrish.

Every year at Kentucky League of Cities annual conference the Mayors voice their thoughts about what would benefit their city during the next Legislative Session. Those things are prioritized and the current President of KLC presents this agenda to the Legislative committee. Here is Claude in the center as the new KLC president. On the left is Mayor Jim Barnes who is 1st Vice President of KLC. On the right is Jon Steiner, Executive Director of KLC. This is heady stuff.

November 4th Claude presented the  KLC Enterprise Cities Award to Paducah, Kentucky.

When Claude was installed as the President, KLC gave him what he fondly calls the 'frisbee'. It is a very big disk that basically state that the Mayor of Sadieville is the President of Kentucky League of Cities and he lives right there in Sadieville. Claude told the City Commission he received this to post in their town. The Commission determined it should go on the door at City Hall.

This week Claude is attending the National League of Cities Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He sent me this picture of him by the sign for the NLC. He is having a great time.

So, there we have it. He is being kept busy. And he is enjoying this chapter in his life. Very nice!

Moments in Time...

A few moments in time from the last two months.

Wednesday, September 14th, I went into Kroger for bananas for Papa. This little critter was bouncing around in front of the banana shelf. It kind of took me aback a little until I realized it was a balloon that was weighted in the hooves and the air conditioning was blowing and making it bounce. Really thought I should get it and take it to Bailey!

Tuesday, September 27th, we went to Crestwood, Kentucky to attend the Louisville Kentucky Temple. We got there just as the sun was going down and shining on the Angel Moroni. It was simply beautiful. Would that we felt that kind of peace in our lives more often.

Every year I make homemade ornaments and give to certain people. This year I made 60 origami cranes. I found Japanese paper and used it to make these cranes. We have General Conference broadcast from Salt Lake City twice a year. There are five 2-hour sessions on the first Saturday and Sunday in October for one of the semi-annual conferences. I had all my supplies to make the cranes and had made several so I knew how to do them. I plopped myself on the sofa in the family room with my spiral notebook at my side to take notes of the speakers. While I listened, I made cranes and took notes. Amazing weekend with my hubby. We both thought this was an exceptional General Conference. 

We came home from Church on Sunday, October 9 and found a 'yellow dragon' on the hill about our home. Two five acre plots were sold this summer and people were getting ready to build their homes. They were preparing a gravel road to get to the building area. Won't be too long before we have new neighbors. 

In September we tried a new restaurant in Georgetown, Formaggio Italiano. We really loved the food and the service was really good. We loved the bread they add to your meals. That is also their pizza crust. So, we decided we needed to go back and try their pizza. We did this on Friday, October 21st. Let's just say we will definitely be back. We tried a pizza that was half one kind and half another so we could get a good sample of two kinds of pizza but only need to eat one pizza. We loved both pizzas. Yummy stuff!

Sunday, October 30th, I heard a wonderful quote from one of the speakers during Sacrament Meeting. Here is the quote: "The value of a man is evidenced by the dust on his knees."

Monday, October 3rd found me at Kroger again. I seem to find very interesting things in that parking lot. This time I found this sticker on a cars back bumper. It would appear even Yoda 'bleeds University of Kentucky blue'!

Then one month later on Wednesday, November 2nd, I found this license plate in the Kroger parking lot. You might need to look closely at it to understand. And, if you are not a Harry Potter fan, it may never make sense to you. I happen to love Harry Potter and own all the movie. See if you can find the humor in this license plate.

The morning of November 2nd found me in the trees. Yep. Crabapple trees. There are some on city property and I was intent to pick some and try my hand at crabapple jelly again. I didn't have to do battle with poison ivy this time. Several years ago I did this and the trees were full of poison ivy. This year there was a new challenge. The trees were full of wasps enjoying the nectar from ripe crabapples. They weren't happy I was there. But none of them stung me. They would sit on my gardening gloves I was wearing and I had on my long sleeved shirt and jeans. It worked out for each of us.

The next day I started making crabapple jelly. I made two batches and didn't have pectin to make the rest of the crabapples I had. So I cleaned up the crabapples I had remaining. There was enough make two more batches. Really didn't think I had picked that many. I made the juice needed to make the jelly and put it in the fridge. The next morning I went back to Walmart and purchased enough pectin to make two more batches. Then I finished up that crabapple jelly that evening. I ended up with 29 8-oz. jars and 24 4-oz. jars. I kept the containers small because jelly can turn back to syrup if not taken out of the jar carefully. My hope is that smaller jars will keep the jelly firm for longer once the jar is opened and being used. 

We are going to have a new nephew born in November. I purchased fabric to make a rag quilt for this little guy. I decided to purchase enough fabric to make two so I have another one on the shelf and ready to go. Here is one of the completed quilts.

My sister was able to fly in on Sunday the 6th of November. She arrived at our home about 5:30pm. She would spend two evenings with us and all day Monday with Papa. She took him on a long car ride and then watched an old family video I found that Papa had made of Mimi and him on vacations. 

So we have had a very busy last two months. Accomplished some good things. Shared some memory making times with family. And even had a few dates with just the two of us. I would say we have had enough practice now to take on Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Family Time in Sadieville...

Kids have Fall Break now in school. I really don't understand this. However, that doesn't stop it from being a real thing. When the Mini's have a break in school, we usually get to see them for part of it. This year it covered the week of October 24 through October 28. We found the best time for them to visit was Saturday, October 22nd through Tuesday, October 25. Hayden had a cross country meet in Lexington that Saturday and we could have them after his meet. We had committed to attend Georgetown College tailgate and football game that afternoon. However, we could leave the game early with no problem. Andie asked if we could take the Mini's so she and Michael could have some time and she would come Monday. Andie is worn out with trying to keep up with all her stuff and she could use a break to do things at her own pace. Plus, Claude and love having the Mini's to ourselves. The plan was set and we would communicate with text message to arrange pick-up times in Lexington that Saturday.

Then Katelyn called. She was missing us. She said she usually only worked 3-4 days a week. She was wondering if she got 4 days in a row off if she might bring Raelyn for a visit. Well of course!! I suggested she call first to be sure we had no other commitments. She agreed. Then, voila!! The schedule was posted at her work and she could come to visit Sunday, October 23 and return home Wednesday, October 26. Claude and I assured her we could do that. I told Katelyn that was the weekend we would have the Mini's and they would be over the moon that Raelyn would be here. Katelyn thought about it and said, "Let's not tell them. Let's let it be a surprise." Okay. This would be fun. So Andie was told and asked to keep it secret and all was set in place.

Then Nissa found out Katelyn was planning on this trip by herself. Nissa said, "I would only have to have two days off." So, Nissa got two days off and she planned to come with Katelyn and Raelyn. We felt better knowing Katelyn would have company.

Then...Aubrey found out they were coming. She was between jobs and she asked if she could also come. Of course! We would be in for a full weekend with family in Sadieville. Yeah!!

We picked the Mini's up at A&W Root Beer in Lexington. We all had something to eat and then we left with Mini's in tow and Andie and Michael left to eat at a place they had heard of an never tried. 

Bailey brought her newest game for us to play..."Puppyopoly". The girl does love animals. Saturday evening we played a round of Puppyopoly with our youngest grandmonster.  She was very happy. 

Sunday morning we had breakfast and hung out at the house during the morning. The plan was to take the Mini's to Evan's Orchard in the afternoon. They love Evan's Orchard. However, when we arrived that huge parking lot was fuller than I have ever seen it. There was a sea of people everywhere. This did not look like fun to any of the four of us. Claude and I have been wanting apple cider donuts this fall and we get them at Evan's Orchard. Claude found a parking space and we told the Mini's we would get donuts in the store and come back Tuesday afternoon to play at the play land. The Mini's felt good about this plan.

In the store we found the donuts right off. Hayden took Claude and headed to the fudge counter. I followed Bailey to the stuffed animal section. She was in search of a goat. She has a friend that has taken a liking to goats and she felt a strong need for a goat. She only found a mountain goat but that was close enough for her. She took it to Claude to see if it was okay for him to get it for her. He agreed, Hayden picked out fudge and we paid for everything and left. We did stop by the Kettle Corn tent and watch them make us a bag of Kettle Corn. While Claude stood in line I took a few pictures of the Mini's. The first one was to send to Andie and Michael and see of they could find their children. The second was the Mini's popping up from their hiding places.  The third is Bailey and Hayden by a carved white pumpkin. And the last is Bailey and her goat in a school bus.

We stopped by Papa's before going home to Sadieville. The kids took turns with his walker and Bailey played under the stand of big pine trees in his back yard. Please note the goat in the trees with her. Oh my!

 All this time I was checking for texts about the progress of the Michigan crew on the highway. I sent a text from Papa's asking where they were. They said they were in Dry Ridge, Kentucky. Oh my! They could get to the house before us. We bid Papa a quick good-bye promising to bring him out to Sadieville on Monday for a family day and then we hit the road still not having let the Mini's know that Raelyn was coming to play as well.

As we got close to the turn-in for our home, we pass this horse drawn cart. This time as we passed I got a big giggle out of the fact that in the back of the carts is a nice easy chair that looks just like a recliner. It may be cart drawn by a horse but they are riding in style in this thing.

Sure enough, Claude pulled into the driveway and there was a car already there. The Mini's quickly picked up on the fact it had a Michigan license plate. As Claude pulled up beside it, Aubrey was sitting in the front seat with Raelyn playing at her window. The Mini's saw her and fairly exploded. We had to remind them to stay seated until the car was parked in the garage. They were out like a flash and over to snuggle with this little cousin they love so very much. I should have had my cell phone camera going to catch that action but, alas, I didn't think that far ahead. I was just pleased as punch I had not blown the secret.

We got Raelyn inside and once she knew she could move around she was crawling everywhere. She had just learned to pull herself up to a standing position and we all delighted in this new skill. She grinned every time because she knew we were going to clap and praise her extensively.

She and Claude are just best friends. She loved sitting on his knee when he was in the big rocker. Look at that grin. Melts his heart. It is just like Evan, Claude's dad, used to do in his chair at the round oak dining table in Utah. Like father, like son.

In the evening the Mini's put on their bathing suits and we filled the whirlpool tub with water and let everyone play for a bit. Then Nissa and her girls went downstairs to sing around the piano. Raelyn thought this would be a good time to learn to climb stairs. She is very careful and didn't fall at all. But she can't get herself down after climbing up yet.

Grampa was in the basement blowing up the air mattresses so we had beds for everyone. Raelyn proved to be a delightful deterrent  ummmmm, helper.

After a good night's rest for everyone, we awoke to a full day of family all together. Bailey determined it was her turn to feed Raelyn. It's fun to watch. Bailey never took to baby dolls. She played a little with Barbies. So watching the maternal instinct in action is just delightful.

Can you tell they love each other? Bailey, Raelyn and Hayden. Oh my this is great!

Bailey decided to take over our bed while Raelyn took a nap. She had the back up and knees up and the vibrating thing on. I truly think we got those features for the grandmonsters. We very seldom use them. I love that she is comfortable enough and feels at home enough in our home to do these things.

When Raelyn awoke the clock that moves and chimes was playing. Nissa gets this when we expire. As the loving Aunt, she has taken Bailey and Hayden in to play with it when they were babies. Now she gets to take her own granddaughter to learn about the clock. Let's train this little one up right.

I got the biggest kick out of watching Raelyn crawl over to the ray of light and sit and play with it. She loved the wood grain patterns on the floor. She loved crawling on the new carpet and then across the rug in front of the television that is from Kyrgyzstan. Then she would crawl over to the white chair in the living room and play with the fabric on it. She was really in to learning all the different textures of things.

These are my girls. They are lovely to me, inside and out. Nissa and Andie.

Bailey brought her Halloween costume and danced around in it for all of us. Here she is showing it to Raelyn. Hayden is in the foreground. He had a computer program that played backup music for his baritone. He was picking out something so we could listen to him play his band instrument.

Papa was out with most of the day on Monday. He absolutely loved watching Raelyn move around and grin at everyone. The first picture is Papa, Raelyn and Aubrey. The second picture is Papa, Aubrey holding up Raelyn and Nissa. The back of Bailey's head is in the foreground.

This is Hayden playing his baritone. He is getting better every time we hear him play.

This is Hayden's reaction when Katelyn was changing Raelyn's poopy diaper. He loves her but he is not ready for that, yet.

Tuesday night we took Raelyn to Fava's in Georgetown. They sell the best Frickles I have eaten anywhere. That is a fried dill pickle chip that is batter dipped and fried. You should see the video of her face all scrunched up as she at them. She liked them and was educated in another of her Mom's loves.

This is Raelyn in the little shirt and leggings we got her. Such a cutie.

 In the evening she sat on Claude's knee again to brush her teeth.

Wednesday morning everyone headed their separate ways. What a nice visit we had. We never made it to the Orchard. That was okay. The weather got colder and we had some sniffles going on. But another rousing game of Puppyopoly filled that void quite nicely and pleased Bailey no end. Great that they want to come and be in Sadieville with us.