Raelyn's 'One'derland...

A year ago our oldest grandmonster gave birth to our first great grandchild. She is the cutest little bundle and has truly captured our hearts. This month she turned one year old. Her parents decided the best way to handle this first birthday was a big party. The date was picked and a meeting room at the hotel we were staying in was rented. A Michigan trip in January was planned. 

Our first prayer was for no snow. We have driven across the southern part of Michigan many times with huge show storms on top of us. We really didn't want to do that again. I am happy to report the good Lord heard our prayers and we were blessed with a drive up and back in fog and some rain...but no snow. Hallelujah.

The other twist to this trip is, once again, Claude and I were thinking the same thing but had not yet verbalized it. Then one evening Claude said, "I was wondering about taking the Mini's with us. What do you think?" I had been having the same impression. It would mean them missing school on Friday. The trip was three days, one driving up, one partying with family and one driving home. It would be hard but could be fun. The Mini's are also notorious hurlers on road trips. I keep a gallon Ziplock bag in each of the pockets on the back of the two front seats just so they are ready whenever I have the Mini's even for a few minutes. They have been used. At Christmas we posed the possibility to Andie and asked her to confer with Michael and then get back with us. It would give them a weekend alone and us the opportunity to help the Mini's connect with the Michigan branch of our family tree. Especially Raelyn. They love this baby to pieces. In the meantime, I changed our room from one king bed to a room with two queen beds just in case Andie and Michael said yes.

In a couple of days, Andie notified us that they thought it would be okay to have them miss one day of school to go with us. So we started planning for two kids with two old people on a three day road trip. The first thing was to tell the Mini's. We weren't going to see them so we opted for the phone call approach. We tried to face time them with on the cell phones and that just didn't work. We then put my cell phone on speaker and Hayden's cell phone on speaker and asked them if they wanted to take a road trip with us. The squeals of delight were wonderful. It didn't take Hayden, with his steel trap for a mind, to instantly put two and two together. He said, "Are we going to Michigan for Raelyn's birthday party?" We assured him he was spot on with his thinking. More squeals of glee. Then the "What do we need to take?" began. We covered lots of ground on what the drive would be like, the number of stops we usually made and what they thought they would need for an eight hour drive, what the hotel was like and when the party would be, going to The Pita Place for a meal, what to wear for the party, is the swimming pool indoors, etc., etc., etc. This would be an adventure.

As it neared the day of departure I went to Claude office to have a chat. I told him how I remembered when we took Jake with us many years ago. We had a room with two queen beds and I woke up to find Claude was not in our room. It turns out he couldn't sleep with Jake's snoring so he got up in the night and got him another room. I suggested to Claude we might want to get connecting rooms. Claude pondered for a moment and then said he thought that was a great idea. I contacted the hotel and made sure we could have two connecting rooms, one with two queen beds and one with a king bed. That done, we were now pretty much ready to road trip.

We met Andie Thursday night, the 19th, at the Taco Bell in Shelbyville. We treated them to dinner and then we transferred the kids things to our car in the pouring rain. Good-byes were said to their Mom and we were off to take Papa bananas and fill his medication boxes. After that we stopped to fill the gas tank so we could just leave the next morning. Then we were home is Sadieville for the night.

The plan was to have Hayden sleep on the sofa and Bailey in the guestroom that night. The kids each found a snack of their choice and we started to load the car. We had a book case and books that Katelyn has always wanted and we were trying to pack with them in the truck. Claude was also finished smoking a small brisket that night to take to Todd. As Claude brought it into the house from the smoker, the fragrance filled the living room and kitchen and Hayden started to feel sick. I was in our bedroom finishing filling our suitcase when I heard the tell tale sound of the first hurl being stopped. I ran to the living room. Hayden explained his tummy felt really full and he thought he was going to hurl. I got a yucky bowl and a cold wash cloth for his face. Then he told me it was the smell of the brisket. Quick change of plans. I took him to the guest room where the smell wasn't near as strong. He was calming down already. Then I went to the living room and told Bailey she would have to sleep on the couch that night. She looked at me in sincere Bailey fashion and said in a strong voice, "Well, FINALLY!" As it turns out, she wanted to sleep on the sofa and was very happy to get that opportunity. Who knew? "Not I" said the Little Red Hen. Hayden made it through the night without hurling and his tummy was ready for the drive Friday morning. 

The plan was to wake up at 7am and leave the house by 8am. We kept to the plan and were out the door at 8am. Yea us! We even drove to Dry Ridge and pulled through McDonald's for a breakfast to eat as we drove just like Claude and I always do. The Mini's were happy to learn our patterns. And, they kept their breakfast down. As it turns out, on long drives Andie gives them a kid's version of Dramamine. I gave them each a half dose when they woke up and it was a blessing. They didn't even complain of feeling car sick until the end of the drive home. 

Now, we tried to learn some landmarks that Claude and I look for on our drives to and from Michigan. They just help you feel like you are making progress. The first was the Kentucky River. As we crossed over the Mini's looked for the sign to tell them they were officially in Ohio. Then Bailey said I needed to find some fun facts about Ohio to share with them so they could learn about Ohio. Can you tell her Mother is a teacher? Out came the cell phone and I Googled 'Fun Facts about Ohio'. Found what we needed, share the facts and we talked about them a bit. First hour of the trip was a success. Only seven more to go!

Our next landmark would be Butter Jesus. The Mini's knew nothing of this landmark. I shared the story of the big statute of Jesus coming out of the lake in front of the Solid Rock Church. He was made out of a material that was the color of butter and hence the name, Butter Jesus. His hands were raised up like calling a touchdown at a football game and I found him a little frightening. We learned about him from the Michigan grandmonsters as he is the talk of Michigan people traveling I-75. This statue was struck by lightening and burned to the ground as the statue was made of a frame with a foam coating over it. Poof and it was gone. The Solid Rock Church has built a new statue that is whiter and Jesus is standing with his hand held out in front of him in a more welcoming pose. There is a song about him that I found and played the YouTube video for the Mini's. We were all ready to find our next landmark. Butter Jesus was a hit with the Mini's. 

The next landmark was Finlay, Ohio. It is the 'flag capital of the world'. There are flags on the bridge that goes over I-75. This was found but wasn't nearly as interesting to the Mini's as Butter Jesus. 

By this time the Dramamine was working on Hayden and he fell asleep. Bailey made a goal to not sleep at all on the trip so she could see where we were driving. This was all new road for her and she didn't want to miss any of it. She stayed awake that entire drive.

The next landmark was the mosque outside of Toledo. This is where we left I-75 behind and got on Hwy 23 leaving only a few more miles to get into Michigan. The fog was bad enough still till you looked at the mosque through haze. 

We stopped in Ohio to fill up with gasoline and have lunch. We found a Burger King and watched snippets of the Inauguration of Pres. Donald Trump while we ate lunch. The Mini's each ordered a form of chicken. They were each different. I think this speaks to the difference between these two kids. Bailey had the chicken fries and Hayden had the chicken nuggets. They ate well and we were off to the next landmark.

Next we watched for the Welcome to Pure Michigan sign. We were entering another state. Bailey piped up, "We should have some 'Fun Facts about Michigan'. Thank heaven for Google! Lots of fun facts were shared and we were on to our landmark which was our next stop, Grand Rapids.

Claude and I usually stop in Grand Rapids going to Muskegon and find the Krispy Kreme. Our daughter loves Krispy Kreme so we usually take her a few donuts. The Mini's were very happy with this tradition and stop for them. After watching them ice some donuts and then clean the rollers, we each got a donut for the road and donuts for the rest of the family. Yum!

This put us 30 minutes away from Muskegon. We opted to go directly to Port City Automotive and say hi to Nissa and Todd first. Then we found our hotel and checked in. We had our adjoining rooms. I went in the Mini's room with them and had to move a chair from the connecting door to open it. Claude went into our room and could not open that connecting door. Turns out the dead bolt was set and the knob to turn the dead bolt was broken off the door. I went back to the front desk and assured them we had to have a connecting door that opened between the two rooms. Mary, the manager, came with me back to the rooms and found the one door locked and unable to open. She found the maintenance man and had him look. He said it was too big a job to get the dead bolt out so, we waited while Mary went back to the front desk and got us keys to another set of connecting rooms. As it turns out, each room had two queen beds. We would each have our own bed for the stay. Yippee!!

I taught the kids the art of putting things so you could get what you want and then put things back so we didn't leave things when we checked out in a couple of days. This is Bailey's version of hanging up her coat. Done deliberately as this child likes to 'think outside the box'. It was hung up and that is what mattered to Gramma.

The family now knew we were in the area. Katelyn, Drew and Raelyn came to visit us at the hotel. The Mini's were so very happy to see Raelyn again. 

The plan was to meet Todd and Nissa at the Pizza Ranch for dinner about 7pm. They were late getting home from work and opted to just stay in and eat some of that brisket. We too the Ropers and the Mini's to Pizza Ranch and introduced the Mini's to another fun place we like to eat in Muskegon. They loved it. It is a buffet with salad, pizzas and chicken with mashed potatoes and veggies on it. Anything their little hearts desired for dinner and as much of that as they wished. They filled their plates with things of their liking and ate very well. Bailey particularly enjoyed her food and downed several plates. I went back to the salad bar for another salad. When I came back, Bailey, who was sitting beside me, looked at my plate and said, "May I have a taste of your salad?" Always wanting them to enjoy good foods, I assured her it was fine for her to have a bite. After one bit she stated matter-of-factly, "We are going to share this". We shared a few bites and then I just gave the plate to her. She promptly downed it and we all enjoyed a good laugh at that. 

Here we parted ways with the Ropers with the understanding we would meet at the hotel at 9:30am the next morning. We took the Mini's back to the hotel. Everyone got in their swim suits and we headed to the swimming pool. There was no one there but the four of us. The hot tub and the pool were all ours all the time the Mini's wanted to play. This made for tired and ready for bed children. No problems getting them to sleep that night I tell you.

Saturday morning Claude and the Mini's were ready to leave before me. He took them to the breakfast buffet included in the hotel rate. They learned how to make mini-waffles and totally enjoyed them. I joined them and we had a nice breakfast.

The Ropers came and Katelyn and I left Claude and Drew with the little ones. We headed to Walmart to finish the shopping for the party. Then we rushed back and got the room ready. May I just state that the meeting room was at 80 degrees. Literally 80 degrees. Whoever came in and opened the room in the morning set the thermostat at 80 degrees. I quickly found a housekeeper and asked if the thermostat could be changed. She assured me she couldn't do that, there is a cover with a key that locks it once it is set. She found the maintenance guy and he said he couldn't change it. He had the key, it was really that he wouldn't change it. I used my firm but polite voice to assure him I had been a catering sales manager at a Courtyard Marriott. I knew for a fact that when we got 50 people in that room they would generate more than enough heat to keep that room really warm. I asked him to please set the thermostat at 68 degrees. That would save him money and make our guests much happier than an 80 degree room. After a brief back and forth he opened the lock and changed the thermostat to 68 degrees. The housekeeper then reminded him there was a second thermostat in the room and he again said he couldn't (insert wouldn't) change it. I again used my firm but polite voice and assured him he could and he would. He did and we were all very happy. Sheez...

Family started to arrive and we finished the room set and were ready to party. A lunch buffet was put out and everyone had hot dogs, potato salad and slaw, chips and soda or water. There were round tables for everyone to sit at and the different family groups each claimed their territory and began to eat. Drew had Raelyn taking a quick nap and Katelyn went to help him get her dressed to join the party for lunch. 

Katelyn had a vision for Raelyn's outfit for her party and she asked me to make it happen. It was a winter theme and she wanted Raelyn to look like a little snow princess or fairy. How fun to make a tutu for our little dear. The pink shoes are a favorite for me. Got them at the Disney store on a discount rack. The picture is Katelyn, Raelyn and Drew Roper. What a cute little family.

A friend of Katelyn's made the birthday cake for guests out of cupcakes iced over. She had additional cupcakes to the side. Katelyn made Raelyn her own birthday cake to destroy. 

Hayden was told he couldn't bring his electronics to the party. But I did give him my camera and asked him to be the photographer. Bailey took my phone and took some pictures with it. I took a couple of pictures with my phone. I think the kids did a great job with picture taking. It is fun to see the party through the eyes of children.

Here are a few pictures of our family at the party. First Paul and Leels.

Next Sandi & Claude.

Grampa taking Raelyn duty. She loves sitting on his lap. Her dad often wears a beard so she has no problem with Claude's. 

Todd and Nissa. 

Bailey and Aubrey.

Bailey, Aubrey & Hayden. 

Katelyn, mother of Raelyn and party planner...with a smile!! 

Hayden took a bunch of close ups of just Raelyn. I am so happy he did that. She loves to smile at everyone but she has a serious look as well. I particularly like the one of her eating her hot dog bun. If you look closely you can see her Great Grampa Claude kissing the back of her head. What a tender moment. Thanks Hayden for capturing that.

After everyone ate, the present opening began in earnest. Drew held Raelyn while Katelyn brought each present and they both helped her open them. She hasn't quite got the tearing the paper off things down yet. I remember Hayden's first birthday when we spent two days opening presents. Not because there were so many, but because he wanted to play with each one before he opened another. We had a time to be out of the meeting room so Drew and Katelyn helped this process move a little faster.

Here are pictures of present opening. The last two pictures are Raelyn opening her Girl Scout cookies, a family tradition and one of the presents we got her.

Then it was time to give Raelyn her personal birthday cake to enjoy. Katelyn made this tiny cake for her. She ended up with icing all over her and her feet in the cake. Way to go Raelyn! Drew took her back to our room and put her in the tub. He got her all cleaned and dressed again and brought her back. After he held her for a bit he noticed she still had icing behind her left ear. We just grinned about that.

After everyone left, it was time for the Mini's to enjoy their 'adorable little one'. She loved having the playmates.

But she was one really tired little girl. Her normal routine right now is to be awake for two hours and then take a two+ hour nap. It was getting late in the afternoon and she had only had 30 minutes all day. I scooped my grandmonster up and took her to the breakfast room of the hotel. Bailey came along with us. I simply covered Raelyn up in her blanket and stood in one place and rocked back and forth while making musical sounds. No particular song. She snuggled and yawned and went right to sleep. Bailey took this picture and a video of the process. Another tender moment in time to cherish. 

For dinner the Tyler's, Roper's, Mini's, Claude and me went to the Pita Place. Time to treat the Mini's to another of our Michigan traditions. It was a hit. They each ordered whatever looked great to them off the menu. Then they wolfed it all down. I ordered my falafel and cinnamon and sugar pita bites. Bailey saw the pita bites and asked if she could try one. I assured her that would be okay. She loved it and reached over and picked up the basket they were in and placed it between her and me. Then she stated matter-of-factly, "we are going to share this." Do you see a pattern here of dining with Bailey? Yep we shared and it was fun.

We determined to take the Mini's to Lake Michigan. It was getting darker but Todd led the way and our three cars made their way to the Lake. It is just colder by the Lake. This was a freakishly warm day for Muskegon. It was in the 60's all day. Katelyn had been driving with her car window down it was so warm. But not so at the Lake. Nissa had a hooded sweatshirt in her car and loaned it to Bailey. And for some unknown reason Hayden had his bathrobe in the back seat of our car. This provided all the warmth they could get while posing for a picture of them in front of Lake Michigan. After seeing this picture, Andie said, "Hayden looks like a cross country Jedi in that robe!" His t-shirt was received after he finished his first season with the Oldham County Middle School Cross Country team. And he does look a little Jedi like to me too.

Note what appears to be waves in the background of the picture. The temperatures had been much colder than this. The water freezes on the sand as the waves come in when it gets that cold. Then the water continues to freeze in what appears to be frozen waves. It was amazing to look at. Hayden declared he wanted to come back there when it was warm and play in the water and sand. It truly is like going to the ocean in the summer. You can't see the other side of the Lake so you feel like you are at the ocean. I sent the picture and a text to Andie and Michael and told her Hayden wants to come back when it is warm. She was amazed he would consider playing in the sand. We'll see, we'll see. 

Everyone came back to our hotel room for the final visit that evening. Then they headed home. 

The Mini's wanted to go to the pool. However, the Muskegon Hogs had their holiday party at the hotel that night and many of them were staying in the hotel. In addition there was a wedding party staying in the hotel. The pool was a zoo. We opted out of that madness and gave the kids some screen time before bed instead. 

Saturday morning the Mini's and I woke up earlier than we anticipated. I had a little snuggle time in the Mini's room and then Bailey broke free. She wanted Pa (Claude) to be awake and take her to that breakfast buffet for more mini-waffles. This is Bailey waking up Claude and promising him she would make him waffles if he would get up and get ready and take her to breakfast. What is a Grampa to do? Get up and get ready.

We had a nice breakfast and then checked out of the hotel. 

The first leg of our journey home was Chelsea. We were going to have lunch with Uncle Jake. He had given thought to a place that was kid friendly to have lunch. We followed him to Culver's in Dexter. The kids had a great lunch followed by a little ice cream treat. Then we thanked Uncle Jake for lunch and loaded up for the next leg home. The kids would search for their landmarks going home. They didn't ask for interesting facts this time. We stopped one more time in Kentucky for a drive thru to get something to eat for Bailey who was 'starving'. Hayden said he was beginning to feel like he needed another Dramamine. He got one. Claude then made it to the Marx home. 

It was a good trip. Full. But good on so many levels. I think the Mini's would travel with us again. I am grateful for Dramamine so we had no hurling. Claude and I were both grateful for fog and a little rain...no snow at all. Fun to celebrate Raelyn's 1st birthday with her.