Bonnie Visits...

July 24th through July 31st we were blessed to have visitor from the west, Claude's mom, Bonnie. She wanted to get her hands on her great great granddaughter, Emelia. We picked her up late on Wednesday the 24th at the Cincinnati Airport.

Thursday morning she got to sleep in a bit. I spent the morning getting an oil change in the Buick and visiting Papa. In the afternoon Hayden and Andie came to spend the night. This was great as it gave Bonnie one less day of car travel on this trip. Claude tried a new recipe on us of Mexican Lasagna made with corn tortillas instead of lasagna noodles. It was excellent. At one point Andie was hugging Hayden and he just looked up at us in his best 14 year old croaky voice and said, "Sometimes she just get needy!" Thought I would die laughing. 

Friday morning I left early to visit with Papa. We would begin our road trip to Michigan about noon. Andie and Hayden had morning time with Bonnie and then we all departed to our various destinations. This drive up to Michigan would be a most memorable experience. 

Traffic was exceptionally heavy before we even got out of Kentucky. Made it into Ohio and it was worse. Thought we might never get through that Cincinnati/Dayton area. After we got past Dayton a warning light came on my car that the air pressure was very low in right front tire. Now, I had an oil change and they rotated my tires on Thursday. This just didn't seem right. We made it to the Pilot station in Beaver Dam, Ohio where we usually stop. Sure enough there was low pressure but it was in the right rear tire. Claude looked all over for an air pump at the Pilot Station and couldn't find one. I asked the cashier and she said you had to pull up at the island on the car side of the station and pump whatever would be the end pump for the trucks. The gas pump was broken but the air pump was there and could be pulled across that gas stop into the car section. Oh My Goodness. We tried it but the hose was not putting air into the tire. 

Next try was the Flying J across the street. Couldn't find an air pump there at all. So we tried plan C which was the Speedway across I-75. We found an air pump there and filled all the tires really well. Then we were off to Chelsea. 

We were to meet Jake at Panera on Zeeb Road for a quick dinner. By the time we got there we were way low in the air in that tire again. Jake was sure there was an air pump at the Meijer's gas pump down the road. We enjoyed our quick dinner and then followed Jake to Meijer's gas station. Sure enough they had an air pump. While Claude filled the tire again, I had Jake drive me over to Meijer where I hoped out and went in to find on of the air pumps we could carry in the car. Purchased one and we tucked it in the back of the car to help us limp across Michigan. 

We stopped outside Lansing to refill the tire again. This was fortunate because I-96 was closed in Lansing and we had to take a mighty big detour to get around it. Goodness. 

We finally made it to Nunica and turned north to the Tyler home. When we got up the next morning we only had 11 pounds of air in the tire and Claude filled it the night before after we arrived. Nissa and Todd had a reference for us at a tire place they know near their home. Claude and Nissa took my car there and the decision was made to put a plug in the tire. There was a nail in the tire but it was in a good place to fix with a plug. Hallelujah. This fix has worked ever since. From now on Claude and I will each carry one of our two air pumps in our cars. Whew!!

Saturday was family day for Bonnie with her grand, great grand, and great great grandchildren from Michigan. With the help of Katelyn and Drew and their two cars, they would bring Aubrey, Nelson and Paul. Todd would work that day so that Nissa could be there with family. Here are a few pictures from the morning.

Raelyn knows I have a game on my Kindle for her. She was very quick to ask for my tablet. She found that game and our precocious 3 year old enjoyed finding the part with the kitty she could brush and give a bath. 

Bonnie sat on the sofa and met her newest great great grandchild, Emelia Maybelle Roper.  I think they immediately formed a mutual admiration society. 

I brought smiley face stickers for Raelyn. She needed a surface on which to place them. My face became the perfect surface. I proudly wore my smiley face stickers all morning.  

Raelyn needed to be outside to play. So Claude and I took her outside. We had rain during the night and there were a few puddles which truly beckon a child to play. 

Raelyn kept trying to get to a door on a cupboard in the Tyler garage. Now, we weren't sure she should be in there but we finally gave in and opened the door to find all the toys for the Tyler grandchildren. Now we know! Out came some toys for outside and a grand time was had as Nelson arrived soon and that gave two toddlers lots to things to play.

Nissa had ripe blueberries all over her bush so training time was given to pick only the bluest of berries. Some were definitely eaten along the way. 

I did get to hold Emelia some. Please note I'm still covered with smiley face stickers. 

Emelia definitely has Claude's heart. 

Learning to play with sidewalk chalk. Little children have to learn how to play with others. These two cousins are guinea pigs in that training for each other. They do very well at this. 

Nissa has a bucket of bird feed on her front porch. Raelyn was just so cute getting in that bucket to retrieve food. 

And bubble time is always a good time. 

Back inside for a little down time and lunch and quiet time. We had pizza. Emelia loved having a chance to kick and stretched after being held all morning. Well, she loves being held but she definitely did a lot of kicking a stretching here. I loved her little toes caught up in the blanket and her long fingers.  

Nelson clearly loves Emelia. He was very gentle but really wanted to give her lots of love. He would bring toys and lay them with her. So very cute. 

Aubrey's lap is always a fun place to gather to play.  

And Paul was trying out his Grampa gene of being able to nap through almost anything. He works shift work and he was tired. 

Time for family pictures. First we have Bonnie with her great and great great grandchildren that live in Michigan. These are fun pictures. We opted to sit with sun for better light. Emelia was having none of it. Poor Bonnie was trying to find a way to get her comfortable. Nelson and Raelyn are looking and moving lots of directions. The entire series is a hoot. These are two and Claude took one of me trying to get a good picture. This was fun! Bonnie is in front holding Emelia. Back row is Aubrey with Nelson, Paul, and Katelyn with Raelyn.

Okay, now we are off and running. I must remember to make a list in the future so no picture is forgotten. I say that and, even being the list maker I am, I never get this list made.

First, a 5 generation picture with Emelia. Claude, Bonnie, Katelyn holding Emelia and Nissa. 

Next, a 5 generation picture with Nelson. Claude, Bonnie, Nissa holding Nelson, Aubrey. 

I loved this picture of Paul hugging Bonnie. Then a picture of them face forward. 

5 Generation with Raelyn. Claude, Bonnie, Katelyn holding Raelyn, and Nissa. 

Bonnie and Nissa. Nissa is her first born grandchild. 

The Roper family with Bonnie. Drew holding Emelia (who is still not happy with the sun), Bonnie and Katelyn holding down Raelyn. 

Aubrey and her Nelson with Bonnie. 

Aubrey with her Gramma Bonnie. 

And Katelyn with her Gramma Bonnie. Katelyn is Bonnie' first great grandchild. 

Whew. Family pictures were done and it was time to finish up with the great and great great grandkids visit. One final game of hopscotch. Raelyn can hop on two feet. Hopping on one foot is not her forte yet. Nelson is just comical. He tried but he doesn't get those two feet off the ground at all. But he appears to be very confident he is doing it just right.

Nelson all buckled up and ready to ride home. Look at that great grin. He wears it all...the...time!! 

To get into Nissa and Todd's home you drive down this bit of road with the trees covering it. I determined it was very picture worthy. I took it in color, of course, but tried it with the black and white thing going on and I really like that as well. So, I post both for your enjoyment. 

Now time for adult swim. We only had Nissa, Todd, Bonnie, Claude and myself for the rest of the Michigan visit. Todd and Nissa grilled some burgers for our dinner and it was lovely to enjoy the deck on the back of they home and just adult for a bit. 

Nissa and Todd gave me a beautiful pendant for my birthday. It is made of petosky stone. This is truly a Michigan stone and the pieces I have seen in stores can be very expensive. Todd has a friend who searches the beaches of Michigan and finds the stone and then makes lovely pieces of jewelry. They purchased this one from him. It is a heart shape and is stunning.

Sunday morning we slept in a bit. Then we went to breakfast together. Back to the Tyler home and then we left there in the afternoon for Chelsea. 

We arrived in Chelsea and Jake came to the hotel to meet us. We all went to the Mexican restaurant for dinner and it was delicious, as always. Then we paused for an ice cream break before going back to our room to visit. Jake gave me the coolest birthday gift. I have a very long history with Dr. Pepper. Love it. This is just a perfect, well thought out gift for me. Love my son. 

Here is where I did an epic picture taking fail. When Jake got to our hotel room I told him right away I wanted to be sure I got a picture of just him with his Gramma Bonnie. He said, "Sure" and that is the last we thought of it. I really, really, really wanted pictures of each of my kids and grand kids with their Gramma Bonnie. Just them and her. And I failed. Geez!! 

We got a good nights sleep and hit the road for Kentucky about 9am. The tire was holding air and we were moving down that highway. So very happy to see that Kentucky sign though.

We got home and unpacked and I hurried in to spend the rest of the afternoon with Papa. Bonnie and Claude rested up. 

Tuesday I spent the morning with Papa. Then we all drove to LaGrange to visit the Marx family. This time Bailey was at 4-H Camp the end of the first week while Bonnie visited and Hayden had Band Camp the beginning of the second week Bonnie visited. To get a visit with everyone we had to work life this way. It was good timing because that Tuesday Bailey got her first braces on. She needed the extra cuddles and hugs for sure.

Bonnie visited India not long before this trip to see us. She brought Bailey back this interesting head wear.

Andie fixed us a divine pasta with chicken meal in her Instapot. It was soooo yummy. Then they gave me a beautiful birthday gift. This necklace pendant was purchased in Venice, Italy at a glass making business on their trip to Europe in June. It is purple and, well, I do love purple.

We paused to take a few photos. Hayden was able to come home from Band Camp for dinner and pictures which was great.

First, Andie with Gramma Bonnie. Then Hayden with Gramma Bonnie. Then Bailey with Gramma Bonnie. 

The Marx family with Gramma Bonnie. Andie, Bailey, Bonnie, Hayden and Michael. 

Just the Marx family. Bailey, Andie, Hayden and Michael. 

Then a must is a picture with the family cats. Bailey is holding Pip and Hayden is holding Percy. These are much loved cats.

Then we journeyed to Oldham County High School to get Hayden back to Band Camp. They were having a fundraiser and Graeter's Ice Cream had a stand. Claude bought us each a container of our favorite flavor and we went into the school lunch room to eat it. Hayden walked Bonnie and Claude and I back to see the band room. This was particularly fun for Hayden to share what he is doing. It was great for Bonnie to see how close the kids were to their schools and how nice their lives were in La Grange. 

Hayden was out to the back of the school to practice band marching moves. I got this fuzzy picture of him as they moved to their first position they will take on the football field when the games start. They practice in the parking lot behind the school for now. If you look in the middle of the picture you will see Hayden with a red t-shirt and blue shorts finding his spot. 

We left from the school to get back to Sadieville. We had to have Bonnie to the airport at 5am for her flight home on Wednesday morning. It was sad to see her leave but we felt very good about getting to be with all her family in Kentucky and Michigan. A good visit was had by all. And that is very important.