The Visit...

And our little ones grow up.  Then the call and Katelyn says, "Gramma, may I come visit in April. I have some vacation from work."  Of course you can.  This would be the first trip to our home by grandmonsters without their parents driving them.  Let the nail biting begin!!  Lots of crowded roads to drive for 8+ hours.  Lots of signs to look for and wrong turns to be made while looking for the sign you need.  Then Katelyn called and said she was bringing Aubrey, her younger sister with her.  A little relief there as there would be two of them to keep each other going.

Then Katelyn called to say she had her car in to get a new battery and they found she needed an alternator as well. Then it was checked further and lots of other work should be done before taking that car on a long trip. She would not be driving that car.  Drew told her she could take his truck. Then Todd helped her find a new (used) car that fit her budget.  She made the purchase and that is what my grandmonsters drove in to Kentucky.

They left last Friday, April 3rd.  Their first stop was in LaGrange, Kentucky to spend a couple of days with Andie, their aunt and our middle daughter.  

Saturday Andie treated them to a walk over the Ohio River from Kentucky to Indiana.  

Saturday Claude and I spent our morning at the baptism of four of the children at Church. These were little ones I took baptism preparation materials to a year ago.  They are Jared Charles, Payton Hale, Sophie Risher and Zadie Zwygart.  Such a delightful way to begin a day. Precious moment in their lives. 

Our next event was at Keeneland for the 20th Anniversary of the Toyota Stakes race.  Toyota invites local city officials and, while Claude is Mayor of Sadieville, we are privileged to enjoy the event.  We arrived a little early.  We sat in the Jeep and 'people watched'.  This is always an interesting experience.  

One of the things we observed was this muddy mess. Believe it or not, someone pulled right into this spot as we watched.  Really!  When we got back to the car, they had managed to get out of the spot.  I took this picture of the mud on our walk back to the Jeep.  Then I sent it to my dear friend Laura.  A year ago I did this to her driveway.  Just wanted to assure her I wasn't still making messes like this. 

Sunday was Easter.  Katelyn & Aubrey spent their morning with Andie and family in LaGrange.  They were served one of those breakfasts that Andie does so well.  She does love her food art.  I will never do this so I'm extremely happy they were able to enjoy Andie's talent in this area.

In the afternoon they all loaded up and headed to Sadieville.  Katelyn and Aubrey drove straight to our home.  Andie and the Mini's stopped in Georgetown and picked up Papa.  Andie sent Hayden in to pick up Papa and told him to remind Papa to bring his medicine to take in the evening. Andie sent me a text explaining how fun it was to watch those two together.  Hayden talks quickly.  Papa hears slow and loud best.  They love each other and it was very fun to watch them try to understand each other and get it all together for the trip to Sadieville.  I can picture this even though I was not present. It makes me grin.

We had a nice roast beef dinner ready for everyone.  We spent the evening catching up and visiting. I pulled out my laptop and played Hayden's PAC performance for everyone through the television. Then I looked up pictures of each of the kids when they were born and we watched them on the television. 

It was late but 'glow in the dark eggs' still needed to be done.  All the supplies were spread on the living room floor and the quick work of putting them together was accomplished.  The 'glow in the dark bracelets' are curled up inside of a big plastic egg.  Then they are hid outside and looked for in the dark. Here is the putting together process and the eggs in a paper bag.  I took pictures on the hill but that really didn't work very well. Hayden and Bailey had great fun finding all 24 of the eggs. This was a really fun idea.

We had rainy weather the entire week. Sometimes worse than other times.  But it made for an indoor week.  Some movies were watched.  Aubrey posted this picture on Facebook of her joy at having her favorite chips and Dr. McGillicuddy's root beer while watching Robin Hood (the Disney cartoon version) which Claude had DVR'd for the kids.  Turns out Katelyn had really been wanting to see this again.  Good time had by all.

Tuesday the 7th was another rainy day.  The Mini's would take turns getting their baths in the big whirl pool tub in our bathroom.  Bailey was first.  She wanted a bubble bath.  Andie made sure to tell her not to turn the jets on in the tub.  Bailey called me in to show me her Santa Claus beard and ask for a picture to be taken. Now that is just cute!

Andie and Katelyn went to Georgetown to pick up some things and I got 'getting the Mini's through their baths' duty.  Bailey finished and I prepared the bathroom for Hayden.

Hayden enjoyed a bubble bath as well.  I told him he had a towel and wash cloths laid out.  He went to take his bath.  Later he came out clean and dress but he had one of those grins that only Hayden makes.  It goes from ear to ear and his eyes turn into little moons.  He didn't say much but just grinned.  I asked if he had a nice bath.  He said he did but added that I didn't want to go in my bathroom for a while.  Then he grinned that grin with a little guilt included in it.  Hmmmm...I assured him I might want to use my bathroom or go in there for something.  He laughed a bit and said I really shouldn't.  I suggested we go in together.  He grinned again and said that would be okay.  Off we went to the bathroom and this is what we found.

Okay, this was not Hayden's fault.  I forgot to tell him not to run the jets in the whirl pool tub with bubble bath in the water.  He managed to get the jets turned off before the bubbles flowed over the tub and onto the floor.  We just laughed.  Bailey came in and we all three laughed.  I asked Hayden if he pulled the plug so the water could go out.  He assured me he couldn't find the plug in all those bubbles.  Claude came in and found the plug.  Then Hayden helped me get the bubbles out and clean down the tub.  We filled it back up with cold water and ran the jets again to get an remaining bubbles cleaned out.  Felt sort of guilty running all this water with the troubles with drought in California.  But also felt grateful we don't live in California.  This will be one good memory in the years to come.

Tuesday Katelyn, Aubrey and I worked on a music possibility. They wanted to surprise Papa and sing a song when we went with him to the nursing home.  We settled on "How Great Thou Art".  It is one the residents will know and could sing along with.  I played the piano and belted out the alto while the girls sing a strong soprano.  Katelyn took this picture of us singing some "Phantom of the Opera" songs.  This is Aubrey singing and me playing.  Bailey is playing the computer in the background.

We had a movie again that night.

Wednesday Claude was gone in the morning.  Katelyn and Andie tried a guacamole deviled egg recipe.  Had to find ways to use all those  Easter eggs.  I left for the afternoon and passed Claude coming home.  The kids did manicures and then packed the Marx family in their van.  The Marx's would go home after a stop in Georgetown.

Papa and I would meet everyone but Claude at his apartment.  He showed them his wall of pictures.  It is fun for the grandmonsters to find pictures of themselves on his wall.  We then packed Papa in my car and all three cars headed to Dairy Queen to have an ice cream treat with Papa before the Mini's went home.  We took a few family pictures after our ice cream.  Back row: Katelyn, Papa & Aubrey.  Front row: Hayden and Bailey. The bottom picture is Katelyn holding hands with Papa. I have pictures of her mother, Nissa, holding Mimi, her grandmother's, hand.  Katelyn wanted this picture for her and her mom.  Tender moment.

Katelyn and Aubrey would join Papa and I in taking a DVD for the residents to watch old country music performed by their original singers.  After the DVD finished, the girls surprised Papa with their song.  Tears filled his eyes.  He was in heaven.  The residents were delighted.  It was a great moment.

Katelyn and Aubrey went back to Sadieville to have a night with Claude eating guy food (steak and wings) and watching movies.  I stayed in town to teach Institute.

Thursday everyone slept in.  Claude had meetings in Lexington in the evening.  We all went in with him and had dinner at BD Mongolian Grill.  Then while Claude went to meetings, the girls chose where we went to shop.  First stop...Half Priced Books.  Second stop...Off Broadway Shoes.  15 minutes left till pick up time.  Last quick stop...Gordon's.  It was fun seeing what the girls like.  We picked up Claude and he took us to Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream.  The coolest thing was watching with the guys preparing the ice cream.  They would mash up the ice cream with the toppings and make it into a ball on the cold stone.  Then they would toss that ball into the air with their ice cream paddles and catch it in the cup in which it was to be served.  I took this picture.  If you look close at the top you can see a greenish ball that is about to come down into the dish.  It was great fun to watch.

When we got home, we watched "Phantom of the Opera".  

This morning the girls had breakfast and hit the road by 9am.  They are now back in Michigan and tucked safely in the homes.  Grateful they made the long drive with no problems.  Grateful they want to come all the way to Kentucky to spend time with family.  Grateful to see those cousins enjoy each other.  Grateful for time for Papa to see his great grandchildren.  There is a lot in life to be grateful for.