Study, Tires and T-ball

Allie and I headed to a local cafe for today's Bible study. We were a bit "off" and spent most of our time talking about things other than the study. That's o.k. It happens. 

Michael and I gave one of Allie's co-workers a ride to work today. It was fun to meet him and to help him out a bit. 

Michael has been busy fixing a leaky faucet...Stacia crumb coated a cake...Allie is at work. I can't remember what I did with the day...I got five meals in the freezer for Dad and I'm not sure what else I did. I kept busy.  

As we were eating the front door opened. Alex was here to stay with GG while we went out for life group....this isn't life group week. LOL He stayed and visited. It was fun to catch up with all the new happenings in his life. He and Nolan moved out a couple of weeks ago. 

Michael offered to help Alex switch over his tires while he was here. 

We ordered a T-ball stand on Monday night. We were sad it wouldn't be here for Saturday's family celebration. LOOK what came today! We are praying the rain doesn't interfere with our plans to spend time in the yard. 

Dad is ready for bed. Michael is working on a puzzle. Stacia and I may stream something....tomorrow I'd love to get the outside Christmas and winter decorations down now that the snow is gone. We'll see. 

Avoiding Goodbyes, Cake Decorating and Such

Michael and I snuck out to have lunch with some dear friends at their house. At some point, I'm sure I'll say more...but Shannon and Lindsey have been our pastors for the past 6 years. They are in the process of moving. It was a pleasure to be able to sit around their table and talk...we had thought this may be the last time we see them, but we've come up with a way to ensure at least one more visit. We have taken evading goodbye to pro level. Here is a photo of us on April 30th, their last Sunday at church. 

Front - Pen, Allie, Me, Lindsey, Harper, Sydney
Back Stacia, Michael, Shannon 

 

Michael dropped me at home and went out to Lowe's. We have a faucet which is suddenly leaking a steady stream of water. He came home with wood - so something else must be in the works as well.  Editor's note: Michael bought wood to make shelves for under the stairs. 

When I got home Stacia was trying out a new technique for cake decorating. It involves frosting on parchment paper (using a template) and transferring it to a cake top...she practiced with white frosting, so it doesn't show up well...but I think she's comfortable in trying it on the real cake for Saturday. 

While she played with frosting, I got moose stroganoff in the instant pot. I even made the pasta and left it warming.  Editor's note: I've been asked where the moose came from. Could it be our garden pest? Nah. Our son in law keeps us in moose and we keep him in farm fresh eggs. 

The pastoral search team has been meeting on Wed nights from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. We have been meeting with others at the church at that time to pray for the church, the team, the decision, and the families who are waiting to see if God leads them here. Michael brings GG home after prayer time. The girls stay for youth, and I head to women's Bible study. It is a good night when I have dinner in the crock pots for the men. 

It's 9:41 p.m. and it's time to wind down but it is BRIGHT as day outside. Tis' the season. 

Tuesday with the Boys

 As always...the best way to "catch up" seems to be to jump back into the present and look for moments to back post...but I have several years of back posts to work on. LOL Why do you think life moves so fast???? 

Today being Tuesday I spent the morning with "the boys." Since I last blogged, they've moved into a new home and are settling in nicely. I wondered if they'd be a bit worked up today as the 2-year-old bedtime routine was thrown off by t-ball. They were a bit "squirrely" - the 2 yo's - but I've learned keeping busy together helps lower the individual mischief quotient. 

In their previous home we would spend about 20 minutes jumping on the mini-trampoline and doing YouTube kids chases. In this house the TV is put in their bedroom, and we're forced to creative play. ::snort:: Seriously, if your children watch YouTube kids beware. Check it out carefully. Odd links began showing up.... harmless looking...click for the next chase type thing but porn sites show up. So - no more. 

This new home has a magical closet. Arielle has organized it all quite nicely and the boys KNOW - only one thing from the closet comes out at a time. In fact, today the 2 yo's wanted the bin of beans and I was relieved when Benny shared the opinion, "No! That's too messy for Bachan to have to do." 

Oh - the choices! 

First, we all took a turn bowling. Benny was certain a football would work as well as a bowling ball.  Ok, points for creativity. 

We next tried a rousing game or two of Duck Pond...but none of the boys were having the rules of the thing...so basically, they grabbed them off the ring and threw them back on. LOL They thought it was a lame game.... which will preach. Following the rules sometimes gives purpose to the game of life. LOL 

Benny wanted to do a puzzle. I knew this would work best if the twinkies were occupied elsewhere. I got the playdough bin out of the closet and set them up at the table.  Benny and I worked on his puzzle from Aunt Coco at the island behind the table. 

It bought us enough time to get the edges done and start on the middle... my plan worked well, until it didn't. The littles were ready to join in. Benny was indignant...but they really weren't much trouble....

I am impressed at how focused Danny was on the puzzle. He put together a section. Yes, Benny is right, we had to do it over, but it's all a learning experience.  We made memories. 

We were still working on the puzzle when Arielle got home from her staff meeting. We finished the puzzle, visited a bit and I came home. 

It's been a gray and drizzly day. I grabbed some soup and tea and had a chat with Allie before she had to leave. She's enjoying being off school...but has doubled her work hours so her schedule is still very full. 

Stacia came up and we had a chat too. She then headed over the CoRielle's with materials to make nightlights with the boys. 

A gray day screams for reading...which I began...and woke up an hour or so later. It was time to make dinner...Smoky Salmon Chowder , one of Michael's favorites, was on the menu. Stacia got home and made biscuits. 

I'm blogging at the table and Michael and Stacia are next to me working on the big puzzle project. I think we're going to settle in to read a chapter from, The Call of the Mild, by Tory Martin. 

And we saw this flier in the newspaper today....Stacia's name was in it...though she isn't going to use the benefits as the UA system won't prep her for her goal of missions in Japan. 

Note - it is o.k. for me to leave Little Buddy's profile per his social worker. His name is nowhere on the blog, or this post. 

Sheer Cuteness Overload

 It's a red-letter day! 

A day full of milestones. 

The last patch of snow has FINALLY melted from our yard. It only took a week of "warm" temps. Birds and leaves have arrived...and sun too. Yes, SUN. It comes up at 5:04 a.m. (lighter earlier) and sets at 10:44 p.m. (lighter later). The garden is accessible. Unfortunately, I began to believe the winter would never end and I didn't start seedlings in March or April...there was still 4 feet of snow on the ground. LOL  I'm making a plan. 

Moving on from Alaska's crazy seasonal and weather patterns...is there ANYTHING cuter than T-ball? I had forgotten how fun it can be with great coaches and nice parents. Arielle asked Michael and I if we wanted to coach. Nope.  But after the sheer cuteness overload from tonight, we may consider it next year.  

Tonight, was Benny's first T-ball game.  Y'all one child hits the ball, and everyone runs from the field to grab it, and dog pile on their teammate who reaches the ball first...

We arrived early and Benny ran up to share, "Bachan, I'm so excited and nervous too." I assured him this is a quite normal state when one is doing something for the very first time. 

We were not about to miss the game. We simply bundled GG up and told him he was coming. LOL  As two of our young adults have left the home, we are going to have to do that more often if we hope to have any sort of activities away from home. 

Benny is up to bat! 

And then the running. 

Benny made it to first base. Of course, in T-ball everyone makes it home and no one is ever out. 

I had some blankets in the back of the car which we wrapped around GG. We also gave him a handwarmer Arielle had in her diaper bag. Next game I bring hot drinks, hand warmers, make sure GG has a warm coat, and maybe more blankets. 

Michael ran into one of the guys from our local police department. It was fun for me to get to visit a bit with his wife. 

I spent a little bit of time chasing 2 year olds - all part of the fun. 

"Are they twins?" 

Hmm....a question "I" hadn't been asked yet. 

My rather confusing answer was, "Little Buddy is a month older than Danny." ::snort:: 

I'm going to have to get Arielle to help me come up with a better answer. I think I could say, "Not identical." ::snort:: I'm certainly not going into life histories at the ballpark. 

Oh, they weren't in danger...I was right there. 

These boys are a blast to spend time with...and a day is coming when we can mention Little Buddy's name and show his face...

Papa said this was great fun. He had me order a T-ball stand while we were watching the game. It won't be here for THIS Saturday but I think it will be a great addition to our household park and games! 

I realize I've not blogged for a month or so.  There are things I am processing deeply, and I have chosen to do that by journaling. I have just about filled the journal and I need to save some time to blog. LOL  I hope you are having a great spring.

Yes, May 15th and it's starting to feel like spring up here. 

*Thanks to Arielle for all the photos in this post. 

Grand April Snippets

There are many WONDERFUL photos of the grandkids on my phone....photos I'd not blogged yet. I've decided the easiest way to handle the backlog is to do a giant post of photos which Mommies sent me in April. Thanks for all the mommies for keeping me well-supplied with content.  This is a shameless Grandma blog post. Look at the cuteness! HOW did I not get a photo of Liv? I will remedy that! 

This is Jojo on the left and Trudy on the right - both born on Nov 17th  - 2 years apart

And so begins he adventure. Jared reads The Hobbit to Noah. 

Such a happy little one! 

Noah learned to roll over....

Visiting Papa and Bachan!

Jared and Noah

Bachan and Noah

Noah

Noah and Larissa! 

Can we take a minute in simple awe of all the props and outfits Larissa has prepared for Noah? 

Noah Bear

Such sweet Sisters - 2 of BreZaak's gals

Bella and Trudy

Gideon's post dentist treat...something my mom started. 

Annie and Trudy

This is from WAY before April...but I found it on my phone so here it is...Josiah and Trudy. 

Gideon and Trudy

Sweet Dream Isabella

Stacia went over and spent a few hours with the kids. The plan was to teach Bella how to use a round loom, but all of them joined in. 

Dinner time! Trudy 

Jojo LOVES Trudy. He's always nearby. He loves to sit and read to her. 

Gideon 

Jojo set up chair lets and used his cars to form a make-shift bowling alley after the church bowling party on May 6th...so this should be with the May Snippets...but I'm leaving it here. 

CoRielle took a major step in making Little Buddy officially a part of their family. 

 Stacia joined me one Tuesday and it was nice to have another set of hands at the park! 

Cuteness overload.