Great Papa

Yesterday we had Great Papa (Grandpa Ed) over for Christmas.  Jackie was thrilled to help him open presents, especially because Kate, Kelly and Sharon made sure Jackie and Grace got Presents too.

Grandpa doesn't have the memory or the strength he used to.  When I was a kid I remember Grandpa Ed taking us to Craig's Cruisers or as Jackie calls it 'Where the fun never ends' he could hit baseballs so fast I would never dream of stepping in that batting cage.  My Grandpa was tough and smart and the best fishermen I knew.

Although, he may not remember all he used to he did seem drawn to an old wooden box on our fireplace.  The box was made by his dad and my Great-Grandpa used it was a wallpaper box. Grandpa Ed used it as a tackle box. A while back when he moved out of the house on Radcliff I got it.  It was bright glossy green, rusted shut and smelled like bait.  But after being sanded, polished and getting new hardware it now holds some of Grace and Jackie's card games.  See the truth is that people and objects change, but the memories last. There are those special moments like kissing the bait, or bumping on the go carts at Pelican Petes or swinging at the batting cages that remind us who we are and what really matters. I hope that I remember to make each moment into special memories with you girls.

Cheeseball

Today is a reward for cleaning the driveway Gracie wanted a bowl of cheeseballs. Some days I think the child could live on cheeseballs and Roni. But seeing her with the cheeseballs reminded me of holidays past. Sitting in the breezeway at grandma and grandpa's house on Radcliffe eating cheeseballs drinking regular Coke and attempting to sneak a candy cane from the Santa boot. And it made me stop for a moment and wonder what my own kids will remember, when they look back 20 years from now. It makes me think I need to break out grandma Audrey spider cookie recipe and make a batch with them so that that will be one of their memories some day too.  

Jackie and Santa, she told him she wanted a Hatchimal.  I keep reminding her she may have to wait till her birthday but she still told Santa.  

 Grace still wasn't so sure about being by Santa, but the idea that he might have toys or candy lured her over.  Grace told Santa she wants a CD player like Jackie.

Halloween Fun

It may not be Halloween yet but the fun at our house has begun a little early.  We started with going to the Zoo goes Boo this weekend.  The girls loved all the fun inflatables and the crafts.  Jackie was Alice and Grace was the Cheshire Cat.

Then Jackie had a birthday Halloween Party to go to this weekend.  She had a hard time deciding what costume to wear to this event.  In the end she decide Cinderella was the right choice.   Because then she could wear a crown cape and sparkly shoes, (and because we are saving the Pocahontas Apron dress that Grandma made for the School Party Friday.)

 Today we had Aunt Kate Pumpkin Carving Master come over to help us with carving.  Jackie decided she would design her own Spooky pumpkin this year so she drew her own and even helped Kate with the cavings.  Grace got her kitty on her  pumpkin this year.  Neither kiddo really wanted to touch the pumpkin guts really they just wanted to play.  Jackie wanted to race and Grace wanted to Bike.  But they both loved seeing the finished pumpkins and both are quite convinced they created the Spookiest Pumpkins in the entire neighborhood

 This photo was from a few weeks ago but it seemed too cute to skip on a Halloween photo.

This is a drawing Jackie did of a Pumpkin at school.  She may not always seem like Grandma Jackie when it comes to love of sports but the name sure seems fitting when we start thinking about love of Halloween.

 

Rain dance

Grace is a little frustrated she had high hopes of using her umbrella today in the rain has not come like the weatherman promised her so she's dancing anyway. 

Just for fun

Jackie and Grace teaching Adam to Dance.

The first day of school

Today was the first day of school for Jack and Grace.  Gracy had a hard time with me dropping her off but she did really well once she got to start playing they both had a great day and are looking forward to an awesome new school year. 

Stroller Races

Sometimes I just have to sit back and marvel at the way your brain works. We go for a walk in when Grace says it's boring and we need something fun to do it's only a moment later when she comes up with having stroller races. Somehow my lazy Sunday night walk turned into a crazy giggling fiasco of a race but it sure was fun. 

Gracie's art

Grace was feeling left out here is her art from this week. 

Haircuts

Haircuts at the mall for school.  They both only wanted a trim because they want princess hair but at least we convinced them princess trim and comb their hair. 

Meet the teacher day

 Today was meet the teacher day at school and I think both these big girls are ready for a new adventure to start. 

The Gardens

After being rained out of the gardens twice this summer it was nice to take the girls and play on a sunny warm day or we could ride the tram and see lots of sculptures. We even got to hear Seal warm up durning lunch. 

Jackie's art

Jacqueline's most recent beautiful artworks. It might be obvious we spend a lot of time drawing and painting at our house. 

Preschool Graduation

Hard to believe another year has gone by and preschool is done already.  Jackie loved her teachers and had a great year at preschool.  The best part in her option was the field trips (her class visited museums, the library, the fire house, a farm, a gym, a dance studio and their may be more I am forgetting right now.)  Singing was the best part of a normal school day.  Her teachers were Mrs. Amy and Mrs. Tracy.  Her best friend this year was Alaina.   

Below is video of her shooting the fire-hose on a field trip.  (I think she would make a good fireman but she still wants to be a princess.)

Below is all the Grandville Preschool kiddos singing at their concert.

Visiting the Greenhouse

Sometimes I think the best days and the most fun happen almost on accident.  Today we visited CountrySide Greenhouse, not because that is what the girls wanted to do today but because I wanted to buy some herbs and it was rainy this morning so it seemed like a good plan.  I found the herbs but the girls found, a talking cow, a talking tree, a dinosaur, tigers, lions, bears and more.  Who knew they would have so much fun at the greenhouse. 

Busy Week

 This week we have been trying to play outside as much as we can.  So we went off to one of my favorite parks in Georgetown on Wednesday and played and climbed and swung.

 Then we headed to the Children's Museum on Thursday, and did some more climbing there.  Jackie thought this was good practice for Alaska.  Grace loved their pretend store and Jackie thought the Animal Adoption Hospital they had was AMAZING.

 Today Adam took the day off to go with us out to the Gardens to see the butterflies.    The girls like the butterflies but they had more fun in the outdoor Japanese Gardens then they did inside.  The girls just think it's too hot in the greenhouse.

This was Grace trying to convince a butterfly to land on her finger.

Finally some warm weather

Finally the weather is nicer and so we headed out for a day at the park.  And as far as Grace is concerned no day is complete without a doughnut, so we made a quick stop on the way to the park.  The girls had a great time over at Hagar park they loved climbing in and out of all the wooden structures and playing hide and seek.

But regardless of how cool the park my girls are always suckers for the swing set.  And yes Grace was singing at the top of her lungs the whole time she was on the swings.

 Then I convinced the girls to go for a walk down one of the park trails.  We founds some cool trees that just had to be climbed.  Several bridges to cross, beautiful wild violets, lots of pine cones and dandelions.

Hopefully the nice weather stick around and we can keep playing outside.  Not sure what park we are headed to today but the sun is shining so we will have to visit some fun park.