I spent 5 nights in Peoria babysitting for Megan and Andy so they could have some fun in Nashville. I arrived a week ago Wednesday and they left Thursday at noon. Drew, Kayley, Ryan and I had a marvelous time. We spent a lot of time in the pool due to hot temps. We also had to look out the window many times for approaching storms but made it through those, too. I was able to attend another Drew BB game, always fun!
I am now back on the farm and we really cannot believe the year we are having. Mark, just today, planted his final bean field. June27! I am sure that will be a bumper crop! Ha! My garden looks good and healthy, though! :-)
We are heading back to Peoria for the 4th and Matt will join us there. This has become our new 4th of July destination....great fireworks on the Illinois River. Sunday we will be bringing Drew and Kayley home with us to the farm for a week so are very excited about that. Best get the golf cart charged and Pirates Bay inflated. I do believe there are many rocks in the fields so hope they still think that is a great time! Ha!
Some videos and pics of my time with my grandchildren:
He is getting ready to put a hot dog on his new grill
Drew and Kayley have new golf clubs
Ryan watching his siblings in their pool
I love raspberries!
I also love my own pool
Ryan wasn't too sure about his first pool but soon learned to love it!
Mark and I returned from Peoria on Sunday with a case of cake overload! Lots of birthdays to celebrate and we enjoyed every one of them. Ryan turned one and Kayley turned 5. I think they both truly enjoyed their special days. Matt was able to get in on the fun so that was special, too.
Since our return to the farm we have been waiting patiently for our fields to dry so we can finally plant some soybeans, but alas, it rained once again over night with more storms predicted for this afternoon. It is now well past my father's warning of "it is the eleventh hour". Sigh. Mark is remarkably calm about all of this but I am not! That could be because I really wanted to put new flooring in our kitchen and bathrooms and that idea is not going to fly with no crops in the ground! :-(
Thank heavens for three wonderful grandchildren to take our minds off of this crappy weather. We went to Drew's t-ball games, watched Ryan destroy his first cake and enjoyed Kayley's party at Jump Start Gymnastics.
Videos of the parties and also of Drew performing (quite well!) at his baseball games. Ryan's video is a bit long as it would not let me edit it at all for some odd reason! Oh well, he is cute throughout. :-)
Happy Birthday, Grandpa!
Drew shows off his batting form
Grandma and Kayley after her birthday dinner of pizza.
I left for Peoria last Tuesday. Drew's last day of kindergarten was a 9:45 a.m. Wednesday
dismissal and his summer day care did not begin until today so grandma came to watch him. DESPITE all the rain, we have had a lot of fun playing baseball, riding bikes, and going to the park between all the showers. Grandpa joins us on Wednesday (his birthday) to help celebrate Ryan's first birthday on Thursday and Kayley's 5th birthday on Sunday. Lots of cake this week!
Ryan is growing so quickly. He is taking lots of steps and playing hard with all his toys. He is such a good baby, taking long naps. :-)
Kayley is such a sweet little girl. (Her parents will chuckle at that statement, but grandma thinks she is mostly sweet!) She definitely has a mind and will all her own but I rather like that spirit. :-)
Some videos of our days together, the last one showing Drew learning to ride his bike without training wheels. He caught on quickly and today we are taking his new skills to the park to see how he fares there. I will bring band aids....
So now, of course, we are complaining about WAY too much rain. I think we have had enough for now! Mark finally got all his corn planted yesterday afternoon and this is what his cornfields look like today:
Oh well, this too shall pass. There is a family in the Dayton community that is missing their daughter which makes one not want to complain too loudly about a little water in their fields. Two girls, ages 12 and 15 were abducted Monday after school by a registered sex offender from Stratford. The 12 year old miraculously escaped and ran to a farm house for help. The 15 year old is still missing and the abductor hung himself at an abandoned farm that night. It is now Sat. and they don't have a trace of Kathlynn. They found her blood in his pickup so it is not sounding all that great for this dear child. He took them to a hog confinement building which we can see from our house. The girl ran to the farm house just straight east of our farm. It is all so chilling, so sad.... WHY was he let out of prison?!?!?! Hundreds of volunteers and law enforcement have descended up our tiny town and have been searching every timber, ditch, etc. They went by our home on Wednesday and it was the saddest sight I had ever seen from my window. We had checked all the buildings for Kathlynn and several times I had walked up and down our roads looking in creeks and ditches. This was a very eerie experience for me and cannot imagine what her poor family is enduring. I pray she is found soon.,,,
Searchers going by our farm looking for Kathlynn
On a happier note, I will be leaving for Peoria to see my grandchildren very soon! Drew is finished with kindergarten on Wednesday and summer will officially begin! He is signed up for t-tall so I must see several of those games! Ryan turns ONE on June 6, Kayley turns 5 on June 9 and Grandpa turns a bigger number on June 5th. Lots of birthdays to celebrate while I am in Peoria! Looking forward to seeing them.....rather, I cannot wait!!!
UPDATE: Megan just sent me this pic of Ryan at his Omaha early birthday party and had to share so I could at least have ONE kid pic on here!
Megan said he took care of this in record time! He loves to eat! Now, time for a bath.
I decided to fly one more time to Peoria before heading back to Iowa. There were lots of grandchildren activities this past week and I wanted to share in the fun! I arrived on Monday, April 15 and picked up Drew at school and then we drove to the day care to get Ryan and Kayley. All were really happy to see me, even Ryan! He remembered me from their Spring Break trip to AZ evidently. Yay!
Tuesday Ryan stayed home with me but Drew and Kayley went to school. Megan was in Miami until Wednesday night so I am glad I was there to help out. I picked Kayley up after her lunch and Drew rode the bus home which is something he does not normally do. Usually he stays at an after school program until Andy gets him after work. He is a bit hesitant to ride the bus but he did just fine and I was waiting by the door waving. :-)
Wednesday morning was Grandparents Day for Drew's kindergarten class so I was so glad I was there to be a part of it for him. They sang us a song, taught us some sign language, took our picture together and we colored the frame for the picture. Drew did not want me to leave and wanted to come home with me but I finally talked him in to staying in school for the rest of the day and said I will be waiting for him by the door when the bus drops him off. Well......that didn't go so well. They have early dismissal on Wednesdays and I didn't know that so was not standing at the door to greet him. In fact, the door was still locked and he was knocking and finally rang the door bell. He was not a happy camper, to put it mildly. I felt SO bad but he forgave me and said that I didn't know about school getting out early. Whew! Here is a portion of the song the kindergarten children sang for the grandparents:
Drew and Grandma at school
Thursday brought Grandpa to Peoria! It is so wet (big change from last year!) so he cannot get into the fields. He decided he wanted to join in on the fun, too. That night Drew's kindergarten class and the first grade classes gave a concert. It was such fun watching him perform. He is such a shy young man but he was very animated singing! I think Grandpa was glad he was able to attend!
Friday Kayley stayed home from school with Ryan so we could enjoy them both. We didn't tell Drew that Kayley was staying home as that would not have gone over too well!
Saturday was a big day for Kayley and the entire family. It was the March for Babies sponsored by the March of Dimes and they were the Ambassador Family for the walk. Megan gave a short talk before we took off and they led the group when they departed on the walk. After the walk we returned to the Riverfront in downtown Peoria for sandwiches and there was a bouncy house and games for all the children. The weather finally turned nice and it couldn't have picked a better day to do it since all the activities were outdoors. One of Megan's friends from Chicago drove down to participate which was really nice. She also had Peoria friends and their children walk in our group. It was a great fun-filled day for a worthy cause.
Introducing the Ambassador Family
Getting ready to walk!
Add caption
Kayley's picture board for the March for Babies
Kayley had a great day. As we were getting ready to leave she said "I love the March of Dimes" :-)
Kayley and friend poop out so Drew gives them a lift.
Bouncy House
Sunday brought Mark's visit to an end as he took off for the farm late that morning. I watched the kids while Megan and Andy went furniture shopping for a bedroom set.
Monday was time to head back to the airport and my flight back to AZ. It was so hard saying good-bye to everyone. I suppose it will get easier some day, but I don't know! Here is one last video of sweet, sweet Ryan:
Megan, Andy and the children flew to AZ last Friday and spent the week with us. We had such a wonderful time and enjoyed every minute! They flew back to Peoria this morning and Mark headed to the farm at the same time so you can imagine how lonesome old Grandma is feeling right now! I have lots of great memories to get me through, though!
The weather was picture perfect their entire stay and we did lots of fun things. The highlights for the kids were the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, the Phoenix Children's Museum, an amusement park for children called Enchanted Island, and a Diamondback's game for Drew. Kayley and Ryan stayed with me while everyone else watched the longest game ever in Chase Field history....16 innings! They got home very late and Drew made it through the entire marathon of a game. Wow.
Megan and I took Drew hiking at Pinnacle Peak and he did very well. Kayley said she wanted to hike so we took her to North Mountain. Let's just say she didn't do as well as Drew. :-) Another morning Megan and I hiked a 5.5 mile trail up the mountain and had a great work-out.
Megan and Andy were able to meet with old friends while they were here and they enjoyed that time. Megan also visited her old law firm one afternoon.
Mark and I were so happy that they came and cannot wait for them to do it again. :-)
Some highlights of our week:
Our day at the train park
The Phoenix Children's Musem
Easter Sunday
Enchanted Island Amusement Park (This one is a bit noisy!)
Last night we stayed at a hotel so that they would be closer to the Gateway Airport for a VERY early morning flight. I invited Lisa and she brought son Taylor and grandson Daniel Jr. Junior is so cute and such a contrast from my blonde and blue eyed grandchildren.
I flew to Peoria, IL last Wednesday to see Drew, Kayley and sweet
baby Ryan. I must say I was very excited to do this! Leaving 85 degree
weather for the 20's and 30's would normally be tough for old granny
but not when she gets to play with these three kids. We had a grand
time but things were dampened a bit when Drew came down with a bad case
of the flu on Friday night. When I left on Monday he was home from
school (his first day ever of missing kindergarten!) He is back at
school now and I am so thankful. Now praying that the other two kids
and Megan and Andy do not get it!
Ryan is such a fun
little guy. He smiles ALL the time and hardly ever fusses. What more
can one ask from a 9 month old?!?! He was a little shy when I picked
him up at daycare the day of my arrival but we quickly became good
friends and I fell in love. Drew and Kayley are getting so big and
starting to have their own opinions and thoughts and that is always
fun....or perhaps not? It is!
While I was in IL, Mark
was hosting Andy and his brothers who came to AZ to attend spring
training BB games. I think the boys (Mark included) all enjoyed the
games, weather, etc.! I am sure that will be a standing spring ritual!
Good for them. It is definitely worth coming here to see.
Our
next big adventure will be the arrival of Megan and the family for
spring break next Friday. Mark and I are so excited for this visit. We
have some things lined up that we think the kids will like and we plan
to give Megan and Andy several "date" nights. The weather here is absolutely fabulous right and who from the midwest
would not enjoy that after this past winter?
Some videos and pics of my time in Peoria.
I am sick....
Rock and roll
My cute grandson!
Ryan and Kayley
Big people food
Kayley at the white board
I like to smile!
Ryan loves bath time
Kayley used her easy bake oven to make pizza.....she had something else for dinner. :-)
Kayley is pulling Ryan in his walker and Drew gives his
opinion on that and mildly scolds grandma in the process! LOL
In this video I am making faces and head movements and Ryan mimics me perfectly!
I flew to Peoria, IL last Wednesday to see Drew, Kayley and sweet
baby Ryan. I must say I was very excited to do this! Leaving 85 degree
weather for the 20's and 30's would normally be tough for old granny
but not when she gets to play with these three kids. We had a grand
time but things were dampened a bit when Drew came down with a bad case
of the flu on Friday night. When I left on Monday he was home from
school (his first day ever of missing kindergarten!) He is back at
school now and I am so thankful. Now praying that the other two kids
and Megan and Andy do not get it!
Ryan is such a fun
little guy. He smiles ALL the time and hardly ever fusses. What more
can one ask from a 9 month old?!?! He was a little shy when I picked
him up at daycare the day of my arrival but we quickly became good
friends and I fell in love. Drew and Kayley are getting so big and
starting to have their own opinions and thoughts and that is always
fun....or perhaps not? It is!
While I was in IL, Mark
was hosting Andy and his brothers who came to AZ to attend spring
training BB games. I think the boys (Mark included) all enjoyed the
games, weather, etc.! I am sure that will be a standing spring ritual!
Good for them. It is definitely worth coming here to see.
Our
next big adventure will be the arrival of Megan and the family for
spring break next Friday. Mark and I are so excited for this visit. We
have some things lined up that we think the kids will like and we plan
to give Megan and Andy several "date" nights. The weather here is absolutely fabulous right and who from the midwest
would not enjoy that after this past winter?
Some videos and pics of my time in Peoria.
In
this video, Kayley is pulling Ryan in his walker and Drew gives his
opinion on that and mildly scolds grandma in the process! LOL
I am sick....
Rock and roll
Big people food!
My sis loves me!
Life is good
Kayley at the drawing board
What doesn't make me smile?
I love my bath time!
Happy Ryan
Kayley wanted to make her own pizza dinner from her Easy Bake oven....she ended up having something else. :-)
In this video I was making faces at Ryan and he is mimicking my expression and head movements. So smart. :-)
