northern lights

Our grandson posted this on instagram--Northern Lights over the neighbor's house.  We almost never see these in Minneapolis, right in the city, but there they were, astonishingly beautiful.  

Another grandson on the other side of St. Paul took this photo from his back door. 

Love, Val

lunch with the great-grandparents

Maria and I met for lunch at my folks, and they were very busy little boys.  

Here they're offering the child to choose a donut.

He picked the biggest, gooey one of all, wow.   That's delicious.

I love that little face, the chocolate lips.

When it was time to go, they kept bringing out more and more toys, and then finally just threw a mutiny and cried about leaving.

Maria said, "Kids have been crying when they leave here since forever.  We gotta go."

I laughed. That's a true story.

Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful Monday.

So much love, Val

 

closing up the cabin

On Saturday afternoon late, about the time we thought they probably weren't coming after all, this girl and her dad showed up, and they were the most pleasant company.

We went out for supper and she got busy opening up the new cabin Barbies. They're for everyone, new ones for the lake.  We had to figure out where to put all the stickers on the boat, and Joe attached Barbie's TV.  (Her boat has a TV on it.  That Barbie.)

We played Yahtzee. The child had not played before so we had to help her figure out what to do with the dice, which to save and which to roll again, where to put the scores.

The child scored two Yahtzees.

TWO.

Seriously??

And she really did too, I was sitting right there.

Crazy.

It snowed before it was all over with and it was so cold out while they were outside working, just shivery.  In the spring 30s will feel so warm.  Not at this point though.

This is a little too much.  Vinegar that expired in 2018?  Come on. That's ridiculous. I threw it away, though Joe and I wondered if apple cider vinegar would actually go bad?

Seven years though?   We're not finding out.

The water softener was disconnected and taken away to Joe and Heidi's warm garage for the winter,  Their trailer was hooked up to go.  Jay winterized the washing machine.   

I didn't clean anymore.  

The week before I braved the two closets up front and it was a yucky job, but it was the right thing to do, threw things away, banished all evidence of past mouse excursions. 

But enough cleaning for the year.  It feels endless but never feels complete.   There's always another mess somewhere else, mouse poop here or there, dog hair and dust bunnies. Crumbs. Wrappers. Wet towels. Odd things that we wonder #1 what they are, and #2 why they're there.  Anyway, I washed the fridge, which was actually pretty clean, and good enough for now.

And that's the end until next year.

Love, Val

 

high school musical

The show was so much fun!   Apparently our student had to audition and everything. Well, she did great, was dedicated to the practicing and learning all the songs and dances, really, really nice.

Girl, we were so proud of you!   So much love, Grandma and Grandpa

 

pets

We have never had cats before and they do the oddest things, but they're very sweet and so soft and gentle.   

But on top of the fridge?  

They were on curtain rods in Julia's room until they destroyed them.  Tim knew where some industrial strength rods and brackets were, 1940s ones that came with the house, made of actual steel.  Jay brought the drill and we found some little screws to attach them.  Hopefully the cats can't conquer those.

Love, Val

still here

Here we are, a few pictures from last week.

But first had to swap out the keyboard because it isn't typing H.  It's always something.

Anyway, these are two guys at lunch, spontaneously with their feet on the table.   We joked that they must get this from their dad's side of the family, but then had to admit it could be their MOTHER too.

Later we went out to the patio, and Maria saw this picture and mentioned that's the baby's jacket.

Oh well.

He liked it.

The broom serves as both self defense, and as a toy for Dani. She gets so carried away outside and she's become very strong, and sometimes she's a punk.  Not this day she wasn't, but sometimes she just gets too rough.  But that's how eight month old puppies are.

Anyway, lots of love, and more pictures to add.   Love, Val
 

one year old

We laughed that the feet on the table might be from Dad's side of the family, but being honest? 

It could also be from your mother.

Ahhh what a wonderful year it has been watching you grow, getting to know you, and what a fine, funny guy you are.

The year ahead is going to be GREAT.

Happy birthday darling

We love you like crazy, Grandma and Grandpa

mummy wrap and pin the tail on the cat

At some point I realized we had to play these games!  Kids would be so disappointed if we forgot.  They were good sports about pinning the tail on the cat. 

That's my sister's grandson and he is a party guy.  He loves this. The enthusiasm is contagious.

He came from the office and said, "The girls are having a dance battle!"

It cracked me up that he announced it like that's just a thing people do, have random dance battles.

(I've never been in one.)

Someone else went out and convinced them to come inside for ONE round of the game.  

They did.

First step of the game is to kick all eighty or ninety shoes out of the way.

And that's my sister's granddaughter.  She's small, but mighty.

Mummy Wrap did not disappoint.
 

We don't have winners, and there are no rules, so that helps.

Just a lot of hyper-ness and happiness.

Oh my goodness I love you all.     Grandma aka MOM aka VAL