a guy turns fifteen

Took a couple pictures on Saturday, opening gifts.

It was a fine basketball weekend.
 

This last picture is so you, just a big old jump for joy.

Thank you for all the happiness you've brought us.

This whole family is lucky having you.

Happy Birthday to my Sweetie, and hoping the year ahead is wonderful.

We love you so, Grandma and Grandpa and Everybody

sunday

Before the basketball game we bought snacks for the Superbowl and later made our way back home.

At the grocery store there were kids in football jerseys who clearly were bagging groceries as a fundraiser. I didn't notice them at first, but all at once there were little football players all crowding around the cart.

One started in on his publicity speech, and then he paused and said, "I flubbed that," like he was going to begin again.  

I said, "That's okay. Do you want to bag my groceries?" I gave him $5 and pointed over to them.

"Yeah!"

Jay was already starting to bag so I asked him to get out of the way and let these men do their work. He asked what he should do then?  I said, "Stand there and look good."  The cashier laughed.

The kids were working away and asked us who we thought would win the game.  I said, "Taylor Swift!"

"Aww, she's not playing."

"She's good! She can kick and run, bet she can throw a ball."

They shook their heads.

Jay said, "Probably the Packers."

They shook their heads, giggling more and said, "They're not playing either."

They were the cutest baggers in a long time.

And then Jay drove her back to her dorm for the week, and that's the end of Sunday.

Love always, MOM aka Val
 

moving day

These two (pic from Halloween) moved to a bigger place in the same building, so we helped with that a little.   They had it all packed and organized and it wasn't a far move.  It was fun.

Then they took us to Applebee's for supper.  Today we took Tim along and moved the big furniture, and voila.

They have lots of unpacking to do, but there's no rush.  

Tomorrow Kenya has jury duty, so that should be interesting.

Love you both, Mom and Dad
 

the winners

They came in first place, exciting game.  They're scrappy and they play hard.

Way to go!   Love, Grandma and Grandpa
 

first trip to the park

This is the new park equipment we've never seen before.  They said it is a Toddler Park, and that seems true, so we went over to the school where they have bigger equipment

This is the hockey rink, looking very end of March.  

April, even.

They've heard many warnings about thin ice this winter and before they went on that patch of snow they asked about water underneath and if it was safe.  No water, Girls.   Just dirt, Not a pond, but good to ask.

Love, Grandma and Grandpa
 

a sleepover in february

We had a sleepover last night, woo hoo.

Kari was amazing.

Here they're doing some kind of kit involving slime and who knows what all else.

We blew up the air mattress and made beds on the couches.

Tim is working on some completely incomprehensible crystal 3D puzzle.    He had to leave for his concert before he got very far, but I made them leave it alone since he had it started.

As it became time to sleep at the sleepover, things got dicey.  Apparently she forgot her special stuffed animals, Curious George and Sidney, and wasn't going to be able to sleep without them.   Jay made the trip to Blaine to fetch them.

When Tim came home, he completed the puzzle, 3D crystal cats.  I asked him how?? There were no directions. He laughed.

Curious George and Sidney tucked in her arm.

Here is Kari again with amazing fortitude trying to teach them how to play chess with a Super Mario chess set.  Listening to this, "Your rook is the mushroom," and explaining which directions a queen can move, etc, ei yi yi.   She's a saint.

So much love, MOM aka Grandma
 

hey february

James was here for supper one night.  Fried egg sandwiches are always delicious and James is good company.

We made it to some basketball this weekend.  Not sure if she's played before or not, if this is the first time she's been on a team, but they sure had fun.

Kind of perfect for a winter morning.

Then we went to other games.  Jay saw the little one play, and I got there in time for the second team.

She hates it.  Just totally hates it.   Understandable.   I mean, it is good to try new things, get exercise, get out of our comfort zones, all that.

But, ugh.

This school was a trip down memory lane, built about the same time as the schools we went to back in the day.   I loved the warm pretty brick and shiny floors, and we laughed about the heating units up high on the gym wall, same ones they had in classrooms back in the day where fingers would tingle and burn while they thawed out after recess and we'd put our mittens on top to dry.

I have to say, she hung in there all the way to the end, and that's not a small thing.  Plus she can dribble and shoot just as well as the rest.   

And then we headed home for a fine lunch and sleepover.

Love you kids, Grandma, and Grandpa too