the weekend

This weekend we went to visit Jay's parents where they're staying with Mark and Barb.  We didn't realize Mark and Barb, Jenny and Joe would all be home, so that was a nice surprise.

Maria and Dalton came over with the baby.

Jay cooked a whole Thanksgiving dinner and brought it with, stuffed the turkey at 5 am and cooked it, the whole works.

It was a really nice day, hugging the baby, lots of laughing.

Tonight we got pizza and went over to Maria and Dalton's for a while. This baby hugger came along, very sweet.   She said it had been a long time since she'd held such a little baby, but she hadn't forgotten how.

And this guy came along too, made this dog so happy.

Today we gave Elin a bath and did the turtle tank, kept checking things off our to-do list.

Onward.

It's almost Thanksgiving.  

Love, Val
 

the week

It's been a week.  The early darkness has not been good, and neither has this unwelcome white substance.  Our poor little turkeys, had to smack the snow off them so they didn't flatten to the ground.

But there's been grandchild volleyball, which is entertaining.

And this squishy, little soft guy starting to grow.  We've been over to see him a couple times, and I can't wait to go snuggle him again soon.

A few of Maria's instagram photos:
 

Ugh, back to reality.  We washed the windows and curtains, replaced all the bulbs in the light fixture, smacked down cobwebs in the stairway. This is a high and difficult place.  We do this once a year.

See you again November, 2023.

This is a picture I took, trying to show my friend why we have a section of carpet in an entirely wood floor house.  There's a spot 4x8 that is cement from when a porch was turned into an interior room.

This is a picture of the back hallway to our room, bathroom door, all the hangers on the doors for robes and sweatshirts, the laundry rack.  (It is a back hallway.)  

Plus!  A dinosaur costume!

Right?

That's the little hallway where we replaced the rug.  It feels so soft and fresh and nice.

And the last rug is back from the rug laundry. This one in the living room is not the actual, final one. It's another one from the other room that we rolled out across the floor for Julia's Halloween party.

But it is all coming together.  Rugs clean, windows, curtains, and it is important to deal with your house and keep it clean.  

Good thing we have Thanksgiving to host, or who knows how far down the crap shack tubes this could slide.

I even painted the bathroom.

Seriously.

Look at that sparkling white ceiling and fresh walls.  It's been at least ten years.  It was time.

Okay, good night.

Love you all so, MOM

her tiny nephew

So we made our way to Maria and Dalton's tonight so Jule could meet her new nephew and I could also snuggle the baby.

She said, "It has been YEARS since I've held a baby."

True. 

Aww. He's such an extravagant sleeper with the skinny arms and all, sweet as candy.

What a great end to this weekend.

Love, MOM aka VAL, aka GRANDMA
 

grandparents day

So Grandparent Day was planned for many weeks, and we were informed. It was a 7:45 am mass, and when I mentioned that to the child he said, "Oh yeah, you will not be there."

Okay, on short notice, not the best, but this gave ample warning. We were there. It was all going perfectly well, until that little girl turned white as damned paste and asked me to take her to the bathroom.

Not sure where they are, but yes, let's go.

Then she sprawled on big chairs in the foyer and asked to go home.

The pure whiteness of her lips had me concerned she'd start puking momentarily, but she did not.

Anyway, her taken home to her mother, returned and had tours of the classrooms, met teachers, had a rousing game of bingo in the basement with Dan's in laws.

I texted a couple of these photos to my old sweetie from childhood and she responded back, "Sacred Heart?? What are you doing THERE?"

Here on Grandparent Day, living it up.

They sang patriotic songs in honor of Veteran's Day, so sweet.

What a lovely Friday, best day of the whole week.

Love you all like crazy, Grandma, aka MOM
 

surprise band concert

Tim's been taking music classes at the college nearby.

He's not super informative, but that's to be expected.

This night though, he showed up dressed and looking handsome.  I didn't think that much about it, but Dad smelled a rat, thought he had a band concert.

I went to the computer and looked this up.  Yes! He did! And it was not that far away, and we had plenty of time to get there.

It was a joint concert--the Anoka Hennepin Band and the North Hennepin Band, plus community players, so people of all ages, students, seniors, men, women, everybody, all playing music together, and in honor of Veteran's Day.

It was spectacular. We enjoyed it so much.

We found his car in the parking lot, and parked near him.  After the concert, he was in his car, and I had texted him Great Concert.

But then I tapped on the window, and he jumped.  Then he saw it was me and cocked his head with a goofy grin, like what are YOU doing here?

Enjoying a beautiful concert, thank you very much!

Lovely night.

Funny kid.

We could not love you more, MOM and DAD
 

volleyball banquet

We were seated at the back, but could hear everything fine, and Julia received awards. Very nice.

Because of her spectacular grades, even more nice.

She's a very good student, and is also a conscientious person, kind to others.

Look at all of you!!!   That's Abby, her friend Hailey's sweet mom, taking a pic with her phone.

The final season has been interesting and fun.

 Onward.

Love, MOM

sweet baby

Love, Grandma