lori's girl gets married

Lori's daughter was married last night.

It was an exceptional occasion--emotional, elegant, fun.

This goofy selfie Maria took while she was watching their baby.  Maria was the designated nanny for the wedding day.   Arrive at 8am.  Take charge of baby, nap appropriately and also feed.   Have at the church on time, take back home and put to bed during the reception.

She said she had a good time and enjoyed the company of this little child very much.

Lori's grandbaby--I nibbled her ears and smelled her hair.   She feels like family.    So does Lori's mother.  I did not nibble her ears or smell her hair, but we hugged each other tight.



Pictures from the Dollar Dance:  Heidi and Nicole

 Kirsten and Nicole:

 Three girls who did a lot of laughing.

John and Dannell had to attend a different wedding in Wisconsin, and John and Dan were texting each other during the reception, Dan taking great pleasure in teasing and needling John.

When the snappy responses arrived, then he was doubled over, laughing.

Alicia thought he should include some of it with, "jk." 

Dan howled, "He KNOWS."

Yes, he did, and some of his offended-type responses were placed specifically for effect.

I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.

Nicole and Lance?  So much love, and so many blessings wished for you both.  This day was a celebration of everything that has made you who you are and brought you together, and always love. 

Always--there has never been anything else.  xo

Jay and Val and EVERYBODY

just working

That's all we've been doing this week.

We've been working on painting the house.  We never paint the whole place at once, but all the time, we paint a little, or a portion.  This high wall was more ambitious than some areas.

 See that cute fountain my parents gave us?   Anyway, that wall behind it has to be painted, but I can do that.  We don't need the high ladder that's super heavy.

And the garage too--that was filthy, dirty up under the eaves.  Then Jay started painting a part of one garage door, and the truth had to be faced.

I gotta paint this too.  No point in putting it off for another six months until spring. It'd take a couple mornings and it'd be done.

The big maple out front is the first one to turn color, and so it has.

 There's our girl who has done pretty well in her first weeks of school.

 And a geranium peeking around the corner:

Oh, and this child.  Today we had a couple errands to do, nothing serious, just Menard's and Costco.

Well, she's silly.  She hangs on her aunt and laughs a lot, gets in the way of the cart, and takes off her shoes and socks.

In the car I scolded her, "You must be a cooperator.  A cooperator is not goofy and silly and leaves their clothes on.  Do you understand?"

She said she did, and got to work putting her socks back on.  Tim said nothing, just his eyes twinkled.

And then a couple guys were here for supper.   It was pretty fun.  We even got out the little mist machine--set it in a bowl of water and plug it in, turns colors, fog ensues.   My dad bought it somewhere for a dollar.

And this kid started a new year of preschool and he likes it too.   We're all back in the routine of fall.

Happy September all you kids.  love, MOM aka Grandma

funny pictures in my email

 John sent these, what a day brightener.

Five years ago, maybe?

Oh you cute kids, how much fun we've had.   love you all so, MOM

in a file named 9-14-10 MARIA

Wow.

Four years ago?  Not a lot has changed.

People grew, I guess, but we're all still us.

Probably that's both a good and bad thing.

Okay, time for bed.  

I love you, Maria.

love, MOM

yay, girl!

Today was her first day of preschool!  Yesterday she told me, "Grandma, you're not going to even see me tomorrow because I will be at PRESCHOOL!"

I told her we'd pick her up before lunch, so we'd see each other a little.

She LOVED it.

Heidi said she told the teachers the child is bad at transitions.   They told Heidi, "Sounds like she's THREE."

At this same preschool, back when John was little, everything I worried about regarding him they responded basically the same way:  "He's a kid!"

It was good for me to hear, feeling responsible for everything, every uncooperative moment: my responsibility and also probably my fault.

"Nah. No worries."
 
And she was actually happy to see us, told Julia all about school, appeared later on my lap to roll around and hug.  It was a great day.

Which started with a great night.    I got hungrier and hungrier all evening until I was dreaming of scrambled eggs with cheese.

When I finally got home, in this dark quiet house, I melted butter and scrambled eggs and made enough for two people.  Then I took the whole big plate, and two forks and woke him up.

He is extraordinary when it comes to both being wakened up and also going back to sleep.

He actually seemed happy to see me, took the fork and ate.  And then he kissed me, winked, and went right back to sleep.

It's a gift.

Good night.  love you all, Val, aka GRANDAMA

fishing at the dock

The fish were not that hungry, and were also pretty small.  They let the few they caught go again.

 

 

 

Now it's Monday, and back to reality, but that's okay--a fine Monday it is. 

 

love, Val