pictures from the week

Some basketball, always fun to see these kids.

Supper with Jay's mom

They worked this machine

Finally extracted a little giraffe!

This guy on Monday, liking the toys we brought out that are more for his age.

Elin had a bath

 

Love, Val

the end of the week

The clean up continued outside and we burned old files because the garbage bins were full.

Jay had an errand and Heidi and Joe's and I was happy to come along and see some kids.

My dad gave each of them a painting he'd done of chickens. They're whimsical and sweet, folk art, funny.  They hung them on their walls, and how perfect they are.

That's a cow jumping over the moon.

She showed me the new pads they have for the floor and walls so when they swing around on that swing they don't bash into things.  I told Heidi the corner of the desk always makes me nervous, but they've never even come close to it.  Not sure the swing even goes over that far.  It's just paranoia of mine.

She was too busy to smile.

When I asked her to smile, she posed for me.  Later we played cards and I think she tends to cheat.  It says, "Draw 2, " and she doesn't.

It's all right.

There's a nice smile.

Awww.  When we arrived I tackled her for smooches to the neck. She laughed.

And then we drove to the city to pick Julia up from the University. She's home until after Thanksgiving, and we're sure glad she is.

The ride home in the dark is quite gorgeous, city lights and dark sky.  I tried to get a picture, but the car moves too fast.

 Someone else took this. It's a different angle, not the dip down view with the river, but it's okay.

And that brings us to today.

Friday.

Best day of the week.

The sun is shining.

Love, Val

on to the next thing

 As football ended, basketball has started.  It felt good to be in the gym again, familiar players and people.

This child was annoyed there was no concession stand.  

Ugh.

Why do they expect people to attend with no lesshions?

To pass the time we played tic tac toe and hang man, and she's good at both.

Reminded me of the olden days before ipods and tablets.

I love you guys, Grandma

an exciting week

Yes, there we have it. Cub Foods.

We have been cleaning and getting rid of things.  The garbage cans are full. The whole car was stuffed to take to donation.

We looked through old VCR tapes of home movies, trying to see what were our movies and what were blank tapes we used to record TV shows we wanted to watch later.

This gem surfaced.

The kids had the video camera and this is extensive footage of Little Jay playing Guitar Hero in 2008.

There was breakdancing. Arguing.

This unlabeled tape had Father's Day 1996. That was pretty sweet.

This is Little Maria at breakfast, wearing Little Jay's old pajamas, bed hair and pancakes, so adorable.

This guy is always happy to see Uncle Tim. Tim brought down the remote control bug.  He skipped it all around so the child could size it up.  He observed and was not scared of it at all, even wanted to run the remote.

After he left,  I tackled the basement. 

When it came to getting rid of things, we did this by committee, photos texted around.

Lydia was a good sport.

It was determined we could live without the rainbow wig.

Or the dog Santa hat

Thanks for helping me, Sweetheart.

You made it easier and a lot more fun.

Love, MOM
 

almost!

 Cap and gown in the mail!!

Woo Hoo!!

Love, Mom and Dad

the end of the season

 We bundled up and made it to this last game.  Next time he plays it will be as a college student.

How fast these years flew by.

We love you, Grandma and Grandpa

pure sugar

Love, Val