A GRANDDAUGHTER!

Today is special because it is the day our new granddaughter is born! We haven't seen her yet, but have heard all about her. Her name is Esme (with an accent over the e) Arabella. She was born in North Carolina at 11:45 a.m. on this beautiful Sunday morning, August 17, 2008. She is tiny - only 5 lbs. 11 oz. and 18" long. Shari says that she has about 1/4 to 1/2" of hair on her head and Mark says that she looks like Shari. 

I won't see her until this coming Saturday night when Terry and I are driving to North Carolina, and then I will be staying there for a few days to get to know her and help Shari and then flying back on Wednesday. Her birth seems surreal because we can't see her yet. Hopefully Mark will send some pictures by email this afternoon. What a happy day!

A Glorious Day!

Today was just a gorgious day - sunny skies, low humidity, beautiful clouds, a nice breeze, and I

had Matthew today! :)

We had the whole day to play and we started out using play dough for over an hour! We made this little train and Matthew was in charge of making all of the wheels. He did a great job! Trains are his favorite thing, so that is what he asked for us to make. The picture below shows his thoughtful determination in stamping the holes in the wheels.

Then we decided to make his new baby (coming in December) drinking a bottle. He thought the blanket was pretty funny, but was excited to put it on the baby. He told Shelley that the baby will probably just mess up his trains!

After we cleaned up the pay dough we worked on giving Mr. Potato Head some funny faces. These were empty pictures of Mr. Potato Head's face that we put stickers on - like eyes, nose, ears, mouth. It was fun.

One of the most fun things we did today was play with my beanie babies. I have a huge bag of them and Matthew knows all of their names. (I always have to look at the tags) So we used the table leaf that we had been using for play dough and put the beanie babies around it for a party.

We decided to use the blocks for their food and drinks. We spent well over an hour feeding them, talking to them and having a great party. Several of them had a birthday and we sang to them and had special cake. We had a great time doing this - Matthew loves to pretend and use other voices making the animals talk.

We also spent a lot of time outside today. We gathered up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, some chocolate milk and water, some apple slices, and some cookies, a ball and bat, a playground ball and Matthew's hat and headed for the school playground down the street. The playground equipment is  a little old for him yet, but we used some of it and then played ball. Matthew doesn't like swings for some reason (My favorite thing!) so we didn't use them at all.

But we sat under a shady tree like last time and had a nice time eating lunch and then we played for a long time. I think Matthew's favorite part was kicking the playground ball around the parking lot and on the grass. Grandma was very tired after all that running and kicking! That is when I really feel that I am getting older - don't have the stamina as much anymore. I was tired!!

When we got home we got out the bubbles and blew some big ones in the backyard. Then Matthew asked to use the hose (he thinks this is great fun!) and squirted the bubbles as I blew them. He had so much fun using the hose that we ended up playing with that a long time.

Back in the house to get Matthew in some dry clothes and rest a while, we watched a program about some sextuplets for a while and America's Funniest Home Videos. He fell asleep on the floor one time while coloring and watching TV. It was so cute - his hand started slowing down and he was lying on his side and his eyes kept closing. But he forced himself to sit up and got a second wind.
We ended up the day by drawing and coloring with markers which Matthew LOVES to do!

He would sit there an hour and just use all different colors. He makes a great picture of fire works! I was impressed! Then when Mommy came, we went to meet Grandpa and Great Grandpa at the Beach Grill on Jefferson for dinner. That was our day - I loved it!

Mommy's Working

Shelley needed some time to get some of her drawings done yesterday uninterrupted. Not that she minds the interruptions by Matthew; she can just get more done in a shorter amount of time when she has some alone time. She is working on deadlines for two books that she is illustrating. So Grandma got to spend some time with Matthew! We had fun - but I was exhausted!

I decided that I wouldn't even bother him with pictures yesterday, so I went about the day and tried not to even think, "Wow! I wish I had a picture to remember this by!" It worked most of the day, but when he was running through the sprinkler with pure joy, I couldn't help myself and he was so busy running and laughing that he didn't really care that I was taking pictures.

We started the day by coloring in a big coloring book of Thomas the Tank Engine pictures. Then we used an assortment of markers to do some drawing. Matthew loves anything having to do with art, so we had fun drawing many things. He watches very carefully when we draw things and tries to copy them. By then it was time for lunch, so he climbed up in a chair and watched while I made us some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, bagged some grapes and cheese cubes, and got some napkins and something for us to drink. Then we packed it all up in bags and took off with the stroller to the school playground down the street. We laid out a tablecloth on the ground under a nice, shady tree and ate our lunch. It was a hot day so the shade tree was nice, and we had a nice time talking and eating. We cleaned that up and then played on the swings, slide, and threw a ball around for awhile. We were going to run around the bases on the ball field, but there were several gigantic hornets flying around home plate, and if you know me - I hate hornets and won't go near them! So we scratched that idea!

When we got back to the house, we went into the backyard and blew some little bubbles and some big bubbles for about an hour. Then I asked if he wanted to run through the sprinkler and he was enthusiastic about that, so we got everything ready and he did that for about 45 minutes just running and giggling the whole time. When he got done and we had dried him off and changed clothes, Grandpa stopped by for a few minutes to see some new golf clubs that he had purchased on ebay. They had come with the mail earlier. So Matthew watched Grandpa hit some balls into the pool and thought that was very fun. But Grandpa had to go back to work, so we built with blocks and made up stories while building things to go along with them. Then we played with play dough on a big table leaf on the family room floor. We used little plastic knives, forks, a huge wooden meat pounder, toothpicks, etc. to make all kinds of things. When we tired of that we decided to use watercolors at the family room table. We had just gotten started when Shelley walked in. She stayed for a while so Matthew could paint and then they went home! See why I am tired? But it was a very rewarding time spent with a grandson that I love very much! I love days like this! 

What could be better than spending my day with such a sweet, innocent little boy who loves doing so many things? I offered him some watermelon yesterday because I was going to have some and he said, "No thank you, Grandma." I wanted him to try it, but what could I say to that sweet answer? Kids are fun.

All Church Picnic/Community Fair/VBS Closing

Sunday afternoon was our annual All Church Picnic on our church grounds. This year it was decided that it would be a picnic combined with our VBS closing. All the kids from Bible School along with their families were invited. Then the community around the church was invited along with the Mayor, Fire Department, Police Department, etc. and then the armed services representatives in the area were invited. We rented a covered platform for music also. It turned out to be a HUGE undertaking that turned out very well!

Instead of everyone bringing dishes to pass and having a sit-down meal, we sold tickets for hot dogs, chips, drinks, watermelon, and cookies. There were tents and tables in different areas for eating and talking. VBS ran a very well done game fair for the kids and their families that went over big. The kids got tokens in VBS for doing various things and could use them to play the games. Visitors from the community and elsewhere could also get tokens. Here is a face painter that was hired for the day.

Shelley and Bob came and brought Matthew. He was very happy with all of those people around! He loves to be around people. (I think he comes by THAT honestly!!) The weather was just beautiful and, we had a great time.

Matthew got to get up on this WHITE fire truck. What ever happened to the red ones? Matthew likes the red ones better also. I actually had a better picture of him sitting on the step there with a fire hat on, but I couldn't get it to load!

We had a great turn out of people from church, VBS parents, and people from the community.

I saw lots of people whom I didn't know. Hopefully, some of them will come to church to check it out! We actually had over 150 visitors who were not from our church at VBS this year.

Here is Matthew trying out the fishing game. I think this was his favorite. He had to pick up magnets on the bottom of the pool with a fishing pole that also had a magnet. If the magnet you picked up had a certain color, you could pick a treat. There were also goldfish swimming in the pool! He loved it!  :)

Matthew is following in the family tradition of bowling here. He is being told what to do and is listening intently. He actually has bowled before and talks about it sometimes. He really liked doing it. One time we were in a restaurant with Shelley, Bob and Matthew. Matthew was in a very congenial mood and turned around in our booth to talk to an older boy in the next booth. He said, "Hi! I'm Matthew. Did you ever go bowling? The ball knocks down the pins..etc." That was one of the first times I remember him just starting up a conversation with a complete stranger!

When we went to Florida in June we went miniature golfing and took Matthew. This was the second year that we took him. He had a ball and also went golfing again with his parents when he got home. I love the way he holds the club! :)

This is the entrance to the games. The kids got tokens called Sand Dollars all week in VBS. Our theme this year was Outrigger Island.

                                                     No, the pop wasn't Matthew's! 

This is Amy Jaquomotte and her little girl Avery with Shelley. They live only a couple of blocks from Shelley and Bob, and Shelley and Amy have been friends for a long time. Now Avery and Matthew are good friends and play together really well.  Amy and Dave go to Cornerstone.

We had snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn and lots of things to do. The National Guard brought this big blow up deal and someone else brought the climbing wall. There were lots of blow up jumping things, lots of old cars to look at, and even some parade horses that were beautiful!

Here are the hot dog cooks! Mike Herhuth, Joe Asaro, Jim Alvaro, Troy Grogan, and Joyce Griffin. They were having a great time and probably cooked about 2000 hot dogs.

There was a little train that was motorized for the little kids to get rides in. Matthew loves trains and automatically says "Too-toot!" when playing with trains or riding in one. (That's what he is saying in the picture.) It was a fun day - lots of work to put together and a lot of clean-up, but a very successful "picnic"!

A Visit with David and Carol

While we were in Orlando last week we got to have a visit with my brother David and my sister-in-law Carol. We hadn't seen them in a year and it was great to have this time with them. 

We started out by going out to eat. David and Carol picked us up at our hotel (in the pouring rain) and we went to eat at the Bahama Breeze on International Drive. It was a very nice restaurant with good food and we had a great time talking and getting caught up. Then we went back to the hotel and just sat and talked a while more. We got to hear about what their kids are up to, about their grandchildren (they just took two of their grandsons to Disney World) and about their jobs. It is a shame that we can't get together more often - it was fun!  Thanks, David and Carol for taking the time to drive an hour just to see us!

International Christian Retailer's Show 2008

Terry and I had the privilege of going to the Christian Retailer's Show in Orlando this past week. It was amazing! All day long there were Christian author's signing their books and giving them away! We met so many people and it was very fun! Here is Terry with Ben Stein who was there because of his movie Expelled. Terry stood in a long line to have this one taken!

                    The information desk at the show.

Here I am with Terri Blackstock. She writes Christian novels that are a mixture of mystery, romance and just good writing. I have read all of her books. She is just a beautiful person. She is much more beautiful in person - this picture doesn't do her justice!

The vendor floor was just huge! Every big and small Christian publisher and supplier was there.

All of their products were on display with special deals just for ordering at the show. I really learned a lot and found some new suppliers for the book store. There were many suppliers of gift items for stores also - some beautiful stuff. (to keep in mind for the future)

We were given so much that we had to ship it home! We bought boxes and kept coming back to fill them up to send home. We sent home four large boxes! Can't wait to get them!! It was a good four days - wish we could have stayed longer. The last day all of the vendors give away their products that are left over to avoid shipping them home. We had to leave Wednesday and missed that part! :(   I also attended some training classes for bookstore managers and an idea exchange luncheon. We won't talk about the plane trips - flying is not fun for me. When we returned to Detroit (on time, I might add) we were waiting for our luggage for about 30 minutes when they came over the loud speaker and said that they had lost our flight's luggage. They couldn't find it! They said that everyone had to go to the baggage claim office and give their address for the luggage to be delivered when it was found! What really happened was that the shift of workers who unload the baggage walked off the job at end of shift and just didn't unload the plane. No one told the other shift and they didn't know that it hadn't been unloaded. When someone figured this out, we got our luggage! That was only an hour and a half after landing! What organization!

A Visit and a Ballgame!

Last night Carol, Shane, and Dylan came for a visit. The boys follow the Tigers and Terry and I have tickets each summer with a good view of the game, so Terry invited them to go with us tonight to the ball game. We had dinner together at our house first and then went down to Comerica Park together. Shelley and Bob and Matthew came over to have pizza with us and visit with Carol and the boys.

I forgot to take my camera to the ball game, but if you go to Carol's blog, she took lots of good pictures of it. The Tigers led most of the game, but were losing in the eighth inning. They came back to win in the ninth - that made all of us happy! Then we stayed to view the wonderful fireworks before Carol and the boys headed home. 

It was a very rainy day, but just before the game the sun came out and it was beautiful for most of the game. The only problem was that I was sick all evening. I had just gotten one of those awful summer colds - I was miserable, but happy to see my sister and Dylan and Shane.

Shari's and Mark - June 2008

This year Terry and I got to spend a bit more time with Shari and Mark on the way home from Florida. I got to go to Shari's baby shower on Saturday afternoon and then we went with them to church on Sunday. That afternoon we all went shopping to buy their baby stroller and some other necessities for the baby on the way. We had fun even though it wasn't a very productive trip. The stroller that they picked out had been recalled and will be coming back out, but not for a couple of weeks. But it was fun shopping around. I really need to stay away from little girl clothes, though, because seriously, I am a sucker for them! Here we are packing up the car. After shopping we went with them to look at some houses that they are interested in and later, we went to dinner at a restaurant on Lake Norman. It was Father's Day and the first one in a very long time that Terry got to spend with Shari. :)

I wanted to get a few pictures of Shari when she is pregnant because they are fun to look back on later in life, and fun for the children to see later also. She looks cute! Shari is making her own baby bedding for the crib, so I got to see all of that while I was there. She is very good at sewing and improvising when needed. The baby's room will be coral, pink, and white.

I love these pictures of Shari and Mark! They are both very photogenic! We had such a nice time with them and probably won't see them again until the baby is born in either August or September.

Shari's Baby Shower

Isn't Shari cute when she's pregnant? Shari is our youngest daughter and she is expecting her first baby - a little girl. This will be our first granddaughter and we are very excited. We already love being grandparents and now both Shelley and Shari are expecting. What fun!!  This baby shower was given by the girls in Shari's small group at the home of an older couple who have taken great care of Shari and Mark since they moved to NC. They all go to the same church.

Shari had a beautiful cake and we had a really nice time visiting with everyone. All of us got to guess the date of birth, time of birth, and weight of the baby - I guessed August 30, 5:00 PM and six and a half pounds. We'll see!

It was fun to watch Shari open her gifts and see all of the beautiful little girl things. She got lots of pretty things - I am always amazed how things have changed since I was expecting my children. Everyone was so generous and we had lots to pack up and take home.

This was a happy day for Shari. A couple of her co-workers couldn't make it to the shower, but most of her favorite people were there. I was really impressed with her friends - they were all so nice and personable. Four girls (including Shari) from their small group are seven months pregnant. All four are pregnant with girls and they are all due to have their babies within three weeks of each other! Three of them are going to the same hospital and one even has the same doctor and mid-wife! They have a lot of fun comparing their experiences so far, and I am sure they will have a great time after the babies are born comparing their birth experiences. The other three girls were at the shower, so I got to meet them all.

This picture was supposed to be at the top, but as usual I can't seem to always place these pictures in the right order!

These were the girls who attended the shower. The shower was at the home of the woman who is three from the left.

Shari is talking to Liz here. She doesn't go to Shari's church, but is a friend that Shari met through Mark's boss's wife. She is directly from England and has a strong British accent. She is a wonderful person and I had a good time with her. Oh! I actually managed to sneak into this picture. I really do exist!

Those of you who know Shari, know that she is a talker! This is at the end of the shower. Mark came in and we were getting ready to pack up, but were mainly standing around talking. (Especially Shari!) I was so glad that I was able to be at this important event. I don't get to see Shari often and I really miss her a lot!

COCOA BEACH 2008 - Part 2 - Sea World

We stopped on our way to Florida in North Carolina to see Shari and Mark and have dinner with them. Then we drove on to Savannah, Georgia, that night so that we would be able to get to Cocoa Beach in time for check-in at the resort the next day. While we were visiting with Mark and Shari, he asked us if we wanted to go to Sea World while we were there. Of course, we would like to go, but it is very expensive for all of us to go. He said that he could get us free tickets because his company has dealings with Sea World. Anyway, he called and had the tickets waiting for us when we got to Sea World on Thursday. It was a hot, hot day, but we saw a lot and had a great day.

A couple of these pictures are out of order, (as usual I had some trouble uploading them) but I'll roll with it. We got to eat at the Shark Encounter. It is a restaurant where the tables are situated looking at huge fish aquariums that are built into the walls. The aquariums are full of sharks and some other big fish. You can see in the next picture how close we were to the fish. Matthew really likes watching fish and had a good time.

We also went to the dolphin show and, of course, the Shamu show. We also saw some other shows. The scenery was spectacular - beautiful colors and choreography! Here is Shamu.

This was one of the favorite things that I saw at sea world. Underwater sea creatures never cease to amaze me with their uniqueness and beauty. I have never seen one of these before - it is a sea dragon. It actually looked like a sea horse with leaves coming out of it! It was so beautiful and unusual!

We had a very fun day thanks to Mark!  Bob got to ride the fun roller coaster, we saw lots of strange sea creatures, fun shows, had an interesting lunch and we were REALLY TIRED!!