I love this series of pictures. If I had a mind about me, I would have videoed it....but I didn't. Jennifer is trying to put together a game, "Hungry Hippos" that Avery got for her birthday. William was helping Aunt Jenn. Jenn was trying to read the directions. Four-year-old engineered brained William was pretty much winging it and with success!! I loved watching this exchange. Christopher came along and, of course without directions, figured out the last part of putting the game together. It was priceless!
Avery is a little worker!!!! She spent the dayhere because Shelby had appointments in Chicago. Since it was a beautiful day, we were outside. First watering flowers as she LOVES to do that. Our friend, Bob Shaw, who is a professional photographer stopped by and took some really adorable pictures of her.
Then we started picking up rocks in the garden. She LOVED doing this!!! "Grammie, I love picking rocks!" "Grammie, look at this one!" She totally enjoyed and WORKED at picking up the rocks. We picked up (mostly Avery) over 1/2 a bucket! While she watered, I edged one of my flower beds. She decided she wanted to help me, so she got a little shovel and dug in the dirt like a busy little beaver!
Then Papa decided to start de-thatching the lawn. I first gave her a small rake, but she then decided it was fun to pick the grass up. I got our garden cart and she began, on her own, to pick up the dried grass and put it in the cart. She did almost 2 cart loads by herself. I had to keep racking to keep ahead of her! She finally just stood by the wagon.....exhausted. I bathed her, fed her and almost got her home awake. When I went to get her out of the van, I found she passed out. I carried the little gardener to her bed. She was totally wiped out!!
I did get these few pictures. She was keeping me too busy to get any more!!
Aunt Lori got Avery a watering can. She brought it over the other day so we watered the tulips. She started by trying to get all of the water inside the tulip flower. I told her the green part wanted water too, so she began to water all of the plant!
March is a busy birthday month for us. Jenn's is the 2nd, Amanda's & Addi's are on the 3rd, Katie's is the 4th, Megan's & Keith's are the 10th, Uncle Burt's is the 19th......and new great-nephew Michael was just born on the 19th. William's is the 20th and Shelby's is the 21st.....whew!!! So I am behind with pictures.
Mr. William turned 4 this year. His birthday meal choice was yummy tacos which we all enjoyed.
This is Avery taking a nap at our house last week. If you look closely, you can see the top of her head in the upper portion of the picture. Her hand in the lower and her legs along with the white rabbit on the right side of the picture. She took her entire nap this way!
The line-up.....Avery, Katie, Shelby & William watching a movie. I like this picture!!
My "little" girl is 34 today. WOW!! Where has the time gone? Wasn't this just yesterday when she was on her Grandpa's shoulder holding up her little head?
Or laughing in her high chair?
Or being kissed by her big brother??
Where does the time go?
Happy Birthday, Jennifer!! We love you!!!! Mom & Dad
Speaking of Katie, I realize I hadn't shared Katie "lovin'" from Thanksgiving. She was all about hugging and loving several family members. I think you'll get a kick out of this.
Miss Katie spent some time with us the end of last week. She had a fever and sniffles so she got some Grammie & Papa lovin'. We played a lot of tea party.
The Martin crew are home! (Check Jenn's blog to see pictures.) Mom & Dad needed to get some shopping done so the girls spent the afternoon. Shelby was more interested in the computer (and eating the cookies). Avery napped. But Riley wanted to help me bake cookies. We had a great time. She was very helpful and enjoyed doing this with me. She is growing up. Thanks, Riley!
We decorated pretzel sticks, made the cookies with the "kisses", and made pizzelles. I've had the pizzelle iron for a couple of years but hadn't used it yet. I like pizzelles and found out they aren't that difficult to make!
Jenn wanted me to post to her blog, but I can't get on. So.....I'm posting here hoping some of you will check my blog. They have been busy, busy since arriving yesterday. Basically at Give Kids the World where they are staying. There are things to do and activities there. Shelby seems happy just to do the things there. They have a villa there and all had a good night's sleep. They are going to Sea World today. There's only one building at GKTW that has internet access so Jenn said she would try to post tonight. They are loving the warmer weather and find it strange that the locals are wearing sweatshirts and long pants!!
Winter that is. As of today, I have the crusty white slim of road salt on my van...affectionately known as Grandma's taxi, and only from less than an inch of snow!
In better news, Shelby is home from the hospital. Grandma's taxi brought her home about noon today. I took Avery home from daycare about 4. Riley arrived from school so the sisters are together again!
Shelby's in the hospital. Something different this time, but nevertheless, she's in the hospital. Her American Girl doll, Ruthie, is there with her. Shelby requested that I "whip up" a hospital gown for Ruthie. So, during Avery's nap today, I whipped. I took it up to her tonight.
Chris turned 35 yesterday.....oops, wasn't it just yesterday that he was born? Wow! We gathered Saturday evening for homemade pizza (a family favorite) and pumpkin bars (a Chris favorite).
Chris's birthday "bars" with a hunk missing for Shelby's frosting.
My son and his son after blowing out the candles.
The kids played. A nice evening.....and a time to remember. One of these days, I'll post some pics of my little guy!
Enjoyed the day outside today cleaning out flower beds. Wish it would be nice again tomorrow. I'd like to get more done.
So, where have I been? Computer problems and then busy, busy, busy putting up garden produce and other things. So I need to catch you up on what's been going on.
Riley and I got in a shopping day finally, the first 1/2 day of school. She is growing up SO quickly. Here she is showing the necklace she got. It's a friends necklace. The other part went to her friend, Maddy.
We had birthdays. The kids all came over for supper on mine. Here's the troops with Grammie. It's pretty amazing that we all are looking in the same direction!
Since our birthdays (significant numbers this year) are a week apart, we had a party with some friends and our family. The weather was great and we enjoyed having our friends in our home.
Close......almost everyone is looking forward!
Shelby had a 3 day stint in the hospital. It also kept her home from school for a few days, but she is back in action again. We hope and pray that continues!!
There was open house at the girls' school. Shelby was still "under house arrest", so Riley had the rest of us all to herself. She did a great job of showing us everything in her classroom.
This last Sunday, we went to a award program held by the Rockford Fire Department for Fire Safety Week. Riley got 2nd place in the 4th grade category for her fire safety poster.
In between there have been green beans, tomatoes, pickles, and beets.
Riley attended Performing Arts camp again this year. Keep in mind, my little digital camera does not take good pictures in the dark! Well, the audience was in the dark. Riley also was in a dance routine (to SpongeBob Squarepants), but my picture of that did not turn out well at all.
