Five Fun-Filled Days

What a great midwestern visit. S and M were the perfect hosts showing us what summer is like in that part of the country. We flew through and landed during a lightning storm which K thoroughly loved. . . so much that we were entertained by it on the front porch when we got to the house. We got to bed around one in the morning and were awakened early (California time) by two cute grandsons very excited to see us. This blog will be mostly pictures . . . I took over 200 while there . . . because you'll be able to see what a fun time we had.

DAY ONE

They love to climb this giant ant.

You gotta love the outfit T chose to wear today.

Feeding the giraffes were the highlight of the day. They could hardly wait for Grammy to "touch his tongue!"

R turned 7! What a big boy he is. . . time has flown by!

Isn't he a handsome young man too?

DAY 2

A fun day at a Yacht Club, not far from home, where the S family have a membership and love to go for fun on the lake. S and I spent most of the day on the beach watching the kids play-play-play in the beautiful lake . . . a nice shallow swimming area for kids. K and M rigged the family sailboat "The Yankee Doodle" and sailed to their hearts content. When they came in K and I watched the boys while S and M took a sail, something they don't get an opportunity to do much at all. It was a beautiful day sunny with white puffy clouds floating by and the humidity was not as high as it was at the house. I have many pictures of the boys playing and catching frogs and trying to catch a butterfly, but I love this picture of them after their shower at the end of the day, all slicked up to go to dinner. They were pretty tired after a very full day of swimming and playing.

M and K getting ready to head out.

The Yankee Doodle at her finest!

All cleaned up for dinner at a nice restaurant on the lake.

DAY 3

Today we went to a park nearby called Children's Garden and every Saturday there is something special for the kids to do. Today, "water" was the feature to learn about. And the kids had a great time getting wet . . . it was pretty hot outside so the water was refreshing to all.

Grammy, R, T (with his little fingers making the peace sign in the butterfly, and S having fun at the Children's Garden

Sweet brothers standing in the "Rainbow Garden."

DAY 4

Sunday was a busy day. In the morning we went to a beautiful old train-station-turned-into-a-restaurant for a lovely brunch, walked to a pretty new play-park and spent time watching the boys having fun on the play structure, went bowling which was a blast . . . the kids were amazing to watch pick up the seven-pound bowling balls and actually make the pins fall! Then home for a nap and get ready for company for dinner . . . a nice barbecue. I contributed the dessert . . . a fruit-topped vanilla pudding pie . . . perfect for a warm summer barbecue feast. T loved it especially and wanted to make sure "Mom" wrote down the recipe. I told him that it was so easy that even "he" could make one . . . in fact "let's make another one tomorrow!" He was so excited about that idea he could hardly wait for "tomorrow" to come.

R and K playing a serious game of Battle Ship, which R got for his birthday.

R caught on to the strategy of the game quite well.

Both players grinning after the game was over.
K had a great time playing with his grandson.
A precious memory tucked away!

DAY 5

When T went to bed last night he whispered to his mom "I can't wait to make that pie with Grammy tomorrow!" Well . . . this is a time when the pictures tell the story.

Thanks, M and S and R and T, for a great time
experiencing your midwestern summer!