Labor Day '09 in Grand Haven, MI.

Sally and I went to the other side of Lake Michigan; It seemed like the other side of the world. Traffic on the Dan Ryan was horrid; Indiana always is bad and there was a stretch of construction in Michigan that defied logic.

But, as always, once we arrived (9 o'clock Friday night) it was a great weekend. We played "Catch Phrase" and "Buzzword" 'til midnight.

Saturday half of us rode bicycles from Grand Haven to Holland. The rest of us were smarter than to try. Besides, someone had to drive the cars to Holland to haul everyone home to Grand Haven. It was a lovely day. Those who didn't ride shopped in Holland. It is a nice business district.

We went back to Judy & Roger's, dropped the bikes, ate dinner and went to play miniature golf.It is fun to play after dark: IF they have lights! Hole 12 was dark, black, blind, not lit. The first foursome played it. the second foursome lost a ball. The third foursome found the ball (saved the $1 deposit) and didn't play the hole.

The manager gave us 13 free passes for the trouble. Actually Judy & Roger got the passes. The rest of the "Clique" didn't think we would drive four hours there and four hours back just to play golf.

Pat and Ken left early, before I started taking pictures. So I am missing them We did go to a barn sale, a garage sale and an estate sale. And Roger had planned a luau for Sunday. I couldn't put pictures on FB at all and only one here. It was fun and the following games of Catch Phrase and Buzz Word were hysterical. Laughter is definite exorcise!

I took some photos while we were at the lake front.

Phyllis



Brenda and Bob



Kathy and Paul

Roger and Judy

Big boats (well a tug and barge)


Yachts


Power boats


Boats that shouldn't be coming in from Lake Michigan


Stand up paddle surfer


Freaks? Maybe just attention whores. Really, who takes their BIRDS for a walk?

Talk about FREAKS. You must click on this one and see it large.

Music lesson number 1: Know the words if you are going to sing.

"... and put it in my pocket"

Logan discovered the fun of having something in her pocket today. Grandma put one of the farm characters from Playschool in her shirt pocket and she thought it was humorous. Every time!

Well here, see for yourself. It was as if we were shooting a movie and doing take after take.

Scene I; take 1

Scene I; take 2

Scene I; take 3

But at the end of the day when she comes running across the living room with her little fish face, all puckered up to give me a kiss and a hug good-bye: It couldn't get any better. For all the times she teases me that makes up for any transgressions. Like table shaking, mouse clicks, key punches, switches flipped. They all fade in her light. Good night, Blondie.

Funny Face

Logan will do this on command! Imagine, a toddler that will mind. She is really very good. This isn't even her best trick.


If you think this is face is funny, checkout the video of her making this face.

This is even funnier because she thinks it's funny.

Logan Is Such A Big Girl

The kids love bubbles; they add ambiance. As luck would have it, just before Grandma hyperventilated, Logan has learned to blow bubbles for herself. Of course she still prefers to have them done for her.



Keep going Grandma, you're the best! I'm going to sit on the step by Grandpa.

Cora Has A Fun Day

We got to sit for Cora again on Sunday. Notice that I did not say, "babysit." Cora is growing up and can't be called a baby any longer. She is combining multiple words to convey an idea and she is clearly a future bibliophile.


Cora loves to color with Grandma. Did you know that you can color the same picture more than once?

Cora and Grandma take turns reading the book. Cora does the pointing and the page turning though

.

And Cora will "read" independently. She is very good at entertaining herself. She is very self reliant.

Notice Cora is managing this reading of Barney's Color Purple and her grandmother.

Another One Bites the Dust

While sitting in my chair, I heard a loud "Whomp!"
In the quick glance I noticed a dove hovering and then struggling to lift itself in flight.
When I went to the window to see if it had made it to the roof, I saw this image it had made. He had taken a dusting and left a clear imprint of each feather, beak, eye and foot.

And yet he was only stunned, as well I would have been had I expected to have gone somewhere when arrested by an invisible force.
He roosted on the gutter for half an hour. Looking out toward the street and back toward the window, as if retracing his flight.

In wonder, "What the hell happened?"



Then off he flew, none the worse for wear; but, his presence is still noted there.

Deadline Approaching

After leaving Julieanna's we all stopped at Drew's work to see all the cabinetry they have made before it gets shipped to Spearfish, SD. They are shipping next week and Drew and Bill, his boss, will go out to install it all.


Here Drew is cutting a panel to cover the back of the island cabinet. Drew does beautiful work and there is a lot of it. The shop is just about full to bursting.

I was looking at the drawings for the corner cabinet and looking at the attached island and the cabinets. It is very complex construction and the finish work is beautiful. He is a very talented craftsman. The degree of engineering and the execution is fabulous. If you need furniture or cabinetry call Hunt & Sons in Deerfield.

The World As We Know It ...

I went to Julieanna's today to sit with Cora while Julieanna went to her doctor appointment. This was to be a special visit, the one at which she finds out what the gender will be.


Cora was done eating and was still in the her chair playing with Ashley.


Alex was in the living room watching TV and finishing his lunch. He is a good young man and he likes to entertain Cora.


Of course their Mom, Tricia was there too. I think we were double booked. But no one minds. We all love to sit with Cora.

Cora likes to watch pictures on Tricia's camera too.

Cora likes to perform for the camera. And playing is perfect for her to be the center of attention. Cora has no idea what is about to happen to her world; but, I am sure she will be a great big sister and love the baby.

We were ready for news! And we are glad for them.

Then it was time to go. Cora came out on their porch to waive good-bye to all as she basked in the arms of her loving mother. A mother who now has to start preparing Cora for her future sibling.

Happy Birthday To Yous!

Some work Saturday and Most work Monday; but, Sunday we can all get together to celebrate family and birthdays for Drew and Julieanna.


Kyle, Logan and Sarah. Logan investigating the camp boots by the door is typical of her current fascination with big shoes.

Drew and Alex play checkers.


Julieanna checks out the latest product catalogues.


Ashley shows Logan the joy of coloring. Logan took to it like a duck to water.

Drew shows Cora how to play checkers.

Sarah reads to Logan and Cora is more fascinated by Logan's pacifier. Until her daddy swooped in and removed her (over Cora's objections).


Geoff and Julieanna share her cards.


Drew and Alex share Drew's cards. Eventually we all see all.


I won't tell how old they are but number candles "are a good thing" as Martha Stewart would say. They probably saved a call to the fire department.

If you click on the photo you will notice who loves the camera.

I'm Getting So Big.

Logan is always busy. She works at learning something new all the time. For now she is thrilled to fasten the buckle. I'm sure it won't be long 'til she can unfasten them just as readily.


Logan is proud of her accomplishment.

Logan's Treasure Chest

It's like shopping, Grandma. I'm just seeing if there is anything I want in there.


I Don't remember my shoes being this loose! They're easier to get on, but they are hard to walk in.

PLEASE! I'd Rather Do It Myself!

It is still possible to catch a candid moment with Logan. When she is working on something she can block out the rest of the world.

She buckled the belts over and over. Then she did her, "Ehhh!" and Grandma would unfasten them. Repeat until Logan doesn't say, "Ehhhh!"

Then there is the effort expended attempting to put on her pants.

If that doesn't work she will try again; but nobody else is going to do it for her until she is ready.

Logan loves to dress herself. Whether it is putting on her shoes or her pants she insists on doing it for herself.

I didn't get a video of her anger when I tried to help; but trust me, she gets seriously insistent.

Grandpa Plays Alexander Haig

Grandma had a high school class luncheon. Julieanna and Geoff wanted to go to the movies and get a bite to eat. Well, Grandpa was available and Cora didn't object.

Cora was very good and played well. We read books, played catch, counted everything. And we HAD to look at pictures.

Then things got suddenly quite. It took only seconds for the wise old man to jump to his feet and look around the corner. Where I discovered the activities documented below.


Cora was putting on my cap and gloves. As big as they are she still felt it was necessary to open the Velcro wrist bands to put her little hand in.


They fell off and she squatted down to redress. Oblivious to my presence.


She was totally surprised when she stood up and turned around.

Back in April '09

April 22, 2009. We took the two youngest granddaughters to the park. It was about 60 degrees and breezy. They enjoyed the mulch as much as the structures.


"Hey! This stuff jumps on you when your hair stands up."


Logan looked up the slide and said, "Cora! Get down here right now!"



So Mom helped Cora get set at the top of the slide. This is supposed to be a controlled fall on an incline. The girls loved it.

The swings were just okay.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

without the aliens (extraterrestrial variety), Will Smith, etc. Gatherings, ball games (amateur), cook-outs and fire works.

At the end of the day it's exuberance that tops Summer!