Pictures from North Carolina Trip

Daniel, Samuel & Esther Mary

Daniel peering down from the second floor. He was the only one of the kids brave enough to venture out in these.

William had fun dressing up in this dragon costume and "performing" on the stage.

Alex didn't want to do anything but build, build, build.

Carl and Esther with "their" creation.

Daniel playing paramedic to "patient" Esther.

Nathan had fun "fishing" from the side of the boat.

Visit to North Carolina

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Since Monday was a holiday we decided to take the opportunity and drive down to spend a couple of days with Carl and Kimberly and their family. Friday was a half day of school so we were able to get on the road by 1:00 p.m. and headed south. It was nice just driving along with time to chat and just relax. We stopped to eat at a Ponderosa in Virginia at about 4:00 p.m and arrived at Carl's home just before 9:00 p.m. The kids rushed to the door to meet us (being grandparents is so good for the ego!) and we had a chaotic welcome. Even Samuel, who hadn't seen us since Thanksgiving when he was seven weeks old was happy to see us and greeted us with a big smile. Of course, we stayed up late visiting. Esther, as always, graciously gave up her bed for us and slept in a sleeping bag on the floor (I had to move her several times during the night because she kept scooting up close to the bed and I was afraid I would get up and step on her).

The next morning I heard a little voice outside the door saying, "NiNi, NiNi--you in dare?" Daniel at 2 1/2 has become quite vocal since November. Carl and Bill cooked us a big breakfast (actually they each cooked more than enough for a meal) Carl made scrambled eggs and toast and Dad-Dad made his special "Dad-Dad" pancakes (containing M&M's). The only M&M's Carl could find in the kitchen were shades of pink left over from Valentine's Day. Of course, this made Esther happy to have pink pancakes. We stuffed ourselves and then headed into Raleigh to "Marbles". This is a children's museum with lots of play areas.

The first floor is "Our Town". Esther's favorite area was the grocery store where she could take groceries from the shelves and put in a cart and wheel to the check out. NiNi and Esther took turns donning a Lowes apron and being the check-out person. Next to that area was a big kitchen with a refrigerator--the freezer section really got cold. There was also an area with an ambulance you could get in the back of and play doctor or patient, a boat you could get in and "fish " off the side, a dress up area where the kids could put on costumes and then go on a stage with a curtain that opened and closed and put on a performance and lots of other sections.

Upstairs there were areas with different building materials and the kids spent a lot of time there. Esther and I built a "house" out of cardboard bricks but it was quickly demolished when another visitor, a little girl, thought it looked like too much fun to kick. Later, Carl got in the act and, of course, you know what his creation would look like--built by a perfectionist engineer type. There were also areas where the kids could create artistic things and a room with musical instruments. That was Daniel's favorite area. I wish I had gotten a video of him making music and dancing to the rhythm.

We left the museum at about 4:00 p.m. because Carl and Kimberly had a banquet to attend that evening. We got to spend the evening with the kids--getting them all bathed and ready for bed was fun (really!) I was a little nervous about having Samuel as Kimberly would be an hour away. He woke up about an hour before they got home but was happy as long as Bill or I were holding him and talking to him. He just smiled away!

Church on Sunday morning. We always enjoy their church services, although we missed their pastor who was home sick. But we enjoyed hearing his father, who is now the pastor emeritus, preach. The music there is always wonderful. We came home and enjoyed a corned beef dinner which had been cooking in the Crock-Pot and gave Alex, William and Carl their birthday gifts. We gave Alex and William big puzzles and William spent the evening putting his together. He sat and put a 200 piece puzzle together in about an hour without stopping. Carl and Kimberly had choir practice so we stayed home with the kids while they went there, returning after evening church service.

We decided to leave that night since we wouldn't have much more time to spend with them anyway. We left about 7:30 and drove to Ashland, which is just north of Richmond, VA and spent the night in a nice Quality Inn. We arrived at about 11:00 so we pretty much just fell into bed but it was nice waking up the next morning and being able to relax and have a leisurely breakfast before heading home. It was such a beautiful day that we stopped at the Inner Harbor and had lunch at a Spanish restaurant, La Tosca. It started raining as we walked back to our car and we were soaked by the time we got there but it was still fun. We got home in time to spend the evening with Popdaddy and have dinner with him.

I will post more pictures of our trip on another post as it is not letting me post anymore here.

Catching Up

After almost three months of not being able to post--I am back online. Suffice it to say that we had a very eventful end of the year. Our third granddaughter, Saige Danielle was born the day after Christmas and was the highlight of the month and made for a very interesting Christmas!

There is just too much to try to catch up everything so I am just going to jump right in with what is happening now and reviewing recent grandchildren visits.

Shawn completed his studies at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, has received his diploma, taken his board exams and is now a registered nurse. He begins his his new job at U. of Md Shock Trauma on February 25 with orientation.

Ryan's Basic Training in the Army National Guard has been postponed because of some foot problems that he needed to get taken care of. He goes back in a couple of weeks for the army to check him out and give him a new date for Basic. So we get to have Ryan around for at least a little longer. We are happy about that because we rely on him so much both at school and at home. He is always willing to pitch in where we need him, especially in helping with Popdaddy.

Popdaddy is definitely getting weaker, spending more time in bed but he is still in good spirits and we love having him here. Because of his decline in strength, I have decreased my work hours so that he is not home alone for any length of time. I am enjoying being home more although it was stressful at first as I was trying to get accomplished the same amount of work in the office in eight hours less a week. It helped a lot when I figured out what things I could do from home and actually it has been a blessing as I am able to concentrate more fully on projects at home while Sherry is able to graciously greet people in the office and on the phone. And I am able to make phone calls from home and more able to concentrate on the person I am talking to than when I was in the office. God is so good--He takes even what we see as bad and makes something good of it! I just love Him!

I had the joy of having Mason, Clark and Reid spend the day on a recent Wednesday. The weather had been icy and although Bill had gone in to school, later decided to not to open school that day and so he was home for part of the day with us. We did all kinds of fun things. Here the boys are putting together puzzles, one of their favorite activities at NiNi's house. They also enjoyed just playing on the floor of the dining room with Playmobile and our train set. Reid and I even baked chocolate chip cookies together (I promise I didn't let him lick the bowl, Tara!). But they didn't get to eat any until Eric and Tara came because Mason was concerned that his dad didn't want them eating too many sweets! Later in the day, a ceiling light was broken when a ball went a little wild and I although I carefully swept up the glass and even mopped the room to get up all the little pieces, Mason got a sliver in his knee as he was playing on the floor. Happily, Uncle Shawn was home and was able to get the piece out and was going to apply a band-aid but decided to have a little fun. Dad-Dad got into the act and this is what greet Eric and Tara when they arrived.

Of course, they all thought it was funny. To add to the drama, Bill had Clark and Reid kneel on the floor with their hands on their heads as Eric and Tara walked in. I think Tara was more concerned about that then about Mason. Mason had too big a grin on his face to make anyone concerned about his injuries! Eric and Tara brought KFC for dinner and Mason was able to make it to the dining room (without the use of the walker!)

Keep watching this site. I will have another update tomorrow on our recent trip to see Carl and Kimberly.

Thanksgiving Day

It was a special Thanksgiving as we were all together for the first time since 2003 and only the 4th time in the past eleven years. Since the day was so warm we were able to spread out. The kids ate on the front porch and the adults on the other side of the window in the dining room. Popdaddy had not been doing well on Wednesday and Alex had spent several hours in the ER because of his asthma so for only the 2nd time in memory I missed the Thanksgiving Service, my favorite church service of the year. But it was a pleasant morning preparing the house for my family. Since Carl and Kimberly wouldn't be here for Christmas we were exchanging the kids gifts and the NiNi PJ's that night--and in the hurry of getting ready for Thanksgiving I had forgotten I needed to get them labeled and stuffed in their fleece backpacks and the nightgowns for the girls wrapped so I had time to do that. Kimberly, Alex, Daniel and, of course, Samuel, were home as well so we enjoyed watching the Macy's Parade (the first time I had ever seen it) together (well, I got glimpses of it between my hustling about).

Carl was given the honor of carving the turkey as the oldest son. I had the fun of making a beautiful table this year. I had purchased pretty Thanksgiving paper plates and cloth napkins in fall colors and had them in napkin rings on the plates. I even splurged on a centerpiece. Because the table was so pretty and because we were eating at two tables, we decided to only put the turkey and the rolls on the table and left all the other food on a table in the kitchen. (Did that keep us from eating seconds and thirds? I don't think so-but maybe we got a little exercise having to walk to the kitchen for them.)

Whew!

A wonderful whirlwind week! Last Saturday we finally took Jacob on his birthday outing. We visiting the B & O Museum. It was the first time for all of us and a treat. We had so much fun that we decided to join and so we will be returning several times in the next year and each time we can take four children with us--so maybe we should rent ourselves out. "Rent a NiNi"? There were both indoor and outdoor exhibits. We chose a beautiful sunny day to go so it was fun to be outside. We got a ride on a diesel locomotive, which was fun for me because it reminded me of trips I used to take with my mom to visit my grandmom in Virginia but a little disappointing as well because it never picked up any speed and only lasted about 15-20 minutes. There is an outdoor train garden that appears to be open all the time. They were constructing a Christmas garden inside while we were there. Jacob enjoyed this crane which can ride on rails. He named it a "crane train" and thought that was quite hilarious.

Afterwards, we had a late lunch at Fuddrucker's in White Marsh. The whole day was fun and we all enjoyed having that special time with just one grandchild.

Keep watching this spot for more about our "Whew" week!

More Popdaddy Memories

Popdaddy was in a mood to share memories. He talked about working on the Skyline Drive. The way he got the job was that some men near Mom's home had rented their trucks for the use of the crew and Dad rode along with them to deliver them. The foreman said they needed a man to operate a piece of machinery (sorry I forget what it is called). But the requirement for the man hired was that he had to be able to do a 1/10th grade (I have no idea what I am talking about, just repeating the story). Dad said he got cold feet at that point, I assume that was very difficult to do. But the man told him to just give it a try since he was there. So Dad said he practiced all through the men's lunch break and the foreman never told him to stop so he got the job. The pay was 40 cents a hour.

My sister Peggy was just a few months old when he started working on the road. My mom and Peggy stayed with her parents while my dad boarded on the mountain. When Peggy was six months old they joined him--a surprise to Dad. My aunt and uncle brought them and Dad was in a nearby town when they arrived and was surprised to find them in his room when he returned.

Then he told of buying a Ford Roadster from a young man who was going to college and needed to sell it. He bought it for $40.00 and made a lot of improvements on it. It was a second car for him, he also had a Chrysler but wanted to save it since the mountain road was not very good. He told of driving the mountain road and the curves were so sharp that he had to back up and try again several times to get around some of them. He also told of a time that he and Mother needed to go off the mountain to get groceries. It was sleeting and they were in the Chrysler but as they took a slight grade the Chrysler just spun its wheels. They returned to the boarding house and got the Roadster and it took the road just like it was a dry road. Then he chuckled and said how silly they were for even going off the mountain when there was a small store nearby. I imagine Mother wasn't willing to pay the higher prices at the small store!

It is always a blessing to hear Dad pray. He expresses such gratefulness in his conversations with God. Today he even thanked God for the good health he enjoys--for his age!

Wednesday Praise

In my morning quiet time I read Psalm 146 & 147 and it just so spoke to me that I decided to type them out here. What riches there are in these verses and so apropos to focus my mind on this week before Thanksgiving.

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes (or presidents, senators, congressman), in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help in the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keep faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed (our persecuted brothers and sisters?), who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, you God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord! ~ Psalm 146

Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat. He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nations; they do not know his rules. Praise the Lord! ~ Psalm 147

Wow! Thank you, David, for putting all that down for us--who could express it better?