"Camp Nana & Papa"....

We begged and pleaded with our kids (not really, we didn't have to beg) to let us have their children (our grandchildren) for this weekend.  They agreed, and the fun started today....

We went to see Mr. Popper's Penguins...FUN movie, we all loved it!!  The penguins are adorable...makes you want to adopt one as a pet; and, as usual, Jim Carrey was great!

Next stop was at the "Bear Research Center " at WSU...the bears were outside of the building and having fun playing in their cages, we got a fabulous "close up" view.  The kids were amazed at the bears, they were impressed with their LONG claws and big noses!!  We were all thankful that there was a fence between us and the bears!  One of the bears stood up on his hind legs and it was incredible to see how tall he was.

"WSU scientists and students work with both free-ranging and captive bears. Because it is necessary to weigh the bears regularly, draw blood samples, and provide special diets, not all of the research can be done in the wild. Research with captive bears permits a more in-depth understanding of bear biology."

The rest of the afternoon they are doing some "cousin bonding time" ....lots of Legos with the older ones, and a lot of playing "house" for the younger ones!!! 

The only additions that would make this weekend PERFECT would be if our two little grandsons in Michigan could be here with us!  Some day!! :0)

My Dad...

“My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”

~Clarence B. Kelland I was blessed with a Dad that loved being a father.  He was always there for us, nothing was more important that being with his girls...all three of us... Mom, Jean and me.  I miss him!!

Summer Bucket List, 2011

Last night K and R helped me make their "Summer Bucket List" for 2011.  It was fun helping them come up with this list!  Just a few of the many, many things they plan (hope) to do....

Sleep-overs with the cousins...Tea Party with their American Girl dolls...play 18 holes of golf (that's an ambitious one!!)...Kid's Triathlon...make S'mores...wash their parent's cars (on a hot day)...read...make a "Wipe Out" course in the back yard...go to "Mr. Popper's Penguins" movie...cook dinner for the family...write letters and really mail them (with stamps)...help Mom and Dad in the garden...go to the library...AND SO MUCH MORE! 

Looks like they will have a very busy, and FUN, summer, 2011!

Doing some scrapbooking...

I've been "out of the mood" to scrapbook lately...maybe I just haven't been home long enough, but these adorable little boys and some great papers helped me to be inspired!!

Almost complete...whew!!

In August, 2010, I began a project in first and third grade with my granddaughter's classes to have each child document their school year by making "personal yearbooks".  (This idea came from Becky Higgins.)

I took the children's pictures in September, January and May--oh my, how they have changed through the year!  And, each month the children drew a picture and journaled about something special that they wanted to remember from that month at school. 

After my years of teaching, I always love getting back into the classroom!  There is something so exciting about interacting with a classroom full of bright and shiny little faces!! And, by going in every month I really got to know the children and they got to know me. 

It's been a big job, but "K" and "R" helped me with some of the "behind the scenes" work of sorting and matching the pages for each child.  I think they had as much fun as I did!  We are almost finished...only the "May" pages to complete and then binding the books together. 

This has been such a fun project, I'm hoping to do it with their classes again next year!

It' SPRING...maybe?

We planted our first "green things" at our new house yesterday!!

Your Mother is always with you...

Your mother is always with you...

She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street

. She's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks.
She's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well.
Your mother lives inside your laughter.
She's crystallized in every tear drop...
She's the place you came from, your first home..
She's the map you follow with every step that you take.
She's your first love and your first heartbreak....
and nothing on earth can separate you.
Not time, Not space...
Not even death....
will ever separate you
from your  Mother....
You carry her inside of you....
-~ Sherry Martin
I love you, Mom!

Had some more Michigan fun...

With tax season over, my favorite CPA and I headed to Michigan for some fun with our two youngest grandsons...and, their Mom and Dad.  Jim hadn't been back to see Baby "G" since he was a newborn...BIG changes in that little guy!!  We had a fantastic time, just a few pictures to share (it was hard to pare down the 200+ to only these!) :0)

Soccer game on Saturday morning.  It was chilly, but the cool temps didn't faze the little soccer players, they had a terrific time.  I held Baby "G" on my lap (wrapped in a fleece blanket), so I had my own  "personal space heater" and stayed very warm! :0)

We arrived the day before Easter and had fun helping "L" color eggs that evening.  We even had our own little Easter bunny...

Next to Nana and Papa arriving for a visit, my iPad was "L's" second favorite thing that came to see him!  He is an "Angry Bird's" fan--could he have gotten that from me?  He also talked me into downloading a couple putt-putt games for him to play!

"G's" eyes are as big and blue as "L's" are brown!

The "Boys!"

"L" is into that phase of making funny faces when I try to take his picture! :0/  We had a wonderful week and look forward to our trip back this summer to celebrate Baby "G's" first birthday!!

More great scrapbooking pictures...I need to head over to Paper Pals and check out some new papers!!

Happy "6th" Birthday...

Just returned today from a special birthday celebration for Miss "K"...she turned 6!  I swear, "in the blink of an eye" she went from being a tiny baby girl to a (still pretty tiny) 6 year old.  (On a side note...Papa Jim thinks it was SO thoughtful of her to be born AFTER April 15th!) :0)

This morning I was helping her get ready for Kindergarten and she said "Nana, today is my second day in Kindergarten being 6 years old!"

Slow down, Miss "K"....you are growing up TOO fast!

Super FUN movie....

"K", "R" and I went to see "HOP" today...we loved it!! :0)