A day at Grandma's

On Friday, the kids went to Grandma's house during the day. I woke up Gillian in the morning and all I had to say was "Today you go to Grandma's" and she sat up and there was no complaining. 

We got to Grandma's house and once they saw Aunt Betty and Grandma they forgot about me. Aunt Betty sent me a text in the middle of the morning. The kids had completed their first craft project. 

When I picked them up that night, I heard that Gillian got to go to the beach with Grandma and Aunt Betty. 

While the girls were at the beach, John was "babysitting" Grandpa. The girls came home and Gillian counted up all the rocks she found. Gillian loves rocks. It took her a couple times, but she determined that she found 21 rocks. John did not believe that Gillian could count to 21 and said "Well I can count to 100."

Gillian didn't want to leave. "I just want to stay here forever!" I'm so glad she had a good time with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Betty. Don't worry Gillian you will get to go back again. 

Camp Show - take two

Today was the second day of camp shows at Briar Hill.  Since I am so close to camp, I had decided to go to go both days.  Today I asked Grandma and Grandpa to join me.  Aunt Betty also came, because we didn't actually get to see John perform yesterday.  We arrived at camp today and saw the end of the previous show.  Betty and I both said to Grandma and Grandpa, "When those parents move, we need to move to the front and get the first row."  Grandma looked at us like we were crazy.  But it didn't stop Betty and I.  We practically ran to the front.  We ended up getting seats right in front.  And the perfect view of my boy and the rest of the Hortons. 

When they were done, the announcer asked them "Do you want to do it again?" The kids all yelled a mixture of NO and YES!  We laughed.  Then the announcer asked the parents "Do you want to see it again?"  The parents of course said yes.  And the kids had to dance again for us.  They did a great job.  Afterward, we got a few pictures of the Hortons.  

Bean's adventure

Gillian's school was closed today for an in-service for the teachers. I asked Grandma if she would watch Gillian during the day. Gillian was super excited to have a day at Grandma's all by herself. On Monday when Daddy picked Gillian up from school, Miss Patti asked Daddy "Is Gillian going to be in school tomorrow?" Daddy replied "Yes. Why?" Miss Patti said "Gillian told everyone that she was going to her Grandma's house." Daddy laughed "She is. On Friday when school is closed." 

This morning, I went to wake Gillian up. I whispered "Good morning. What's going on today?" Gillian opened her eyes and said "I going to Grandma's today!" As I got her dressed, she said to me "We go after I eat breakfast!" Gillian and I got John on the bus and went to Grandma's house. Gillian was super excited to see Grandma and Grandpa. She immediately asked for paper and crayons. She didn't even notice that I left. 

I went to pick her up this afternoon. She was hiding in Grandma's kitchen. When she saw me she said "Why are you here?" (Wow. Thanks Gillian.) She wasn't happy to hear that I was picking her up. "Can't I sleep over?" I told her that John and Daddy were waiting for us at home. While she was getting her stuff together, Grandpa and Grandma told me that Gillian was very good today. Gillian went to church, shopping with Grandma, watched "Rella" with Grandpa and colored with Justin. Sounds like a pretty awesome day. 

She was exhausted and fell asleep in the car. Grandma keeps you busy!

Adventure with Grandma & Grandpa

I asked Grandma and Grandpa if they could watch John on Thursday (since schools were closed for the teacher's conference).  Grandma told me, "Well Grandpa has to take Aunt Betty to the airport and I have to teach Aunt Betty's class for the rest of the day.  But John can either go with Grandpa to the airport or with me to school."  I talked to John and he said "Airport!" 

On Thursday morning, John came running into our room.  He was all smiles.  He said to me "You know why I am up so early?"  I said no.  He said "I get to go to an airport for the very first time today!"  I dropped him off at Grandma's and Grandpa's.  He was still excited.  He couldn't sit still.  When I was getting ready to leave, he started to put his jacket back on.  But Grandma stopped him.  She explained that it would be awhile before they needed to go to the airport, but they had some small adventures planned for the beginning of the day. 

Their day consisted of going to the beach and checking out the heavy equipment being used for moving sand and rebuilding the dunes.  He got to stop at Leggetts where Grandpa had to look at a couple of video games.  And John also got to play a couple rounds of golf too!  They also stopped at St. Denis.  I don't remember what they were doing there, but they stopped at St. Denis and John got to go inside the school.  They went to the ice cream store and John helped pick out an ice cream cake for Grandpa's birthday.  Then they went to Aunt Betty's school, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and John got to meet her class.  Grandma stayed to teach the class and Grandpa, Aunt Betty and John headed to the airport. 

Grandpa told me that John had one responsibility at the airport.  John had to remember that they parked in section 403.  So from the parking lot into the airport, John said "403, 403....403."  Then in the airport on the way up the escalator, John turned to some guy walking past them "403!"  John is a very big helper.  I asked him to tell me about the airport.  He said "It's really big!  There's a lot of people there!"  He also told me "And the planes were bigger than the car!"

They got back to Grandma's house and John helped Grandma with dinner.  He got to cut the carrots.  He said "You know!  With the carrot cutter!"

I am so thankful that John was able to spend the day with his grandparents.
   

Halloween 2013

Halloween was a little different for the kids this year. 

Gillian was able to wear her Minnie Mouse costume to school on Halloween.  TLC normally has a parade in the morning and then Gillian's class had a party in the afternoon.  She had a huge bag of treats when I picked her up from school.

John, on the other hand, wasn't allowed to wear his Ninja costume to school.  He had to bring it to school and then the kids all got dressed in their costumes before they had an indoor parade.  Luckily, John's costume wasn't hard to put on and he really didn't need a lot of assistance.  He told me that they also had a party with snacks and each of the kids in his class got to decorate a little pumpkin. 

We picked up the kids from school and headed to my mom's house for trick-or-treating.  We stopped for a quick picture in front of Grandma's house and then we were on our way.  Gillian stayed behind the boys at the first house.  Since Sandy ruined Halloween last year and the year before that she was too small to really understand anything, it was Gillian's first real year for trick-or-treating.  It didn't take her long before she was running ahead of the boys to get to the next house.  She was polite and always said "Thank you!"  We were about five houses from Grandma's when I realized that we should change her shoes.  She was wearing her little Minnie Mouse pumps and they were really slowing her down.  I finally got her to change into her sneakers, about two blocks later.  She is a very determined little lady. 

We got to one house and lady that answered the door offered candy to the adults.  We all politely said "No thank you."  John said "It's okay, they just take it from us when we get home."  Wow, thanks for giving away our secret!

At another house, Gillian met another Minnie Mouse.  I'm not sure which one was more excited, Gillian or the little girl.

At yet another house, John went to the door, rang the bell and said "Trick or Treat."  He was able to pick his candy and came running back to us.  Before that lady closed the door, John shouted to me "Mom!  I got the orange kind.  The ones you like!"   

We stopped at Olga's house (a long-time neighbor of my Mom & Dad).  She let us come inside and she had a big tray of candy.  We told the kids, "Just one piece."  Olga said "No, it's okay they can have a few because I think I am done for the night."  John probably took three or four pieces of candy.  Gillian, on the other hand, kept taking pieces of candy and putting them in her bag.  I was busy talking to Olga, when I looked back at the kids there was a big empty spot on the tray by Gillian.  She probably snagged ten pieces.  Sneaky little girl.

We got back to Grandma's house and had some yummy soup and brownies for dessert.  Overall a pretty awesome Halloween!