Sunday July 20, 2008

 

 

Friday With the Grandchildren

 

After a busy Thursday, Friday was a bit more laidback.

 

 

An outside view of our house quickly tells passersby that life is not normal in our household: our two vehicles are outside the garage, an old pickup truck is parked in our yard, and a four square layout is marked on our driveway.

 

 

Nathan, Jordan, and Jared

Inside the house the “big guys” are having fun with one of the “little boys.”

 

 

Jared loves when the big boys are here, and is disappointed when Jordan has to go to work.  Nathan also went to work today – helping my brothers on the farm.

 

 

Jana and Diana are going to spend another morning pulling weeds for Aunt Dot.

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, I noticed that they were on the wrong side of the road, and explained why it is important to walk on the left side – so you are always facing traffic in your lane – and vehicles arriving from behind will be in the opposite lane.  It looks like they remembered.

 

 

After weeding for for a couple of hours, the other girls and I stopped to get a picture – also an order for something cold from Rita’s.  

 

 

We got a few groceries, then a Rita’s Ice or Gelati for each person, and picked up Jana and Diana at noon.

 

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Everyone relaxed (played a game or watched a video) for the next few hours.

~~~

 

 

Then it was time to cool off with water balloons.

 

 

Jesse (who arrived at 1:00 p.m.) thought they were fun to pick up and throw on the ground.

 

 

 

 

I had to teach Ian and Jared that the idea is not to break them by slamming them against a tree or on the ground, but to throw them in the air or to another person and catch them without breaking them.

 

 

Jesse continued emptying the bowl – then picking them up and putting them back inside.

 

 

When we were down to two balloons per person, we made up a game of everyone throwing the balloons in the air at the same time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesse was their cheerleader – standing on the sidelines clapping.  Last week he did not stand alone, now he has developed good balance, and is beginning to take steps.

 

 

The final three balloons.

 

 

 

 

Then there were only two.

 

 

Silly girls!

 

 

 

 

 

 

It went so long that I don’t think a winner was ever declared.

 

 

Ice cream was the next order of business.

 

 

 

 

~~~

 

After a supper of leftovers, then baths and a video…

 

 

…this was the scene in the back room (behind our garage) – six children sleeping on air mattresses.  It’s nice that this room is next to our bedroom so we are nearby if someone needs us.

Jordan and Nathan were still awake, watching something on TV or playing on GameCube – I forget which.  They sleep in our guest room.