Thursday July 17, 2008

 

 

Cousins’ Week

(That’s what the grandchildren call it – Cerwin and I call it “Grandchildren Week”)

 

 

A McDonalds supper at Aunt Debbie’s

Left to right – Deb (our youngest daughter), Cerwin, Jenna, Diana, Jana, Gloria.

It all began at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday when I picked up these four girls.  They played and had lots of fun during the afternoon, but kept asking how long until we leave for Aunt Debbies.  Then during the hourlong drive, they wanted grandpa to drive faster, so we would get there sooner.  It didn’t help that we stopped at McDonalds to pick up supper.

 

 

One of the first things the girls did after supper, was choose their bed.  Gloria chose the top bunk, and Diana the bottom bed in the back room.

 

 

It was fun for them to meet Harley (Deb’s new kitten) for the first time. 

 

 

Meanwhile in the other bedroom, Jenna chose the top bunk…

 

 

…and Jana picked the bottom.  This is the first time all four of them stayed there at the same time.

 

 

The two big boys (Jordan and Nathan) were here when we got home – and Jordan was at one of his favorite spots – in my seat, using my laptop to check out the stock market and financial reports for the day.   (Josh is away at camp this week, and will join us on Friday evening.)

 

 

The little boys (Jared, Jesse, and Ian) arrived after lunch on Wednesday, and helped Nathan and Grandpa set up the garage for meals and extra playing space.

These special days involve our ten Pennsylvania grandchildren.  Our six Maine grandchildren have to wait until Labor Day weekend to get some special attention again.

 

 

Since there was plenty of time, Ian and Jared enjoyed racing their trucks in this wide-open space – before we set up tables.

 

 

Jesse’s new favorite thing to do is play with this large ball.

 

~~~

Deb brought the girls home at suppertime, and Jere and Kristen joined us.  Jeff and Chris take advantage of this week each summer to celebrate their wedding anniversary – antique and flea market shopping, and eating at area restaurants.

~~~

 

 

Jesse was pleased with his birthday gift from Aunt Debbie.  Jere and Kristen were surprised at how quickly he adapted to it.

 

 

We laughed at his first efforts in trying to make it move.

 

 

Oops!

 

 

His parents were even more surprised when he got behind it and started pushing it – very fast!  He had never done anything like that.

 

 

Jared played with the box.

 

 

After supper Jenna played with Jesse while Jere and Kristen did some shopping.  Jesse is only here for a few hours each evening, giving his parents some “no children time.”  (Because of our daytime activities, it works better to not have a toddler here during the day.) 

 

 

He is just starting to stand alone, and this ball seems to make it easy for him.

 

 

Jared, Ian, and Gloria spent a long time playing in the sandy dirt under their favorite tree.

 

 

When they needed something new to do, they played with water on the patio – watering flowers and washing anything they could find that needed cleaning.

 

 

Jared even cleaned this stone frog that usually sits in one of our flower beds.

After that they were ready for baths, a video, then bed.