Busy weekend

Yes, it was a busy, but fun weekend with the kids, and we gave our camera a workout, so here are a few more pics for you.

As soon as the parents left around noon on Saturday, we packed a picnic lunch and headed for a local park.  No sooner were we on our way, when it started to rain.  Groan!   We decided to change our plans and go to another park near the water, and eat our lunch in the car.  At least we could sit by the water while we munched our lunch.

While we were eating, the rain eased up, so the kids asked if they could finish their lunch outside.   We stayed in the warm, dry car, but the kids preferred the bench by the water.

They sat in the drizzle and didn't mind at all. 

The rain finally stopped completely, and the sky brightened.

After lunch, I stayed in the car to finish my coffee while AC took the kids for a walk along the water.

Dani found my favorite spot and stopped to take in the view. 

Then both kids were off to explore, while Buppa kept a close eye on them.

They found a perfect tree for climbing...

...and Buppa was there to take a picture or two.

Happy memories still linger in the air of a special weekend with the munchkins. 

Fishing buddies

The kid's celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary this past weekend, so we were on babysitting duty for the munchkins for the whole weekend.  I have learned it is best to keep them busy, so we picnicked in the park, spent lots of time at the playground, and finished off the weekend at Riverside Park near their home.

When we got there, we say a little boy fishing with his father.  Danica and JJ talked to the little boy, oohed and aahed over the fish that he caught.  They were allowed to touch the fish before the boy threw it back into the water.   Well, after that, the kids went on a search for sticks to use as fishing rods.  We soon found two suitable sticks, and I tied long grass on the end of each stick, to serve as fishing line.  We didn't have any hooks or bait, but the kids had fun standing at the water's edge to see if any fish came along to check out their "grass bait". 

It was a perfect afternoon for fishing.

They moved along the shore to try new spots, but sadly no fish took their bait. 

After the fishing fun, we stopped to check out a fossil, climb a tree or two, and throw a few sticks into the water.

This was a nice ending to a fun weekend with the kids.  I was one tired granny at the end of the weekend though, and was in bed by 8:30 last night.  Think I might hit the hay early again tonight. 

Garden doing a happy dance today

Yesterday we were gifted with blue skies and sunshine, so we took a picnic to the park.  We set up our lawn chairs in the shade of my favorite tree and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the afternoon after a busy morning working in the garden.

View from my lawn chair.

Today, the garden is doing a happy dance in the rain, so I am glad we took advantage of the sunshine yesterday.

The Dancer

Danica's fourth dance recital was this past weekend, and it was more fun than work for Amma, because Mommy came and did the dressing room duty, so I could sit upstairs and watch the whole show.  Yahoo! 

The dancer posed for a picture with Amma before the show began. 

What a sparkly ballerina she was.  She has lost her two front teeth, so we are getting closed mouth smiles these days.

In the group

Oh, there's a cute smile.

Total concentration.

Perfect hands.

Next came her highland dance.  Jumping high in the air

This dance also requires perfect fingers, and pointed toes.

One arm up...

...then both arms up, and jump, jump, jump. 

Lots of wonderful memories were made.

Hi, this is my caterpillar Carl, and my other caterpillar Carl.

JJ and his neighbourhood chums are into collecting caterpillars.  We have gone through numerous plastic containers every day after school to keep the caterpillars safe.  When JJ came for a sleepover this weekend, we went to the $$ Store to get a proper bug-box. 

JJ is very pleased with the new bug-box.

He came to the door to show us the latest captive.  He informed us that his caterpillar's name was Carl.

Carl liked to come out of the box and crawl around on JJ's hand.

JJ thought this was great fun.

He was very gentle with his new friend

Later in the afternoon he found another caterpillar, and named him Carl too.    What a hoot. 

He played with the caterpillars until bedtime, then set them free, or at least we thought we set them free.  First thing this morning he was out checking the bug box to see what his friends were up to., and amazingly, there were still in the box, even though we opened the door to the box last night, and put the box in the back garden. We are getting ready to go out for a walk this morning, and I am sure the hunt for more caterpillars will be on the agenda.

Perfect May afternoon for a picnic

We did a lot of gardening on the weekend, so today was a rest day for our weary backs.  We packed a picnic lunch and set off for our favorite spot beside the Unmighty Mississippi River. 

We enjoyed the mirror image on the water while we munched our lunch.

After lunch we walked along the water's edge, and discovered four family of geese.  One family had eight babies, two had six, and one had five.  They all kept together in their family groupings, and delighted us with there antics.

AC got as close as he could to snap a few pics when this family came ashore.

From this vantage point we looked back towards our picnic spot, which was just to the right of the redish/brown  building you can see off in the distance in this pic.

It was a fabulous day for a picnic. 

Fun with my new iPod

I was totally spoiled, and got a new iPod Touch for M'sD, and I am having a blast playing with the camera in the snazzy little device.  It is smaller and much easier to use than my little camera, and I can sync the pics with my iPad and laptop as easy as pie! 

Dani wanted a funky hair-do the other morning, and she came in wearing this pretty flower.  We pulled her hair back, added a little braid, and voila....a funky and fab hair-do.

She looked right at home in the tulip garden.

JJ likes to help Buppa in the garden.

Buppa is showing JJ where to cut the daffodils to dead-head them.

JJ learned quickly, and was able to dead-head the whole group for Buppa.

After the gardening is done, both the guys relax in the shade.

Willow Tree

For some reason Willow Tree ornaments really appeal to me.  They are so simple, yet express a ton of emotion. 

This little figurine was the first one I received.  It was a gift for my birthday a few years ago, and it makes me smile every time I look at her.  Happiness indeed.

During the spring a summer months she sits beside this little lamp in the dining room, and brightens the corner where she is.

This was the second grouping I received as a gift, and it is titled "With my Grandmother".  It sits on a small table in the upstairs hall, beside a book Sha gave me to announce that she was pregnant with Danica.  Memories dance and twirl all around every time I pass by that table.  Sweet, sweet memories indeed.

This is the latest addition to my collection - a 45th Wedding Anniversary gift.  I haven't found the perfect spot for it yet, so for now it sits on the dining room table beside the card from Sha and family.  The figurine is titled  
"Love ever endures"  I agree, 45 years and counting!

Mother's Day - part II

My goodness, in my last blog I said I would post more pics "tomorrow", and here it is a week later!  Sheesh, life got busy all of a sudden, and the computer gathered dust.    Here are the pics...better late than never right?

After breakfast the girls relaxed in the sunshine while the guys cleaned up the kitchen.

Lots of pics were taken...

...while the kids entertained us.  Here is JJ working on his soccer ball skills.

Time for some handstands against the shed...

...then over to the swings...

...then time for races.  I think the tongue helps JJ fly like the wind. 

JJ takes a rest while Dani runs a race.

She is really putting her all into the race.

Nearing the finish line.

Joy at the end of the race.