Drummer Hoff

I gave Kien some breakfast and suggested I read to him while he ate.  First, I read "The Grouchy Ladybug," then "There's a Wocket in my Pocket."  Kien went to his bedroom bookshelf to pick out a third book -- "Drummer Hoff," one of my favorites to read as I play with the text vocally.

 Kien had an interesting reaction to this book!  First of all, he LOVES swords, so was intrigued by the swords in some of the pictures.  As we went through the book again, it is only the higher ranking officers who have swords.  He asked about the clothes they were wearing as the uniforms for each rank are totally different to "normal" uniforms.  Then he asked what "shot" meant ("Major Scott brought the shot").  And he wanted to know why they shot the canon.   This kid thinks deeply!!!!

Coloring, Cooking, Cleaning, Coming Back

This morning, I gave the boys a bath.  They had fun making beards and clothing with the bubbles, 

and coloring the tub shower walls.   The center shape is a heart – drawn by Gabe!  

                                                                And here is his mural. 

We made chocolate chip cookies this morning.  While working on the cookies, Kien asked, “Why doesn't Grampa want to be your husband?  Maybe he is too old to be a husband.  Maybe you need to find a new husband.”  It is interesting/amusing to have a window into how he processes things. 

When we ate them at lunch, they wanted to dip their cookies in milk! 

Kien disappeared.  This is where I found him!  He said his feet were dirty. 

Grandma said, "Goodbye" today.  Cathi and the boys drove me to the airport.   I soon learned my 5:00 flight was delayed until at least 7:00, making me miss my connecting flight home.  I did not want to spend the night in LaGuardia, so they booked me on a Wednesday flight.  I rented a car and drove back to Greg's house.  The traffic is too heavy and the construction too severe to ask someone to drive that again!

Coming back meant I had time to complete the laundry project I had started for Cathi on Monday!  Now she has a sofa full of folded clothes to be put away.  

We had dinner at a Texas BBQ place.  Seemed rather authentic.  ha!  We stopped at Walmart, and I finally broke down and bought some cold meds.  In the US, Sudafed is BEHIND the drug counter, as kids, apparently, make meth with it.  You have to produce ID which they enter into a computer.  Since my ID was Canadian, they couldn't enter the Postal Code.  They ended up using my US Passport and Greg's home address.

Family, Houses, Books

 Jeremy, Daisy, and the little boys greeted Brandy in the morning

Cathi drove Brandy and Tim back to OK today.  We snapped some photos first.

In my quest to be prepared when my house sells, my plan for the day was to look at new construction  to see what was available.  We saw a field with several construction vehicles, and Greg stopped for the boys to have an up-close view.  Gabe loved it.  Kien was very worried we would go to jail and was uncomfortable about climbing up on the vehicles.  We could not convince him that we were doing nothing wrong.  

We finally got Kien on one, but he still fretted. 

  We looked at two models.  The boys loved running through the empty rooms and hiding in closets! 

This evening, we went to Barnes & Noble in downtown Fort Worth.  Greg drove to the top of an adjacent parking ramp to have a view of the city.  Across from the ramp is Bass Hall with angels playing gold trumpets.

 In the store looking out this window, Greg asked Gabe what he saw.  Take a look at this photo.  What do YOU see?  A city street, tall buildings, some road construction, etc.  What did Gabe see?  CARS!!!!!  That is all that kid cares about!  It is so funny.  Definitely in the Herne genes!!!! 

 Kien liked looking at the books while Gabe moved the furniture around. 

Typical Sunday: Church, Restaurant, Nap

As we dropped Kien at his classroom at church, he and another little boy gave each other a BIG hug!  So sweet!  By the time I pulled my phone out, this is what I caught –

 After church, in the car, Kien asked me, "Where are we going?"  I said, "Ask daddy."  He retorted, "No mommy. She's the boss."

Actually, I think it was Daddy who chose a down-home-country restaurant – Dixie House.  Gabe was drapping his Ha-Whoo (blanket) around and over his head.  When I grabbed my camera, he had it wound like a turban on his head, but missed that shot

 Meanwhile, Kien was into construction.

 Note what occupied the adults at the table while waiting for our orders.

 Brandy is quite sick, as her mother always was with her pregnancies.  Before the boys were whisked off for their naps, they wanted to nap with Brandy.

 

Brandy's Graduation Party!

Today was Brandy's graduation party.  We spent the morning preparing for it -- final house cleaning, final food preparation, final decorating.  Brandy and Tim arrived about noon and the party began at 1:00.  

Cathi prepared a cake table with photos of Brandy through her school years and questions about Brandy -- her likes and momentous life events. 

Papa Tim is wearing his Super Grampa T-shirt:
Never Fear
Grampa is Here!

He IS a super grampa!  The kids LOVE him.











The first guest to arrive -- BRow

The little boys enjoyed entertaining these little girls.
The boys are choosing some toys from the outdoor toy bin.

Gabe took his friend for a ride in his Escalade.

Popsicles for a hot day!

Donna (Cathi's Mom), grandson Tim, and Jeremy played Wii Bowling.

 The four grandsons went to a car / airshow tonight with Greg and Papa, while the women stayed home to clean up.

Kien was right.  My eye IS sick.  My lower lid is sore and puffed up like a balloon.  My self-diagnosis is an internal hordeolum.

Preparation Friday

Gabe is ALL ABOUT cars -- like his father!!!!  He lined up his cars on the sofa in various formations.  He is into imaginative play. 

 Cathi did some watering and clean up outside this morning and let the boys help her.  They had fun watering all the potted plants. 

Before lunch, we went to see Daddy at his work.  Greg is enjoying his new job doing estimating for State Farm and Geico claims.  We learned that the computer prints out the first 5 letters of the employees names on reports, so Greg is now known as Grego.  He is NOT a happy camper about that! 

We had lunch with Greg at Firehouse Subs.  Papa with the boys. 

While the women went grocery shopping this evening in preparation for the party, the men went to the playground.  We picked them up on our way home.

Kien asked me to read to him tonight, so we read "Mike Mulligan and His Steamshovel" and a couple more books. 

At bedtime, Kien said to me, "Grandma, you don't look good."  Then he asked if I am sick, and said, "Your eye is schwollen."  He was noticing I have had a bloodshot eye which seems to be getting worse.   He suggested I use some eyedrops.

Brandy's High School Graduation Day

My missing bag was to be delivered overnight, but it never came.  Thus, I had only one outfit to wear until my suitcase arrives or I go shopping.  Kien asked this morning, "Why are you wearing the same clothes?" 

Later this morning, Kien suggested, "Play with me while you have energy."  Did he really say that?!  LOL

While putting dishes away and asking Cathi where they go, Kien said, “You have to be patient.”

I sleep on the family room pullout sofa when I am at their house.  The boys took my comforter and made themselves comfortable on it while watching TV.  

We needed to leave by 4pm to make it to Durant, OK, for Brandy's graduation.  By noon, there was no word on my suitcase, so I went shopping for a new top (I had serendipitously purchased new slacks at a Brooks Brothers airport shop), shoes, and to have my makeup done at an Estee Lauder counter.

There is new road construction everywhere!  As a result, leaving the mall for home was not the route I was used to.  I followed a sign saying 820 North which took me south.  I was a bit worried about why I was headed in the opposite direction and hurrying as the road was taking me away from home.  A cop stopped me going 53 in a 35.  I immediately declared, "I am so glad you are here!  I am from Canada, am trying to get back to my son's house in Saginaw before we have to leave for my granddaughter's high school graduation, and I am a bit panicked because the detour is taking me the wrong way!  After hearing my story of lost suitcase and buying new clothes, she explained where the detour is taking me and what lanes I need to be in to make it back to Saginaw.   Then she said she will pardon me this time as she did not want to add to my stress.


Cathi's parents are here from Nebraska.  Once they had arrived at the house, Gabe said,

"All the buddies are here."

Papa (Cathi's Dad) helped the boys create a fort with the comforter.


By 4, we were on the road traveling the two hours to Oklahoma.   The ceremony was held at the Southeast Oklahoma State football field.  Here we are arriving.  Kien is riding on Papa's  shoulders. 

 After the ceremony, Brandy walked over to where we were waiting for her and the boys went running to her full speed.  She caught them and sat on the ground hugging them. 












Then I got a turn to hug her too along with Jeremy.

                          The newlywed newly graduated couple --  Brandy and Tim.

                            
                                            Tim and his parents with Cathi and her parents.

My suitcase was finally delivered and at the front door when we arrived home at midnight. 

Grandma Arrives in Texas

I landed at the airport at 6pm; Greg gets off work at 6, and Cathi had to have Kien at church for 6 for his Awana Awards program.   I waited for Greg at the airport, and dealt with baggage about my missing suitcase.  Once Greg arrived, we rushed to church, but missed seeing Kien receive his participation award.  Cathi texted us a photo.

After we were all home, I walked from Cathi's bedroom to the little hallway where Kien was standing in a corner behind me.  I almost walked into Cathi and had to step backwards to avoid hitting her, not realizing Kien was behind me.  He said, "You put your dirty bum in my face."

Cathi and I went into hysterics repeating what he had said.  Then Kien piped up with, "No talking about your bum to your grandchild. "