Grandfather And Granddaughter Luncheon

Marcie asked me a few weeks ago if I would go to Chloe's Father, Daughter Luncheon. I said I would be glad to go and if David was able to go that I would just wait until she was ready to go home and we would go home together.

The weekend before the luncheon, Chloe was checking  to make sure that I was going to be there for her luncheon. I told her that I would be there.

She then let me know that I might not be able to sit at the table where the Luncheon would be because the seats were made for small children. I reassured her that I would bring a chair to sit in and that everything would be OK.

Thursday came around and that evening I got a call from Chloe reminding me about the luncheon the next day. I told her that yes I would be there and that I already had my chair in the car.

On Friday I arrived about forty-five minutes early so as to get a good parking spot near the entrance. I got out my folding chair and went into the school building. We were instructed that it would start about 11:45 a.m. and that we could wait in the Lobby until they were ready for us in the classroom.

They said that we could go to our daughter's or grand daughter's classrooms. As we went down the hall, in front of each room were projects that each class had written about and a picture or object that went along with their report.

The first class had studied adobe houses and how to make adobe bricks. They had written a report on adobe brick making and they had taken a shoe box and covered it with adobe mud.

The second class had read a book and written a book report about the book and colored a picture from the part of the story that they liked.

The third class had studied insects and they had written a report about their insect and then they had cut out different colors of construction paper for their insects.

Chloe's class had been busy studying about birds in different countries. She had written a report about Panama and its bird the Parakeet. On the wall above their report they had colored the bird that they had written about. I quickly scanned the wall and this is what I found.

As you can see, she did a wonderful job on her picture and I was happy to say that my grand daughter did this one.

Then they invited us into the classroom and each child showed their parent or grand parent around their room. I got to see where she sat in class, where her locker was. The center where they sat on the carpet to read books. We were shown where they did work on the computer and i-pad. Then she brought me a picture of herself that said, "I want to be like you." It had a picture of her in her school uniform and she had a towel slung over her shoulder and shaving cream on her face.

On the back was written:

A Great Dad makes memories,
Goes on great adventures,
Always puts his family first,
Makes sacrifices,
Is patient,
Always has the time for his kids,
Is a great teacher,
Loves his kids and their mother
Unconditionally.

After reading this I was so glad that I was there for Chloe. I love this little girl so much and each day that were together I try to add to memories that will last a lifetime for her. I want her to know that she is loved, and as grand parents we will be there for her.

Chloe asked me, "Poppy where is your recliner that you put in the car." I looked at her and said, "I didn't bring my recliner honey, I brought a folding chair." She said, "I wondered how you were going to carry that big recliner down the hall."

Lunch time was announced and we headed toward the gym. We stood in line for the BBQ Luncheon. I sat in my folding chair and she sat at the table. I thanked her for telling me about the table seats, because I sure would have looked funny trying to sit on one.

We sat and ate our BBQ, Chloe just nibbled on it saying it wasn't her favorite meal. I said if it were something sweet I bet she would eat it. It wasn't long before they announced that they had cookies ready and that the children could come up and get one for their parent.

She got her two cookies and when she came back to the table, I said that we could leave now because I had already signed her out for the day. She looked up and me and said I don't want to miss the opportunity to play out on the playground. So that is where we went next, outside on the playground.

When the teachers announced that the children needed to line up, Chloe came over to me and said, "Poppy, now we can go to McDonald's and play."

We went to McDonald's for about three hours so that she could play with her friends and burn up some extra energy.

When we got there she said, "Poppy I want a McDouble Cheese Burger some fries and a coke." I explained that I would get her one but I didn't want her just to nibble on it but to eat it. She said that she would and so I got it for her and she ate it all up.

Her friends at McDonald's love to see who can go through the tunnels the fastest, or play freeze tag or hiding seek. Chloe's favorite place to hide is behind me, I told her that she needed to find somewhere else because by now everyone knew where she liked to hide. So she found a new hiding place where the store the highchairs when they are not in use. She also like to hide behind the birthday chair that over by the wall.

She told me that the girls like the pink slide the best.

And that the boys liked the green slide the best.

And that the fastest way up was the purple and yellow tunnel with the blue steps.

 

You can climb up the padded steps to the tunnels or to the TV room.

Or go to the other side and climb up the slides backwards.

And when you get tired you can just relax in Ronald McDonald's lap.

Almost Seven

Chloe has really learned to write this year in Kindergarten. Whenever she find any paper that she can write on she always finds something to write down. Above is a card that she made for her mommy, I just had to take a picture of it because it was so sweet.

I explained to her, the need to write with a pencil instead of a pen, because if you make a mistake with a pencil you can erase it. She came back with, "Poppy that is what you are for if I can't spell the word." They have all of the great answers.

She is admiring her writing of a job that she knows that she has done well. She said her teacher, Mrs. Claire told her, "That a job worth doing, is a job that you do well." "Ok," I answered.

One card finished time enough to do another one for Grandmother. This card will be posted on the refrigerator and I will make it really pretty.

 

"Poppy, Is grandmother one word or two words." "I remember Mrs. Claire saying that it could be one word or two, but I don't remember when. I know that grand is an adjective and mother is a noun. And I know that it has three syllables, but I'm not sure it it's one word or two." 

I explained to Chloe that if she is using the word grand to describe mother it is an adjective and it is two words. ( grand mother, grand grandmother), but if she is just talking about grandmother it is just one word.

 

Writing time is just about over for the day, you can tell that she is starting to get a little restless and wanting to take a break and play.

 

Yes, I was right, just in time for a much needed break. Just in time to go for a bike ride outside.

 

Yesteryear Baked Stuffed Apples

I used to love these when I was a little girl! They look so pretty and are like your very own special little apple pie! Well, I happened to have 3 apples left and a sheet of frozen pie pastry in the freezer to use up quickly before the apples got forgotten and turned to applesauce…on their own. 

There’s nothing more sad when fruit gets misplaced and goes bad and you have to pitch it to the birds. The birds of course are appreciative, but there’s nothing I hate more than food waste. Besides giving me a terrible guilt complex, it’s a shameful waste of money! Yes, I’ve been known to pinch pennies until Lincoln’s eyeballs are popping out, and being wasteful is just plain a pet peeve! 

So what to do with them? Dinner was already planned. Actual homemade applesauce seemed silly with only 3 apples, our internet was down all day and I had searched about every cookbook I own for ideas and nothing sounded good. So, hours later, that sheet of pastry in the freezer that kept getting shoved to the back was finally looking like a darned good idea!



Finally an idea hit me…Eureka! Baked stuffed apples!! I re-opened about a dozen cookbooks for a recipe and baking times/temps but couldn’t find a single one! So I stubbornly gave up and decided to just wing-it. I was tired of racking my brain, no internet all day was frustrating enough, and I just wanted my quest to finally be done! Put a plan into some kind of action and finally have fun! 


So after hollowing out the cores, I just eyeballed the space and figured the brown sugar to a "T". I was determined by now that this was not only going to work, it was going to be perfect and fabulous.  If I messed up coring them…. I’d chop them. If I tore the pastry beyond use…I’d make rustic tarts. The day was going to turn around and I was going to make it happen! 


And they turned out beautiful! Just like the ones I remembered from when I was a little girl at my Grandma’s house on a hot summer day! The only things missing was some homemade, hand-churned ice cream, and her. And Grandpa, who would whistle soft songs to the birds and toss a few small pieces out to them to enjoy, too.

Sitting on the porch with my Grandparents and my own little perfect “apple pie.”. Such warm, wonderful memories. 

I hope these remind you of your fondest childhood memories, too! And don’t forget to pick up, or make, some good vanilla ice cream! 


Source:  wildflowerskitchen.com

Surprise! Happy Birthday Great Grandmother

We were going to Pop and Great Grandmother's for supper on Friday and we had a surprise for Chloe,(6). She knew that Alaina,(4) and Aiden,(14 months) were coming for the weekend but she didn't know that Lexie,(3) would be here as well.

They all play so well together and they all look up to Chloe as their big cousin.

But when Friday came Chloe was picked up from school by her other grandmother and we didn't have Chloe with us when we went to Pops.

Alaina and Lexie came running out to see Chloe and they couldn't believe that she wasn't with us. They let me know that they were disappointed. I tried to explain, but they still weren't happy. I said I would call her mother and see if I picked her up at home could see come over. I called Marcie and left a message for her to return my call.

Meanwhile we went ahead and had The Birthday Supper for Great Grandmother, since she had been looking forward to it all day.

During our supper Chloe's mom called and said that I could pick up Chloe so she could be with the kids for the weekend and be at Great-Grandmother's Party.

On the way back from getting Chloe her dad called and wanted to speak with her. She kept saying who is this. It has been several weeks since she had seen him and she didn't recognize his voice. He told her he was coming to Pops and he would see her there.

She was so excited to see her daddy, and her cousins and to be at the "Birthday Party."

Since everyone was there that was coming we decided that it was time to serve the cake. Great Grandmother has requested a Coconut Cake and Debby had made sure that it was just like she requested. We didn't have a two to go with the eight for the cake so I cut one out of cardboard and colored it and we used it on her cake.

We lit the candles and sang Happy Birthday for her 82nd.

Her daughters were all here for her birthday, and her oldest son had had to leave the day before her birthday but he had called while we were singing.

The we got a picture of the great grand daughters and one grand son, and one grand daughter  in a picture.

Chloe was sneaking another piece of cake and more ice cream.

The girls asked if they could be excused from the table so that they could play. As you can see it didn't take long for them to dress as little princesses.

They play hide-an-seek, watched Frozen on Alaina's I-Pad and sang to the music. And then wanted to go outside for some time on the trampoline.

And jumped some more...,

It has been a fun day together and this is only Friday. They are looking forward to tomorrow to see what they can find to do on Saturday. Isn't it just great to have cousins come for a visit.

Dog's Are A Little Girl's Best Friends

Chloe loves to play with the dogs at Pop's house. At home she has only cats and they are hard for her to pet when she gets excited, but the dogs just love it.

Penny is about ten years old and has arthritis in her rear legs. She is a Blue-healer bird dog and in her younger days she loved to tree squirrels and birds.

Penny is the older dog and she is much slower, but Chloe has known her since she could crawl. They have a special bond but since she is older she doesn't like to run and play anymore. Penny doesn't like Sky the other dog to come around while she is getting petted with love and affection.

Now Sky on the other hand is a younger dog just over two years old. He is part German Shepard and Border Collie. He is very protective of Chloe and if she get to far away and he thinks she is in danger he will get in front of her and make her turn around. Whenever we come over to Pops he is always the first to the car and waiting at the back door for Chloe. Whenever she isn't with us he will whine and he let's us know that he is sad. Other than just loving him, she loved to throw a stick and watch him fetch it and bring it back to her.

He loves his hugs and wet kisses and all the petting he wants...,

He know that when she is there he is number one in her eyes. She brings him treats and bones and whenever she is playing outside he is right by her side playing along with her.

Well Chloe, I've enjoyed the petting but I hear a squirrel calling my name and teasing me to try and catch him so I am going to show him who is the boss around here.

Well you go and catch that squirrel and keep it from eating Pop's pecans and I'll just call Penny over here to play with me while you are gone.

I thinks that Penny is to tired to come and play with me so I will sit here and think up what Sky and I can play after he catches the squirrel.

Another Sunday At Pop's

It is Sunday again and we are in the car waiting on Grandmother to get ready. Chloe has gotten herself ready and we are just sitting in the car waiting. She is not fully awake and has gotten a sucker for a little quick energy.

The candy sucker has worked it's magic and given her a boost of energy. She gets out her tablet and pen and starts to draw and write. She has packed extra clothes and boots for another day of playing after Sunday Meeting with her cousins.

We get to Sunday Meeting at Pop's house and great-grandmother is ready and waiting for everyone to arrive before our service can began. She tells us that next Friday is her birthday and she will be 82.

After the meeting is over, we remove all of the extra chairs and get the table back in place and get ready for lunch. Their are eleven members of our family today eating lunch. We get out the extra leaves and proceed to set the table. Chloe has disappeared, and then we see that the pantry door is open and someone said, "She is probably getting napkins and paper plates out to help set the table. Maybe so, but she has had to sit still for over an hour and she is looking for Pop's hiding place for the bag of candy and I know she will get her a hand full.

Oops, busted, Pops catches Chloe with here hand in the candy bag. He grins, and smiles, he has as much fun hiding the candy as she does trying to find it.

Chloe runs to another room to eat some candy that she found, I hope that is doesn't ruin her appetite for lunch.

Afraid that she has been caught snacking before lunch, she hides between chairs. I let her know that she set quietly during our meeting and that if she eats a good lunch, a snack is ok.

She is told that it will be a little while before lunch is served, and she sees that she has an audience so she decides to put on a show for us. She has learned a new song at school for a program they will have in the Spring so we get a Matinee to "Splish, Splash, I'm Taking A Bath."

 

I'm just a Splishing....,

I'm just a Splashing.....,

I was a rollin and a strollin...,

I was a movin and a groovin...,

I forgot about the bath, I went out and put my dancing shoes on.

Well folks the show is over and it is now time to set the table for lunch. I guess that we will have to wait to see the program at school to see if we saw the real version or was this Chloe's made up version. Either one, she did a great performance.

Below you will see the lyrics that she has learned for her "Spring Program."

Splish Splash, I Was Takin' A Bath

Splish splash, I was takin' a bath 'long about a Saturday night
A rub dub, just relaxing in the tub, thinkin' everything was all right
Well, I stepped out the tub, put my feet on the floor
I wrapped the towel around me and I opened the door
And then a splish splash, I jumped back in the bath
Well, how was I to know there was a party going on?

Bing bang, I saw the whole gang dancin' on my livin' room rug (yeah)
Flip flop, they were doin' the bop, all the teens had the dancin' bug
There was Lollipop with Peggy Sue
Good golly, Miss Molly was a even there too
A well a splish splash, I forgot about the bath
I went and put my dancing shoes on

I was a splishin' and a splashin', I was rollin' and a strollin'
I was a movin' and a groovin', I was a reelin' with the feelin'

I was a splishin' and a splashin', I was rollin' and a strollin'
I was a movin' and a groovin', I was a reelin' with the feelin'

I was a splishin' and a splashin', I was rollin' and a strollin'