We are always thrilled when the kids come to visit. Bryan, Melodi and the kids came for a couple of days on their way to Kansas City and then returned for a night on their way home.
Seems as though the weather turns very hot, very cold or very windy when they are here for a visit. This time the heat was the culprit.
Jett came a couple of days early so he could be here to play with the cousins. What fun and excitement abounds when they are all together!
We went to the fireworks stand to purchase some fireworks, but they were closed. We did stop at the local store for ice for home-made ice cream. The store usually has "gold nugget gum" in a small canvas pouch that the grandkids really enjoy. Unfortunately, the store was out of them so we picked out the suckers.
After the Woods arrived we went to see Grammy. Here are all 5 of the "Greats" as she calls them.
Barn Time
With the new hay bales the kids now have several rows on which to jump on from one row to another. They did stop long enough for a quick picture.
When the weather cooperates, our favorite thing is to have coffee on the porch.
With the hot temps the kids took advantage of the pleasant mornings playing outside.
Games were played until is was "warm enough" for water fun.
The kids enjoying their suckers.
Time for water fun. First and a must was sunscreen!
Talk about "style"!
Emma needed a quick nap after her early rising.
The grandkids get up early on the farm so they won't miss anything.
Emma and Mat went to the front gate to get tomatoes that Shelton had left for me. This is a tomato year for sure!
Time to go to the fireworks stand - load up everyone!
Choices! Choices! Choices!
Our stash included: smoke bombs, snappers, firecrackers, sparklers and each one had selected a special item they wanted.
When we arrived home, Grammy was waiting. She had come up for lunch and since we were not home, she began to think one of the kids had gotten hurt. She called Mel's cell phone to check.
I told her one way to know that everyone was fine was that we would not take "everyone" to the emergency room.
My "Dessert Lovers"!
A little dessert was left so Jake and Mat shared what was left. (Maybe who could get the most in the shortest amount of time???)
"When can we do fireworks? " was the question for the afternoon.
To pass the time they played games.
They did crafts. Here, the boys are mixing plaster for dinosaur molds.
After they had dried, it was time to paint them.
The girls worked on a bead craft.
Somehow the string had become quite tangled so Melodi worked on untangling it.
Home-made ice cream helped pass the time. I made vanilla then each one could add his or her favorite toppings - quite yummy!
Finally, they could do the fireworks that didn't need darkness.
Bryan gave instructions about safety.
After the lesson Grandpop said he had selected the safest spot!
Can you tell that firecrackers were next on the list?
After the afternoon fireworks display, the kids played outside then we went in for a snack and waited for darkness. Jett began to feel bad with a tummy ache. He just wanted to stay in bed - not like him at all! (He had a rough night with it. Finally, later in the morning he was getting better.) Jett had selected a boat. We saved it and some sparklers for him to take home.
Mat's selection was a tank.
Emma selected chickens.
McKaylea selected a turtle. She didn't want to do hers but an extra was a bug. She decided she was brave enough to do it so big brother, Jake, helped her.
Sparklers
Jake had selected a pink bomb so the group decided it would make a great finale!
Ice cream sandwiches after the fireworks!
When the Woods' Family returned from Kansas City, we celebrated Jacob's birthday. He was to turn 13 the next week. Wow! Hard to believe we now have a teenager! He enjoyed his favorite meal - chicken fried steak, cream potatoes, green beans, hot rolls and "dirt cake".
We reminisced about when Jacob was born. Melodi and Bryan were in Fairbanks, Alaska. Amberlea and I flew up there after he was born. Since they had not been there long, their furniture had not yet arrived. Jacob did have a crib and his room was ready. We played many games of Skip Bo, watched Jacob, and took walks to pass the time. In the family Jacob was called "the computer baby" because after Amberlea and I returned from Alaska we sent pictures to family members by e-mail - hence the term "computer baby" came about.
What a handsome, sweet and thoughtful young man Jake is!
All enjoyed a "popping" good time together!
