Happy Birthday to Isaac!!!!! 5 years old today!!!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY TO

OUR GRANDSON ISAAC!!!

Wouldn't you know it!!!!! I left our camera at Jason and Emily's

so I won't be able to post the b-day pics till Thursday!

We really enjoyed our visit to help Isaac celebrate his 5th

birthday!!! My parents have been visiting for a few days

and that has been a real treat! They went to Jason and Emily's

with me today ....and are going to be sharing my

"Thursday's with Grandma" tomorrow!! There will be lots of

pics to post on Thursday!!!

Thursday's With Grandma and "The Hungry Hippos"

Today was our third Thursday together! Most of our day was spent playing "Hungry Hippos", play dough, schoolwork and rest time. The "Hungry Hippos" game is alot of fun....yet very noisy. We started the day with 20 marble size balls that the hippos ate.....and somehow ended up with 17!!! So somewhere..............there are three hippo snacks waiting to be devoured.

I changed the routine a little bit and had Seth take an afternoon nap instead of the morning.....just to try something new! At the same time that Seth laid down, Isaac did his homeschooling.......which he is quite motivated to do! One of the funnier moments in the day was when Seth needed to use the bathroom. he told me to leave the seat cover up....because he was going to go potty standing up!! I said fine...and as I left the room he shouted out, "Grandma!! Do you stand to go potty?" I chuckled and answered back "No Seth.....Grandma likes to sit!!"

On the other end of the house, as Isaac laid down to rest.....he told me that Mommy has him rest and look at books because it keeps him "quiet" and "busy". And sure enough it did!!!

Once again.....enjoy the highlights of our day.......and stop by anytime!!!

Everybody got excited when Grandpa came home at lunch

Ken got in a quick game with the boys at lunch

After schoolwork is over, Isaac gets to spend a little time playing a Wii game

We hollered out the front door at Molly, who was busy grazing....

She finally looked up and gave a little whinny back!

Isaac's play dough creation. A birthday cake, yellow with white frosting....sprinkles on top and also little pieces of yellow play dough that served as candle flames.

Seth's cake was yellow with pink frosting.....and since we ran out of candles...we used a toothbrush for his candle.....which he thought was quite amusing!!!

Our Dogs' Golden Opportunity

In the morning when Ken has gone to work, and Joel has left for school.....our two golden retrievers wait patiently by the door for me to let them in!!!

You see.....it is when everyone is gone that these two "spoiled dogs" know that I will open their door of opportunity!!!! They follow me from place to place as I go from the computer to the kitchen, and sometimes back to bed!!!! Well.....this morning I thought I'd give you a little glimpse of these two pooches....and the "I'll be good"look I get all morning!!!!

"Cash"is waiting by the computer room door

"Zoey" relaxes in the hallway

Quiet as a mouse.....Zoey settles in on the end of the bed

while "Cash" must be content with the floor!!!

For the Beauty of the Earth!! Welcome Fall

Welcome to the first Fall Color Tour from the back of our property

Today Ken and I took a ride out back to capture the beauty of the beginning of Fall.

The trees all turn colors at such different rates. God has created an amazing color palette for us to look upon and it changes almost daily. The mood was almost serene as we drove around the many trails. Ken's long slender fingers wrapped around my tight, almost fist-like hand. He gently held my hand as I chattered on about this and that......and on occasion gave my tale of woe about what I used to be able to do that I can't do now. Ken softly, with a warmth in his eyes reminded me that worry does not do us any good....and that God is with us 24/7. Whether it be our job, our health, our finances,or anything else.....He loves us and is going to meet our every need as He determines what is best for us! I relaxed.......and found myself comforted once again by Ken, by the awesome God we serve, and by the beauty He has provided all around us.

Thursdays With Grandma

In an effort to give Emily a break once a week so she can rest up before baby Nichols arrives in November, and to spend some one on one time with Annabelle.....I have offered to take Isaac and Seth every Thursday from now until whenever! so....Today was our second "Thursday" together. We've decided to call it "Thursday with Grandma"....an idea I got from reading "Tuesdays with Morrie". Each Thursday I will have a pictorial review of our day together....and little blips of our adventures!



I hope you enjoy this weekly blog......I know that it is a highlight of my week since I am home everyday! I also want to say I have a deep appreciation for our daughter-in-laws Emily and Heidi as they care for their very small children when dads are at work! It is a huge responsibility and takes an enormous amount of energy, patience, and love. Especially when your consider the ages of their children......they both do an amazing job!!!! You have my deepest respect for what you do every day!!!

Seth started his morning out

playing play dough then took a 2 hour nap!

Isaac played in the bathroom sink
in what he called his water imagination
station! What was equally nice is that when he finished...
he cleaned everything up and made the sink "sparkle"


Grandpa comes home everyday at lunch....
and today he fixed us bologna sandwiches and soupy jello!

So we just had to eat the soupy jello with straws!!!!

Slurpee.....slurp

Just after lunch as we were getting ready to go visit

Uncle Joel's classroom....we found this bird in our garage,
Thankfully Zoey and Cash did not get to it.......and by the

time we got home....it had flown away!!

We surprised Joel at Wex. Missaukee ISD
He loved the visit.....and introduced his nephews to everyone!

Grandma, Joel,Isaac and Seth

After we got home....I took the boys

for a ride on the Rhino (4 X 4) and took a few pics
by the old beech tree way out back.

Then we stopped over to Jane's house....picked her up in the

Rhino and explored her property.....stopping once to pick up

golf balls in the field!

After returning from our adventures....Grandma imposed

what I called a "mandatory rest" for 30 minutes!

Basically.....the rest was for me!!!! but thankfully the

boys went along with the idea.

Isaac wrapped himself up like a cocoon

on our floor. But don't let him fool you....

he was not asleep when I took this picture!

And at the end of the day....the boys wanted to pick

some flowers to take home to "Mommy"

Here's something else that I wanted to share:

With my "scleroderma" disability I am limited in so many things I used

to be able to do. For instance, the mobility is limited so much in my hands that I cannot

pick up anything from from the floor, or do anything that requires fine motor skills.

Well...a blessing about "Thursdays" is that Isaac and Seth are more than happy to do what I can't.

If I drop something, they are right there to pick it up. If I can't open/close/etc. an item, they are happy to oblige! I have noticed a "servant's heart" in our grandchildren....and if one of my purposes in life is to help nurture that gift.......I am blessed by the opportunity!

Every time we went outside, the boys held the door wide open and waited until I was safely through! Seth always insists to help me out of my chair....and even includes a vocal "grunt" as he helps pull me up! Just thought I'd share!!!