Welcome Back Colorado Boys - Day 7 with Cousins

Today we are going to have fun with the cousins.  Splash Kingdom is on the agenda and Jen is meeting us there.  She gets delayed a bit so we have some time to kill and make a stop at the Fort Worth Water Gardens.  I love this place so much.  It's been a few years since the boys have been here and Caleb doesn't remember it at all.  I guess that means it's good idea.

The first couple of times I brought kids here, I constantly worried about them falling in.  It didn't happen so I'm not quite the nervous nellie that I was then.

Welcome Back Colorado Boys - Days 5 & 6

With Grandpa working from home today, we have a car and are gonna use it.  Caleb REALLY wants to go to the aquarium and so we shall.  Quick - before it gets too hot out.

They choose to do the tanks first and spend quite a bit of time laughing at the various fish.  I have to agree that some of them are just pretty bizarre to look at.  The nautilus, for example.

Welcome Back Colorado Boys - Days 3 & 4

Day 3 and we have a plan.  I think.  The morning is spent just hanging out and then we walked down to the highway to catch a bus to the mall.

Cars 3 is on the agenda and I have to tell you -- I think it's my favorite of thee Cars movies.  Way to go Cruise.

After the movie, a quick stop at the LEGO store provides some fun and kills time all at once.

Welcome Back Colorado Boys - Days 1 & 2

The sun is going down as we arrive at Love Field to meet the plane bringing me my grandsons from Colorado.  I'm antsy as it is since they are flying alone for the first time, so the sunset keeps me occupied while I wait.

It's always hard to get a good picture through a window and even harder when you are stuck between two jet bridges, but it is pretty nevertheless.  My heart does love watching the sun rise and set.

Peticolas Fun - Date Night

Mister and I have not been out for a beer event in quite awhile.  Peticolas is having a special night of matching their regular drafts with special cask versions.  My sweetie loves cask beer and, thus, we are off for some fun.

The venue is indeed full, but everyone is having a great time and the beer is unlimited.

A New American Citizen

My daughter-in-law, Rebecca, has now officially become a citizen of the United States of America.  What a fun day for her, my son, and their children.

Visitors in the Herbs

17th - I m so excited!!!  I walked out to check the herbs today and discovered that FOUR caterpillars have claimed the fennel as their home.  The last time this happened, here is the POST about it.  We only had one before -- four is crazy.

Joshua's Turn - Days 3 & 4

Day 3 with Josh and since he won't be here on Sunday, I take him down to the coffee shop all by myself.  We are having a stay in the neighborhood morning and will go meet Grandpa tonight.  For now, though, let's walk.  Hot chocolate with whipped cream and caramel syrup along with a cinnamon roll.  He should be revved up.

Once back home, we are into cookie mode.  Chocolate chip is the order, and sso chocolate chip it shall be.

Aprons on, let's get this going.

Joshua's Turn - Days 1 & 2

A Sunday morning walk to the coffee shop with Mister and upon our return, Josh arrives for his days with us.  First up:  grocery shopping at Central Market and then back home to cook dinner.  While I work on that, he and Grandpa take some time to photograph our herbal visitors.

I love it when Grandpa works with the kids to learn his love for photography.  They start seeing things differently and the whole world becomes a much more interesting place.  Oh -- we have a total of four visitors.

A Fun Father's Day Gift

Jen has once again found a unique Father's Day gift for my sweet Mister --- he is all smiles over it.

Utah Fun Day 4

Wow, the saying that "time flies when you are having fun" definitely holds true this week.  It's my last day here and I want to make some more memories.  Farm Country is our destination for the day and it's a new one for me.  Woohoo.

The first thing we see when we enter the doors is a container full of baby chicks.  Well, not really baby, more like juvenile but fun all the same.

Utah Fun Day 3

Good morning!  We are up and moving.  Ophelia has a tumbling class starting today and that means the day is already underway.  We arrive at the rec center on time and discover that she doesn't have a class today - it starts next week.  A Mommy oops.  Oh well, quick stops at the games and climbing wall before we depart for our planned second activity today.

Utah Fun Day 2

It's Sunday morning and one of the other gifts that Grandpa sent the girls was matching dresses.  He has asked for a couple of pictures and thus we must provide.  Attempts like this are not always easy to have success with, but the personalities in here are just so adorable that no matter what -- these are a hit.  Enjoy.

Ophelia's 3rd Birthday - Off to Utah

June 9th - With a quick up, up, and away, I am off to Utah for a few days to celebrate O's 3rd birthday.  My suitcase is full of fun handmade gifts and I'm ready for snuggles and giggles galore.  The bonus?  Ava is 10 1/2 months old now and I get to spend time with her too.  Is there more?  Of course.  Time with my own sweet baby and her hubby are always a special treat.  Now let's get going.

I have an afternoon flight so arrive in early evening to a car full of girls.  A drive to Provo and a few cuddles before I fall into a heap.  Time for some sleep and let the fun begin tomorrow.

10th -  Alright, let's get this party started.  Miss Ophelia is now THREE.  While I peacefully slept away the night, Cassie decorated the dining room with a pleasant surprise for her little one this morning.  It looks great and the smiles are definitely worth it.  Gifts are out and so perhaps I should get mine wrapped too.

Jared's in Town

When Jen arrived yesterday to pick up Jacob, she dropped off Jared to spend a few days with us.  These teenage boys are just so independent and sleeper inners that it's hard to find much to write about or take pictures of.  However, today we actually have a fun story.

Jared's request for the day is Jumpstreet. It is not a car day for us so that means DART and I arrange for our pickup in time to get to the train and connect to the bus correctly.  Our pickup is late, thus missing the first train.  When we grab the next one, our connecting bus has already left when we arrive at our stop.  Great.  It's about a 25 minute wait for the bus and Jumpstreet is about a mile away so I ask Jared if he is up to a walk.  He gives me a big smile and says, "Yes."  Let's go then.  We set off and I am instantly regretting my decision as I did not wear sneakers and as much as I love these sandals, they are not wonderful for walking a long ways as they always seems to rub the bottom of my feet.  Oh well, no turning back now.  We get about 1/4 of a mile when I notice the sky really getting dark and it appears to be moving straight at us.  Great.  Suggesting that we get up on the Central Expressway so that there are businesses to dart into in case of a downpour, we alter our route a bit and continue on.  As we near the 3/4 of a mile mark, it starts to sprinkle and I'm okay with that as we just kick it up a gear.  As soon as we cross Royal and enter the parking lot (of which Jumpstreet is clear on the other side), it lets loose and we are running like crazy.  Two soaked rats enter the trampoline park, but - hey - it is a memory, right?  A quick phone call to Grandpa for a 5 p.m. pickup and off he goes while I settle in to work on a project.  (Yes, I'm still soaked when Mister arrives 2 hours later.)

Front Bench Updo

Every so often things new a new touch.  Today, the front bench is sporting a new outfit after Mister gave her a fresh coat of stain.  Lovin' it.

Time With Jacob

May 31st.  What could that mean?  Well, for starters it means that school is out and the summer camp sessions are starting.  Jacob is first up and after a drive to Weatherford, in which I managed to discover that there are TWO DQ's and sent Jen to the wrong one, we are back in Dallas and off to dinner with Grandpa.  Chinese dinner is on the agenda and Jacob has ordered some fried rice.  SOME!  Hahahahaha.  What a mountain of food.

June 1st - I have been bothered by a rash on my leg for a week now and it is really starting to travel and get worse.  I am biting the bullet and heading for the doctor.

After a quick appointment which  nets me some steroids, antibiotics, and hydrocortisone cream, we are off to Central Market for groceries.  It's a pretty boring day for a grandson that is 14 and I feel bad for him, but dang --  my leg is a mess.

Dinner is at Smash Burger, as requested, and nothing has changed since the last time we were there.  I think that was their final death march for us.  No more Smash Burger.  When asked the difference between a regular and large burger, the attendant held up two cups and explained to me that one was regular and one was large because one was bigger than the other.  Honest.