Last weekend - hurry, before this weekend starts!!

Esme' came for her Grandma's Birthday Weekend, and as usual we had such a fine time we forgot to take photos!!  We spent Friday night teaching her how to play Chicken Foot and she was addicted!!  We had a rousing session.  On Saturday, we went shopping - which is always fun - even browsed a used book store!!  Then we had manicures - de riguer for Grandma's Birthday Weekends of course!!

On Sunday, Esme' invited Eve, and Eliza and Charlotte Gray for lunch.  Ara and Ella had arrived the night before - after a rousing evening at the stake dance here in our locale.  They all had healthy appetites - it's a good thing I'd gone to the store the night before - I had forgotten about the "hollow leg" aspect of teens!

Noah and Taylor dropped by too -- it was a regular full house!!  (Which I love!)

Keesa certainly enjoyed having so many big girls to give her attention - this was a rousing session of Harry Potter UNO!

Lest you think the teens had all the fun, Harry and I enjoyed helping Dick and Toni Monson celebrate their 50th at a lovely party their kids hosted.  It was fun to see some old friends - and to meet some new ones.

I think I over-indulged on the Hershey Kisses with almonds though - chosen I am sure for their gold foil wrappers.  Did they know I have a terminal weakness for those nuggets??

More action coming up!!

Playing catch-up with the summer of 2014!

It was a crazy, busy summer - and I don't  think I've blogged half of it!!  We got home from Philly and were welcomed by the beautiful Bolander girls!!  They came for a long weekend while their parents had a little working vacay in New York.

Ella was doing a Young Women values' project - so she made dinner for us on Saturday night!  Yum!

 

We got manicures, shopped for birthday gifts, visited Eve, played cards, did puzzles, watched movies, went swimming, and generally had a fine time!!  Grandpa was with us some of the time - but not the times I was taking pics I guess!

 

Esme had a value project too - giving a Family Home Evening lesson on Service - which she did for us at Grandma Helen's.  And she made cinnamon rolls for the treat!!  Ara had returned to Malibu for a game or a practice but she returned Monday night.

 

We played a lot of "Golf" and did plenty of snacking.  It was a fine weekend.

 

The girls had to return Tuesday a.m. for more games, practices, and back to school activities.  Ara's b-day was in January, Esme's was in February, and Annika's was in July - at least we were early for Ella's!  It gets harder and harder each year to get these b-day weekends scheduled, but we're committed!!

Love these girls - and always enjoy time spent with them!

Another Sunday night leads to Monday!!

We had a fun Grandma's Birthday Sleepover.  Ella made a patchwork quilt for Deacon - she is one speedy little seamstress!!  And a quick study!

 We had fun shopping and getting mani/pedis too - forgot to take photos though.  Lunch at Market Grill.  Grandpa was gone for dinner, so we had "breakfast for dinner."  Always a treat - especially the bacon!

And Ella helped me master Powerpoint!!  She's a great little teacher too.

Dawn and Eve were studying YouTube hair styles -  a cute hair "bow!!"

Took Ella home and enjoyed some good time - and good food -  with the Bolanders!!  They are a bevy of beauties!!

 

Head tilt and all!

Love spending time with our grandkids - they are the best!!

Annika's Grandma's Birthday Weekend!

Bruce brought Annika out Saturday morning.  We had some lunch, then we went shopping - and found some good deals!  We went over to get Eve, after she got home from gymnastics. The girls wanted to skate - but ended up scootering at the Bradoaks campus.  

 

Eve came for dinner - at Annika's request, we had homemade mac 'n cheese.  Yum!!  We took Eve home, and Annika had some chocolate milk and a Grandpa Bob story.  I had forgotten to get Milanos, but I did have lightbulb cookies - which Annika tried - and said, "These are pretty good."  Obviously a young woman of taste and discernment.

 

Eve came over after church on Sunday - and we all went to the open house for Scott Card - who is going on a mission to Pocatello!!  After we came home and played "Team Syzygy" - which Eve and I won!!

 

Monday Annika finished her quilt - she had cut out the squares when Hannah was here - she's a great little seamstress!!  At her request we had Chicken Enchiladas for dinner.

 

Monday night for FHE we took the tandem bikes on the Duarte Bike Path - had fun!!  

 

We went to visit Grandma Mary - and then got up and got ready to head back to Malibu.

 

On the trek home, we listened to the soundtrack from the musical "Little Women."  A nice touch for the winding up of a visit with one of my favorite "little women!"

Grandma's Birthday Weekend!!

I picked up Porter after school on the 19th, and we headed for the Scout House for a new Cub Scout uniform for Porter.  He had his first pack meeting on Tuesday night.  Told anyone who would listen that he was pretty excited because "My grandma works for the Cub Scouts and I get to come!"  (Harry and I are the co-Cubmasters - a very fun job btw!!)

 

On Saturday morning, we went and picked up Harry W. and headed to IHOP for breakfast - always a treat.  The boys had fun as we left the restaurant and they discovered several insects of various species - much more interesting than anything I could come up with!!  Gotta love little boys!!

We did some shopping and it started to drizzle.  It wasn't much, but they didn't want to go on the hike I had planned.  Porter kept saying, "I just want to stay at your house."

So we did - played Golf, tetherball, and watched a little Harry Potter for fun.  Sometimes kids know what they want to do - they didn't want to go out for lunch either - just wanted peanut butter and jam.

Grandpa Bob worked his magic Friday night - Porter seemed happy with the whole deal.  And frankly, I can't think of a better way to spend time than with the likes of Porter and Harry W.!!

And I have always been a fan of p, b, and j!!

A preview of the Grandma's B-day Weekend with Porter

Porter is an early riser.  So Dad got up with him - and of course Porter wanted a "snore" strip too!!

Here's what he has to look forward too!!

More later on the fun times!!

Love those Grandma's Birthday Sleepovers!

Can I just say that I love hanging out with my grandkids??  Eve had her Grandma's Birthday Sleepover last night - it was the first clear spot on both of our calendars.  Having it on a school night presented some challenges, but we figured it out!

You can tell we had a great time because we didn't have a lot of time to think about taking pictures!  So I will give you a rundown in words!!

We started with an afterschool snack at Yogurtland - yum!!  Then went next door for manicures at Urbane. The guy there at the front desk gave me a discount - he said, "I always see you in here with your granddaughters - I'll give you 10% off!"  I think he's earned my loyalty for life!!

 We headed off for Kohls - especially to use my $10 off coupon!!  Eve found a cute outfit she liked - and a skirt on the bargain rack.

So we headed over to Marshalls to see if we could find a bargain top to go with the bargain skirt - it was certainly fun to line up all the possibilities and discuss the virtues of each one!!  Eve is such a little fashionista - it's great fun to shop with her.

We topped off the evening out with dinner at Mimi's - Harry was doing a long run and Noah had a golf date, so we made it a girls night out!!  And I was a good girl and had the "Fit and Healthy" option - and no dessert!

Since it was a school night, Eve had homework - I helped her with her math homework - exponents - and I still know how to do them!!  She needed to read for 30 minutes, so we set the timer and both read - she is working on Play the Bach Dear and she suggested I read a book about mermaids that she especially enjoyed.  I read 3 of the stories and then my heavy eyelids drooped and the book flopped out of my hands and Eve said, "Are you falling asleep Grandma?"

Fortunately Grandpa came home from his run - after a quick shower he was ready for his "Grandpa Bob" duties.  We set up the futon and Grandpa Bob worked his magic.

In the a.m.,  Eve enjoyed whole wheat waffles with chocolate milk!!  She had picture day and requested french braids - I should have taken a close-up!!  I had to get to school on time - in the past I've had a free first period, and I hadn't considered that - so Grandpa did the morning run.  He enjoys re-living the days of getting kids to school!

So, can I just say again that it's great to spend time with such a lovely young lady!!??  (And that I wish all our grandkids lived close enough for a birthday sleepover!)

Grandma's Birthday Weekend with Ella - version 2012!

The new blogger confuses me - but here's a shot that belongs at the end - the skirt Ella finished - now read on for the details - everyone knows I read the end first anyway!!

Can I just say that the Grandma's Birthday Weekend was one of my best ideas ever?  I love them!!  (Hopefully the grandkids do too!!)  Tuesday night we met up with Bonny, Bruce, Ara and Ella for a night at the Bowl with Yo Yo Ma.  Beautiful music under the stars just can't be beat!

The next day Bonny brought Ella by after their trip to San Diego to take Jinny to Becky's house and some Bolander cousin time.  We hit Joann's the next a.m. so that Ella could get to work on making a skirt.  She did a great job - we borrowed Dawn's sewing machine so that we could both sew.  I got two aprons finished.  Ella is a quick learner!  I certainly should have gotten a photo of the "dueling sewing machines!!"  Maybe next time.  (See above for the finished product!!)

Of course a manicure was in order - as was lunch at Market Grill!!  We did some good shopping for Ella - it was tough with the heat to be thinking ahead to fall and winter - but we managed!!

On Saturday, Ella was my shower buddy for a bridal shower at the Hoopes' - she won a couple of prizes too!   Then we headed out to Santa Monica where the other Bolanders were doing kitchen duty at the singles conference there, and we dropped Ella off.  No one mistook us for mid-single adults either!!

After that Dad and I headed home - with at stop at In 'n Out for burgers and root beer - this was obviously not a Weight Watchers weekend for me!!

Ella is a lovely young woman - and we had a lovely few days together - grandkids are the best!!

A whirlwind week winds up - or maybe down?

Today, Friday the 20th,  Annika and I took flowers to Jonah's grave - and the sprinklers went on!  Fortunately for us, it was so hot we didn't care.  (Blogger won't let me move the top photo - and it's too late for me to feel like fussing with it - so you'll just have to see the photos out of order!)

After the Sunday night festivities, Monday the 16th  was spent getting organized - including swimming and bowling!!  Ida's little bowling shoes were really cute - especially with the ruffled socks!!

 Theo was a great little bowler - beat his mom hands down!!

Eliza blamed her low score on the fact that she was carrying Lars on her back!!  Matt was the champ for sure!  He said he'd taken a bowling class at BYU - so maybe that's the edge he had!!

Monday night we had dinner with Helen and my mom - I guess Helen left before we remembered to take pictures!!

  

Tuesday was beach day and Cousin Camp. And Dawn brought Annika home with her so she could come for her Grandma's Birthday Sleepover!!  Then that evening we enjoyed dinner compliments of Market Grill - and some playtime at the park.

Wednesday was more swimming and lunch at Wendy's.  We also made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies!!  And of course we shopped!!  Annika made some excellent fashion choices!!

What would we do without the Seely's and their pool?  Such good neighbors!

 

And manicures, of course!

Last night we enjoyed the stake musical - and now we are headed off to meet Bonny to pick up Annika - it's been a fun several days - tomorrow I will wake up and say, "It's too tidy and quiet around here!!"

Come back soon!!

Playing a little bit of catch-up!

It has been a busy week - thankfully tomorrow is a holiday - Cesar Chavez Day - to kick off Spring Break. It will be a busy week ahead too - Harry and Dawn are taking off for Ireland, and we will be holding down the fort for them - and minding the kiddos! We plan to have a good time. Folks are coming into town - Leslie, Tom, Sam, Sarah, Ellen, Hannah K. - let the good times roll!

Tuesday night was the monthly pack meeting. Harry and I are enjoying this calling - and we are getting pretty proficient at cheers and songs!! Barbara Rossiter and the Arcadia Cubs did the activity - a catapult war with marshmallows - it was a hit!

Sunday at Relief Society, Marcie wanted to play a talk for the class - the laptop's sound volume was deficient - but the ever-resourceful Relief Society Presidency came up with a solution. Who said we aren't techno wizards??

Today was the egg-drop at Clifton. It has changed since most of the Terrill kids were involved in it. For 8th graders, there is a size and weight limit - and the egg has to land right side up. I have a solution - and the 5 kids who followed it all got all their points!! A couple of them seemed a little amazed that I am so with it and savvy - if you play your cards right, I will share it with you sometime! That's Kyle up on the roof.

Esme came home with us on Friday night after the Stairway of the Stars event - and we had a great birthday weekend!! Eve joined us later on Saturday afternoon and they had matching manicures - always a hit with the little ladies.

Of course, Esme wanted lunch at In 'n Out - worth the wait I'd say!!

When the girls come, the American Girls come too!! Here we are just before church.

We went out to Hollywood on Sunday for Miella's and Kevin's baptism. It was very nice - and I totally forgot to take any pictures. Grandma Terrill came along too - and there was a large Monrovia Ward contingent there also. After we took Esme home and enjoyed dinner at Chez Bonny. There was a lot of rain, but we stayed pretty dry. I have had my autism classes - they are kind of ongoing until June - and it's been busy at school for me and work for Dad. But we did squeeze in Hunger Games.

Not sure how much free time I will have to post this coming week, but we'll keep you updated - maybe Harry will email me photos on his new iPad!!