OUR LONG WEEK-END WRAP UP...

This was such a busy, busy long week-end that it seems amazing that everything that went on happened in just 3 short days!  Hope you all enjoyed your 4th as much as we did.  It was just another one of those glorious type summer days that just kind of help to make the 4th of July one of my favorite holidays.  We gathered again at my oldest son's Joe's house for an afternoon and evening of swimming, good food, fireworks and fun. My only assignment was the tossed salad and I whipped that together right before we left.

Don't think I did another speck of actual work the rest of the day.  Can it be that I have reached that stage in my life where I take a seat and watch all the younger women busy with something at these kind of events?  I busy myself with the important things like holding babies and talking with grandkids.  It was a pretty warm day, near the mid nineties, but really very comfortable in the shade by the pool where I sat and watched them all splash around for a several hours. It was just my kids and grandkids (which makes for a pretty full house!) however not only was Melody and her little family not there of course. neither was poor Vinny and my other DIL as he was running a fever.  The guys played a couple games of basketball, and then jumped into the pool again to cool off from their efforts. The kids never did get out, lol, and us ladies sat around and visited the time away. Dinner was VERY yummy.  Barbequed chicken (my dil Leah's chicken is to die for) and tri-tip, plus potato salad, baked beans (I promise I will share our wonderful recipe for these soon!) my tossed salad. chips, and of course watermelon.  For dessert there was decorated sugar cookies and ice cream.  As the afternoon turned to early evening the kids got out of the pool finally and ran around in Joe's big yard.  Us adults continued our conversation and visiting while we watched them play.  I think this is near the top of all my favorite pastimes in the world.  Enjoying conversation and time with my kids and their spouses, while watching all the cousins enjoying them selves.  As it grew dark we loaded in our cars to drive the short distance to a nearby school where we have the PERFECT view of the local high schools big firework display.  We discovered this spot last year and honestly I don't know how it is that we seem to have it to ourselves.  There is really quite the crowd in other areas.  We need to keep it mum though as it just couldn't be a better spot.  Donatella and Cody both took up their watch on grandma's lap, and my arms were full of 5 year old cuteness and laughter.  The others kids preferred to stand,  and the other adults stretched out on the grass.  This grandma brings her comfy lawn chair everywhere.  As tempting as that grass looked I am afraid I might still be down there had I joined them, lol.  You knew some pictures were coming, and here they are...

JUST HAD TO SHOW YOU HOW PRETTY THE NEW RUNNERS LOOKED ON HER TABLES!  SHE WAS THRILLED WITH THEM.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS ROOM OF THEIRS!  MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE DINING ROOM EVER!  LOL

THE OTHER ONE.  YOU CAN SEE THE TABLE THAT IT NEAR IT WITH THE OTHER ONE IN THE BACK GROUND.  TO THE SIDE IS PRETTY LACE CURTAINS WITH A VIEW OF THEIR MASSIVE YARDS.  

MY OLDEST GRANDSON 19 YEAR OLD EVAN WAS DRESSED FOR WORK AND LEFT VERY SHORTLY AFTER WE GOT THERE AND HAD TO WORK UNTIL MIDNIGHT!  WE MISSED HIM!

AND HE'S OFF.  I ASKED HIM TO POSE IN HIS APRON AND HE WILLINGLY COMPLIED.  DOES PRETTY MUCH WHATEVER HE CAN TO PLEASE GRANDMA!  LOL

THE LITTLE COUSINS WERE GLAD TO BE TOGETHER FOR THE DAY!

DONATELLA LOOKED SOO ADORABLE.  GRANDMA COULDN'T BEAR TO RUIN HER DARLING CURLS IN THE POOL, BUT SHE HAD NO SUCH MISGIVINGS, LOL

CAPRI'S CURLS ARE MAINLY NATURAL, BUT SHE LOOKED ADORABLE TOO!

I GOT THEM TO POSE BEFORE THEY JUMPED IN!  LOVED THIS PICTURE!

CODY WAS SOO EXCITED!

COOL AND REFRESHING

SIMBA JOINED ME IN THE SHADE, LOL

AND THEY WERE DOG SITTING FOR RHONI.  SUCH A NICE DOG.  SHE WAS RESTING WITH THE LITTLE ONES

THEIR TWO NEW PUPPIES...SUCH SWEET LITTLE THINGS

YUMMY FOOD...THOUGH THIS PICTURE WAS BORROWED FROM MY SON JAMES, LOL.  I AM AVOIDING CARBS SO MINE WAS FULL OF SALAD AND MEAT ONLY.  HIS LOOKS BETTER I AM THINKING, LOL

ICE CREAM TIME!

CODY ALWAYS TAKES DONATELLA FOR A FEW RIDES

KIND OF BLURRY. BUT ROOM FOR BOTH

After the show we headed for home and brought little Capri with us to spend the rest of the week-end.  We are trying to arrange a time that each one of the younger (not the babies though, haha) grands will come and spend a night or two with us this summer.  There honestly is just nothing like one on one time with each of them.  There was a little bit of jealousy going on that Capri was chosen first, but they all did a very good job of settling in and realizing their turn would come.  How I enjoyed this sweet little nine year old girl!  She is the oldest of 4 and the individual attention and focus on just her was a treat that she really enjoyed.  She woke on Sat morning to realize that the day would be decided mainly by her.  I did point out that while even what she ate would be MAINLY her choice, to remember that it was only because it was "for a day" not that Grandma would always allow such reckless abandonment from healthy food, lol.  Breakfast she chose chocolate donuts and bacon and orange juice!  She was giddy over the fact that she could have more than one chocolate donut and didn't have to "share" any with her brothers or sister, haha.  We spent a leisurely morning chatting and watching some of her favorite cartoon shows on TV.  She decided she would like to see Malificent at the movies, and if it was OK, she would like to bring along her cousin Jeffie as well.  All was quickly arranged and after we picked him up we stopped for lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe.  Don't know if they have this restaurant everywhere, but it is a fun little place for children as you eat in the middle of a rain forest complete with animated animals, HUGE fish tanks, and fun.  She chose mac n cheese for lunch and it must have been good as she gobbled it right down.  After lunch we did a little shopping.  They were having a GIANT sale at Children's Place so we bought a couple of cute new little outfits for summer wear for her as well.  And! some cute little plastic bracelets too.   She was very thankful and sweet to shop with. Then it was time for the movie.  She and Jeffie agreed on some candy to split, had some popcorn and their own icee drinks.  Capri pointed out later that Jeffie didn't share the candy very well, haha, so grandma is going to have to speak to him about that.  Capri was quite cute when I told her grandma would talk to him later and said, "I think he probably just thought I didn't want anymore grandma"  Yeah right, is what I thought, lol. After the movie we dropped Jeffie back off and we went on home.  We had planned on spending a little time at Barnes and Noble looking for a new book (one of her favorite things to do!) but she decided she was kind of tired and this grandma was kind of relieved.  She was tired too. And as she pointed out, "this is not the only time I will come and stay with you grandma!"  haha  We spent the rest of the evening having pizza for dinner (or her and grandpa did anyway, I fixed a salad) and watching some very girlish type little movies. A really cute Tinkerbell one and a My little pony. We chatted and discussed the goings on as we watched.  I was thoroughly entertained, but grandpa busied himself on the computer. She had chosen root beer floats for her dessert, and then quickly showered and washed her hair.  I was soo pleased that she let me do whatever I wanted with her hair.  As I have mentioned a few times, I LOVE doing hair, and have really kind of missed doing little girls hair.  She was sound asleep by 9. How grateful I am for this time with her.  I got a much bigger look into her little personality and feelings on her life, and hopefully made some memories she will cherish.  Spending time at my grandma's house were memories I cherish to this day, and I want that for her and all of my grands as well.  Yesterday we packed up her things and headed down to San Diego for church, and her visit came to an end.  Here are a couple of pictures we took.

SHE AND ELVIS RELAXING...HE WAS GLAD SHE WAS HERE TOO!

YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE HER HAIR BUT WE DOUBLE FRENCH BRAIDED THE FRONT AND SIDES BACK.  SOO CUTE!

GETTING TO BE SUCH A GROWN UP BIG GIRL.  SHE LOOKS LIKE HER MAMA HERE

JEFFIE AND CAPRI.  HE IS A YEAR OLDER BUT CAPRI IS TALLER, LOL.  I LOVE THAT THEY ENJOY EACH OTHER

DIDN'T NOTICE TILL I WAS POSTING THIS THAT HER EYES WERE CLOSED...SIGH.  BUT HERE SHE IS SPORTING ONE OF HER NEW OUTFITS FOR CHURCH!

After service on Sunday hubby and I decided to hit up another movie as we had to kill some time by the coast as there was a bon fire later on for my brother's birthday, and we didn't want to have to drive back out.  And it was HOT yesterday.  We saw Under the Stars.  A real tear jerker for sure.  I enjoyed the movie, though wish there might have been a little more spiritual look at what happens after death.  After that we headed back up the coast towards Huntington Beach and hit a lot more traffic then we counted on.  We arrived at the party a little late, but thoroughly enjoyed ourselves visiting with everyone there.  The weather was gorgeous at the beach, and the waves were GINORMOUS! lol.  Seriously, good 6 to 7 footers.  I took no pictures as I didn't want to mess with a camera or my phone with sand.  They thankfully found a spot right next to the walk way so I didn't have to walk more than a foot or so in the sand.  It is almost impossible with my knees to walk in sand, and I was REALLY grateful that they did.   We got home close to 10 exhausted from our week-end and tumbled into bed and here I am.  I intend to finish up my last place mat today for Melody and get started on a pillow for my sister.  I have to get out the embroidery attachment for that and I am looking forward to it.  Haven't embroidered for a while.  I KNOW this was A LONG post, but I had to get it all in for my journal book.  So to those of you still with me, rejoice! you've made it to the end!  Enjoy your week!  I think we are suppose to cool off a little bit by mid week, and I am glad!  Blessings to you all! Debbie

STOLE THIS PIC FROM BROTHER OF HIM AND HIS KIDS

MELODY'S HANDS ARE ALWAYS FULL!  LOL

MISSED THESE TWO CUTIES ON THE 4TH!

SWEET LUKE WITH HIS MAMA

SAM LOVED THE FIREWORKS!!