Today I got up planning to go see the grandbabies.  Martha called and asked if I could go take care of Mom instead of her.  Kevin is having serious heart problems (please pray for him) and she thought they may put him in the hospital today.  Kevin kept telling her to go.  After discussing it, she decided to go ahead, and if she needed to leave, she would call Sandra.  I told her I would take care of Mom if she needed me, but she decided to go ahead. 

I dropped off Ryan at school and then came back to pack the car.  I was taking Nikki’s Christmas Tree decorations and I always take a meal for them.  Last night I fixed chicken casserole and broccoli casserole.  I put some in ice cube trays and froze them.  This morning I put them in freezer bags and took them for Haley.  Nikki used to fix all of Haley’s food like that, but now she has no time.  Haley eats her meals with them, of course, but it makes it easy to heat up for lunch or when Nikki doesn’t have time to cook.  I love helping them out any way I can.

Andrew and Nikki went Christmas shopping today and I watched the babies.  Oh, I enjoyed it so, so much.  While Nikki was finishing getting ready, Haley pulled me to her room to color.  It is her way of getting my full attention. 

When we had to go to the living room to take care of Mason, she was fine with it.  She colored….

while I read a book to them.

I think Mason liked the colors.

Then, when Mason fell asleep…..

She sat on my feet and I bounced her.

I had such a good time with them today.  Haley would tease with me.  She would get my camera and say “Haley’s camera” (smiling mischievously).  I would say, “nooo, Grandma’s camera.”  She would squeal and run to her room with it.  Then she came back with it.  She did my phone that way too.  I love seeing her smile.

This afternoon Haley was going down to the car with her Mommy.  I went with her to the bedroom to get her shoes.  I opened one of her drawers to see if it was the one where Nikki put all her little shoes.  It wasn’t the one but Haley said, “Haley get in the drawer.”  So, what is a grandma to do but put her in the drawer and take her picture.

I left earlier than usual today because I thought Martha would need me to relieve her.  The skies and scenery was beautiful!!

 

 

 

The traffic was awful when I got back to our city.

 

 

Several times we were at a standstill on the interstate.  Come to find out, there had been a wreck.  I finally made it home.  I picked up Ryan and we went to Fed X to pick up his Christmas present.  Boy, am I so tired tonight.  I have Mom for the next three days. 

 

Thank God for a wonderful day with the grandkids.  Please remember to pray for Kevin.  I will try to post more about it later.

 

This is the first Thanksgiving that I have fixed the meal myself.  I was a little bit nervous.  We usually have a big get-together with my brothers, sisters, and their kids/grandkids.  This year, since Mom and Dad require so much care, it was too hard to get together.  We all had our own celebrations.  Nana still cooked, but I was so busy, I wasn’t able to go to her house.  Mark and Ryan went down for breakfast, but I was cooking then. I am really excited about starting our own traditions.

Ryan and I had worked moving furniture, cleaning and scrubbing floors.  I cooked as much as I could the day before Thanksgiving.  I did run into a problem with my turkey taking longer to cook than the directions said, but everything turned out great in the end.  I fixed turkey, ham, dressing, potatoes, broccoli casserole, slaw, homemade rolls, and deviled eggs.  I also fixed fruit salad, lemon luck, and chocolate pies.  Andrew and Nikki were so complimentary and appreciative.  They made me feel wonderful!! 

Haley was so excited when she came in.  It thrilled my heart.  Mason was asleep, but when he woke, he was all smiles.  He is the most pleasant baby. 

He is growing so fast.  I just love those babies. 

Haley rode on Mark’s shoulders as he ran up and down the hall.  She loves it!

     

  

Mark would have to stop to catch his breath.

She would beat him on the head to tell him to go again.

Mark got so tickled.

After lunch I rocked the babies to sleep (such joy!).  Andrew lay down to nap with Haley and Nikki went to find them a tree.  She had seen one at Target that she wanted.  They didn’t have it, so she had to wait.  When she came back, the babies had just woke.  She got them ready and ran to her family’s get-together for a while. 

We were planning to go to Martha’s, so Nikki met Andrew and me there after she left her family.  Martha’s family had not seen Mason in a long time, and he has grown so much.  Kevin took pics on his phone.

 

       

Martha and Jared

The lovebirds:  Nathan and LeAnna

I just love LeAnna!  She fits in with our family perfectly! 

Haley decided she was going home with me instead of her Mom and Dad.  I was holding her and walked over to Andrew as he was putting on his shoes to leave.  She leaned over and kissed him telling him bye.  She did the same to her mom.   I wanted to keep her so bad, but I had told Ryan I would go shopping on Black Friday.  She cried when I put her in their car.  It made me so very sad.

As I was following them out, I felt like bawling.  I had hardly gotten to see them, and they were going so far away.  Nikki told me later that Haley talked and sang on the way home.  I’m so glad.  I would rather feel sad than her.

Thursday night I didn’t sleep well (I hardly ever do), so when the alarm went off Friday morning, I turned it off.  Ryan got up at 8AM and was so disappointed it was so late. We still went shopping and had a lot of fun. 

Friday night when Martha got home from taking care of Mom, Ryan and I went up to their house awhile.  Jared played the piano for me.

Ahhh it was beautiful!!!  I sit with my eyes closed and soak in the music. 

My eyes tear and I cry at how beautiful it is.  It touches something deep inside me when I hear him play.  So many times as I listen to him, in my heart and mind I am lifting my arms in praise to God. 

Kevin, Martha, and I practiced a song to sing at church.

Ryan sat and enjoyed being there.

See Martha’s tree in the background.  I love her tree.

She has one of those stands that turns the tree constantly.  I could sit for hours and look at it.  For many years, she has collected glass and crystal ornaments.  She has such unique and beautiful ones. 

I have been working on my tree. 

Nikki gave us her old tree and I love it.  It is a skinny tree and taller than our old one.  I will try to post pics of it when I am done.

Ok, I am off to bed.  Hope you all have a wonderful night of rest.

For the past three days, I have cleaned Nana and Papaw’s house.  Today I worked until 3PM.  Then I took a break to go pick up Ryan after school.  We dropped by the house and he changed from shorts to bluejeans while I got a snack.  Then I picked up some hamburgers for him and went to get a coffee for me.  I was really tired, but I knew I need to get as much done as possible because I have to take care of Mom for the next four days.  I decided to get a larger coffee than a tall (which is what I normally get).  I was trying to see the sign before I got to the order microphone but I couldn’t see the little writing.  The only thing I could remember was venti, so that is what I ordered.  Oh my goodness!!!!  It was huge!  I would say at least double the tall.  I drank every drop.   I was plenty wide awake then.  I even felt jittery (no wonder).  I almost finished the house too.   I now only lack the laundry room and spare bedroom.  Yay!!  I may be able to finish tomorrow while Mom relaxes in her chair.

I love where Nana and Papaw live.  The last time I cleaned, I took these pictures from an upstairs window.

 

It got very cloudy like it was going to rain.  It was beautiful!

Something I love…..Nana’s perfume.

Nana and Papaw had a sun room added to the back of their house this past summer.  I love it!!!  I keep meaning to take pics.  Maybe I will tomorrow?

This past Saturday I went to Andrew and Nikki’s to watch the babies so she could get a haircut (Andrew had to work).  That night Nikki let me bring Haley home with me to spend the night.  She did wonderful and we enjoyed her so much!!  Mark rode her on his shoulders and ran up and down the hall to the kitchen.  She loved it.  He would tease with her and she would laugh and laugh. 

Sunday morning she was sitting on Mark’s lap while I was getting ready for church.  I could hear her telling him something but he couldn’t understand what she was saying.  So, she came to me and said, “where’s Mason??”  It was so sweet!!  She was missing him.  I told her he was home with Mommy and Daddy.  She was fine then.

After church and lunch, I took her to Nana and Papaw’s a bit before taking her home.  She ran around in the yard and even ran out in the field.  I had to chase her down.  Then I took her to the creek.  By the time we got ready to leave, she was tired and sleepy.  She fell asleep shortly after we started home.

 

 

 

She is hold the bear Nana gave her.  It plays Christmas music and Haley loved it. 

 

The closer I got to the exit the more I felt like bawling.  I had enjoyed so much having her and didn’t want to take her home.  I started being so sad about them living so far from us.  When I got off on the exit, and rode over the rough pavement to slow you down, she started waking.

 

 

When we pulled into the complex, she knew she was home.  Nikki met us at the top of the stairs.   She was dying to see her baby!!  Haley was happy to see her Mommy too.  I didn’t stay long because I needed to get back for church.  I was afraid Haley may cry when I left, but she didn’t.  It made me so happy.  As I was driving back I felt more peaceful. 

Nikki texts me and sends me pics a lot during the week.  I love it because it lets me know what they are doing. Here are some of the pictures and cute things Haley says that she has sent me recently.

Mason’s sweet smiling face:

   

Look at those fat little legs.

His serious look.

  

Nikki texted  Haley just asked me where Mason’s eyebrows are and I told her they were just really light.  So she asked Mason “where you eyebrows Masy why are they light?”

 

Talking

He loves to stretch his legs when taking a bottle.

Mason doesn’t know what to think about cereal. lol

Nikki texted something sweet….Mason had to get shots yesterday and Haley gets all upset when she see his boo boo bandaid and has to kiss them.  She hugs and pets on him.  She does baby talk to him.  She is so sweet and empathetic.

          

Tatooed Haley… she loves them.  Nikki says she is either a biker babe or a pirate.

One day Nikki texted Oh my goodness I forgot to tell you..after I got Mason settled back down around six this morning Haley crawled in my bed….After moving in to cuddle her I realized she was stark naked!!!  I think she woke up right after I laid him down and did not like her wet diaper.  It was so so funny though.  She cracks me up.

Nikki texted  She is so funny.  she put on my shoes, got my keys, got Mason’s carseat, dragged it to him and said “ok guys come with Mommy to the store

Blowing me a kiss.

Nikki texted  she fussed at Andrew last night for “booping” her nose when she only wanted to boop his.  AND he got her the wrong bowl for her goldfish. lol He really got it good!

I asked Andrew about it later and he said she told him “Don’t. Boop. Haley’s. Nose!!!”  Hahahahaha

And finally, a while back Andrew and Nikki bought a new car. 

Nikki needed something easier to get the kids in and out of.  It is soooo nice!  Thank God for His blessings!!!!

Ok, I’m off of here.  I need to hurry to bed since I have to take care of Mom tomorrow.  May God bless all my family and friends!

Yesterday I went back to take care of Mom.  I had been off for nine days.  It was wonderful to be off, but awful to be sick.  I felt like I had so much patience and strength after being off and resting.  By that night, I was reeeally tired.  When she was washing out her mouth after supper, it took forever.  She would let the water dribble out of her mouth so slow.  I just had to stand and wait on her.  I honestly started to sweat.  I could feel moisture on my upper lip.  I am going thru menopause anyway and I thought, “this must be a hotflash.”    No matter what, we try to never ever let her know we are frustrated.  In fact, all during the day I am saying “good job, Mama”, “that’s great”, “you are doing really good”, etc.  I try to show her love and kindness.  She truly deserves it.  I love her beyond words, but I hate this disease. 

Yesterday morning Mary and her kids came by to visit Mom and Dad. 

(my pic is blurry because there was dust on my camera lens)

Mom was so precious!!  She loves the grandkids.  She put Jess and Liz’s hand to her cheek and then kissed it.  She couldn’t get near Matt cause Mary thought he was getting sick.  We all enjoyed their visit.  After they left, I layed Mom down for her nap.

She rested for about an hour and then I took her to lunch.  My brother came that afternoon.  I get to see my brothers more often now that we take care of Mom.  I have three brothers and three sisters.  We coulda’ used some more girls.

Last night after supper I dusted their bedroom and the spare room really good.  Then I vacuumed the house.  I also washed the dishes and vacuumed the kitchen, as usual.  I try to get their whole house cleaned over the course of the month.  This month I was a little late because I was sick.  Martha and Mary also help with their washing, vacuuming and other stuff.  We all help in different ways.

Just about every day Nikki sends me cute pictures of the babies.  She sent me the best pictures yesterday!!  Mason looks like such a big boy!

He turns three months old in three days.  Seeing these pics just makes me want to hold him.  I love him so, so much! Here he is in his seat.

I love seeing how little babies curl their toes. 

I see pictures of them and I think, “wow, they are really growing”.  And I just saw them last week!!  They change quickly.

There is nothing I like better than to see their smiling faces. 

She sent the most adorable ones of Haley wearing her shoes.     

       

Isn’t that just the cutest thing?!!  Hahaha  You know my grandma heart loves it!

 

Today was “early release” for Ryan’s school.  Those that have grades C or above (I think) are allowed to go home early.  I picked up Matt since Mary was staying with Mom.  We went by to get the guys a pizza before coming home.  When we got home Matt said, “Susan, do you have any of those cookies you make?”  Ahhh, that boy thrills my heart!  I said, “I am going to make you some.”  I had already planned on it actually.  It makes me happy that he loves the cookies I make.  I make these cookies for Ryan probably once a week.  They have peanut butter and oats in them, so I feel like they are a little bit healthier than other cookies.  I don’t even have to use the recipe because I have made them so many times.  I let Matt have as many as he wanted.

Matt is very good at math and helps Ryan with Geometry when he needs it.  Today Matt played video games while Ryan did his math work.

Ryan LOVES his picture taken–not!! 

Tonight Ryan and I went to church.  We had not been on Wednesday night in a long time.  On the way, we were discussing him marching in the Veteran’s Day Parade Friday.  Ryan is in the JROTC and they are marching.  I have to take care of Mom that day, but Mark has taken off from work.  Ryan asked me to try to get his dad not to go.  I said, “yes, I want him to go and take pictures.”    Ryan hates any attention brought to himself.  He says, “I’m not letting you (Dad) take my picture.”  I told him yes he would!!!  He said, ” well, he can take one but that is all.”  Ahhh poor guy!  If Mark gets a lot of good pictures I will post them.  But, we won’t tell Ryan.

 

I am so thankful for my blessings.  I am so thankful we live in a free country to worship God as we please.  May we all fall on our faces in prayer asking God for mercy on our country.  I really feel convicted that I had not prayed more for the Presidential election.  I am concerned about the future of my kids and grandkids.  May God help us all to call on Him. 

 

 

 

 

 

Last month I went with Nikki and the babies to the pumpkin patch where Nikki’s dad works.  He is actually retired, so this is a wonderful place to spend his days. 

It was a beautiful fall day.

 

When I got there they were sitting with Nikki’s dad eating lunch.  I took Mason out of his seat to give him a bottle and Haley got in it.  She put his passy in her mouth.

I got so tickled (inside).  I thought maybe it seems to her that Mason has the best time and she wanted to see what it was like??  She didn’t stay there long.  It is too much fun to be able to run and play.

As soon as they finished, we went on a wagon ride.  Nikki’s dad drove the tractor.

It was so enjoyable.  I loved seeing Haley enjoy the ride.

          

I got several sweet pictures of her talking to Nikki about it.

         

   

   

When we got to the pumpkin patch, everyone hunted for their perfect pumpkin.  Haley had a blast!! 

    

       

 

   

The pumpkin was almost too heavy for her to carry. 

            

Ahhhh she is so happy with her pumpkin.

          

Papaw helped her look for pumpkin flowers. 

   

She took it to Mommy and Mason and let them smell the flower.

   

   

She gave Mommy a sweet kiss.  How precious.

She was ready to rest when she got back to the wagon. That was a lot of work!

Then we rode to pet the goats. 

   

I got to hold my little sweethearts.

I held Mason while Nikki took Haley to feed the goats.

    

Haley reaches waaaaay down to get some feed.  I love this pic!

Yummy!

Haley got to sit on Papaw’s tractor.

Then it was back to the beginning of the patch.

   

It was so enjoyable to spend the day at the pumpkin patch with them.  We were all tired when we left.  Nikki let me take the babies to my house for the evening and she went to see her friends.  Mary and Liz came over to see them.

        

Thank God that he allowed me to spend a wonderful day with my grandbabies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween Andrew, Nikki, Haley, and baby Mason came up for the day.  Nikki wanted Haley to be able to spend Halloween with family. Ryan and I watched the babies so Andrew and Nikki could go see a movie.  With Andrew working long hours, they have so little time for just the two of them.  It was so wonderful spending time with the babies.  Ahhh… being a grandmother is the best.  Mason is growing and cooing more every day.  It feels wonderful to hold him in my arms.  Haley talks up a storm and repeats everything we say.

She loves when I tease with her.  When it was time to get her to sleep, I held her in my arms singing to her while I slightly bounced her on the side of the bed.  I don’t have a rocking chair although I really need one.  Anyway, she was bouncing herself trying to help me bounce.  I stopped and I pointed to her saying (teasingly)  “yooooouuu are not supposed to be rocking.  Iiiiiiii am supposed to be rocking.”  She would get so tickled showing the cute little dimple.  Then, of course, she tried to bounce all the more so I would tease her about it.  Needless to say, she never went to sleep.  I have plans to get a rocking chair.  Nikki said she slept in the car on the way here tho’. 

Mason slept wonderful in his swing.  He is the most precious little guy!!!  Martha and Jared came to see them and they didn’t even get to hold Mason because he slept the whole time.  Ryan got to see and hold Mason.  He is really wonderful helping with the babies.

Andrew and Nikki came back and ate supper.  I fixed chicken casserole, veggies, and rolls.  Haley ate wonderful for lunch and supper. Yay!!  Then Nikki dressed her in her costume.

When Nikki finished dressing her, she looked at me and said, “cheeeeese”. 

She was so cute and posed for some pictures.  It really surprised me because a lot of times she gets tired of having her picture taken.  Of course I was thrilled!

         

 

That  dimple just melts my heart.

This is the cute back of the costume.

I tell ya, that is the cutest little ladybug I have ever seen!

I loved them being here.  I was sick and tried to be very careful not to get them sick.  Haley and I were singing the Barney song and I told her she couldn’t kiss me cause I was sick.  I got so tickled at her because later, Nikki was pretending Haley’s dog was kissing her, Mason, and me.  When she got to me Haley said, “No!! Grandma’s sick!” hahaha  Oh, and now my name is Grandma.  Every once in a while she will say Gookee, but mostly Grandma. 

They left shortly after supper to go to Martha’s house.  They loved seeing her!!  Andrew told me they later went to the park and Haley had her face painted.  How cool!!!  Haley had a wonderful time.  I really miss them being near, so I have to enjoy every single minute I have with them.