Summer Time!

Kourtnie has been in horse camp this past week while Launa has been taking swimming lessons. Anthony was in horse camp too but in Simi Valley with his dad so I didn't get any pictures.

Kourtnie loves the horses and hasn't even minded the over 100 degree weather in Ojai as long as she got to hang out with her new favorite animals. I tried to get to the camp in time to get pictures of her riding but they did it earlier. I think Kourtnie believes she's a new 'horse whisperer'. She would tell me every day about the special connection she had with different horses and how she and the horse could understand each other. I'm really happy she's having so much fun.

Launa took to swimming better than we thought she would. Last summer she wouldn't get off of the step in our pool. On Mother's Day this year she ventured out a little farther but still didn't want to try anything. The first day of swimming she went right in with the teacher and every day did exactly what the teacher told her to do. She even jumped in to the teacher. It was great!

He's All Wet!

Last Saturday we had a pool party for Kourtnie's birthday. Happy Birthday Kourtnie! Glenn went outside to hose off the patio, take the cover off of the pool and get things ready. I heard a knock on the window so looked outside. Glenn was standing there fully clothed, shoes and all....dripping wet. He had been walking next to the pool reading the ingredients on the can of his energy drink and stepped right into the pool. I wish I'd been outside with the video camera. I always tell him those energy drinks are addicting, I guess they're just dangerous. Ha!

I ran outside and took his picture. His first question, "This isn't going on your blog, is it?" Now what else would I do with it? :)
Happy Birthday Kourtnie! This was one of her favorite gifts. Samantha, an American Girl.

Christmas Baking

I don't do a lot of baking for the holidays. A little a here, a little there. Glenn & I teach a Sunday School class- 16,17 & 18yr old students. We asked them what kind of Christmas lesson they wanted this year. Before we could even talk about a lesson they wanted to put in their orders for goodies. I promised their favorites: chocolate chip cookies, snicker doodles and milk.

Launa & I spent all day Friday baking. Once Kourtnie got home from school she helped us finish. We ended up with dozens and dozens of cookies. Anthony, Kourtnie and Launa wanted to know if it was ALL for the teenagers at church. Ha! Do you really think my grandkids weren't going to get any of these cookies?
I was surprised to learn that Kourtnie and Launa had never heard of Snicker Doodles. They loved rolling the dough and covering them with the cinnamon/sugar.

Rolling the dough.

Afternoon with the Grandkids

The kids got out of school early each day this week. Today Launa didn't want to nap at preschool so I picked her up early too. It's always a contest between Anthony & Kourtnie to see who gets to the computer first. Anthony and his friends won today. Kourtnie was bored so I got out the bucket of paints and crafts from the shelf while Launa was napping. After Launa's nap she decided to paint too.

I took this picture of Anthony with our next door neighbors Ian & Spencer 3 times. I couldn't get Spencer or Ian to smile. Boys! Anthony's grown up with a camera in my hands. He knows it's just better to turn and smile for grandma because she's not going to go away.

Kourtnie worked hard on this pretty box for her mom. She was able to finish it before Erika got home from work.

Launa tried just about every color we had. She was pretty good about not getting it on herself except her hands. My floor was another story. Ha!

Halloween

The morning of Halloween in the middle of my workout Erika called me. Launa attends the preschool where Erika works. The kids were going to start their Halloween parade in 45 minutes and Erika wasn't going to be able to get out of her classroom to walk with Launa or take pictures. "Mom?" I finished my workout, washed up a bit, threw some halfway presentable clothes on and rushed to the school, camera in hand. It was worth it! Launa looked so adorable as Ariel the Mermaid. (grandma's not prejudice)

Launa had fun parading through the convalescent home and then the doctor's buildings where the kids were given candy from the nurses and a toothbrush from the dentist. She looked so cute walking around in her mermaid costume and holding her wand.

Poor Launa! The hem of her costume ripped and it kept getting caught on her shoe during the entire walk. But she was a trooper and didn't want to be held. I took the costume home and fixed it before the evening trick or treating. I had also done a little bit of alterations on Kourtnie's costume and some mending for Erika earlier this week. Erika called me her "personal seamstress" as I left the school. It's good to be needed. :)

The back of Launa as she was parading through the hospital.
Launa and her best friend Amber sitting with the rest of the kids.
That night Erika and I took the kids trick or treating to one of the busiest neighborhoods in Ojai.

Anthony wore his football uniform.
Kourtnie the Indian.
Launa as Ariel.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

These are the beautiful roses Glenn sent to me today. I'm so lucky. What a wonderful husband!!!!

My first blog!

I've finally done it. This is my blog. Elisa came over today and helped me set this up. I promised her that I'd post something tonight. Gee....what do I say? My life isn't that exciting.
We started a bathroom remodel this week. I guess I could show you pictures. Nah, maybe later.
I decided that for my first entry you would see pictures of my grandkids. Why? Because it's all about the kids. Anthony's football games every Saturday, helping in Kourtnie's classroom every Thursday and babysitting Launa every Tuesday & Friday. Of course those are just the 'planned' things. I found out today that I get to take Launa to the pumpkin patch on Friday with her preschool class. Way fun!
Okay, let's see if I can remember how Elisa said to post pictures in here.

My grandkids:Anthony- Age 11

Kourtnie- Age 8

Launa- Age 3

Aren't they the cutest kids you've ever seen? Well if you stop by here often enough you'll be seeing a lot more of them.