A little Family Time

One of the nice things about our family is that it is pretty big and provides lots of opportunities to see different people at different times in different places.  We are spread out all over this country from Florida to Minnesota to California to Philadelphia to Alaska and numerous places in between.  This last weekend Tracy (our niece) from Springdale Arkansas and her daughter Jess from Anchorage, Alaska came for a weekend visit.  We get to see Tracy so seldom and having her and Jess come to the house was a real treat.  And when out of towners come in, we gather those around us to join in.  Kelly came down from Bluffton, OH (Tracy's younger sister who got to see her first) and her daughter, Shelby, a student at University of Cincinnati, joined us (and of course her boyfriend Aaron) along with Sarah, Deseree, Anthony, Marianne, Reeder, Hayes, Weiler, Michael and Liz. Didn't take long before we had a crowd!

Tracy was the first born of our nieces to my oldest brother Bill.  The last time we were together was at Bill's funeral last summer, a sad and difficult time for all of us.  Consequently, we were so pleased that Tracy spent a little time with us here in Cincinnati last week.

Tracy

Tracy, Jess and our newest family member, Weiler -Clint and Marianne's new son.  Jess took an immediate liking to Weiler and he seemed to feel the same way. You just can't beat cuddling with a beautiful baby boy!


Our Niece Kelly from Bluffton!

Reeder and her MOM, Marianne

One thing about 5 year old girls these days (actually little girls have loved "dress up" as long as there has been "little girls!) seems to the fascination with Princesses, especially those popularized by Disney.  And of  course if you happen to have a supply of costumes and a little time to spend before dinner, then what could be better than to dress up as Princess.  Reeder was our first Princess!

But it didn't take long before all our girls were dressing up as a Princess.  Reeder provided the creative design! First came Marianne...

And then there was Princess Tracy...

Followed by Princess Kelly. And Kelly is of course her usual serious self...

And Princess Shelby wasn't spared...

And of course why not make little brother Weiler into a princess...

But the best part of the whole evening was just getting together with family, as many as could come.  And we missed the others- others that couldn't be here from Philly and Chicago and Saint Paul and Florida and Oklahoma and Afghanistan.  We're hoping to see each of them sometime this summer though probably smaller groups- and look forward to having everyone together in October to celebrate Amber and Evan's wedding.

"T" is for "Tea" and for "Train"

Though we've missed Clint so much these past months while he is deployed in Afghanistan, we have so enjoyed having Marianne and our beautiful grandchildren, Reeder, Hayes and Weiler, so very close.  There is such joy in sharing the day-to-day.... And the special days... Wild dinners when everyone comes.... And quiet days when it's just one grandchild and two doting grandparents.  Clint comes home at the end of May- and it can't get here quick enough for all of us- and especially for Marianne and our beautiful babies- though we will miss having them so close. 
(Last night I was talking with Reeder about being sad- and I said that perhaps sometimes she feels sad.  She quickly responded that yes- first she said quite loudly that she is sad when she fights with her brother, then her voice got very, very quiet- almost a whisper- and she looked up at me and said, "I'm sad when I am missing my Daddy..." )
So Clint just can't get here quick enough to suit all of us on this side of the world.

But as I said- having Marianne and our babes so close means that when it comes time for a birthday we're all just across town- and arranging a day just with the "birthday babe" and us is really quite easy.  For Reeder it was a tea party- For Hayes it was trains. 

We made reservations to celebrate Reeder's birthday at The Bonbonerie Cafe!  We knew she was in for a real treat.  I have to say that this was my first "Tea" and little did I realize just how formal one of these occasions can be.  But in reality, what can be better than your own pot of tea and the three plate tier of fruit and scones, finger sandwiches (PBJ for Reeder) and fancy desserts all served on nice china dishes.

And she was!

And of course there was tea- well actually tea for Don and me- hot chocolate for our birthday girl!

Notice how very "correctly" she holds her little pinky!

Sometimes Reeder would remind Grandpa to hold his pinky out just right- but I think more often than not Grandpa would just forget!

But Reeder didn't mind that Grandpa just sometimes forgets important things like that!

And of course, what's a birthday without birthday presents!

Ahhhhhh success....  Yes, Reeder did again hit the Barbie jackpot.

Now as you might imagine the finer point of just exactly how to hold your pinky when drinking tea would be completely lost- and I mean completely lost- on our little redheaded Hayes.  Hayes is the best example of a "bull in a china shop" as we have in our little tribe! And besides- Hayes knew exactly where he wanted to spend his birthday!  This is a boy who knows his mind.  So it was off to the Trains at the Entertrainment Junction, the world's largest indoor model train display!  Now it's not that Hayes has never been to the Train Museum before- it's always his first choice of what we do when he spends his day with Grama and Grandpa.  But for Hayes birthdays are about favorite things- besides- I'd told him that on his birthday we'd actually STOP at the toy shop and he could pick out his very own birthday present! (PS- Have you noticed how very cleverly all children's museums, gardens etc conveniently place the "gift" shop such that you HAVE to walk through in order to get out... Just noticing....)  EnterTRAINment Junction is really an impressive place if you like scale model train displays.  There are trains of all ages from the old steam locomotives to modern subways running under the city and visible through little viewing portals.  There are passanger trains, coal trains, log trains, boxcar trains, trollys, subways, and light rail trains all moving through impressive landscapes, cities and work sites.

So it was off to the TRAINS with Hayes.

And of course we had plenty of time at the play area...

Now if you're wondering how difficult it is for a 3 year old to pick how THE PERFECT TOY- well let me tell you- It's very difficult!  And if you might be wondering how long it might take this 3 year old to pick out THE PERFECT TOY- well- a very long time! But success was obtainable- and Hayes did find THE PERFECT TOY!  Drum roll please....

a Playmobil-Road-Maintenance-Truck-Construction complete with a snow plow and salt spreader- and what Hayes called "rocks" which according to the insert were actually "salt". We thought after Hayes very first winter in Cincinnati this was quite the appropriate choice!

The afternoon was spent with Hayes supervising Grandpa in the "construction" of the Road Maintenance Truck.  Don't think Grandpa could have done it without him!  I must say I was somewhat surprised that this truck came in pieces with several sheets of paper instructions for putting it together.  This was the IKEA version of toys.

PERFECT DAY!

A Trip South Part 2: Niceville is, well Niceville is Nice, Really Nice!

Our final stop was up in the western panhandle of Florida in Niceville, Florida. Will was transferred from Las Vegas, Nevada to Niceville, Florida so Brandy and Mikayla tagged along.  This was our first trip to see them.

Now first- location, location, location!  Niceville is just north across the Choctawhatchee Bay from Destin, Florida- and of course the Gulf of Mexico and it sits on the southern edge of  Eglin Air Force Base.   And well- Niceville is just really, really nice.  It's filled with great schools, charming neighborhoods, and plenty of OLD TREES!  That said- it is NOT south where it is WARM in the winter.  So though it certainly isn't COLD like Cincinnati, it is not that BEACH experience one might imagine for Florida in February.  Why it gets down in the 30s at night!  And I consider that pretty close to COLD.

But we didn't go to Niceville for the weather- or a walk on the beach- though I'm sure we'll have opportunities for those beach strolls on later visits.  But this visit was all about Brandy, Will and MIKAYLA!  That said this blog is going to be mostly pictures of MIKAYLA- though occasionally she is accompanied by her mother- or her father- or her grandmother.  WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! 

Now we spent much time playing with the kitchen set that was stowed in the back of the "traveling minivan" with the bicycles.  Things were just a wee bit cramped! At least we only hauled the hugh kitchen set box about 2000 miles before extracting it and assembling the new kitchen.  But Mikayla loved the kitchen set and I got served amazing meals- and of course tea- multiple times every day!

And then there was the trip to the library!  And let me tell you- this was not her first trip!  She did know her way around and quickly found plenty of books to read with and without me!

And as is obvious below, she knew some of these books by heart including all of the actions that go with them.

Including even the yawnnnnn

And of course there was a trip to the park.  Might I mention that Mikayla LOVES the slide!  And her Mommy even took a trip down once!

And if you're with Mikayla you always have to pause for a snack!

And then one evening we all went out to eat across the Bay to a restaurant right on the BEACH!

And a highlight for me is one long afternoon (2 and 1/2 hours) when Mikayla took her nap while I rocked her!  Now that is one beautiful way to spend an afternoon!

But most of the time we just "hung out" and enjoyed this beautiful granddaughter and her wonderful Mommy and Daddy!