Girls and Grandparents
While Eric and Krystal enjoyed vacation time in New York City, Raina and Lola enjoyed vacation time with Mama Jo and Papa Bill in Nashville. We received daily reports of their activities from Mama Jo, which was a delightful surprise, and here they are in their entirety.
A Week with the Grandparents 2013
Sunday's report:
Then we went to the mall and looked around some there. We have not been to Opry Mills much since the flood in 2010 wiped the mall out. There are now a bunch of new stores plus lots of the ones that were there before. We had lunch at the food court and the girls seemed to enjoy that. You can about imagine the kind of stuff we had.
A Week with the Grandparents 2013
Sunday's report:
We
are glad you have arrived and are enjoying your visit there. We have
had a good day. The girls and I hung loose a while while Bill went to
work out. The girls asked for a snack, which developed into serving them
some spaghetti
and a meatball each. When Bill got home, we headed over to the Opryland
Hotel and walked around there for a little while looking at the plants
and the waterway and the crazy promotional stuff. There were some
dressed up characters and one tried to get Lola
to be friends. She would have nothing to do with him but Raina allowed
us to take a picture of her with him.
Then we went to the mall and looked around some there. We have not been to Opry Mills much since the flood in 2010 wiped the mall out. There are now a bunch of new stores plus lots of the ones that were there before. We had lunch at the food court and the girls seemed to enjoy that. You can about imagine the kind of stuff we had.
Next stop was at home for quiet time; they watched an Aladdin movie
and then it was off to the Abbottsford pool. We thought the water was a
little chilly, but the girls seemed to enjoy their time there. We
brought them back to the house and put them in
the jacuzzi for a bubble bath. They seemed to like that too. After they
played there awhile and then washed up, they got out and got dressed.
Bill cooked burgers on the grill and I steamed some corn on the cob.
Then it was time to wind down and go to bed. I think they were
pretty tired after our busy day; they did not fight bedtime. Tomorrow we
will make an attempt to wear them out again.
Both Raina and Lola have been most cooperative and seemed to enjoy the activities that we did. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Monday's Report:
We
had another full day today. We went to the Green Hills Library this
morning. Bill wanted to see the Civil War Display they have there and
the girls chose some books to bring home. Raina is pretty much finished
with one them already. After lunch we went out
to Radnor Lake and walked around the whole lake. Bill's GPS says it was
three miles. We did not carry any children at any time, but we did stop
at most of the benches along the way to rest and take pictures. We saw
turtles, an owl, some tiny frogs, a dragonfly
or so, a blue heron, a snail, and some worms. The girls seemed to enjoy
the outing and were ready for some downtown when we came home. After
watching "Return of Jafar", Bill took them to the "Y" to go swimming
while I cooked dinner. We had cashew chicken with
rice and broccoli and we also had fresh strawberries. I appreciate that
the girls do not complain about what we put before them. They have eaten
well and have said they like the food we have fixed for them. They met
the next door neighbors' dogs this evening
and enjoyed petting them. Anna, the bigger of the two dogs kept jumping
on Raina and licking her face but Raina said she liked it.
Tuesday's Report:
Early
this morning the girls did some paint with water and some sticker
pictures. We packed a lunch (peanut butter and jam sandwiches, carrot
and celery sticks, yogurt, apple slices, cheese and crackers, and Girl
Scout cookies) and went out to Percy Priest
Lake in search of a picnic table. After some fumbling around we found a
nice table right by the lake and had our lunch. We saw a pair of ducks,
and a blue heron and also some minnows. Unfortunately, we also saw some
trash that previous picnickers had left.
We came back home and the girls watched a movie while Bill and I did
some things around the house...like work on dinner, etc. After the movie
we walked up to the Abbottsford pool and the girls enjoyed frolicking
in and around the pool. Then it was time to come
back to the house, put the girls into a quick bubble bath in the jacuzzi
and then get ready for dinner. Aunt Ginny arrived and we got into
Skyping with Stephanie. The neighbors' grandson (age 11) came over for
about 20 minutes and it got a little loud, but
Bill took on the referee duties and saved the house from destruction. I
think when you called was probably about the most zoo-like time of the
afternoon, but we all survived just fine.
Thursday's Report:
These days are just flying by with so much to do.
We started the day with paint with water, some building with blocks, some Guess Who and then a movie...The Lion King. Lola was a bit dismayed at the sad part near the end but I do think she enjoyed it. After lunch we drove out to the Brentwood Library (its near Ben Purser's house) and saw a show for kids. It was billed as The Balloon Kid, a magic and comedy show. There was a horde of kids there and the young man in charge was pretty good with the kids. He knew how to rev them up and he knew how to quiet them down. He made some really silly jokes and involved some kids from the audience. He made stuff with balloons and told more silly jokes. It lasted about 30 minutes and both the girls said they liked it. Then we went over to the playground and hung around there until it began to dribble on us. We were planning to take the girls to the pool but Patrick, the grandson of the next door neighbor, saw us drive up and wanted to play with the girls. It ended up that Patrick and Raina made lego projects and Bill took Lola to the pool at the Y. Everyone seemed happy with the arrangement. Patrick and Raina played and built lego things very well together and I understand Lola had a great time at the pool. Then we had dinner...tacos and pinto beans with chocolate pudding for dessert. After I cleaned up the kitchen we all took a stroll around Abbottsford "lake". Then the girls got ready for bed and I think they were probably asleep before their heads hit the pillow. I am practically comatose myself.
Raina has read all of her library books and has been raiding the bookcases here for more. She says she is finding books she wants to read. Lola enjoys being read to and also looks at books by herself. They are sweet girls and it has been fun having extended time with them.
We started the day with paint with water, some building with blocks, some Guess Who and then a movie...The Lion King. Lola was a bit dismayed at the sad part near the end but I do think she enjoyed it. After lunch we drove out to the Brentwood Library (its near Ben Purser's house) and saw a show for kids. It was billed as The Balloon Kid, a magic and comedy show. There was a horde of kids there and the young man in charge was pretty good with the kids. He knew how to rev them up and he knew how to quiet them down. He made some really silly jokes and involved some kids from the audience. He made stuff with balloons and told more silly jokes. It lasted about 30 minutes and both the girls said they liked it. Then we went over to the playground and hung around there until it began to dribble on us. We were planning to take the girls to the pool but Patrick, the grandson of the next door neighbor, saw us drive up and wanted to play with the girls. It ended up that Patrick and Raina made lego projects and Bill took Lola to the pool at the Y. Everyone seemed happy with the arrangement. Patrick and Raina played and built lego things very well together and I understand Lola had a great time at the pool. Then we had dinner...tacos and pinto beans with chocolate pudding for dessert. After I cleaned up the kitchen we all took a stroll around Abbottsford "lake". Then the girls got ready for bed and I think they were probably asleep before their heads hit the pillow. I am practically comatose myself.
Raina has read all of her library books and has been raiding the bookcases here for more. She says she is finding books she wants to read. Lola enjoys being read to and also looks at books by herself. They are sweet girls and it has been fun having extended time with them.
Friday's Report:
Today
started early. We rode the city bus downtown and went to a puppet show
at the downtown library at 9:30. There were two puppeteers who used
several different kinds of puppets to tell Aesop's Fables. It really was
cute and I know the girls enjoyed the show.
Then we walked down to lower Broadway where the CMA Fest (Fan Fair with a
new name) was going on. There were crowds and crowds and it was fun to
people watch. I wish I had a dollar for every young chick I saw with
shorts and boots on. My prediction is that
a lot of them are nursing big-time blisters tonight.
Everyone was hungry when we got back to the house so we had a quick lunch and then settled in to watch The Wizard of Oz. Later Bill took the girls to the "Y" for swimming while I fixed dinner. Then we read books and put some Lego kits back together again. The girls were ready to turn in so we tucked them in and said good-night.
The girls really liked your post-cards; what a good idea!
Tomorrow we will be collecting up stuff and trying to get ready for the trek on Sunday.
Everyone was hungry when we got back to the house so we had a quick lunch and then settled in to watch The Wizard of Oz. Later Bill took the girls to the "Y" for swimming while I fixed dinner. Then we read books and put some Lego kits back together again. The girls were ready to turn in so we tucked them in and said good-night.
The girls really liked your post-cards; what a good idea!
Tomorrow we will be collecting up stuff and trying to get ready for the trek on Sunday.
Saturday's Report:
Has
the week gone by already? It seems like it was just yesterday that the
girls were getting settled here. We had a fairly quiet day. We started
off by going to Dragon Park where the girls climbed on the serpent and
swung in the swings, and had a wild ride
on the seesaw. We had left over tacos for lunch and then then watched "
Snow White". We made our final visit to the pool at "The Y" and then had
dinner at home. Rosemary came over and enjoyed seeing the girls. Raina
has been helping to pack up the Legos by
putting the individual kits together. She is really good at it too. We
have been gathering up stuff and trying to get their belongings together
so that it will all get into the car tomorrow morning. We are using
your check list and hope to remember everything.
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