What A Difference A Day Makes

As most of you blog friends and family know by now, my youngest has moved to Illinois so that she and her husband can finish school.  He has a Volleyball scholarship, so no transferring to the sunny side for them!  Oh how I miss their smiling (and not so smiling) faces.

After a VERY long trip - changing planes three times, layovers, and a car ride; hubs and I made it from our cottage by the sea, to our daughter's house, in a little town in Illinois, USA.  We had been waiting so long to see this little guy.  I got to sit in the back of the car, right beside my newest grandson.  The conversation went a bit like so. "Em, hey Finn.  Sup?  Grammy missed you so much buddy."  All this in my best octave for kid talk.  I smiled and smiled and talked and talked to my little guy.  And do you see that face?  That look was what I got for the twenty minute ride back to my daughter's house.  Do you think he didn't remember me or, I just look that much worse now?

 

It was so much fun to watch the leaves changing.  Those of us who live in So California miss out on that wonderful season of Autumn.  It seemed like every day I looked down the street, there was more yellow and orange and red.  Amazing and beautiful to see the plants and trees turn jewel toned colors.  I can definitely see the allure of living where there are seasons.  Even though this wimp went around wearing long sleeves, socks,  a sweater and a jacket the entire time.  You'd have thought I was back in Ireland for pete's sake, and it's not even winter yet!

It was a whirl-wind tour, but we fit in a trip to the pumpkin patch and a hay ride.  We went to a fun street fair and a car show.  Lots of fried food was consumed (which I am still recovering from).  I find that in the mid west they fry everything, even chicken.  I don't know what's up with that but it sure tastes good!

 Finn got to ride on a saddle at "The Roadhouse Grill".  I really think they should reconsider their name.  "The Roadhouse Fry" anyone?  Ride 'em cowboy!

Eating makes Finn very happy.  Apparently much happier than sitting in the back seat of the car with his Grammy.  And he LOVED the Pumpkin Patch.

Told you I'd make you smile.  In my humble opinion, going to see your grandson and taking him to his first pumpkin patch, is better than a trip to Hawaii!

 We got to go on a hay ride.  For free.  Nothing's free back in Cali!

Seriously?  Pumpkin guts? 
 Man I'm glad that kid can't talk yet, aren't you?

These are Maggie and Ian's creations.  Pretty fantastic.  Finn wasn't even remotely impressed with the end result either.  Maybe next year?

Then it was tubby time, and all week I got to be the sole proprietress of tubby time.  See that smile?  That was just for me!

I think I won him over with tubby time.  Be still my heart.

Then we went to Home Depot and the Dollar Store to get all sorts of goodies that babies love but, don't usually get to play with.  Such as, the toilet paper roll.  Night lights, door stops, locks, switches, and velcro that you can stick stuff to.  Papa Mac attached everything to a board.  He and Ian screwed it into the wall in Finn's room and wallah!  A sensory board just for him.

Our little granddaughter Rebecca may or may not be getting one of these for Christmas.  Shhhhhh.

The Sensory Board!

This was the most fun trip.  I taught my grandson to drive.
With two steering wheels!  Grammy's are fun like that.

Then, before we knew it, before we were ready for it; it was time for us to leave.  Leave our baby girl, her new hubby and our wee grandson.  The leaving was a tiny bit easier though, knowing that they live in this darling little cottage, with a bedroom just waiting for us to come to next time. 

From this:

To this.

What a difference a day makes!

Bye, Bye, Buddy.  Until we see you here at the cottage for Thanksgiving - the surf's the best then!  L O V E

GRAMMY and PAPA MAC

Blessings,

Tia

Our Forever and Ever Party

Maggie and Ian's wedding reception.

"What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.
Now lets party!!!

Maggie chose Crepes and Fruit Salad for her luncheon.  This guy took over my kitchen with his Crepe Station.  I love it when that happens.  The pups (far right floor) helped clean up.

Our front garden was where we feasted.  It was a perfect summer day. 

Abigail Rose was Maggie's stubborn little flower girl.  Just as Maggie stood her ground at three and refused to wear her wreath
of flowers at her sisters wedding, Abby declined to wear hers. What goes around, comes around. Oh well, they
are both beautiful as they stand alone.

Bare feet are the best feet.

Maggie's Godmother gave her this beautiful Rosary which, we wrapped into her wedding bouquet.

"Hey, watcha got there Ferb?"

I bought these little quilted hearts just to leave out on the coffee table for my grand babies to play
with.  It's amazing the use they get!  These photos stand on their own.  Finnegan and Rebecca, aka Phineas and Ferb.

"Grammy's Coasters.  Wanna play?"

"You're my hero Finn"

"What can I say? That old lady has pretty good taste in Coasters."

Maggie had her cake made at VG's Donut shop.  Did I ever mention that donuts are her favorite food?  Ian's aunt sewed these squares that we used on the cake table.  Now she has put them together as a quilt for their bed.  How cool is that?

The menu.  It was a sweet and savory day, just like it says.

Ah, my heart melts.  My eldest son, my eldest daughter, my youngest granddaughter and my pup.
This is what life is all about.  This is what makes my soul sing.  My family.  This is how I have been blessed.

Finn in his favorite place.  His mama's arms.

Now I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to show off a few of my grandchildren.  Oh the cuteness!

Napkin rings make fabulous rings for beautiful little girls as well.

A sneak peek through an open window.

My son-in-law Justin, propped himself right here next to the beverages.  I'm sure he was just guarding them?  Check out the smile.  Perfectly innocent.

At last the time had come.  Every good party has an ending and we were all tuckered out.

A few of us may have even been a little cranky.

So, we bid our newlyweds adieu, and off they went on their honeymoon.  Where to you ask?The beach of course!

Mr. and Mrs. Lawson and their son Finn.
We wish you all the love your hearts can hold.
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.


And now these three remain:  faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Thanks for sharing some of my most special moments.

Blessings,

Tia