25 October 2014

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!




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

12 comments:

NanaDiana said...

Tia- He is just darling!!!! What a precious boy and I am so glad that you got to spend time with him. I am sorry they live so far away and I bet you WON'T be visiting in winter!

God bless that baby boy- he's special and you can tell he loves his Grammy! xo Diana

Seawashed said...

What a wonderful Grammy heart post! He is the sweetest and I can see in his eyes that he loves you. Your daughters home is soooooo cute. Ahhh the charm of the Midwest. We lived for almost 2 yrs in Kansas City area...the countryside. Loved it but missed the Northern California Coast terribly. Like severe homesickness, so we came back. We cried the entire drive through the Sierra Nevada on our way HOME. So happy you got to go visit! xxo

Heaven's Walk said...

You are the most adorable grammy ever, Tia! :) I could just feel the love you have for your family through those darling pics. Finn is just such a cutie patootie! I'm glad that you were blessed with some wonderful days with them all and that it won't be too long before you can wrap your arms around them again!

xoxo laurie

Margaret (Peggy or Peg too) said...

Oh my goodness is Finn ever yummy!!!!!

:-)

Unknown said...

Finn is adorable! I wish my children's grandmother would spend time like that with my them. What a gift! And the red leaves on the bush - wow!

carol daniels said...

What a great idea... Sensory Board. I might have to pass that one along. Family time and making memories is what living is all about! I enjoyed your post. Visiting from Mama Kats.

Anonymous said...

Little humans are so darn cute! Love the idea of the sensory board. I may have to steal it :)

kayerj said...

What a little cutie and what a good idea on the sensory board. I might have to borrow it. Stopping by from mama kats kelley at the road goes ever ever on

KatBouska said...

Awww, sad that they have to live so far away, but what an amazing visit you had. And that sensory board is BRILLIANT!!!

cat said...

Oh I love that sensory board! Looks like the most special visit

Unknown said...

Oh Tia! what a joyous story of love! I like that sensory board--great idea. I knew it wouldn't take long for Fin to fall for your sweet face. Sometimes, they take a while to warm up to strangers, even if it is someone related in the best way. That one day change will last forever. He's yours now!!!!
Rosemary

Jane said...

What a sweet post, really enjoyed the photos and the text :-))