Monday, July 19, 2010

Monday Memories - Odds and Ends

the mess continues . . . 

On Friday Ande, Grace, Cali, and I took a road trip to Monroe, Washington.  Our friend Donna had planned a scrapbooking day and invited us to come.  We had a grand time.  I discovered die cuts.  Oh, I’ve known about them for a long time but didn’t think they fit me.  I was so wrong.  They’re fast, easy, clear cut.  I whizzed through a project thanks to die-cuts.  It was fun to spend time with the girls and friends.  Really fun.  We came home to Cali's house and set everything back up, so the mess continues . . . 

Charlotte and Jay

Saturday night Calvin, Ray, Cali, Grace, Ande, and I drove down to the other corner of the state to attend a wedding open house for Calvin’s niece.  Charlotte and Jay, Calvin’s sister and her husband, live in Ohio so we seldom see them.  It was great spending a few hours with them.  They’re funny, happy, and animated.  Jay started telling old memories to the kids – like the time we put him on one of the horses and he lost his stirrups and the reins.  The more his legs flapped, the faster the horse ran.  The horse finally dumped Jay and we spent a long time looking for his dropped wallet.  It held all their trip cash.  They needed that wallet.  Every family needs a Jay. 

Charlotte and Calvin

Calvin and Charlotte enjoyed catching up. We enjoyed watching them catch up.

Ande and Grace

Ande loves to poke Clara so that she will kick and play with her.  The other day Cali asked Grace if Clara sleeps at night.  Grace said, “Sometimes she plays a lot, but sometimes she just plays quietly with her hands or her ear and lets me sleep.  She likes to fiddle with her ear.”  Grace says it in the funniest tone while she twiddles her fingers and imitates the baby.  Once when Calvin was reciting a Gunsmoke jingle about Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty, Grace put her hands over her stomach and said, “I’m covering Clara’s ears so she can’t hear you.”  Clara shouldn't hear such things says Grace.

three hours and a dollar's worth of gumballs – the cheapest shopping trip ever

Cali, Grace, and I are spending the week together at Cali’s house in Seattle.  Everyone else has a job that needs them.  Sometimes it’s nice not to be needed.  Today we went shopping.  We went into this little odds and ends store where Cali showed me some tiny little glass animals – hedgehogs, dogs, mice, donkeys, alligators.  We were pointing out each new discovery when I said, “This reminds me of shopping for little mouse figurines with Grandma Julia.  She would take us out to dinner at the hotel they owned and then let us pick out a little mouse from the display case after dinner.” 

Cali squealed and said, “Really?!”

I said, “Yup.”

She said, “Oh good!  I have checked all over trying to find mouse figurines so I could recreate that memory for you.  I couldn’t find any, but I did find these little glass things so I brought you here.  But, I started feeling really stupid when we came in the store because these aren’t like those at all.  I’m SO glad this reminded you of your grandma.  That’s what I was hoping for.” 


I gave her a big kiss on the cheek and then picked out the teensy, tiny fly.  Cali wondered where I would put it.  That’s a mind bender for it needs to be a place safe from Calvin.  He does not like flies.  I don’t like them either, but I don’t conduct a safari hunt when one buzzes by.    



We have a running game of dominoes going - once again, the loser must buy milkshakes at the end of the week.  Cali was skunking us all bad.  She started to do her Indian war whoop.  The very next game she tallied 334 points, she only got to lay two dominoes the whole round.  So much for whooping.  Ray and I are no longer in serious danger of coughing up milkshake money.  

12 comments:

Jill said...

Your family is so adorable, I'm smitten with all of you!

Can you believe I've never played dominoes?

Julie said...

What fun to be with Cali for the week! I agree, no job is a great life when you can get it. I love that Steve wants me to stay home. I love that I can be flexible. It's a great blessing. I love that Grace covers Clara's ears for her. What a good mom. I also love your new fly. (Don't show Jake either, he's my fly getter)

michelle said...

Grace is the most darling pregnant woman!

I could hardly get through this post for being so sad that we missed each other...

Unknown said...

Oh Jane, you are blessed - fun to keep up with you all. When are we going to do it in person??? I'm sure the world will slow down enough soon . . .

Elizabeth said...

How fun, I can't wait to spend time like that with my momma. Hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Alisa said...

We are going to adopt the domino tradition here.

I need a scrapbook getaway!

I love how Grace talks about Clara.

Derek-Jenny-Kaitlynd-Ethan-Dylan said...

Thank you for showing the adorable pictures of Gracey and her cute belly. She looks so beautiful.

Looks like you guys are keeping busy!

Derek-Jenny-Kaitlynd-Ethan-Dylan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ande said...

Oh I so wish I was with you guys today. I sure love you guys.

mommar said...

Oh, how i wish I was there with you! It is too quiet here with the wedding over and all the kids and their kids gone--too lonely!It was sooooo wonderful to have you guys come down for the reception. I loved catching up with the girls (you too Ray) and LOVED being with my big brother (every girl needs one like him!Oh, if we ony lived closer....

Have some fun for me!! Love to you all!

Anonymous said...

So glad that you got away and are having an awesome time!

Lynn said...

I so wish I were there with you. what fun. Except for the scrapbooking. I'm afraid I'd have to sew or read a book. Kiss the girls for me, too.