Week with the Grandkids, January 2014

Brent and Jessica have the Student Mobilization conference every year the first week in January. Gary and I start looking forward to keeping the kids months in advance. We always plan too much, have too much food, and just have too much fun. Our faces will hurt from laughing so much.

Bennett got a football outfit for Christmas from Ma and Granddad (that's us) but guess what we forgot? .... the mouthpiece! The first thing we had to do was go to Academy to find a mouthpiece. Sutton immediately went to the golf clubs. He had to try everyone.

Anna Claire got a Kindle for Christmas from Ma and Granddad and she found a cozy bench to read while everyone else shopped or played golf.

 

Next was a trip to the Cowboys's museum. I'm not sure what we were thinking taking a two-year old to a museum. Poor Sutton, all we said was "Do not touch." Sutton thought we were at Cowboy Stadium (as in Dallas Cowboy Stadium). He told me we were not at a museum.

 Anna Claire.

 The museum had a play area. Anna Claire in the log cabin.

 Sutton in the log cabin.

 The campfire was pretty cool!

Until Bennett dropped the iron skillet and the tripod above over the campfire came crashing down!

Probably just one of the largest puzzles ever.

 In the play area there was a dress up room. The kids all tried on clothes. Germs! :(

 

 

 

 

And then, back to the campfire.

 And riding the horses!

 Why did they insist I get on the baby horse?

 

Long day, indeed. Nap time for Sutton. He wanted Anna Claire to read him a book. Justlook at his eyes in all these pictures. That little boy is soooo tired. His eyes were red and heavy.

 He was so tired that he was laughing at everything.

 

The next day we went ice skating. I told Gary that was on my bucket list and everyone wanted to go. Bennett wanted to go to Bass Pro instead but we convinced him to do this. Sutton wanted to go to Bass Pro also and somehow on this trip we never went to Bass Pro.

Anna Claire is in the pink jacket. Bennett is behind her. I am behind Bennett wearing the blue jacket. Bennett and I seldom took our hands off the rail for a LONG time.

Poor Suttie....he and Granddad just watched. They said that the smallest size they had would fit Sutton. I got the shoes and when I got ready to put them on Sutton he said no. He didn't want to go out there. I'm sure it looked a little scary to him. It did me.

 Look at Ma! I'm not touching the rail. I was pretty proud!

And Bennett's not touching the rail! We are getting better. You can see Anna Claire off to the side in the picture above. She knew how to ice skate!

 Rest time. Skating will wear you out!

 

 

 

 Anna Claire looks like a pro!

 

 Bennett and I are now really trying to be braver and get away from the rail. Not far from it, though.

 

Look at Bennett go! Anna Claire is such a good teacher. She would skate ahead just a little and tell Bennett to come to her.

 Here is Anna Claire having Bennett to skate to her. She would skate ahead and then say "Bennett, don't touch the rail and just skate to me."

 

 Granddad and Sutton.

 How sweet is this. Brother and sister holding hands skating.

 

 

Bennett was going a little faster than he was prepared to. Anna Claire was pulling him. He was screaming with laughter.

 

 I'm really impressed with him now. He got right out in the middle of the rink.

And then, oops. He and sister had a little accident.

 

While Gary and Bennett went to Academy and Sutton was sleeping Anna Claire and I took advantage of our alone time and did some sewing.

Gary and Sutton read a lot of books!

 

 What a mess!

  

 Some of the friends that came over to play.

 Sutton carrying all of his favorite stuffed animals.

 Anna Claire working on a craft.

OU was in a very important football game. We decided to have an OU party because OU won. We baked sugar cookies.

Sutton walked in the kitchen and saw us and he wanted to help. I moved the bowl to the small table. Bennett said he wanted to help. I think he stirred the mix once and he was through. We can see where Sutton's little fingers are. That's why he wanted to help!

 And, this is what Bennett did instead of baking cookies. He and Granddad played football.

 

Anna Claire with the rolling pin. I have never used one in my entire life! I just watched.

 

 

 Sutton is trying to shape the dough.

 

Look at this boy. Was he eating flour??? He is frowning because Granddad asked "Sutton, you aren't eating flour are you?" Sutton gave Granddad this look.

 Now, time to decorate. They are putting the OU logo on all the cookies.

 

 Sutton said he was putting a belly button on his OU cookie.

 

 

 

 And, we are through.

After the cookies were done we then went in the den and had a dance party. Anna Claire, Sutton, Bennett and Ma danced in jubilation.

We had a wonderful time. It's a great bonding time with the kids. Sutton would test us a little. The first night around 6:00 pm he said "Granddad, I want some chocolate milk" and he said it so matter of factly that it sounds like he must have it every night. Gary asked Anna Claire if Sutton is allowed chocolate milk at night and of course, he isn't. Sutton didn't argue but he was definitely testing us.

Bennett had to go to school for two of the days (Thursday and Friday) so we tried very hard to stick to the routines.

What did we have to eat? Well, let's see. Spaghetti, which they loved. Chicken spaghetti which only Sutton loved. Grilled cheese sandwiches, which they loved. Taco soup, which no one liked. For breakfast it was pancakes or cereal. One morning Gary went to McDonalds and came back with sausage biscuits, pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs.

In Oklahoma City we ate at Texadelphia and I highly recommend it.

One of my favorite things was when Sutton would come up to me and say "Ma, will you play with me?" Aww, makes me want to cry. Of course, I'll play with you Sutton. We played little men the entire time. The little men were the Super Heroes and Batman. Everything was Batman.

Bennett and Gary threw the football to each other daily and nightly! Anna Claire read on her Kindle.

One day I think the entire neighborhood was over. I love it when the kids' friends come over while we are there. I do stay in the same room with them, though. Anna Claire and Bennett don't seem to mind. It's just one of the friends is a little older and I sure don't want my grandkids learning some new words under Ma and Granddad's watch!

Thank you, Brent and Jessica, for trusting us and giving us this time with your beautiful children.