Christmas Pt 2

 
Ah, I couldn't get all the pictures in one post. Can't leave out the youngest! Here is Blaise admiring his new cell phone. Such concentration!
 
And my favorite. What is on your head, Uncle Keenan?

We mostly stayed home during the Texas Roaches visit to keep warm by the fire, but on Monday, Keenan, Sara, Brent, and Kelsey, went to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader, while Papa and I babysat all four kiddos at the Gray's house. I would say they all had a wild good time. We are so blessed indeed!

Merry Christmas 2010

 
We were so blessed to host Christmas to all our children and grandchildren this year and what a merry time we had. The gift openings were spread out so as not to be too overwhelming to the kids. The stockings were opened Christmas afternoon when Keenan, Sara, Ari, and Keira arrived. The rest waited until Boxing Day when Brent could join us. He had to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We did get to have breakfast with all the Gray's on Christmas morning and watched while Charis and Blaise opened their gifts from Santa.
 
Keira got a cash register as one of her gifts. It came with all sorts of accesories. To make change, she tore a dollar in half.
 
Ari's favorite stocking stuffer was an Ironman toy. He took it to bed with him.
 
Charis loved her microphone to help her put on shows.

Charis visits Santa

 
Chuck and I took Charis to Botanica to see Santa last night. That was definitely the main attraction for her. She insisted we keep moving through the display of lights and was impatient to get to Santa. But first we had to go through the candy cane forest and swirly twirly gumdrops, otherwise known as the butterfly house. The line was long, but Charis did not complain once about having to wait. She kept telling me she wasn't going to sit on the big guy's lap so I was perpared to hold on to her.
 
When we got up to the front of the line, an elf picked Charis up and set her in Santa's lap. Not a peep of protest. He asked her name. That was a mistake because of course, Santa should know her name. She asked me about this later. Oh Santa. Then she told him she wanted ear plugs and a fishing pole. You can see in the picture that he is listening very carefully. He was quite interested in a little girl wanting a fishing pole, but never mentioned the plugs. This worried her but I assured her we could write a letter and remind him. Oh, the plugs are so she doesn't have to hear Blaise cry.
 
These are some dancing Christmas trees.
 
And last, but not least of the beautiful lights, a fountain of lights in the Shakespeare Garden. The night was gorgeous, not windy or too cold, perfect for walking the gardens of Wichita. It is definitely looking a lot like Christmas!

Our State Fair!

 

The Kansas State Fair ran from September 10 through the 19th. Since Chuck displayed a painting in the fine arts competition, we have made more than one trip to Hutchinson for the event. Chuck took Charis up on the first day. Kelsey and I had to stay behind and work a garage sale. That's all I have to say about that.
 

Charis wore her Dorothy costume, which seemed so appropriate for a Kansas fair.
 

Tuesday, Chuck and I drove up with the Grays to look at the animals, eat fried stuff, and ride some rides. We stayed long enough to see the sun set and the lights come up on the rides. The hot day turned into a lovely evening. Chuck and I went up again on Sunday, the last day to pick up his painting, which won a prize, and to see some things we missed the other trips. Someone told Chuck about a hypnotist show so we took that in. Very entertaining!
 
It was such a fun fair. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and are already looking forward to next year. After all, our state fair is the best state fair in our state!

Mother's Day

When your mother is no longer in this world's realm, Mother's Day can be bitter sweet. The last time I saw my mother alive was Mother's Day, 2003. I'm sad that I can no longer visit her or call her up or send and receive emails, but her memory grows sweeter every year. And someday I will see her again. Until then, my own children bless and honor me in so many ways. I suppose somewhere in my wicked past I must have done something good, as Maria Von Trapp says, because my cup runneth over.

My son and his sweet wife and children sent me a package full of treasures and a card. Kelsey and her family brought me flowers, chocolates, and a card. My husband bought me chocolates. And even my sweet sister remembered me on Mother's Day with a lovely card. Thank you all! Having you all in my life is the best gift of all. Thank you for making me feel so loved!

Kelsey, Charis, and I went for pedis and manis yesterday. Afterwards, Brent took pictures of our painted hands and feet. Charis with her tiny purple fingernails, Kelsey's lovely, youthful hands, and mine, well, they looked like a grandma's hand. It kind of shocked me at first, the weathered skin, the wrinkles. What happened to my hands? But after all, I am a grandmother now. I've had my childhood and my youth. Now is a different season and I'm ok with that. Most days. I'm grateful for my good health and that I have the energy to keep up with my grandkids. What are a few wrinkles?

Botanica in Spring!

Ah! The loveliness of our beautiful botanical gardens in Wichita in April. These tulips were in Bloom yesterday for Kelsey's birthday. It was enchanting strolling around, gazing at the explosions of colors and inhaling the sweet fragrances.

 
 
 
 

Artsy fartsy news

Things are happening for Chuck in the art world. He is a member now of Kansas Academy of Oil Painters as well as the Kansas Art Guild. He is a new member of KAOP and is the new president of KAG. But, better than that, his Rose of Sharon,aka Galaxy Rose, and Iris opus #2, are currently on display at City Arts along with others from KAOP. The Japanese Iris has been chosen for an art show at the Garden Show in March. It is good exposure as 45,000 people are expected to attend. Last Friday, an article appeared in the GO! section of the Wichita Eagle, featuring Chuck's Rose painting and a buffalo painted by a good friend of ours, Mary Binford-Miller. Mary, already well known, is one of Chuck's teachers. He hangs with good company. I am proud of my sweetie!

 
 
 

Snow Day!

Chuck took a tour of Deer Trail early this morning. His were the first human footprints in the pristine snow. The occurance of snow and no wind is a rarity in Kansas and makes for a breathtaking landscape.

 
 
 
 

Roscoe and other things

Chuck and I decided to keep Roscoe for awhile. Cats seem to love the Roach Hotel. Even strays are drawn to our deck on a regular basis. Roscoe is doing well. I can't tell if the diarrhea is clearing up because he does his business outside. He is eating a lot and looks great so I guess I won't worry for now.

We ordered a new tent and sleeping bags this week in anticipation of the camping season. I can't wait to see them and give them a test run when the weather improves. The bags keep you warm down to 20 degrees so I suppose we could go anytime. Or not.

Kelsey and Brent have a Wii Fit and invited me over last night to try it out. The first thing you have to do is submit to lessons on health and then have your stats checked out. I learned I am in a healthy BMI range but could lose a few pounds. I am also unbalanced and really slow on the games. I'll get the hang of it, eventually. The skateboarding and obstacle course were fun and I wasn't too bad at the hula hoop. The most difficult thing about playing Wii is keeping Charis and Blaise happy at the same time. Charis resents it when we do things that exclude her. We decided it takes several people. One to entertain Charis, one to hold Blaise when he fusses, and one to play the Wii.

Cold winter morning

The cold snap is coming to an end. I hope. Although it has been more of a grind than a snap, lasting way too many days. I am sitting here dressed and ready to go to church. My plan was to try out the Sunday school for the first time, but our cars did not cooperate. My car, good ol' Cosmo, just wouldn't start at all. There is some kind of energy leak and if Chuck remembers to charge it overnight, it's fine. So, I got into Chuck's really dirty Jetta. It started all right but when I went to adjust the seat, it wouldn't lock. Chuck came out and he couldn't get it to lock down either. First time for that! Well, I couldn't very well drive with a seat sliding back and forth so I came in to wait while my battery charges and will just go to the church service.

Brent and Kelsey and the kids are in Garden City for the weekend and Roscoe has come to our house for a visit. He has been the model kitty. He doesn't whine or beg, just sits quietly in the kitchen until I come in and rub his head. He has had a diarrhea problem for a while now and his behavior has been off. Perhaps there have been too many changes in his little furry life. He lost his best friend, Obi. His best person for cuddles is busy with a toddler and now a new baby. He refuses to use his litter box in the house so he has had to stay out doors much of the time. He will only stay in the kitchen at their house. Here, he does use the litter box and I have been giving him lots of attention. He does stay in the kitchen when he isn't eating or outside but otherwise he seems pretty normal. I don't have to worry about him tripping me up on the stairs because he doesn't go downstairs. I hope he is ok. He looks good and is eating and drinking.

Christmas fun 2009

Here are a few pics of our good times during the holidays. Ari with Santa was taken at Thanksgiving at Botanica. He and Charis were all excited about seeing the big guy, but when the moment came, Charis wouldn't sit in his lap, but managed to tell him what she wished to get for Christmas. Ari did brave the lap, but couldn't get a word out. Keira was not interested. The big kids had fun being pulled around the gardens in Charis' new birthday wagon.

We dressed the kids up in their K-State duds and attempted to pose them for a picture. This was successful for the most part.

We all had fun at the "jumping place", as Charis calls it, a big room filled with big inflatable toys. It is a workout chasing and hefting kids around that place.

There is a high energy with three toddlers loose in the house. On New Year's Eve, the adults sat around the table upstairs talking and drinking wine while the youngsters ran free downstairs. The next day, Ari pulled a small toy out of one of the tv speakers and there were broken chips everywhere, including Chuck's easel. Fortunately, they didn't try to paint a picture for Papa. Good times.