This is one of my favorite photos.  My son-in-law and grandson.  It is a joy to be a part of my grandkids growing up.

We picked blueberries this week and brought home a gallon of the pretty berries to freeze.

Watch to the very last - that smile of relief is priceless to me.  This, my little girl, who does NOT like to be on stage or perform for others has achieved one of her biggest personal goals.  Mom and Dad are proud.

Good teachers are always on the lookout for opportunities to congregate and learn from each other.  Miss Emmy and Miss Lexi got dressed up to attend their first annual conference this weekend.  They packed their book bags and clipped on their badges and off they went.

Taking a break from all that learning, these teachers were prepared for  bright lights of Living Room A.

After a serious and informative day, the teachers changed clothes for dinner at the infamous MomUnscripted Kitchen, where they feasted on pizza, orange juice and banana popsicles.

Two heads are always better than one, especially when teaching American Girls and students from Webkins and Beanie.

And finally, even teachers need their beauty rest.

Last month, Braden and I did some living room fishing. You know how these anglers are - when you turn your back they find a new fishin’ hole and start hauling in the big ones! Kaci shared this and I couldn’t resist. Her blog is Little Hands Making Big Memories. Click on to see what they are up to!

While Lori and Kelsey were here, we visited the St. Louis Zoo.

Let’s check this map and see if we can find the bears.

Hey Lexi, stop eating that and help me find the bears.

Ok, give me a bite, then let’s find the bears!

Bears?

Hey! No bears in there!

Fine, I’ll go find the bears.

Can you say horse? These are not bears.

There! Nicholas found the bears!

Look Papa, a polar bear!

Thanks for the ride Papa. This bear hunting is hard work.

More Pictures Here

Museum Attractions - Website

City Museum’s MySpace

Braden pesters the kitten.

His mom wants him to stop.

She’s given him several warnings.

I am in the bedroom putting on shoes when Braden pops in the door.

I whisper “You better stop or your mom’s going to kick your butt”.

Without hesitation, he pipes up “We don’t KICK”.

Me - “Well, what about a spanking?” (Nana hates spanking)

Braden, pointing his finger says - “WE DON’T SPANK”.

Me - “Ok, then she might swat your tail”.

Shaking his head confidently, he says “We don’t swat”. (Nana is hiding her happy face!)

Me - “Ok, well, you’re gonna make her really mad”

Braden with his face all serious and raised eyebrows says “Mmmmmm, I don’t wanna do THAT. THAT’S DANGEROUS!!

Nana laughed and laughed. Bad Nana.

We have visitors! Kaci, Kali and Braden are here for the week.

Yesterday, Braden and I went “fishing”.

He got comfy in the big boat, I got to be in the water. He put on his “crank bait” and threw in the hook.

This one wasn’t big enough to mount, but he decided it was a “keeper”.

Soon, his “live well” was filled and it was time to head home.

He didn’t trust me to back the truck up to pull his boat out of the water. “Nana is not a good backer”.

It’s important that a good fisherman checks to make sure the boat is securely on the trailer before dragging it out of the water. A really smooth backer (not a Nana, of course) can do this without waking the sleeping kitty on the hood of the truck.

It’s now time to clean the fish so we can “cook ‘em”.

Dialing Mom’s cellphone with his “mote phone”

“Hey Mommy? Yea, well, we’re grilling some fish!”

“You want some?”

“Ok, bye!”

They are little only once, Lord. Grant me wisdom and patience to teach them to follow in your footsteps and prepare them for what is to come.

They are only little once, Lord. Make me take the time to play pretend, to read or tell a story, to cuddle. Don’t let me for one minute think anything is more important than the school play, the recital, the big game, fishing or the quiet walk hand-in-hand. All too soon, Lord, they will grow away and there is no turning back. Let me have my memories with no regrets.

Please help me to be a good Nana, Lord.

-author unknown

Yesterday we celebrated Lexi’s 10th birthday with a tea party. The girls came dressed as their favorite “American Girl” doll. Not all the girls know each other, so we used conversation starters to get warmed up. They got to share what kind of new toothpaste flavor they would invent, who is their favorite person in history, if they would choose to give up pizza or chocolate - lots of interesting questions and answers. They played American Girl bingo and several other games before eating cake and the fruit bouquet.

Lexi and “Emily”

Strawberry cake and a fruit bouquet (all made by mom).

We played “Conversation Starters” to get acquainted.

The American Girls

Playing American Girl Bingo
courtesy Executive Homemaker

Each girl took her teacup and saucer home along with her framed picture and a few bangles! It was a fun day.