A Letter From Ava

Pops and Nana got a letter from Ava today. Ava is 7years old and just starting 2nd grade in school.

Baby-Sitting Devin and Hailey

The Five Musketeers is what Hailey calls this group.

We had not seen Devin and Hailey for two months.  They were in Mississippi for the summer with Aunt Bonita and her family.   The spent last night and today (Tuesday) while Uncle Kevin worked the election board for the run-offs and Bonita went to Claremore to the Rogers State College.

I had to work Monday evening so Pops took the two kids to Steak and Shake and then over to the Scharpf's back yard for a 30-minute swim before bed time.

Even though they had not seen each other, they had talked on the phone -- still it was good for the quick before bed time tiny visit.

Can anyone guess who behunkus this is popping up out of the water?

And here is an alien from outer space.  Which planet is this thing from?

Hailey and the girls are having a grand time.

Cousins:  Lily, Hailey and Elijah in the background.

They they said Good-night and off to Bed.

I got home last night just in time to kiss them good night before bed.  But Hailey's request was hot chocolate in the hot tub in the morning.  So of course we had to find some hot chocolate for them.  It was really hot and had peppermint candy in it.  Sugar up the grandkids and send them home?

Too hot to drink.....no it is "just right."

The Happy Threesome.

 

And then I am off to work again on Tuesday morning.

After breakfast of blueberry pancakes on the deck, it started to rain. Devin had to do his school work.  Here he is working on Pre-Algebra.

Hailey has not started school yet, so she drew pictures, played with legos and played with Babe.  Here is Hailey displaying her Steak and Shake memories.

And playing with the 3 1/2 pound wonderwoman:  Babe!

Hailey Drew Me A Picture

Hailey drew this picture.  At first I thought she had no eyes

but look closely, I just now found them.

Ava and Carson Go Berry Picking in the Blue Ridge Parkway

Aunt Sommer has a wonderful Food Blog with yummy recipies.

Sometimes the only way I learn about Ava and Carson

is when I find a picture of them on the Blog.

It is a lot of fun to read.

http://www.aspicyperspective.blogspot.com/

Here they took a hike in the Blue Ridge Parkway on

 a trail named Graveyard Fields.

So here is Carson picking wild Blueberries to take

home and make icecream sauce.

It looks to me like Ava is picking a whole pouch full

of tasty berries.

We have not seen Ava and Carson all year so will be taking a drive to North Carolina the third week of September.

Elijah, Lily and Rosie Say Hello To Summer

Can you believe how fast the summer has come and gone!

The Scharpf kids did not take a trip this summer but they sure had a lot of fun in their back yard.

They have been mighty busy getting plenty of water exercize and getting tan.

Now much to their dismay, school has been going for a full week.

And when I went over to take these pictures, they said the water is cold.

Welcome summer
Goodbye summer
Hello Fall.

Mondo The Monkey Introduction (1 of 5 parts)

There are many, many stories about Mondo the Monkey.  This is simply one that Papa told to Sydney as a bedtime story while in Plano.  It is in five short parts.

Mondo The Monkey Part 2

Mondo The Monkey Part 3

Mondo The Monkey Part 4

Mondo The Monkey Part 5

Sydney Trying Hard

There is a litle grin under that hand

It is so hot outside Blakely has no patience

Sydney shows little sister how to look in front of the camera

There are mosquitos in the grass Sydney said.  And Blakely did get a bite.

Papa was trying to take beautiful photos of Sydney and Blakey in their long white dresses that Dede bought for them.

But Blakely was not in the mood. Sydney did not like the grass, heat and bugs, but was so helpful.

Love those little toes!

Snuggle Time

Blakely and Papa have a snuggle time with Sophie,


the pug (or is it a pig?)

Sydney, Blakely, Nigel and Sophie's Backyard Summer Fun

Blakely just woke up from her nap and we were almost ready

to get out, so she swam in her birthday suit.

Sophie did not voluntarily get in the  pool but would swim when

Sydney took her in.

Nigel is a regular water dog.  He sits in the water and swims a lot.

But look who is the biggest fish of all ----- SYDNEY!