Continued...Visiting with Family

When last we left our intrepid heroes....sorry, wrong story. The last thing I wrote about was Saturday during the day. In the afternoon, Troy and my mom went to the store and Mall and got goodies for Danica and I. At dinnertime, we were told to stay downstairs while they got ready. We came up and the dining room was decorated with balloons and there were PRESENTS!! We ate dinner, lasagna or Bazagna according to Danica. Then we had a very yummy chocolate cake that said "Happy Birthday Danica and Lorra". We opened presents. I got one of my gifts early (when I first got to my mom's). She gave me an etched glass picture of Troy and my dog, Belle, who died in January. I cried. I also got a lot of books, which I have now almost finished reading. I read fast. Mom went to a glassblowing shop a few months ago. She bought Troy, Danica and I gifts from there. Troy got a snake, I got an apple, and Danica got the cutest little Tinker belle fairy. It is so delicate. When I brought it home, it went in the glass cabinet and not in Danica's room. I want to keep it safe for her. I know that she'll cherish it. Danica got books and toys also. Troy got her a Zhu Zhu pet. Her exact words were "Oh wow! My own Zhu Zhu pet. I'm grown up now." I told her when she asked for one a few months ago that she could have one when she was grown up. I guess she is now. She loves the thing! Troy was so excited about the gift he got for me. He spent his own money and chose a pair of earrings for me. They are silver with amethysts. They are beautiful. My boy is the BEST! We had a great evening!

On Sunday, we went to see Pap for Father's Day. The kids got him a couple of rub off lottery tickets and we got him a gift card for Dick's sporting Goods. We hung out for a while then went to Toys T Us for Danica to go shopping for her birthday. She had so much fin looking at the the toys. Of course she wanted everything. She finally settled on a mermaid dress up outfit, something for her Zhu Zhu pet, a feather boa (don't ask), a squishy ball and a Spiderman flashlight. I tried to get her to pick a Tinker belle flashlight (which came with batteries), but she wanted Spiderman. That's my tomboy princess. We went back to Pap and Gram's and had a very yummy steak, baked potatoes and veggies. It was a great day.

On Monday, we went to Idewild Park. Idewild was named the second best park for kids. I don't know who named it, but it is a lot of fun. There are several different parts to the park. The original part of the park has the customary rides including the roller coaster that delighted Danica to no end. She loves going fast and being on roller coasters. There were several rides that she could not go on because she was too small, but the roller coaster was not one of them. Another part of the park has an old west theme. We didn't stay there very much. We just got the train there and played in the Jungle. The Jungle has a HUGE ball pit, a rope climbing area and lots of fun, active stuff to do. It is a good place to tire out most kids. Unfortunately, we'd need to be there form a very long time to tire out Danica. We played for about an hour and then went to Storybook forest, where your childhood nursery rhymes come to life. It is always fin. I think that it is the kids favorite part of Idewild. They met Little Red Riding Hood, The old woman in the shoe and Mother Goose. We took pictures galore. After going through Storybook Forest, we went on the train to "Kiddie Land". We went to the circus that they had there. I really need to make sure the kids go when the circus comes to Birmingham next winter. They were mesmerized by the acts. Danica loved the lady changing clothes over and over again and the dog act. Troy was more for the guys on the giant hamster wheels. It was fun. Danica rode a pony afterward and we all rode more rides. I hoped that Danica would go to sleep on the trip home, but she didn't. We even got "lost" a little. I wasn't really lost, but I did miss the on ramp to the turnpike, then got on the turnpike at a different entrance ramp, but went the wrong way. If you have ever been on the PA turnpike, you know that there is NO where to turn around. We had to get off at the next exit and get back on. It was still a fun day.

Tuesday was spent playing, doing laundry and packing up. Troy was going to be spending a few days with Pap and Danica was staying with Grandma. We had Chinese food for dinner. YUM!

The kids spent the next few days away from me and each other. Troy stayed with my dad at his camp. He went swimming, panning for gold and to the petting zoo. He loved the cheeseburger that Pap cooked on the grill for him. He also got to see Summer, who he hasn't seen in a few years. Troy and Summer get along very well. She is about 2 years older, but she puts up with him. They were able to play and have a good time. Summer is the granddaughter of Pap's neighbor. Troy and her have been seeing each other during the summer since Troy was 2 or so.

Danica spent the few days with Grandma. She went horseback riding at one of Grandma's friend's house. She did very well and is something of a natural with it. They went to the purple park and to see a guy talk about turtles. She loved it. I think she really likes anything to do with nature. It rained a few afternoons, so Grandma took Danica to the indoor playground at the mall. She told Grandma, "This is awesome!" It doesn't take much to entertain her.

On Sunday, Richard and I drove back to Grandma's to pick the kids up and make the 4 hour trip to Virginia. We packed the van full of stuff including my mom's grill, which she gave to us since ours blew up last year. I love cooking on a grill! The trip to VA was uneventful and we arrived to Richard's mom's house full of people. Uncle Brian, Aunt Laurie, Katelin, Karlie (Richard's brother's family), Richard's other borther, Bubby, Aunt Violet and Uncle Jake (Richard's mom's sister and brother-in-law), Dorthy (a friend) and Makayla (Richard's step-brother's daughter) were all there to greet us. We visited, ate fried chicken, steak and ham for dinner. The Kids PLAYED! Troy, Danica and Karlie were inseparable the whole time we were there. Karlie stayed the night with Grandma Betty, as did Makayla. When Danica saw Uncle Bubby, he had on his usual cowboy hat. She called him a cowboy. Richard said, "That's Uncle Cowboy." Danica replied with,"Uncle Cowboy, where's your horse?" It was so cute and innocent and remained the joke for the next 2 days. Uncle Bubby (Cowboy) took the kids on a wagon ride with the mowing tractor. They loved bouncing around in the wagon. The played on the swing set and trampoline almost non-stop. Pap Pap Pete arrived on Monday and had lunch with us. He spent the whole day and Danica loved being with him. She even fell asleep with him holding her. On Monday evening, Uncle Wayne and Taylar came over for a visit. We talked and had a good time. The we went to Outback for dinner. We left early on Tuesday morning and mad the 11 hour trip home to Birmingham.

Next Blog...Unpacking!