Racing Go-Carts With Family

Monday it was the pool....

                                Tuesday it was go-cart riding. 

Another first time thing for me...

The gang takes to the track. The woman in car 23 isn't one of us! 

Look out, we are being passed. Step on the gas.

Car 12 is checking out their competion

Here we come around a curve, the wind in our hair, We are on a roll.

Finally, the cars slow down and it's time for our fun to stop.

The younger ones especially are sad it's over.

No. 26 isn't ready to quit just yet.

Oh... it's over.

And, here we come (Susan and me) down to the finish line.

Little Bitty Adventures

I am on a mission....

I am trying to do things I've never done before - - -
                                                      little bitty things even.

Like buying a bag of ice out of a store dispenser... Don't ask me why!! Guess I just never needed to before but I finally went into the store, plunked my money down, walked out, got my ice and handed it to my son so he could put it in the cooler. Now, that's not a big deal.
                     I know... you all are making fun of me! 😀
Hey, cut me some slack...It was something new...

My son and I got to Nags Head. We are on the beach and my great-grands are having a blast trying to pop huge bubbles that my s-i-l was making.

I did not want to be left out so I joined in the fun.

Then I got to be the bubble maker. It was so much fun. Two more things I had never done. I oughta keep a list.

I am a full believer that people, regardless of their age, should fill their every waking moment with new discoveries. Even if it is something so minute as buying a bag of ice or blowing a bubble.                                                                             😃

Christmas Thanksgiving

This Christmas is different. Before (since I moved to Virginia) we'd all go to my daughters house since she still had single children. But, this year, with her daughter's wedding, it changed things.

On Saturday the newly-weds hosted our annual Christmas get-together... their first and it was beautifully done. Christmas isn't the same without children around and we had five lively ones enjoying themselves. It was nice enough for them to play outside so that gave us adults some quiet visiting time, as well.

There is nothing I am more thankful for than family. And, the good health to still be able to enjoy them.

Christmas morning we head to my grandson's house to continue the joy. Here are some pictures from the Saturday party.

A swing that the bride's father made using the lumber from their wedding arch. They couldn't wait until it was unloaded from the trailer before climbing aboard and swinging. 

One gift for C was a musical mat that you walk on to make songs. She loved it as a tumbling mat. 

Sweet L. with her colorful headband

And D. amid some of the Christmas clutter. 

My five Virginia great-grandchildren

Barns and Shadows

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon. Church was uplifting, so was my nap afterward. Gotta have that nap!! Must be the age thing. 

Just wanted to catch up with Tom's Barn Collective , Shadow Shot Sunday 2 and Blue Monday. Hope your Sunday has been a restful day. Tomorrow starts a new week.

                                                                               RED   BARNS

                                                         and a couple of SHADOW SHOTS......

Great grandsons! 

Hunting Toads

                        There's nothing much sweeter than when two great-grandsons come to visit!! 

It was a very pleasant afternoon, a stiff breeze blowing. Guess you can tell from the way it was ruffling my hair!! That wind didn't bother the boys hair one bit!

                            I played second-fiddle to some tiny toads hopping about in the grass! 

    Those boys had a blast, running, yelling, turning over things to search for the 'little hoppy toads'. 

And, they'd run back to where their grandmother and I were sitting so they could put them in a drink cup. Poor little toads!

                                         The largest one (the toad, not the boy) got pretty smart.

 He hopped up so high he grabbed hold of the hole in the cup lid and out he came. We adults were silently cheering him on! But, when he leaped out of the cup and landed on the bench next to me, I wasn't so sure I didn't want him back in that cup!

The boys played and played ... til finally it was time for them to leave. Aw, sad to see them go. Wish I had a tiny portion of their energy. Maybe I once did...

linking with Thankful Thursday and Little Things.

Just Tooling Around

I am so far behind with all my little chores that it is not even funny. How did I get this way? I would tell you but that would bore you to death. 

Instead I just want to share with you how excited I am to have all of you that follow me each and every week and to those who comment. Let me tell you... I just love those comments. I don't always manage to answer them all but I try and that's pretty good for this old  somewhat advanced lady. 

I continue to be an avid fan of blogging. What a wonderful way to make new friends and chat along the way as we progress through life. 

.... okay. What am I going to post today? My head is swimming and I am about to drown. I have so little new. I must dig into those archives again. Oh God bless those archives!! 

Yep, that's me. I don't look 84. And, most times I don't feel it. But, then there are some days I just can't get from one idea to another. You like that, too? Oh geez, what are we to do?

Enough of that. 

I'll just name today Random Day

My little great-grandson holding his brand new puppy.

A field of geese as they flew northward in the springtime. 

And, I just love this wall hanging on the stair landing at Decoys Restaurant. Geese in flight.

Well, toodle do for now. See you again right here soon. 

Reading A Book

                                                I've always loved to read. 

I guess I got that from spending every afternoon at the library waiting on my aunt to pick me up from school. For whatever reason, I love to lose myself in books. Go to places I could never travel, get into adventures I'd never have otherwise, meet people who inspire me, scare me and those I just love. 

     I was cleaning out a cabinet the other day and ran across this book from my childhood. 

I've read this to my children and most of my grandchildren. Maybe I need to start reading it to my great-grands! 

Reading is so important. I was thrilled when I was invited to join my great-grandson, Dylan, at his school for lunch one day. 

                                    And, they just happened to be having a book sale. 

                                                    So, I bought him a book. 

                                        I am so thankful that he enjoys reading. 

I am linking with Little Things and Thankful Thursday

Christmas Past

Christmas has passed. 

Time for quiet, rest and reflection.

After all the buying, wrapping, secrets and surprises, Saturday came about filled with family and fun.

Five children from ages 4-7

and 8 adults to scurry about after them!!

Playtime in the yard.

And, in the house. 

Opening gifts.

and then everyone went home!!

Christmas comes... it's Monday morning and I drive back up to my daughter and son-in-laws for a very quiet time of breakfast and opening gifts, just us adults. 

Just the four of us. It was very pleasant and we enjoyed watching each other open gifts. 

Then I drove home, went to bed and napped and napped.

A wonderful Christmas!

School Days

I spent yesterday noon in a school lunch room filled with noisy, happy children. What a gift that was!

I was invited to have lunch with one of my great-grandsons. Now, tell me, how could a Gigi turn down an invitation like that! 

So, I donned my best slacks and blouse, combed my hair, swiped lipstick across my lips, set my GPS, cranked my car and before you know it, I was pulling into the school yard. 

How long had it been since I'd been to school? Wow. Years and years and years. 

After lunch we walked around the book fair. Great-grandson picked out a book about dogs and I handed him some money so he could purchase it. You can't give a kid any better gift that a book. 

I guess the point I am trying to make here is.. well, there's more than one point, come to think about it. 

Every moment you spend with a child makes your life and theirs more joyous.

Every book you read gives that child knowledge they might not of had if you hadn't taken the time.

And, curled up on a bed, with a child next to you on a pillow, a book in your hand and the two of you reading about a magical wonder land. There isn't a better feeling anywhere than that! 

I read to my children. I read some to my grandchildren. I need to make sure I read to the grands soon, too. 

A Walk In The Woods

After a fun overnighter on a bus trip to Dover, Delaware (and the casino), I am settling back in to my normal routine. And, today is Thursday, Aug. 17th. I want to know where this month is going in such a hurry!!

The theme for MY TOWN SHOOTOUT this week is Walkways.  This is the walkway at the edge of the apartment complex where I live. It gives us a quiet, peaceful place to walk, to sit and mediate and for visiting great-grandchildren to explore. 

I am also linking to THANKFUL THURSDAY. I am thankful every day for such a wonderful place to live. 

And, provides beautiful scenery any time of the year. This photo was taken following a snow back in the winter.

Our Week At The Beach

It's the beginning of a new week and things are back to 'normal' for me. I just returned from a week at the beach. 

My middle daughter's family has had a May outing at Nags Head for some years now. This year however there were some additions. 

                                                My son, Michael, drove up from Alabama.

 My youngest daughter and her 9 year old flew down from New York and surprised everyone... but me... I knew they were coming.

                                                           We had lots of fun,

                          I got some sun, 

                  Ate too much 

and now it's back to NORMAL... catching up with my blog buddies!!