VioLin Returns for Christmas Mischief

VioLin, my Elf on a Shelf, arrived for another year of mischief.

She started out by hiding in the Christmas tree with little gifts for Violet and Lincoln which they will get on Christmas Eve. VioLin then hid in my plants and today, climbed the window to look at the snow. I hope my brain can come up with enough ideas to last until Christmas Eve.

Winter Blizzard

It started yesterday around noon and didn't stop until 7:00 last night.

The blizzard dumped almost 6" of snow and the 35 mile an hour winds didn't help save Gina the Giraffe from tumbling over. She's in the garage right now thawing out until I can put her back together. Unless the temperatures rise and this snow melts a bit, Gina may spend Christmas in the garage. There's still a chance she'll rejoin the gang. On Saturday, the day before the blizzard, it was 50 degrees outside. Kansas City weather - who can predict what will happen next.

Old Time Rock and Roll - Bob Seger

One more concert under my belt for 2018. This time it was Bob Seger.

This concert was Bob Seger's "Final Tour". I don't think he's been recording any new songs because most of the songs he played were the oldies but goodies and ones I recognized. I couldn't believe this concert didn't start until 9:00 - that's p.m. For a 73 year old man, you'd think he's start the concert at a decent hour, like maybe around 6:00! Great concert and great company even though I didn't get home until midnight!

Putting Up the Christmas Tree

For the past several years, I've decorated the Christmas tree with stuffed animals so Violet and Lincoln wouldn't bother my Hallmark ornaments.

This year I decided to put up the good stuff. I've been collecting these Mom, Son and Daughter ornaments since Hallmark starting making them in the year 2000. Since then I've added the Granddaughter and Grandson ornaments. I've got dated Hallmark ornaments all the way back to 1987 but after putting up over 100 of these ornaments, I decided this was enough. The stuffed animals were much easier but not as pretty.

This is the second year for my train and I hope it makes it to next year with Lincoln's obsession with trains. I need to remember to stock up on batteries!

I still have my menagerie of stuffed animals around the tree. 

I haven't added anything new for quite some time. I saw this Santa climbing a ladder and carrying lights on his back at Target one day. I looked all over Target's Christmas decorations and couldn't find it. Now Trish is sending me the link to Amazon where she found it for sale. Do I pull the trigger and get it? I'm still debating but don't be surprised if it shows up around my tree in the near future!

Happy Birthday Lola & Khloe

Lola and Khloe turned 7 years old today.

I had Melissa send me a picture of them as puppies but I don't see much difference between then and now. This was taken when they were about a year old.

And this is today. Lola didn't want to cooperate and get in their new bed. But then Lola has always preferred the back of the couch to a dog bed. You've got to give Lola credit. She has "sort of" accepted Khloe, Violet and Lincoln into her home although she'd much prefer being an "only child". I wonder who's going to break the news to her that there's another one on the way! Happy Birthday Lola and Khloe!

Thanksgiving

No cooking a big Thanksgiving dinner for me this year. When you have kids who don't work a normal 9-5, Monday through Friday job, you make adjustments in holidays.

Jamie and Michael both had to work so Melissa took the kids to the holiday feast at the fire station and I took Michael to the steakhouse at Harrah's. I might not have any leftover turkey to make a sandwich tomorrow but I also don't have any dirty dishes to deal with tonight.

With a couple of warm days, Jamie was able to get my Christmas lights up.

New to the group this year is Dinomite the dinosaur. I add to my group but I also take away. I had to say goodbye to Santa and the snowman. I shed a few tears and bagged them up for the trash man to haul away tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving!

VIP Day at School

Today was VIP day at Violet's school - the politically correct way to say Grandparent's Day.

I didn't realize how spoiled I've been since retiring, not having to get up early and out the door by a certain time. I picked Violet up for school and we headed to Mason Elementary School.

Violet's an old pro at maneuvering the hallways of the school shouting out hellos to so many kids. We started out having a donut in the cafeteria with Violet's classmate Gigi.

Then headed down more hallways to her classroom where she showed me her Fall artwork proudly displayed outside the classroom door. Her classroom wasn't open yet so we made another trek down the endless hallways to the book fair.

We stopped and had our picture taken for our memory frame hurriedly made in the library before heading back to her classroom so she could show me her desk, chair and cubby. Violet has a routine when she enters the classroom. She takes her Chrome book out of her enormous backpack and sets it on the bottom shelf of her cubby. Then takes her folder out of her backpack and places it in the teacher's basket. Instead of desks, there are 4 children to a table and each child must take his/her chair off the stack and bring it to the table. Then they take out the "Morning Worksheets" and begin their studies. Whew! Such a lot for a kindergarten student.

Recently Violet's been talking about a boy in school named Benton who she likes. Was I surprised when we ran into Benton at VIP day and his grandmother was a girl I went to high school with. Small world!

Dinosaur Birthday Party

Lincoln had his dinosaur birthday party today complete with dinosaur balloons, dinosaur decorations....

dinosaur snacks and dinosaur cupcakes.

Even the gifts reflected the dinosaur theme. Although he did get a few cars and firetrucks. Hopefully he'll like those dinosaurs for a few more years.

I couldn't resist my newest Christmas decoration for my yard and Melissa couldn't resist borrowing it for the party.

I have to admit it was a rather quiet party - mostly adults with a few kids sprinkled in.

After the party we headed out to Legends of Asia for dinner - a giant Chinese buffet. Lincoln wasn't too thrilled with the menu but he got to pick the place the other night! At least I thought he did.

Lincoln Turns 3 Years Old

Such a big day for a small boy who turns 3 years old today. 

After dropping Violet off at school, Melissa, Jamie and Lincoln headed out to get haircuts and then off to Union Station to see Lincoln's favorite - dinosaurs.

We regrouped later in the evening for dinner at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants - Ted's. The birthday boy is surrounded by the wait staff to sing a special birthday song. Lincoln lasted just long enough with the hat on for Melissa to snap a quick picture.

Then he tore into his dinosaur transformer from me. He's got quite a bit of energy for a 3 year old and I'm afraid it will only get worse.

Lincoln finished off the day by putting together his new Paw Patrol jigsaw puzzle. This boy doesn't need sugar to get his energy going but there's always a few pieces of candy at Ma's house and he knows just where to find it. Happy Birthday Lincoln!

Freshly Painted Garage

As I sit here writing this post, I'm in agony from my poor aching back.

Not everyone would consider painting their garage a priority but I couldn't stand the original beige color any longer.

Michael was kind enough to come help me or I probably wouldn't have gotten done until the Spring thaw.

Speaking of the Spring thaw, I wasn't too happy putting my car outside in the blizzard while we painted. Yes, Trish, I said blizzard. Not what you may call a blizzard but close enough for me.

And what would go along with a new coat of paint? A new golf bag holder! Only thing is I don't have the rails to hang the bag on the wall. That comes next along with the track system to hold my weed eater, leaf blower and brooms - that comes when Teresa gets back from Florida.

There's not much left to do to update my house. I may have to go into retirement from the remodeling business.

New Look for the Toy Closet

I either have too much time on my hands or my OCD is getting worse.

I gave Melissa my old toy bins for her new home and decided on this cube organizer for the kids' toy closet. My original intention was to leave out the separators on the bottom and second shelf. The kit had cut out grooves that fit the cubes together like a jigsaw puzzle so that idea went out the window. I'm liking this new look. Now it's on to painting the garage!

First Snow Fall

For all those people who couldn't wait for summer to be over............

I hope you're happy. Give me a 90 degree day any time!

Kinetic Sand, Build A Bear & Gender Reveal

Since I had babysitting duty, I decided to break out the kinetic sand for Lincoln to play with while Melissa went to the doctor.

I couldn't believe this kept him occupied the whole time Melissa was gone. The last time we played with kinetic sand was when Bruce was here playing with Violet - maybe 2 or 3 years ago. If you put down a large sheet, it doesn't make that big of a mess.

When Melissa and Violet got back we headed off to Build a Bear. I'm a sucker for coupons - not the $1.00 or $.50 off. But give me a $10 off coupon and I'm there.

Violet has been wanting the purple unicorn ever since Build a Bear ran out during the "Pay Your Age" bargain day.

Build a Bear offers a special Birthday Bear during your birthday month. You pay your age (and we didn't have to wait in line)!

But Lincoln couldn't pass up the dinosaur Build a Bear and I couldn't pass up the bargain of paying $3 for a Build a Bear.

The reason I was babysitting Lincoln was so Melissa, Jamie and Violet could find out the sex of the new baby. It's a girl. I believe the baby is trying to intimidate me by doing hand to toe exercises in this photo. I don't think I'll ever be able to touch my toes again let alone hoist my leg over my head! By the way, the baby is due March 28, 2019. We'll see how close the doctor comes to that due date!