A FAVORITE OF OURS......

So we watched James over the weekend and it was really fun.  He is such a pleasure to be with. Papa and him played Jenga. We also played Sorry and Bunko of course.

On Saturday James had a birthday party to attend. Mark took him and James had a nice time. It was one of those bouncy trampoline places. 

However, he was the only boy who showed up. Him and this girl have been friends for several years now because they have been at the same house for daycare since they were little, before school started. 

Then Papa took him to play miniature golf. They had a fun time together. 

Then on Sunday morning they went to the Bass Pro Shop. Mark, Adam and James are going to Mammoth Lakes for 4 days in August. They will be staying in a camper at the campground. 

We spent 18 years going up to Mammoth Lakes. I'm so excited for them. I can't go anymore because of the altitude with my COPD. I'm really excited for them. 

They went to Bass to get James a fishing pole. Of course he found a cute stuffed fish that he wanted. 

When Adam and Gabby got home we ordered some food and then we headed home. Gabby said that after we left James went and laid in their bed and fell asleep immediately. 

It was a good time with him. Even though I couldn't join them because of my ankle, knee cut and sciatica, James and I had a great time playing games. I treasure every moment I have with him. 

WEDNESDAY HDEPODGE #580

Thank you Joyce.

To join in click HERE

1. What's the best $5 gift to give someone? 

I'm drawing a blank but maybe a Starbuck gift card. 

2. What's your favorite way to relax/unwind during the busy holiday season? 

Most likely watching a Christmas movie or the Hallmark Christmas movies along with a glass of wine.

3. How do you feel about gingerbread? Love it or no thanks? Are gingerbread houses a part of your holiday tradition? If you said yes, how does that look? Do you like ginger flavor in other kinds of dishes? 

I like gingerbread but rarely have it. Yes, since James was old enough, him and I decorate a ready made gingerbread house each year. I would say no to using ginger flavor. 

December 2021

December 2022

December 2023

2024

4. December 5th is National Blue Jeans Day...will you be celebrating? Do you have a favorite brand? A favorite pair? Do you have a hard time parting with a favorite pair of jeans? Blue jeans-joggers-leggings-yoga pants...which one do you wear most often? 

If I'm going out of the house I would probably be wearing blue jeans. I actually wear a stretch pull on leggings jean. I buy them from Women Within. I can't say I ever had a favorite but I just can't wear a regular jean anymore. 

5. As we head into this holiday season what's your biggest priority or goal for the end of the year? 

I have a lot of goals to reach and at this time they are not happening. I'm in a very sad place. If you saw on Facebook I have a lung infection. I'm on my second dose of medications. I usually get one after Christmas because of all the work I do decorating. This is throwing me way off because I get winded quickly. 

I also have something wrong with my ankle. My right ankle gets a steroid shot a few times a year for a pain that I get. After the shot, within three days it is gone. That didn't happen with the shot I got 3 weeks ago. I have something I have never experienced before, extreme pain on the side and up the tendon at the back of the ankle. As I type this I am going to go to urgent care today. I can walk with an ankle brace on but I'm in constant pain. 

I tried working on decorations and I accomplished some but I just can't stand for a long time. I really doubt that my tree will go up this year and you can only begin to imagine how sad I am. Christmas is my thing! 

I still have cards to get out and gifts which need to be mailed which I know I should be able to accomplish but the house is not going to be decorated much at all. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Our one section of Bird of Paradise is going crazy this year. 

FYI: We will be watching James and the dogs over at Adam and Gabby's Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I will most likely not be reading many blog posts. Thank you for understanding. I actually plan on working on my Christmas cards while James is at school on Friday. 

My Chromebook, which I love, it out of date and I cannot get into Feedly anymore where I read the blogs. I can still read them on my big Toshiba computer but I don't travel with that one. Hopefully I will be getting a new Chromebook soon. 

LET'S GO TO THE ZOO

We arrived at Adam and Gabby's around 8:30 am last Sunday morning. They were heading to a winery for an overnight getaway. So we had James and the dogs to watch. We planned on going to the Irvine Regional Park, not far from their house, to take James for the train ride and to the zoo. We hadn't been to that zoo yet. 

We give Roxy and Gracie a Kong outside filled with frozen peanut butter. They have a doggie door so they go back into the house when they are done and usually sleep. So off we go. 

What we didn't know is that it was Easter Extravaganza at the park so it was extremely crowed. We couldn't park by the train ride like we normally do so Mark dropped James and I off and went to find a place to park. 

Mark made it back in time to get on the second train ride. James just enjoys this little train so much. It was a chilly morning. He had an awesome time. I think this was the third time we have gone and ridden the train with him. 

As it turned out Mark couldn't find a place nearby to park but he did park in the zoo parking lot. I wasn't sure how that was going to work out for my walking there but it was okay. I did it with no issues. So we walked around this little zoo which was fun. It wasn't easy capturing the animals. Most of them were pacing around their cage. 

They had a black panther, 2 mountain lions, a coyote, goats, a turtle, snakes, lizards, a bear, a bald eagle, a golden eagle, an owl and several other animals. James favorite were the goats that you could feed. 

The regional park has peacocks walking around and we finally saw one with its feathers spread out. 

It was a fun time.

BABYSITTING JAMES

We went over to Adam and Gabby's around 12:30 last Wednesday. They had left in the morning to drive 4 hours to a Vineyard. Roxie the puppy needed to be fed around noon.

She still gets three meals a day. All of our dogs were self feeding. It is crazy watching dogs eat who only get feed at certain times. They are always happy to see us and Roxy always has a big smile.

We see James often and he enjoys being with us. However, it has been 18 months since we picked him up at daycare. We came in and he said "papa and grandma" all excited to see us. His routine since the lock down was mama picks him up.

So we are getting ready to leave and he's "no leave, mommy/daddy." He started crying hysterically. It broke our hearts. He had to be forced into his car seat. He calmed down and once we were at his house he was as happy as can be!

Playing with papa....

Watching TV....

Thursday morning before James goes to daycare....

Ready for papa to drive him....

Playing after daycare....

He is such a good boy. He was sleep trained and he goes to bed without issue. He plays hide and seek for a little while, gets into bed and it is goodnight James! He sleeps about 12 hours with a sound machine on. He is also in his converted crib which has the front off for a big boy bed.

Thursday afternoon we walk into the daycare house and he tells everyone "that's my papa and grandma!" He is finally calling me grandma. He couldn't wait to leave with us. In advance we stopped and bought him a donut with sprinkles in case we had to entice him. We didn't need to use it although he did have some after dinner.

Ready for daycare on Friday morning....

Adam and Gabby got home around 1 pm so we headed home because of Friday traffic. So Gabby went to pick him up from daycare like normal. This is her text to me...."James was very upset when I picked him up. "no mommy.... papa and grandma". Full tears!" Apparently he has been asking everyday for us.

Adam sent us a text message which said that James was counting the numbers at the bottom of the car seat when he was getting out of the car. Adam asked him where he learned that and he said "papa!" Well Mark didn't do that with him at the car seat but he said they were counting on their way to daycare that morning.

We are going over on Saturday to watch him while they go to a wedding and reception. Can't wait!

Have a nice weekend.....