Visit to the Transportation Museum - Spencer, NC

We enjoyed a wonderful excursion to the Transportation Museum in Spencer NC.  If only it had not been so scorching hot.  This first week of fall is unlike any I remember.  Taite and Caleb were super excited to ride on board Thomas.

While Caleb, Taite and Travis enjoyed the train ride, Andrea cools off with a slushy.

Owen was a super trooper....considering how hot it was.  The temperature rose in the mid 90's.  This was one of the hottest fall days I can remember.

Owen was all smiles.....and LOVE.  At 6 months he is a joy in every sense of the word.

Taite on the other hand confided he did not like one bit the magician.

The Vintage car exhibit was neat...Gas was once that cheap in the 60's.

Beautiful Spring Day in Williamston

The weather was perfect this morning, not as windy as it has been so we took Taite and Caleb for a walk.  Andrea and Travis took Owen for a weight check to Greenville.

The Bradford Pear trees are looking splendid.  I was thrilled not to be sneezing due to allergies.  This will start very soon and I won't be able to take walks.

Taite hides behind a very interesting and old tree.

Another very old tree (Crape Myrtle) worth hugging.

Taite would not share Nana's shades. Taite is a joy but three year olds talk constantly and can push a button or two....LOL...He's very loving and he tells me over and over he likes me...and Papa too.

I did get the chance to hold Owen this morning before he left to see the doctor. He turned 6 days old today.

He gets much comfort from the pacifier. The nurses had told Andrea not to give him one since she is nursing.  What is a baby to do but eat, sleep and be comforted in between feedings by his pacifier.  Better to suck on one than later on reach for the hand and thumb.

Meeting Owen

I'm so glad we finally were able to meet our third grandson, Owen Luther.  Nothing can compare to holding a newborn baby.  Everyone says you can't spoil them when they are this young.  Owen loves to be held and goes to sleep soundly.  During the night like all newborns he is keeping mom and dad awake.  Today he had his 5 day check up and is doing great experiencing the normal stuff newborns go through as they adjust from being in the womb to being outside.

We got to spend a few hours with this 3 year old bundle of love, Taite while Andrea and Travis took Owen to his check up.  We also took Caleb to his school and got to see his classroom.  He was very excited to be at school today because they were having Pajama day.

Before picking Caleb from school me and Taite played outside with what he called his helicopter.

We enjoyed the outdoor play....then we took off to pick up Caleb.  As soon as I got in the car I smelled dog poop...Yuck....It was me.  I'll be more careful next time, if there is another next time on their back yard.  Look to the bottom right, I wonder if that was the poop I stepped on.

We had lunch at Wendy's after picking up Caleb and then came back to the hotel so I could change into my other shoes.  Let's just say that both Taite and Caleb were fascinated being in our hotel room.  Caleb said that he wanted to stay in our hotel until this coming Saturday (the day we leave).  It did not take them long to feel right at home.  It was difficult to convince them that it was time to go home.  I kept telling them that we had to leave so the cleaning ladies could come in and do their work.  It feels great to be loved by these two.

We are now back in the hotel (without the kids)...and I enjoyed a cup of coffee from this neat 1 cup coffee maker in our room.

Cliff is all worn out from the adventures with the grandkids and also not sleeping the well the night before. The flapping of the flag just outside our room kept him up. We changed rooms this afternoon.

New Year's Eve Thankful Thursday

What a great year 2009 has been and the Lord has blessed me and my family in so many ways.  I count as the greatest blessing good health to enjoy spending time with my family.   Going regularly to the gym, eating lots of fruits and vegetables has made a big difference.  The older we get and our body wears out, exercise is the best medicine.  I heard Kim, one of my Zumba instructors say, "Let's move and dance today while we can."

                                              

At 53, I'm thankful I'm able to get on the floor and play with my grandkids.  I have to say that playing with the grandkids is one way to get a good night's rest.  On my last visit, I noticed how tired I was at the end of the day, ready to go to bed around 9:30 pm.  You can get quite a work out around them.

More 2009 time on the floor.  It's been so much fun spending time with Taite and he melts my heart when he says, "Nana, I'm so happy you are here."  Taite who just turned 3 sure knows how to make a grandmother feel special. 

Just look at this beautiful boy, I'm so glad he's in my life.  Caleb turned 5 this past August.

By the shore of the Pamlico River in Washington, NC., Taite looks in wonder at the stumps poking out of the sand.

My grand kids got me an ornament this Christmas that says: "Who needs Santa when you have grandparents."  So sweet.  Caleb is eager to please and he let me take his picture after the church service modeling the Newsboy cap I made for him.  Taite on the other hand seemed to say: "I'm not doing what she wants me to do."  It's ok, his other sweet moments make up for his 3 year old attitude...LOL..

November delivered a great blessing.  Kevin came to visit and spent a total of 45 days with us.  I love this picture Andrea took of us during our stay at Big Mill Bed and Breakfast.

Kevin serves in the military and having him with us was an answer to prayer.  I'm thankful for God's faithfulness as he watches over him while he is away from us.

This is Andrea singing during the worship service at West End Baptist Church, were Travis, her husband is the Senior Pastor. I'm also thankful for her husband who preaches at this church and spreads the Gospel week after week. It's always so special to hear her sing and Travis preach to honor their Lord and Savior. This picture shows the baby she's expecting....to be born in March 2010....More blessings on the way this coming New Year.

Many times this year, my husband Cliff has spent time in the kitchen cooking for me or the family.  I really appreciate him taking the initiative to cook when I'm tired at the end of the day.  I'm thankful for the many other ways he shows he cares.  He's always thinking how he can be a blessing to others.  One of the special things he has started doing for me before heading out to work during the cold mornings is to heat my old van with a space heater.  He cares about the little things, that was makes him so special.

Looking forward to 2010....

The Season of Magic

Enjoyed a wonderful Christmas in the company of Andrea, Travis, Caleb and Taite.  The weather in Williamston was wet, gray and cloudy but our spirits rejoiced and the magic surrounded us in so many ways.

This picture shows Andrea's living room and part of her dining room.  The picture was taken with my new Kodak which has the Panoramic feature.

Her Frazier tree was smaller than in past years, but still smelled wonderful.

Eventhough Caleb woke up sick with a fever, this did not keep him from opening his gifts.

Taite loves his Batcave and loved sharing one of his Batmans with me.

Caleb and Taite got to open one more gift the day after Christmas because they got a duplicate of the Batcave.  My gift to Taite was exchanged for the Dragon's Imaginext set.  It's just priceless to see them open gifts.

They can't wait....to see what is inside.

The day after Christmas was also a day for projects.  Cliff put together a shelve in the future nursery/studio room.  Andrea is in need of storage.

Spent a lot of time on the floor.  Taite loves his Fisher Price Geo Trax set.

Moments of rest like this helped me recover....

Fall Festival at West End Baptist Church

Last night we went to the West End Baptist Church where Travis my son in law is the pastor.  The kids are very much into super heroes.  The church had games and activities for the children in the community.  Caleb and Taite have a sweet tooth just like their daddy...mommy too, I guess.  Travis said they just wanted to sit down and eat candy.  Taite, wearing the blue cape was Batman and Caleb Spiderman.  Taite worked hard trying to open his Smarties.

 

Caleb - Spider Man

 

Isn't he the cutest Batman you ever saw.  I think he's trying to open his smarties in the picture too.

Eating the Hot Dog supper

Andrea painted lots of kids faces---at least one adult lady. 

Internet is slow -- More pictures later on....