FUN times with Cailyn and Landon!

A few weeks ago, Grandpa and Mimi had a chance to play with Cailyn and Landon in their own home while their mommy and daddy enjoyed a much-deserved evening out.  We had a great time interacting with and observing the children in their home environment!

Corissa had their dinner prepared, so we enjoyed sitting at the table while they ate their mac n cheese and chicken nuggets and fruit!  I brought some cookies for dessert!

Cailyn and Grandpa played some card games downstairs

Landon showed me his expertise on the plasma car and I took video of him playing on the floor mats in the spacious livingroom, which Landon then enjoyed watching! Wish I could learn how to post one here as it is so precious!

Upstairs, we played in the kitchen, did some coloring, listened to music, and they showed us their bedrooms.  The train table now sits in Landon's room.

They each have a set of "cubbies" in their bedrooms for organization...Mike says he put them together, but Corissa "organized" the spaces!

Thankyou, Corissa and Mike, for such a fun evening...and glad we had the chance to help out a little!

MOTHER'S DAY CELEBRATIONS 2013

Before the end of May, I wanted to share some of the highlights from my Mother's Day weekend this year.  The weekend started with a sweet dinner invitation from Michael.  He gave me a nice card and took me to Pei Wei for dinner on Friday evening after work.  The gift of his time was invaluable, and the food was delicious too!  

On Saturday, my mother and father's church hosts a luncheon on Mother's Day weekend each year.  Fortunately, my mother had a table full of guests this year, including her great granddaughter, Cailyn
"Sowing Seeds of Friendship" was the theme, and after the entertainment, the men served the salad lunch and  yummy dessert (dirt pudding, including a gummy worm!). They served a special lunch for children; chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and a little carton of milk.  Perfect!

Everyone received a little seed packet to take home, plus we played a fun game to see who would take home the pretty floral centerpieces...Mom was our table's winner, and later she gave the "flower box" to Cailyn to take home...she was thrilled!     

 

Mom with great granddaughter, Cailyn.

Dad was there too and helped serve water and lemonade, and he took our group photos outdoors on the church patio. 

   Before going to the luncheon, Alissa and Jen brought me special cards and gifts...a pretty necklace and earrings set, a bottle of wine, and a handy carry-all for the back of my car, so I can eliminate my old laundry basket!

 
 On Mother's Day after mass, Terry & Ken hosted a Mother's Day lunch.  We had decided on a baked potato bar so I brought the baked potatoes, Terry made the chili, and our children brought the paper goods, salad, and potato toppings.  Mom brought a fresh fruit bowl and two different kinds of brownies!

Mom and Dad on the patio; Jen, Nick, Alan and Alissa kindly smiling for the camera...

 Amy and her boys made cute "hand-print" paper flower bouquets for all the mothers!

 Terry & Ken's son Jeremy happened to be back in Arizona for a week-long visit, and Jen's beau snapped a group photo before we all departed.  Amy & Chris' boys sure have grown!  Mike, Corissa and family were celebrating Mother's Day with Corissa's mother, and Terry's son Chris and his family were spending the weekend at Disneyland this year.

I feel very blessed that my sister and I could share another Mother's Day with our mother!

FAMILY TIMES IN APRIL

Earlier in April we enjoyed a Saturday morning with the grandkids over for playtime and lunch!  The weather was beautiful so we played outdoors.  Cailyn helped grandpa plant some flowers,

 
and Landon wanted to swing and ride in the wagon.  Both kids wanted to help water the flowers...

The sandbox was a big hit with both of them!  It was the first time that Landon was old enough to play in the sandbox with his sister at our house...They did really well, and Landon didn't throw too much sand! ;-)

Of course, once it was time to go in the house, Mimi decided it was easier to give them morning baths than to try and brush off the sand! ;-)  Before we knew it, it was time for an episode of Mickey Mouse Club on TV so lunch could be prepared!  Their Mommy and Daddy came to pick them up before naptime....after having the chance to run a few errands and eat a quiet lunch together for a change!

Last Sunday, April 14, we joined Vince's side of the family at Martin & Kim's house for a delicious brunch, complete with eggs, pancakes, sausage, macaroni salad, fruit and bagels!

 Art with Josh and Beth...Alissa and Alan had another commitment so missed out.

 Corissa, Mike and the kids enjoyed breakfast and were really excited to meet Nike, Troy's dog, and see the basement!  Something new!!

 Kim, Dianne and I had lots of things to talk about!

 Beth and Josh are a few weeks away from being first-time parents!

Jen and Nick joined Natalie and her boyfriend Brandon on the patio outside!

 Austin, Troy and Martin enjoyed their food in front of the TV.  Austin's fiance, Giana, was at work!  We missed seeing her.  Landon and Cailyn enjoyed playing with some toy cars that Troy shared with them!

It was great seeing everyone again and having the chance to catch up!

HAPPY EASTER

It was the Ruggiero Family's turn to host Easter this year, so thought we'd try something different.  With Alissa and Alan's help, we were able to reserve a nice ramada at Power Ranch where they live.  The weather was beautiful on Easter, with just enough breeze for a little kite flying...not too warm to melt the chocolate candy, and cool enough in the shade to relax and visit with everyone. (This was the theory anyway... "Relax" is the word that most of the parents of little ones did NOT experience, however!)

With Terry and Ken's help, we loaded up extra tables into the pick up trucks, along with ice chests, games, lawn chairs, blankets, food, and all the paraphenalia that goes with eating food at a picnic!  I borrowed orange safety cones from our Security Department at Skyline for the "unloading on a busy street" process as the parking lot was some distance away from the ramada.

Here MaryBeth and Brock are ready to eat!

Terry, Chris, Bode & Brock are keeping cool in the shade on one of Terry's pretty quilts!

Here Cailyn and Landon are enjoying some fresh fruit and chicken tenders, plus they enjoyed a few potato chips, M & M's and jelly beans later! They are sitting at a children's table that our children used at their grandparent's house 30+ years ago too!

  They received cute little wagons from their great grandparents so those became their easter egg containers during the traditional egg hunt.

The children's parents had their work cut out for them...trying to steer them away from the lake (until duck-feeding time later)...and chasing them at the playground, plus running to make the kites fly higher too!

Jen and Nick helped with the egg hunt and the kite-flying, and then left early to join Nick's family for their Easter celebration as well.

Everyone enjoyed the deli sandwiches, chicken tenders, potato salad, veggies, MaryBeth's deviled eggs, Corissa's fresh fruit bowl and the special desserts. Terry & Ken provided ice tea, lemonade and water for everyone. Alan's mother brought her "oatmeal candy" and "dirt pudding" dessert...YUM!  And my mother baked up these delicious and festive cupcakes for our holiday celebration.

Here are the O'Bryans: Joan, Alissa & Eugene

Vince, Alan and his brother John with his new adopted dog

Thanks to everyone for their help in making our Easter picnic a special celebration!