Photo: Dad and Scott watching M*A*S*HLocation: My living room
While I realize I have been a little slack lately, I have had good reason. My family has been in town, which is loads of fun and keeps me busy. My parents flew in last Thursday morning. They had a really bumpy ride coming in and they got up really early. Mom was nauseous and Dad was super hungry, so I made them homemade oatmeal with raisins and put them on the couch for a nap. Phil came and got them later in the afternoon, and I met up with them and the Righters for taco salad after class.
On Friday, I took them to Phil's office because the way Phil had gotten the employees to turn in their time sheets on time was by threatening them that if they made her late for feeding my parents dinner, then they would not be permitted to call them mom and dad, but instead Ray and Sue. It is the only time in the history of time sheet threats that one has worked.
After lunch at Nantucket Grille, Dad and I had a daddy-daughter date at the nail salon. We had pedicures done, and there is nothing so funny than to see my smaller girlish version of my dad's feet propped up side-by-side with his while the nail people picked and filed away at our toesies.
Friday afternoon, Dad and I fixed the screen door on the dog porch and made the coolest small doggie door that had a swing hinge and door stopper to prevent little dogs and cats from escaping. It was very innovative and fun. Just as Murphy's law would have it (no pun intended Murphy), right as Dad was installing the last part of the second latch, Jack Jack made his great escape out the front door past Liz, and circled the neighborhood for the better part of an hour. Some neighbors caught him and brought him back.
After Jack Jack's return, we ate at Danny's BBQ because my parents must eat ribs while they are here, it's the law. After dinner, we taught my parents to play Settlers of Cattan. I was mom's coach, and Phil was Dad's coach. Dad won, he found his competitive streak about halfway through the game and wiped the floor with AJ.
Saturday we went for a walk around the lake in Apex because the weather was incredible. We wore t-shirts and fed pushy geese and swans. I made a big dinner with red velvet cake for desert and we visited. Sunday morning, I took Dad to the airport early, and Mom, Phil and I headed for VA to visit more family.
On Friday, I took them to Phil's office because the way Phil had gotten the employees to turn in their time sheets on time was by threatening them that if they made her late for feeding my parents dinner, then they would not be permitted to call them mom and dad, but instead Ray and Sue. It is the only time in the history of time sheet threats that one has worked.
After lunch at Nantucket Grille, Dad and I had a daddy-daughter date at the nail salon. We had pedicures done, and there is nothing so funny than to see my smaller girlish version of my dad's feet propped up side-by-side with his while the nail people picked and filed away at our toesies.
Friday afternoon, Dad and I fixed the screen door on the dog porch and made the coolest small doggie door that had a swing hinge and door stopper to prevent little dogs and cats from escaping. It was very innovative and fun. Just as Murphy's law would have it (no pun intended Murphy), right as Dad was installing the last part of the second latch, Jack Jack made his great escape out the front door past Liz, and circled the neighborhood for the better part of an hour. Some neighbors caught him and brought him back.
After Jack Jack's return, we ate at Danny's BBQ because my parents must eat ribs while they are here, it's the law. After dinner, we taught my parents to play Settlers of Cattan. I was mom's coach, and Phil was Dad's coach. Dad won, he found his competitive streak about halfway through the game and wiped the floor with AJ.
Saturday we went for a walk around the lake in Apex because the weather was incredible. We wore t-shirts and fed pushy geese and swans. I made a big dinner with red velvet cake for desert and we visited. Sunday morning, I took Dad to the airport early, and Mom, Phil and I headed for VA to visit more family.
Photo: GracieLocation: Grandma's living room
We got to Grandma's in the afternoon, and my aunt and cousin were already there. This is my cousin Lori's daughter, who is almost two and is hysterical. She is talking up a storm and repeating anything that sounds interesting to her.
Photo: Aunt JoanLocation: Grandma's living room
This is my Aunt Joan, in from PA, whom I adore. I don't get to see her that often, but I am always really happy to see her when I do. She and my uncle are already licensed therapists, so I always have lots to talk about with them.
Photo: Aunt Nancy with granddaughter GraceLocation: Grandma's living room
My Aunt Nancy came in from Louisville to visit us and her granddaughters. Her family and our family have been close for years, and we are always glad to see them. It has been a lot of fun seeing her grandkids because we see so little of my nephew Derek (he lives in AZ). That and they are both really cute.
Photo: Aunt Nancy with granddaughter MacyLocation: Grandma's living room
Photo: Cousin Sophie with JobiLocation: Grandma's living room
My cousin Sophie is the youngest of all my cousins. It's a little weird that she's 13 now, but fun to watch at the same time. She has a lot more to say now than she did when she was three, but she loves shoes just as much. I can relate. I gave her a pair of brown suede pumps when she was three, and now she has outgrown them, but she still has them. I hope she keeps them because they are really cute shoes.
Photo: (Left to Right) Ben's arm, Lori, Sophie, Jason, Debbie, Macy, Nancy, Phil, Grandma, Mom, Joan, and the back of Grace's headLocation: Cracker Barrel
After Grandma's house, we met up with my cousin's husbands at the Cracker Barrel. I brought in my own sandwich. I was able to eat sides, and mom ordered me some bacon for my sandwich. I drank the tiniest of chocolate milks, and I had to order three of them just to wash down my food (they were really small).
Photo: Cousin Sophie with Aunt JoanLocation: Cracker Barrel
Sophie decided she'd rather sit next to her mom than me. I was not offended, mainly because then I sat next to my mom, and that's always fun.
Photo: Cousin Debbie, daughter Macy, and mom NancyLocation: Cracker Barrel
Our dinner took a really long time, so Macy was pretty done with the whole situation by the time our food came. Apparently, her way of telling her parents she is finished is by feeding the rest of her dinner to their dog Abby. As soon as she starts to say Abby's name, dinner is over. She started calling Abby at the Cracker Barrel, which was pretty funny. It was a short period of time between food throwing, and great-Auntie Sue taking her around the gift shop to point at all the merchandise.
Photo: Grandma, Mom, and JoanLocation: Cracker Barrel
It's not often that these three are together at the same time, so I couldn't miss the photo op. Grandma was very well behaved, she did not try to feed her dinner to Debbie's dog Abby.
Photo: MacyLocation: Grandma's living room
The thing is, Macy looks like one of those porcelain babies that were advertised in magazines all through the 80s and 90s, so you would never guess that she was such a good food thrower. I really can't say much, because Derek had much the same look when he was that age and the conversation that ensued with him after dinner was over was quite shocking. Right as we were getting ready to leave, my cell phone rang and Emily's skull and cross bones icon popped up (Emily Yeagley, not Stewart). The conversation went like this.
Ali: Em, we're just finishing dinner, I'll call you back.
Derek: HI!
Ali: Oh, hi Derek. How are you?
Derek: I pooped...
Ali: Good job Derek.
Derek: ... in my pants!
Ali: That doesn't seem like a good idea.
Derek: Can I talk to Grandma?
The conversation he had with my mother went much the same way. As it turns out, after they hung up. He did poop his pants. Emily has been giving a quarter every time he goes twosies in the toilet and he is saving for a puzzle. Pants pooping gets you no money. Debbie was so amused by this, that she called me later that night to tell me she pooped and could she have a quarter. I paid her the next day. Then I paid her mother a quarter for reducing air pollution by changing stinky diapers. It was well worth the $.25 for me.
Ali: Em, we're just finishing dinner, I'll call you back.
Derek: HI!
Ali: Oh, hi Derek. How are you?
Derek: I pooped...
Ali: Good job Derek.
Derek: ... in my pants!
Ali: That doesn't seem like a good idea.
Derek: Can I talk to Grandma?
The conversation he had with my mother went much the same way. As it turns out, after they hung up. He did poop his pants. Emily has been giving a quarter every time he goes twosies in the toilet and he is saving for a puzzle. Pants pooping gets you no money. Debbie was so amused by this, that she called me later that night to tell me she pooped and could she have a quarter. I paid her the next day. Then I paid her mother a quarter for reducing air pollution by changing stinky diapers. It was well worth the $.25 for me.
Photo: Macy line-dancing with the waitressesLocation: Texas Roadhouse
The next day, we went to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner and Macy was enthralled with the line-dancing waitresses. The waitresses loved her too. Gracie was interested, but kept her distance. Smart girl. I like to keep my distance from line-dancers as well.
Photo: Grace, dad Ben, and mom LoriLocation: Cracker Barrel
For the record, the during the previous night's dinner, Grace was really good. I kept expecting her to lose her cool because it was past bedtime, but she didn't. She was really good and very chatty. She was learning all our names, but then I tried to confuse her by throwing in random names. Lori didn't look too impressed. Then again, Phil and I are always trying to get her kid to do bad things.
Photo: Birthday Boy Ben Location: Texas Roadhouse
Gracie's daddy, Ben, had a birthday and they made him ride the saddle. He was a very good sport, even though he really didn't want to do it. Uncle Gary had arrived by then and was egging him on. Later he was nice enough to let us all go in his hot tub anyhow. It was very cold and windy while we were there, but the hot tub was still really nice.
The next day, we checked out of our hotel and took the windy mountain roads home so that we could stop in Lynchburg to see my Aunt Michele and cousin Zeb. We ate at Panera, and by ate, I mean I sipped hot chocolate and surfed the net while everyone else ate real food.
Mom is leaving Saturday morning and we will gear up for Scott's grandparents. I am excited for them to come, and my cat is plenty broken in on company. Currently he is sniffing all the sewing stuff my mom is using to fix the buttons on my winter coat. Having moms come for a visit is the best thing ever. Moms are really useful to have around and they love you lots too. I'll be sad when she goes.
Stay tuned for grandparent pics next week.
The next day, we checked out of our hotel and took the windy mountain roads home so that we could stop in Lynchburg to see my Aunt Michele and cousin Zeb. We ate at Panera, and by ate, I mean I sipped hot chocolate and surfed the net while everyone else ate real food.
Mom is leaving Saturday morning and we will gear up for Scott's grandparents. I am excited for them to come, and my cat is plenty broken in on company. Currently he is sniffing all the sewing stuff my mom is using to fix the buttons on my winter coat. Having moms come for a visit is the best thing ever. Moms are really useful to have around and they love you lots too. I'll be sad when she goes.
Stay tuned for grandparent pics next week.
7 comments:
A very complete account of your family vacation! I love your mom's hair...it looks great! AR
Thanks Amy. I figure I owe everyone since I waited so long to post.
This is very thorough.
You made up for the long wait! I expected your grandma to look a lot older, but she's just a spring chicken, isn't she?
And someday you, too, can eat wheat products like a regular girl. Don't worry - 20 years more, max.
My favorite parts of this post: (1) your dad having a pedi, (2) AJ losing at Settlers (3) how much eating out happened and you bringing our food with you (that is sad so not really a happy favorite on that one).
Sue's hair is fantastic! I agree with Karin. Who is actually related to you, because I see resemblences in everyone in all those photos, except Scott in the picture with your dad. Really, that first one of Gracie reminds me of a young EmilyApril. And Aunt Joan has got to be your mother's sister. Did I guess right? Or do they just happen to look like sisters in an uncanny manner?
All are related except for Ben, Jason, and Scott. You guessed very well.
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