10/4/17...Same routine this morning, I sure know how busy Melissa is now. Taught Delta Club at church to K-1

Hailey second in line practicing

Hailey in action

Love seeing the fun the kids have worshippiing

So happy to see them raising their hands to the Lord.  Isaac is in the blue number 81 shirt in front and Evan and Peyton are on the right of him.

Peyton and Isaac having fun doing the balloon game

Can't believe I didn't take any pictures today.  Busy with getting homework done when the kids got home, going to Hailey's game and then teaching my class.  The kids were so helpful and are growing up so nice.  They played while I went through their folders from school and had their snack.  We ate and then went to Hailey's volleyball game at Peace Lutheran.I saw Matt Starke when I walked in and talked to him quite a while.  Got Evan a pack of M & M's from the concession stand.  Max and Bill went in the truck, and Evan and I went in the car because we had to leave early to go to our class. I have him, Peyton and Isaac again this year which makes me happy.  Got a call from Bill and he went to Bethlehem School instead of Peace so I told him where to come.  They got there after the game had started but didn't miss too much of it.  They bought popcorn on their way in.  Hailey and her team played so good during the first game.  I was amazed at how much they have improved and what great teamwork they have now compared to when they first started.  They have great coaches.  Hailey did a good job as captain of her team an I could hear her encouraging them lots while they were playing.
I didn't even want to leave because I was having so much fun watching them.  We left and headed right across the street to our church.  Amanda helped me tonight because she is going to cover for me when I got to New York.  She was a great help with all the writing we had to do the first night.  We had 9 kids and they are all so sweet.  What a great class!  We went home and had ice cream for a treat before class.  It is nice this year because it's a requirement for parents to pick their kids up on time.
We got out much earlier and then the kids got to bed earlier than normal.  Max stayed up and we worked on his spelling words.  He sure has some big words for a sixth grader...Simultaneously is one of them.  All long ones this time and 20 of them.  I sure know how much Melissa does now with schoolwork, Laundry, school activities and so much more.  WOW...great job Melissa and Bruce!  So much to do with our four sweeties!

10/2/17....Kimmy and the Eli came over, Picked up Max, Jack and Evan from school, Made a roast, carrots and potatoes (plus rolls for my Hailey girl) Hailey won one of her volleyball games

Eli conducting while Max plays his trombone

Evan loved playing with the legos

Hailey serving at her game

They were the visitors...very close game but they won

Got up at 5:15 a.m. so I could get ready before I got the kids up at 6:15.  They boys wanted to get up 10 minutes early so they could eat a really big breakfast.  They did too.  Max fed and took care of the guinea pig right away when he got up.  He is very responsible with taking care of it morning and evening.  They got ready really good and then we read the Bible and they had some free time after that.  We left for school and after I dropped them off, I came home for a little while before my 9 a.m. dentist appt.  Had a nice visit with my hygienist who lives down the road.  Good report so that was nice.  Came home and cleaned the house.  I picked Max, Jack and Evan.  Hailey had a game so she stayed at school.  I dropped Jack off at Vikki's and Jack ran in and got his drone Uncle Rody gave him to show us.  He sure was excited.  Kimmy and Eli stopped over after Eli's appointment.  We sure were happy to see them.  The boys loved playing with Eli.  Max didn't want to play his trombone for us, but when Kimmy and I told him about Adam playing and leaving his case open and getting money, Max decided to play.  Eli was his conductor.  Max made a dollar and was real happy.   I made a roast, carrots and potatoes (and rolls for my Hailey girl because she loves my rolls).  I tried to talk Kimmy into staying, but she had to get home.  Bill went to Hailey's game at Holy Cross and sent us pictures.  They won the first game.  It sure was a close one.  I stayed home to visit with Kimmy and have Max work on his homework.  Watched Angels in the Outfield with the kids and they loved it.  They were really laughing.  Love tucking them in and listening to their prayers.  I am one blessed nana!

10/1/17...Went to church, took Hailey home so she could water her neighbor's plants while they are gone, Went to the fire station after church, had fun with grandkids, had a family movie night

Hailey, Vikki, Peyton, Rody, Isaac, Max, Jack, Evan and Papa eating breakfast at the fire station

Peyton, Jack, Max, Papa, Isaac, Evan and Hailey

Isaac in the firetruck

Jack in front and Peyton and Evan in the back

Peyton in the firetruck

Vikki took her turn too

Jack

Hailey

Evan

Evan and Peyton 

Peyton, Evan and Jack

Evan throwing bean bags at the burning windows and knocking them down

Peyton, Jack, Papa and Evan

Peyton, Papa, Jack

Jack knocked the windows out super fast

Peyton did a good job too

Jack and Peyton

Here she goes....go Peyton

Melissa and Bruce on the train heading to Chicago

They are there.....the kids loved seeing this picture with the big buildings in the background

Melissa all dressed up and looking beautiful for their evening date

The kids got up early and Max took care of their guinea pig right away.   He also helped with Evan. He sure is a responsible boy.  All the kids got ready and ate breakfast and then we headed to church.    

L.A. Joiner preached and it was a very good message.  After church, we went with Vikki and her family to the fire station for a pancake breakfast.  Bill had seen it in on Facebook.  It was a benefit for a little 7 year old girl who has brain cancer.  Please pray for her.  Vikki was sweet and took her bracelets in and let the little girl pick one out which made her very happy.  We came home and read some books, Max and Hailey did some homework.  Hailey helped me make dinner.  She washed the potatoes, and helped layer them to cook on the grill.  She also seasoned the burgers before we cooked them on the grill.  She cleared the table for me too.  What a great helper she was!  After we had everything done, we had a movie night with popcorn with surprises in the bottom of the containers.  Very nice day and the kiddos were so good.

9/30/17....Went to church from 9 till noon to hear L.A. Joiner teach. Melissa and Bruce dropped off Max and Evan to stay while they are in Chicago

Papa stirring the fire.  Max and Evan on the swings

Evan eating his s'more

Max and Evan eating their suckers papa gave them

We went to church from 9 till noon.  L. A. Joiner was here and gave a great teaching.  They had lots of fruit, cheese, meat, bagels and cream cheese, and sweets for us to eat.  After that I went to Jack's to pick up oven roasted turkey for Hailey to have in her lunch.  Came home and cleaned a couple of rooms while Bill moved the shed outside, moved the small camper by it and burned lots of branches.  When Melissa and Bruce got her with the boys, Melissa went over everything I need to know for when I'm watching the kids.  She had everything really organized and all I need to know is written down.  She is amazing at that.  Bruce was a sweetie and carried all the heavy boxes of deck stain in the hall down to the basement for Bill.  Bill was very surprised when he came in.  Bruce and Melissa left to take Jack to Vikki's and Bill, Max, Evan and I went out by the campfire and roasted marshmallows and made s'mores.  The boys were sure happy.  Hailey is at her corn maze outing with her friends from school.  She will be here later.  Max was so sweet.  He really wanted to go to the corn maze, but when he heard Evan was coming here early, he told his mom he didn't want to go to the corn maze.  He wanted to come here early to have more Nana time instead.  Sure love that sweetie.  Melissa had their list made out of what to do to get ready each morning and he told her she forgot one.  He added #6 ....read the Bible.   So happy he loves to read his Bible.

9/29/17...I went grocery shopping, dropped some things off at Salvation Army, Kimmy and the boys came over and Vikki and the twins came over

Eli with his cute pumpkin from my garden....wearing cute sunglasses

Jacob...papa in the background

Jacob, Eli and Adam worked on digging a four foot hole for Bill for his basketball hoop.  Jacob worked very hard on this even though it was hot in the sun.  He didn't give up until he had it 4 ft. deep.  It was cute how he kept measuring it.  

Adam and Eli worked on getting the corn husks out of the garden for Bill.  They packed them in garbage cans after they finished getting them out of the garden.  Hard working boys!

The hole kept getting deeper.  

Eli wanted to dig in the hole with the little shovel he's holding

Peyton

Isaac

Peyton

Eli up high in the tree.....Isaac wanted to climb up too, but couldn't quite do it yet.

Isaac did a good job trying to climb up

I was so happy when Adam played his trombone for me.  He is doing great and loves it.

Jacob played his clarinet for us too.  He plays so good now.  Hard songs and keeps the beat so good.

We had a downpour and then this beautiful rainbow

Hailey and Ally came over to work on a sewing project for school.

Jack had fun playing sports on the wi.  Forgot to get a picture while he was playing, so took this one before he left.

I got up early to go shopping before it got really busy.  Went to my neighbors first, to drop off a letter that the mailman put in our box by accident.  Talked with them for a while and they showed me the kind of trap they use to catch moles and told me where I could get one.  I went to Walmart to pick one up.  Went to Kroger's and they are making the store bigger and moving things all over so it was a challenge shopping there.  Went to Aldi's after that and then to Salvation army to drop stuff off.  Bill called to say Kimmy was at our house so I headed right home.  I didn't think she was coming, but I was so happy to see her and the boys.  They all helped with groceries when I got home so it went fast putting them away.  THANK YOU Kimmy and boys!!!
The boys worked on digging a 4 ft. hole for Bill's basketball pole.  Jacob stayed at it until the job was done.  I was very proud of him.  The other boys did a great job getting the corn husks out of the garden.  I was very proud of them too. So happy I got to see them and got my hugs I have been missing.  Vikki came after she picked the kids up from school.  She made me and Kimmy each a beautiful bracelet. Bruce brought Hailey, Ally and Jack here.  The girls had to use my sewing machine for a school project they are doing.  They ended up taking a long time so I told Bruce he could get home to Evan so Melissa could go to Vikki's and get her hair cut and I would take the girls home when they were done.  Dropped Ally off because she had to be home at 10:30 and then Hailey and I stopped to get Hailey a Nacho Bell Grande at Taco Bell to take home and eat.  What a nice polite granddaughter she is.

9/28/17...Got lots of organizing done, helped with bingo at Community Village with others from Faith Riders

Fun time helping residents with bingo.  Bill is in the back calling the numbers.  He was so cute and had them all laughing with his funny comments.

We slept in this morning until 8:30 which was very nice.  Bill had an appointment at the VA and then had to drive veterans for his volunteer position.  I did laundry and hung it outside and then started cleaning and organizing the upstairs bedroom and some of the attic.  It's looking much better.  Getting stuff ready to take to Salvation Army tomorrow.  Kimmy still wasn't feeling good, but was a little better at least.  I didn't go to her house like I planned because I didn't want to catch it and then pass it to Melissa's kiddos when I have them here.  Sure was disappointed I didn't get to see her though.  I cleaned the rest of the camper out and closed it up.  Bill got the tiller he bought for $100 turning over.  It wouldn't start yet, but he thinks after he has the carburetor cleaned it will.  So happy he can do this and save money.  The person who had it before, died and it hadn't been used for 2 years. 

 I made the salmon Terry and Vikki gave us for dinner.  It was the best ever!  No bones in it either. 

After dinner we went to Community Village and did bingo with the residents there.  We had fun and so did they.  They sure love bingo and winning quarters.  Met some very nice people there.