Sunday, July 16,2023, Went to prayer, than church, taught Sunday School, Bill went to work at Kenzie's with Kimmy, Jared and boys, and Vikki and Rody, I had Peyton and Isaac stay with me.,

                                   Jared, Bill, Eli, Jacob and Travis and Rody working on the kitchen

They had to figure electrical out too

This was the garden today after we pulled all the weeds out last night

Now it can be tilled

Isaac, Peyton and I...Isaac takes good selfies!

The kids at my house

I took them to Jacob's concert with me

Lots of people came to listen to the concert. Wes. Gayla and Joel are ahead of us.  Joel is in the yellow shirt.

Jacob playing

Standing while we all clapped after a wonderful song

I gave Lisa J. her birthday present when I walked in the church door and saw her.  I talked to her for a minute, then went to prayer, then to the sanctuary for church.  Maddy sat with us.  I taught Sunday School and Peyton and Erica were my helpers.  It was a really good and fun lesson.  All the kids did great.  Peyton is an amazing helper.  Afterward, Vikki Taylor gave me a beautiful earring and necklace that says Let Your Light Shine.  It was so sweet of her.  

We got home, and Bill ate a PB&J sandwich, then Vikki, Rody and the kids got here.  The kids stayed with me and Bill, Vikki and Rody headed to Kenzie's in the truck to work on Kenzie's kitchen cupboards, electrical and stove and microwave hookup.  Kimmy and Jared and the boys went there after their church too.  Peyton, Isaac and I watched a couple of movies, then went to Culver's for dinner and concrete mixers.  Peyton cleared off the table afterwards and took the garbage and threw it away without me even asking.  They are such sweet kids and great helpers.  We came home and shortly after left to go to Jacob's concert with the Saginaw Eddy Band.  I took chairs for Rody, Vikki, me, Peyton, Isaac, and Bill.  They were meeting us there.  Isaac and Peyton wouldn't let me carry two chairs, but they each carried two.  Then when I went back for my blanket and another chair, Isaac came with me and he carried the other chair.  They are so good to their nana!  I am so blessed with wonderful grandkids who love me and look out for me.  The concert was another good one.  Jacob came out on his break and talked to us and also talked to Wes, Gayla and Joel.  Peyton carried 4 chairs to my car for me and insisted I didn't help.  Everybody left, and shortly after I got home, I heard Adam come in.  He had lost one of his air pods and came to find it.  It took a while, but he finally tracked it down, listened for it and found it.  I was very happy for him.  Of course, we prayed.  Bill and I relaxed the rest of the evening.

 

Sat., 7/15/23, HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY JACK! WE LOVE YOU!, Took Jack and Eli to Tim Hortons, Melissa and Bruce brought Strawberry Shortcake over for Jack's Birthday, Kimmy, Jared and the boys came over

Happy Birthday Jack!  You are an amazing grandson and we love you so much.  We loved the yummy strawberry shortcake for your birthday.  Great choice!

We loved seeing you have so much fun with Eli on your birthday!

Nana, Papa, Eli and Jack enjoying Ice Capps and donuts at Tim Hortons for Jack's Birthday

Kit Kat was pretty happy in the crate when I went to get her out

She actually rolled on her side and went to sleep

Eli shooting the crossbow

Jack shooting the regular bow

Papa giving Eli some instructions

Eli shooting at the target

Jack's turn

Papa giving Jack instructions

Papa's turn.  It started raining harder so they came in and went back out laterMax

Eli and Jack

Since it was Jack's birthday, he got to dish up his strawberry shortcake first

Jack and Eli enjoying their shortcake

Eli loved Badger and Vader...Jack watching

Max and Vader, Jack, Eli and Badger

Melissa and Max were cute talking to each other

Max shooting

Max shooting the crossbow after Papa gave him instructions.  He hit the bull's eye

Max hit the center all three times he shot the crossbow

Bruce's turn

Max hit the target again when he shot the crossbow

Adam

Jacob

Eli, Jacob and Adam taking down the tent

Adam was being pretty funny when we played SkipBo, not!!!

I told Jack Happy Birthday right after midnight.  Loved being the first one.  Bill was second.  Right after that, we went to bed.  The boys finished watching their movie.  

We were up for a while before the boys woke up.  I was reading my Bible out on the deck, when I heard them starting to talk.  I walked over to ask if they wanted to go to Tim Horton's for donuts for Jack's birthday.  Of course the answer was yes.  They said they slept good in the tent.  It rained and thundered, but they stayed dry.  They sure had fun together.  Kit Kat did good in the crate.  We were a little nervous that she might rip up the tent, so that's where she spent the night so we would be sure she didn't.  

We all enjoyed Tim Horton's.  I had a bagel and the rest had donuts.  Bill had a coffee and the rest of us had Ice Capps. YUM!  We went to Cabela's after that. Bill had to return something.  We walked around and looked at stuff.  

When we got home we went outside and Bill and the boys shot arrows at the target.  They  had fun, but then it started raining harder, so we went inside.  Bill and the kids played lots of ping pong.  

Around 4, Melissa, Bruce and Max came to celebrate Jack's Birthday.  They brought yummy strawberry shortcake that Bruce made for us all to have.  It sure was delicious.  I'm thinking that's what I want for my next birthday.  Max had fun shooting the crossbow and other bow too.   It was nice out, but warm and humid.  Max did amazing shooting and hitting the target.  He came inside with Vader and Badger for a while and we all had fun visiting.  They left, then shortly after, Kimmy, Jared, Adam and Jacob came.  The guys all played ping pong and Kimmy, Jacob, Adam and I played teams in Skip Bo.  It was such a close game. In the end, Adam saw we were going to draw a SkipBo card and be able to go out....so he messed all the cards up.  Those boys are usually unbeatable and I guess they just couldn't take it.  

Kimmy and I walked out to look at the gardens.  She asked about my blueberry bushes, so I took her to show them to her.  She saw all those weeds, and wanted to see if they pulled out easy.  They did, so then there was no stopping her from pulling them.  Jared worked hard pulling them out too.  I kept working with them.  I tried to get Kimmy to stop so we could go in, but she wouldn't.  Eli helped some too.  Bill came out and he helped too until that whole garden was done.  Boy what a big job done!  I didn't want them doing that, but I sure do appreciate it so much.  Thank you all!   They left after that and Bill and I relaxed in our Loveseat recliners.                   

   

 

7/14/23, Friday, Weeded the new garden, Went shopping for foster kid school supplies for church, Lisa's birthday gift and a few things I needed too. Eli and Jack are camping out in the yard here tonight

Maddy sent me these today.  Such a cute little helper she has.

I think she's going to love dusting lol.

Turkey along side the driveway when I pulled in today

Kit Kat loves it when I sit on the swing.  I was watching birds and drinking my coffee.  She wasn't watching birds lol.

I got all of the weeds out of this garden today. The four prong tool Kimmy told me about works amazing.  You still have to bend over and get the weeds out of the garden but it sure is easier.

Lots of apples on our apple tree this year.  Six years ago when Bill pruned this tree, none of us thought it would make it.  We were so wrong.  Yay for Bill.  It is much healthier now.

I can have peace when I look at the garden now.

Finishing getting  the tent ready so Jack and Eli can sleep in it

Jack ready to go in

Eli and Badger in the tent, Jack outside the tent and Jared behind the tent.  It's going to be a fun night for these campers.  Jack's 15th birthday is tomorrow!  It is going to be an exciting night and day.

We read our Bibles in the morning.  I made oriole and hummingbird food and went out to put fresh food in the feeders.  I also put jelly out and an orange.  Then I decided to weed the new flower garden because quite a few little weeds were popping up after 3 weeks of not being tended to.  It was getting pretty warm out by the time I finished.

I texted with my sister, Brenda for a while, returned a light up cloth frisbee I had got from Aldi, because it wouldn't turn on.  I went to the bank after that, then went to fill up with gas at Sam's club.  Then I went to Walmart to get school supplies for foster kids to bring to church on Sunday.  Stopped at Bath and Body and TJ Max to get a birthday present for my friend Lisa.  

That all took a long time.  I was glad to get home.  When I pulled in the driveway I was happy to see Turkey Lurky walking by our small woods, so I took a picture.  Bill went to have both of his bows restrung, but was back before me.  

Eli had been texting me to see if he and Jack could spend the night at our house in the new tent they got for Adam to use while in Copper Harbor.  Of course my answer was yes.  Always love having these sweet grandsons spend the night.  

Melissa brought Jack over and Jack and Bill played ping pong.  Kimmy, Jared and Eli came shortly after and started setting up the tent right away because it was starting to get dark.  

It was an easy set up so that was good.  I found my rechargeable lantern for them to use in the tent.  Poor Kit Kat is spending the night in the crate.  We don't trust her not to climb on the tent and rip it.  The boys got their stuff in the tent, then played with the light sabres for a little while.  They came in to watch a movie and have popcorn.  I hid some fruit slice candy in the bottom for a surprise.  My M & M's are in the camper still, so it was the next best thing I had.  

Hailey sent me these cute pictures of her and her friends day in Traverse City

I'm glad she is loving her job and making such nice friends to hang out with.  I love that they wrote Jesus Loves You!