Announcing Baby Grace!!

Look who I finally got to met in person!

It's my newest granddaughter,

Grace Elizabeth Bender.

Isn't she sweet?

Isn't she BIG?

I don't think her brothers are going to get away with much.So pretty.

So adorable!!

For those of you keeping track. . . it's number 6!

Travels

When traveling there are routes I take more often than others. Along the way I have found things to look forward to passing that means we're getting closer. Often I have wanted to take pictures of certain things, but the people that I travel with are some times no fun! They either think it's silly, they don't want to stop for another photo opp. or they just want to get to their next destination.

This trip is going to be a little fun for me. This time I'm stopping at some of those spots I find interesting and taking pictures. Some of the places that I thought I'd get a picture at I'm passing by, the dragon made out of scrap metals for example just over the Oregon/California boarder on I-5. I thought there was a pull out, but no such luck and I didn't think pulling over on the shoulder of a freeway for a picture where there was a sign saying emergency stopping only would be a good idea.
So here you have a picture of the shoe tree. This tree was even in the northwest AAA magazine this month!! It's located in NV on highway 395 between Reno and Susanville. So if we are going North we are almost to Susanville and if going South we are almost to Reno!
This shot even has a pink lei in it!

You need to look hard to see these.

Here are where some of them are located, if you need help. It really is a funny sight in the late fall and winter with all the leaves off. Although it seems to me that some of the shoes have walked away as there were a lot more on our last trip down 395.

Don't forget you can click to enlarge and get a better view.More experimenting with picnic. This one didn't turn out at all as it was straight into the sun. With picnic I was able to get a pair of shoes to show up.

It's so much fun to be in a hotel room with no interruptions to get to play with my pictures and blog. Tomorrow I should be in WA meeting Grace. OH BOY.

Having Fun

Still playing around with picnic. This is Kaikai on the beach at Lake Michigan, taking his morning snooze.

Wordless Wednesday

Picking Flowers

After we were done with our trip this summer, we thought we'd spend a couple of days in WA with the kids, we could rest up before the last 23 hours it would take to get home. Nicole had said on the way home that Kai wasn't getting his four pm feeding (AKA the boob) after they got back home. True to her word the very next afternoon she was off limits!! So outside they went for some re-direction. Nicole and Isa decided that some flowers for inside would be nice, Isa pointed out what looked good and mama would snip it and hand it over to Isa. If you notice Kai is always close by (the red spot).

Isa would take each flower and place it exactly were it looked the best.

Mama with the boy close by, snipping away.

Isa showing off the last flower to be placed in the vase.

Kai begging mama for just a little, please mama, pleeeaaaseee.

Getting in the vase.

Taking a picture with the finished product.
OK, he's had it now! He's going to go find what he wants, thank you very much.

Nicole, Isa and Kai with the finished product, in daddy's almost finished room!

Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Buffalo

After leaving Wall's Drug we headed on to Badlands National Park. Then on to Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial. This is a trip we had made with our kiddo's 13 years earlier and thought it was worth a repeat with the grandkids. The Badlands Park didn't disappoint, the main attraction there are the buffalo. You can get fairly close to them and just sit and watch for a while.This is a shot from the van window, it shows just how close they come to the car. Not to mention we couldn't move for quite some time as one buffalo had decided to stand, yes just stand, in front of a car. We are not allowed to try to get them moving in any way, so you wait.

Look what else we got to see!! Burrow's. They are looking for goodies from the car, we found some crackers to feed them. We also saw a lot of antelope and prairie dogs.Here we are at Mt. Rushmore. The kids didn't know what to make of those faces carved in the rocks. Michael got it a bit as he understood presidents, Isa wasn't real sure about it (keep checking Nicole's blog as I'm sure she'll share a cute story from little miss). Kai didn't voice his opinion and Kevin liked it a lot, he just wants to know were Obama is. Isa hearing about the presidents.The kids in front of the Crazy Horse Memorial. It hasn't progressed much in 13 years. A couple of days ago they showed an explosion that blew away 5 tons of rock. Now maybe they will be able to get more done on it.Keep your hands off my uncle!!
Looking around the building at Crazy Horse.

Wordless Wednesday

Kevin and HSM3

While in Disney World we went to Hollywood Disney. Hollywood Disney is one of Kevin's favorite lands, I believe the reason for this is that the HSM gang has performed there both times he's been. Just like last time, he was one of the chosen to perform with the group. Needless to say he was thrilled. In the video you can also enjoy little miss swiveling her hips too! They both enjoy music. Michael on the other hand wasn't to impressed with the whole thing.

Leroy Misses the Boys

Michael and Casey,

Leroy really liked playing with you while you were at our house this summer.

He'd like to know if you are coming back soon. If you are he'll keep his ball out and ready.

Isa,

If you'd like to jump on our trampoline while throwing the ball for Leroy, just let mama know and she can arrange for it to be done.

How are you Isa?

Recently while on our travels, someone in ON asked Isa, " How are you, Isa?"

To which my darling granddaughter replied "I'm pretty"
I must say she is certainly a pretty little girl. She also makes a very pretty princess.It takes some work though, first you must place the crown perfectly on the head.
Then you must put in curlers for that perfect curl.

Don't forget the sparkly stuff to spray on your hair.

Watch out so you don't get any in the eyes, princess don't like that.

Then the nails must be done to perfection. It helps to have someone over see this task so all mistakes can be taken care of quickly, thanks Michael. Everyone knows that every princess needs her beauty sleep!
And yes Isa you are pretty.

Fun With Pictures

Been playing some with Picnic, having fun. I can't always remember how I did something, I figure with time I'll eventually get it. Here is a picture of Michael from our trip when he was upset because I wanted to take another group picture with him in it.Isa and Michael at Lake Michigan.
Same picture different playing techniques.
The princess herself twirling around in the waves.

The man, enjoying being at the beach.

More on our Adventures

We have traveled across country a couple of times. Now I've always seen signs for Wall Drug Store and have wanted to stop, no one every wanted to stop. This time I'd been told be a few friends, you have to stop at Wall Drug. So I made it known to all that this time we'd be stopping! I must say it has to be the largest (as advertised) drug store ever. It is blocks long and wide! We spent probably two hours there and never saw it all.

Isa found a saddle, must practice riding.

The kids playing cards with a card shark.

This is a hillbilly band. Michael and Kevin could have stayed there all day.

A lovely saloon gal.

Next time we drive through we'll stop and see the half.

Wordless Wednesday

Blue Earth, MN

While on our journey cross country this summer, we came across who else. but the green giant!! We were thinking about making a bathroom stop, at the next exit I got off just seeing what they had to offer (in bathrooms). Who did I see looking at me? None other than the big green guy. Naturally I had to stop for the photo opportunity. There was a mini museum there too, it's goal was to get you to the big green giant museum downtown. I however could not convince Calvin or our daughter to give it a go.
We decided to use the DQ, which was in walking distance of the green guy for a bathroom pit stop, then decided to just grab burgers there too. While we waited for Calvin to come back with our food the kids played monker (Michael's word for monster). Uncle Kevin is always the monker.Michael trying to scare the monker.

Dog pile, dog pile!

Oh no, the monker is getting away.

Get him down again, come on Michael help me out here.

Run KaiKai, run. The monker is coming.

Oh KaiKai, it's OK little buddy, sissy has you!Time out. Grandpa Cow is back with the food.

After lunch I took the kids back up for one more photo, suddenly Isa announces I gotta poop. What do ya think, does she look like she needs to poop?