Playing with Grandchildren

Today Neil and I spent a wondeful day with Benjamin, Aisha, and Keeley. We picked them up and showed them all the geese at Snake River Landing. Then we went to our usual duck-feeding spot by the falls. Mallard ducks with the green heads, geese, and seagulls were all happy to eat the sack of bread we brought. Then we moved on to people-feeding and had lunch (kid's meals) at Arctic Circle. They have indoor slides, monkey bars, and a rock-climbing wall that is perfect for when it is freezing outside, and you have grandkids who want to slide and chase! Keeley just watched and studied everything with her big blue eyes--she will be joining the motion crowd soon. At home the kids played with dolls and trucks, Keeley emptied drawers and praticed standing up next to Natalie's big panda. I let the grandkids pick the dinner menu. We had mac and cheese, cheese slices, apples with peanut butter, and blueberry bagels with strawberry topping--a little strange but actually kind of an interesting dinner! It's funny when you have children you love them so much; then when you have grandchildren your heart just grows to love so many more wonderful little people. I have my second eye surgery on Monday, so I probably won't be posting for a few weeks. I hope it goes well. My new lens is wonderful that Dr. Wallace put in two weeks ago.

To See or Not to See....

I had eye surgery on Monday. Dr. Gary Wallace (a wonderful eye surgeon!) removed my damaged lens and put in a new one. He also made two incisions to try to help with my astigmatism. I knew I had not been seeing well, but now I can actually see, the difference is amazing. Try looking through crumply waxed paper, and you will have an idea of my previous vision in the left eye. I have research papers to grade while this is healing, which should be interesting. I have surgery again in two weeks before Thanksgiving Break for some non-working muscles. Hopefully, by Christmas I'll be finished with the latest in my bionic projects. There is so much beauty in the world to see, I'm grateful for modern technology to keep me seeing it.

Keeley's One Year Birthday Party November 3rd

I am finally up to November--yeah! Keeley turned a year old on the third. She was not sure what the celebration was about, but she knew she was the star!

She is a sweet, beautiful little girl who loves to "dance" to music.

Halloween 2009

Halloween was on a Saturday this year. We celebrated Ashley's birthday (really Oct. 27) with an afternoon pizza party. Then Ryan and Ashley brought the kids over to trick-or-treat. Ryan was a robot; Ashley was a witch; Benjamin was a soldier; Aisha was a princess, and Keeley was a pumpkin. Aisha would run up to the house first and get candy and then go through with the group of kids. Her bag had much candy! Keeley stayed in with grandma and grandpa most of the night. We both enjoyed that.

Aisha's September Birthday Party

Aisha turned three on September 25th. She was a lovely princess, and Ashley made her a princess cake.

Kids and Grandkids in Island Park

Some Island Park Pictures

More Home Pictures for Mom

Gone for a Long Time

I have not blogged for a long time. I am hoping to post several blogs that will catch this up.

I'll start with the summer of 2009. We camped quite a bit at Island Park, mom lived with us and recuperated from two foot surgeries, I learned how to be an online instructor. I'm attaching some pictures from the summer of 2009, including some of mom's beautiful yard and the boots that prevented her from working in it.