GRANDMA TIME WAS A GREAT TIME

I was gone to CA from Oct. 21st to Oct 24th. Ryan and Crystal flew me to CA because Ryan was gone and Crystal wanted some company. This is the baggage claim area at Sacramento, suitcases stacked to the ceiling, unique, but I like it.
The first night I got there, we went to Kelly's neighbor across the street. He is trying to sell his 4 puppies. Both Crystal and Kelly liked this one the most. Both girls REALLY wanted a new puppy, but they both managed to restrain themselves. The rest of us loved holding the puppies.

Too cute-"He's mine and I'm NOT giving him back."

"If one is good, 2 are better, right?"

"Awww, look at those 2 adorable faces."

"2 sweet sisters and 1 adorable pup."

The next day as we were driving around, Owen kept asking for "papa". So we called and let Owen talk to "papa". Owen was my "shadow" all weekend. He was giving me lots of love.

The next morning I went to Payton's preschool. She really likes it. She goes 3 mornings a week.

After we got Payton from school, Kelly met us at Chili's for lunch, mmmm good.

That afternoon, Payton and I went shopping at Claire's because I needed some Halloween earrings and Payton helped me pick some out.

This is "hereditary"-Grandpa Jim can't pass up these candy/gumball machines without putting in a quarter either.

Payton and I got matching spider earrings and I got a batty Halloween headdress.

On Friday evening we went to Alex's Fall Festival at his school.

There was a fun game, where the kids threw a baseball at a target and someone else was holding a radar gun and it told how fast the kids were throwing the baseball. I thought that was neat. Alex threw the ball at 33 mph.

What would a Fall Festival be without "fishing" for goodies.

And waiting in anticipation for mmmmmm cotton candy.

Sophie spent Friday night with us and we watched "How to Train Your Dragon", cute movie. Payton took this picture of Sophie and me.

Next morning, we went to watch Sophie and Alex's soccer games. Can you see Sophie (she's a tad taller than the rest of the girls)

Soccer kids and

Soccer moms. Sophie made her first goal. I saw it, but missed filming it, so here is the "interview" after the goal.

Kelly is the soccer mom in charge of Sophie's team this year. At the end of the season the coach and her assistants get a gift from the team. Usually it is a gift card to a restaurant, but Kelly made this quilt and the girls will sign their names on the white part. The green part has soccer balls on it. Good job Kelly (expect to have the head soccer mom job for all the rest of the years that Sophie plays soccer)

After soccer, Kelly came over and we watched the movie "Killers" (comedy/action). It was rather silly. Later that night, Kelly's whole family came for dinner. We watched San Francisco beat the Phillies and they will be going to play in the World Series. That was neat.

Sunday, I headed back home. I'll miss you guys!!! Thanks for everything.

Kevin was my chauffeur, going to and from the airport. Back home again.

FALL HAS FALLEN

The signs of Fall are everywhere and Winter is just around the corner. Most the leaves are gone from the trees. Hard rain is pounding outside. The garden is tilled up and covered with plastic.

Last weekend, Jim made a ditch with the ditch witch. It goes from the spring to the pond. It is already

putting water in the pond.

We got much needed fresh gravel on the driveway.

And one last important Fall event, Kevin's birthday. He is 28 years old. We put together an emergency car kit to keep in his car.

He wanted me to try this new recipe. Pumpkin pie with a nutty brown sugar topping. At first I thought it sounded weird, but it was yummmmmy.

Hope you are enjoying Fall. We are supposed to have a hard winter in this area. We shall see.