This past Tuesday and Wednesday, grandpa and I had the pleasure of two young visitors. Jordan (7) and Joy (8) spent a couple of fun filled days with us.
Since Jenna and her parents had to be at the University of Iowa for orientation and dorm business Jordan was going to stay with us. I figured it would be more fun for her (and me…lol) if Joy was out here also. They are really good little girls and have a lot of fun together. But let me tell you…two days is about max until they are older. After two days, they start to get cranky, and so do I.
Do you suppose I tried to pack too many fun things in to a short time frame?
They arrived around 7-7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, had their hugs of greeting to one another and headed for the Barbie basket. I told them I had a couple of things to do and then I would take them swimming. I was determined to find water someplace, because it was pushing upwards in to the 90’s, and they needed to get outside. So water sports was our only option!
Here are my two little bathing beauties taking a snack break at waters edge.
Aren’t they adorable!!
Before going back in to the water it was time to do a land sandscaping. Since we had no pails or shovels, and grandmas are notorious for improvising, we robbed grandpa’s stash of empty coffee cans, added a couple of tablespoons from the kitchen and voila’ we had sand toys!
After the snack and sand time they decided it was time to go back in the water and work some more on the water ballet that they were putting together for my enjoyment. They didn’t actually realize that just watching them put this little show together was giving me great pleasure!
After our 3 hours in the water, sand and sun it was time to pack up our stuff and trudge back to the jeep. On the way home I decided that since they had been so good, I would stop in Polk City and treat them to an ice cream cone. We stopped at a new little cafe on the square called Sunrise Cafe and each had a small cone. The ice cream was delicious and very refreshing. My two little ladies were so polite and ate without much mess at all!
We then headed on home to see how grandpa was coming with the yard work. I made the girls undress in the garage, for which they preceded to inform me that they really didn’t want to do that, but since I’m bigger than them, I convinced them it was the way it had to be. They had sand and moss in their shoes, suits and on their little bodies, and I didn’t really want it all over the house.
So, off came the clothes and two naked little girls ran to the shower. Twenty minutes later with clean bodies, clean hair and clean clothes, they rested with a movie while I fixed dinner. We had a fast bite and then headed to the ballpark so Jo Jo could practice with her softball team for a tournament this weekend, (following in her siblings footsteps).
Back home at around 8:15 p.m., we did some bubble blowing on the deck and then got in to jammies for popcorn. Brushed our teeth, read a story and it was lights out…whew…and collapse time. I really do need to get in to shape sometime soon!
Wednesday dawned sunny and bright with the two girls jumping on me while I blissfully slept. Afterall, it was 7 a.m. and you can’t expect them to sleep all day…or can you?
French toast for breakfast, played for awhile in the morning,and I got things together for our day at the zoo. Our trip started at Mickey D’s (McDonalds) for lunch then on to the animals!
Isn’t he handsome?
This pair of swans never got too far from their furry little ones.
The girls got a kick out of the Lemer, and he pretty much ignored them and just kept hanging around like no one was there.
I really had to do some heavy coaxing for this next picture. They just did NOT want to get inside of this big egg, but I knew in my …uhmmm, artistic mind, that it would be an adorable picture…and again I WON! Two for grandma, zero for girls!
Can you tell they are getting less and less happy with me snapping their pictures all the time.
We ended our day at the zoo with a train ride. We had to wait about 20 minutes, because the train had jumped the tracks earlier and they had to get it lifted back on and then do a couple of test runs. But it was a fun ride and worth the wait. Well for me anyway, it meant I got to sit down!!
We stopped for ice cream again on the way home. Grandma deposited her two little charges with their parents, kissed and hugged them good-bye and made plans to do it again.
AFTER I rest!
On Thursday, I went over to Roosevelt High School to take pictures of the seniors and their coach (seated) on the softball team. These six girls have been together all through high school, and we have enjoyed the privilege of being part of their fan base. I’m sure that even though Jenna and the others have graduated, you will still see grandpa and I at some of the games. Count on it!!
Jenna
Jenna in action!
We have a few more Roosevelt games coming up and a couple of tournaments and then our lil’ ballplayer is retiring her glove. It has been a great ride, and now it is on to supporting the…
Iowa Hawkeyes!!
