June 2012

Well it's June and it's your turn to sleep over.  On Sunday the 3rd I meet your and your parents in the parking lot for the light rail off the 101.  We went to my house and dropped off your cloths.  You decided you wanted to go to the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM).  You wanted to go to the area where you could play some instruments.  So away we went.  You had a great time at MIM.

We stopped in the gift shop before we left.  You wanted a lava lamp.  You said you would count it against your birthday presents.  So I bought the lava lamp for you.  When we got home you showed it to Mr. Bob and then played with his helicopter.

You had some trouble controlling it and the blades hit your hands a couple of times.

Then you and Mr. Bob went to the pool store and asked Mr. Bob some questions about his ex wives.  You noticed a pizza restaurant next door and decided that's where you wanted to go for dinner.  So that's where we went for pizza.  You insisted in ordering a large.  I relented, but you did not finish it so we brought it home.  Back at the house, Mr. Bob let you make cookies.

Mr. Bob just learned that a friend of his had died in an accident, which he shared with us.  Other than stating what had happened, we went on to other things.   We slept in the white room with the lava lamp on.  The next morning after we made muffins, you talked to Andrew on the phone and told him about the pizza and the death of Mr. Bob's friend.  I was going to take you to the dentist with me, which was a change from leaving you with Mr. Bob, I didn't think it was a big deal, but apparently your mother did.  Your mother, after Andrew told her about the death, the pizza and the dentist, called to tell me she was picking you up immediately.  Apparently she was upset about the large pizza, the death and me changing the plan and wanting to take you with me to the dentist.  I was disappointed that you were leaving early, but she is your parent.  So, we went outside and I let you help trim Mr. Bob's mother's rose bush.  You did a great job.  Your mother and Andrew arrived shortly thereafter.

You asked a lot of things during your visit with us and would say "Nana can I tell you something?"  We agreed that you could tell me or Mr. Bob anything and that whatever you told us or what we talked about would stay here.  I promised that I would never tell your parents.  Of course, I would if I felt you were in jeopardy, but that would only be for your safety.  I wanted you to feel that you could trust me and Mr. Bob with anything you wanted to talk about.  Some things, though, I would differ to your parents to explain in their own way.  Such as death, sex or whatever.  Your parents are strict, but that's because they love you so much.

Today, Sunday, June 10th was Andrew's 7th birthday and you and your family came over to celebrate with a BBQ.

  You said "Nana can I tell you something?".  And I said of course.  Here's what you said...."I want a guitar just like Andrew's except in a different color."

While swimming, you were under the water and came up under the hand rail and got a big goose egg on your head.  So here you are with a bag of ice on your head.

It was a fun day.  You always enjoy swimming and your diving has gotten very good.  You can do the American Crawl and back strokes pretty good.  I told you that you should watch the summer Olympics being held in England this year.

On June 13th I watched you and your brother while your mother had her hair colored.  We went to the movies to see Madagascar 3.  We went in my car and you and your brother took turns sitting in the front.  You both like this car better than my old one.  In the car you told me your head was much better.

You want to stop at CVS to get some candy but you "compromised" and agreed to stop after the movie.  We were going to be late if we stopped.  At the movies you insisted that I get you a small popcorn even though your mother had given me a large bag that we could get a free refill with and 3 cups to get drinks.  You got in trouble about that when I got you back home.  However, with all the things I had in my hands I left my purse under my seat.  You saw it and said "Nana, here's your purse.".  We wouldn't have gotten far, because the keys to the car were in my purse.  Thanks for being so observant.

Back at your house you and your brother were fooling around and being silly.  Your mother came home. I left and she took Andrew to his hip hop glass and you went along.  I had to get home.  Mr. Bob is going into the hospital on Friday for knee surgery.

Bob did have is surgery and everything went extremely well.  Later that afternoon my niece Indra and her daughter Erica drove in from CA.  They had been touring the west coast and were on their way back home to Arkansas.  Here's Erica in the pool.

That night the three of us ate dinner on the patio and watched Nick Wallenda walk on a tight rope across the Horseshoe Falls.

On Saturday you and your family came over for a cookout.  Here's your mother with Indra.

Everyone in the pool.

Indra brought here guitars with her and here she's showing you the difference.  She then gave Andrew a quick lesson on his guitar.

Indra brought a couple of hog noses for you and Andrew. 

Uncle Bruce took this photo of us.

That night your father and Uncle Bruce took Indra to Old Town Scottsdale.  Erica stayed home with me to swim in the pool.  You father convinced Indra to stay another day and she did.  So the next day everyone came back again.

We had pizza for lunch and enjoyed having Indra and Erica here.  Later you helped your brother raid my jewelry draw to give some to Erica.  I just had to make sure you didn't give away something that I wear a lot. 

Over the weekend your mother told me that she was going to give you and your brother $30 each for activities.  When it's gone it's gone.  I think this is a good idea because it should help you learn about money and budgeting.

On Wednesday the 22nd you went to Crossfit and did the Fireman Drill.  Here's the video.

On Saturday morning you got up and sneaked into your parent's bathroom and used your mother's "gel".  When your father smelled mint on you, you were busted.  Cute photo though.

You and your brother called me on Thursday, but I was out playing golf.  So you talked to Mr. Bob and told him you wanted me to go to the movies with you on Friday.  Friday morning you called me and asked if I could make the 10:00 show.  I rushed to shower, wash and dry my hair and get to your house by 9:30.  I made it.  The you showed me the molar you lost on Wednesday.

You also had to show me how you could hang from the bar your father put up in the door to the spare bedroom.  Then it was off to the movie Brave.  It was a great movie and afterwards we went for lunch at a new place your mother suggested.  You did not eat anything, because you didn't like anything they had on the menu.  So your mother stopped at McDonalds later.

In any event we had fun and we talked about what you wanted for your birthday.  I know it's a couple of months away, but Nana is always planning ahead.

Last week Uncle Bruce saw my brother, your Great Uncle Ted Kriner, on TV in a show that was filmed in 2001.  It's Niagara Falls:  Fatal Attraction.  I tried to put it here, but it wouldn't work.  It is on my computer so you should look at it sometime.

That's it for June.

May 2012

Today is May Day.  Mr. Bob and I will start our trek home next Friday.  On our way, we'll stop by to see Uncle Jeffrey.  Will see you in a couple of weeks.  Can't wait.

Also, today, I opened a savings account for you, which may help with college expenses.  Unfortunately, you did not get all A's so you will not be getting the $125.00 I promised you.  Hopefully next year you will do better.

Talked to you, May 17th.  School is over next week and you lost your game so you are not in the finals.  You asked me if I was home permanently and I told you we would be going back to Seattle for a couple of weeks now and then.  You sounded so disappointed.  You also told me that you spent your money on an Ipad (Ithink.).  Now you're broke.  You didn't get A's so I won't be giving you any money.  I was hoping that money would be a motivator for you.  You are so smart.  All you have to do is study and apply yourself.

Will see you Saturday for Andrew's game.

Went to Andrew's game today.  His team lost.  You wanted to sleep over, but it was Andrew's turn.  He decided not to sleep over this weekend because all of you had plans to go see Marvel's The Avengers at the movies.  So he will come next weekend.  You wanted me to go to the movies with you, but I really had a lot of things to do at home, so I passed.  But I did go back to your house and watched you swim for awhile and then you showed me how good you could dive.  It was awesome. 
Unfortunately, Andrew doesn't get it.  He can't keep his legs together.

Your mother told me that you will be going to a tutor once a week.  You really need to start focusing on what you learn in school.


Today was Memorial Day and we all got together and my house.  You and your brother game me a Mother's Day card.

You had a new haircut.  It looked like a military haircut.  Also, you have a molar that is loose.

Uncle Bruce came over and we had a BBQ and went swimming.  I told you I took Andrew to the Musical Instrument Museum and when you heard how much fun he had you wanted to go.  You forgot that I wanted to take you there last month, but you were not interested.

Your mother sent me a Video Gram this month.  Here it is.

April 2012

On Easter Sunday your family and Uncle Bruce came over to celebrate.  The first thing we did was our annual Easter Egg Hunt.  Your eggs were hidden in the living room.  Andrew tried to help and I had to keep him away.  You finally found all of them and started counting your money.  $25.00 plus some change.  However, you owed your dad $20 for the CD he bought you yesterday.  Still you were a happy camper.

We had filets and baked potatoes for dinner and ate out on the patio.  I bought an Easter Bunny cake for dessert and your mom took a photo of us.

After dinner, you and Andrew played catch and one of the balls went on the roof.  The wind must have blown it off, because I found it in the back yard the next day.

Andrew wanted to go swimming, but the water was too cold for you.  He went in by himself.

On the following Saturday, I came to Andrew and your games.  Andrew's was at 8:00.  And while he played his game you played with a team mate.  It was so cold that your mother gave you her jacket. You look good in pink.   I was so glad that she had an umbrella, because it helped block the wind.

After Andrew's game we went to the house to get jackets for you and him.  Then your game.

You did very good playing.  You had an interception and almost made a touchdown.  You have improved so much .  Aftr the games Andrew came home with me.  Next week it's your turn.

I came over the following Saturday for you and Andrew's games.  Your team won and you got several "flags".  Then we went back to your house for you to shower and pack your cloths for visiting Nana

On the way to my house you were hungry and insisted we stop at Auntie Anne's for some pretzels.  Then we stopped at Safeway to get some things for tomorrow's Bar-B-Q.  You took this photo of me.

On the drive over you told me that when I die you were going to bury me in a fancy (bling/bling) coffin in your front yard.  I said "What if you move?"  You said "I'll dig you up and take you with me."  I told you that I would be cremated and you wanted to know what that was and I told you.

At the house you were looking at our bar area and I pointed out my Super Bowl ice bucket and wine glasses, your parents wedding bottle of wine and others from Mardi Gras......  You said the most important one was the bottle from your parents wedding. 

We played Go Fish, Crazy 8's & Old Maid.  Then outside you helped me trim Mr. Bob's mother's rose bush.  Uncle Jeffrey arrived around 4:30 and then your parents arrived.  You rode with me and Uncle Jeffrey to Vito's for dinner.  Uncle Bruce joined us there.  During dinner you told your parents that I gave you wine.....in ToysRUs noless.  I don't know where you got that from.  I would never give you an adult beverage.  On the way home I was telling Uncle Jeffrey about how you wanted to bury me in your front yard when I pass on.  I eexplained that Uncle Jeffrey was going to throw my ashes into the ocean.  You said you wanted to go with Uncle Jeffrey when he does it.

Here you are in the jacuzzi, as usual.

In the morning we made muffins and you put together a puzzle with Uncle Jeffrey.

Later we went to the Ferrari place.  I had given your father and Uncle Jeffrey a coupon to drive a Ferrari.  It was lot's of fun for them.  Here's some photos.

Back at my house we had some photos taken of me with your father and Uncle Jeffrey and your parents.  Your mother looked fantastic in her outfit.

I found out that you have some heel disease, but I can't recall the name.  It's not serious, but it does hurt from time to time.