Memories for Memorial Weekend

We will be observing Memorial Day, a holiday honoring the men and women who have sacrificed, and continue to sacrifice, for our freedom. It is a special time of memories, especially for Daddy thinking about Grandpa Holsapple and his dedication as a career warrior in his career with the United States Air Force. Grandpa Holsapple served in three wars and his airplane was shot down in the Vietnam War. So Mommy and Daddy decided to make this weekend a weekend of special family time.

We got off to a great start on Friday with some work being accomplished with Daddy cleaning and organizing the garage and Mommy doing work in the house and watching after Jude and Bodhi. We spent some time with GiGi and Grandmoo and later in the evening Sister Kelly and Brother Aaron (the Governor) treated us all to dinner from Bob Evans Restaurant!

Saturday morning Daddy got up early and went to work in his role in a program designed to address domestic violence in the community; Daddy works most Saturday mornings and got home just after 10:00 a.m., and though the original plan was to spend time cleaning and repairing the basement, we all decided to spend special time together. Mommy calculated our austere budget (we are looking forward to payday on the 31^st!) and we went to McDonald’s for lunch and enjoyed time together and Daddy and Jude watched Bodhi Mommy play in the children’s indoor play-center. Afterwards we went to Lowes and returned for exchange a dead scrub we purchased nearly a year ago; Mommy and Daddy always praise the Lowes store for being honest and fair about standing by their products, especially their trees and plants (with which we have the most experience). Though too young to understand the lesson presently, we tell both of you the importance of being loyal to honest stores and companies and treated their employees respectfully for providing such remarkable service. We want you both to model your own conduct after such practices and good people.

We returned home for “our” afternoon naps, and then made a trip together to Target and Wal-Mart to get some hot dogs and potato chips for our Memorial Day celebration dinner. We saw Daddy’s friends Judge William Menges and his wife Marty shopping and also saw Daddy’s friends Nefertiti and her husband shopping as well; it is always nice to see nice people, especially friends even if only to say hello. Nefertiti and her husband both said that you look just like Mommy, Jude and that you look just like Daddy, Bodhi!

After we got home we had a dinner of macaroni and cheese (though not the good kindL) and then watched Nickelodeon and played together upstairs until bedtime. Mommy and Daddy then decided it was time for them to snuggle (and smoochJ) and watch a movie together, and decide upon our action plan for tomorrow!

Good thing your Daddy wrote this blog tonight (first time ever), Mommy is very frustrated getting the pictures on here tonight!  Keeps messing up, UGGGGH!

"Momma, what the heck are all those kids doing?"
Bodhi, this was both you and your brother's first trip to McDonalds :)



"I think I'll eat my apples first."

"Momma this is way cool, good thing you got in here with me, or I'd be lost!" ;)

Bodhi crawling her way through the tunnels in the McDonalds playhouse

"Woooo, I made it!"



"On to the next one!"

  

Bodhi passed out in the car on the way to Lowes... you and your brother had a late nap today!



  

Juders lovin' his first McDonalds experience!

 

"Happy Buddha" ;)



Juders playing with Bodhi's Happy Meal Toy ;)

 And... on the floor it went, you throw everything from your highchair!

     

"Tired Buddha" :) 



Bodhi, Buddha, and Mr. Murff playing this evening ;)



Bodhi lovin' on Mr. Murff Man :)




Juders crawling around... getting into everything :)



"Playful Buddha" ;)  You love to be tickled!





A Day At the Holsapple Artist's Colony

Bodhi, you were Mommy's little artist this morning.  Mommy was trying to think of something new and fun to do for you, and decided to get the markers out.  You were super excited and whipped out several masterpieces.  You had marker all over your hands, on the rug, and all over you mouth, from sticking your hands in your mouth.  You have two more teeth coming in to round out a  mouth full of teeth hee/hee so, you have been super delightful to be around the last three days! Jude, you wanted to participate in the art session too, but you wanted to add a rustic touch to Bodhi's pictures by crumbling them up :)-  Bodhi did not appreciate your added touch and thus, a fussing match ensued.

This afternoon, Jude, you went to Grandmoo's to visit her after we clipped a family friend's dog's nails.  You and Grandmoo have become buddies!  Bodhi loves the Grandmoo, and Mommy knew it was just a matter of time before you and her became BFF too.  Bodhi, when you woke up, Mommy took you to Lowes and the grocery store.  We needed to pick up a shovel (so Daddy can shovel out the mud and water from our basement from all the rain), and some groceries.  It was kind of weird, Mommy kept being told by random strangers, "you are so blessed, look at her!"  Now, one person saying this, not so weird, but three different people at two different stores said this exact same phrase.  Mommy knows she is blessed, I don't think I was giving out the vibe that I don't feel blessed hee/hee  We were having a good time together on our shopping adventure, as we always do.  Now, had I been beating you, I can see why several people would say that hee/hee but that wasn't the case nor would it ever be the case :)  Well, I'll reserve saying that until after you are through your teenage years!  Us Grills' women tend to be a bit feisty as teenagers  :) 

When we returned from the store, Jude had just finished eating dinner and was going to Grandmoo's house, and Sister Kelly was here waiting on us.  The Governor and Sister Kelly had bought us all a carry out dinner from Bob Evans, including you, Ms. Piggy who ate three bowls hee/hee  Mommy and Daddy were surprised and very appreciative of Sister Kelly and the Governor's thoughtfulness... otherwise, Daddy jokes we would have been eating a nice big bowl of hot water soup :)  Of course you two would have been well fed, we are just broker than we've been in a long time.  We had to get a new washer and dryer, major car repair, new air conditioner unit for your room, Bodhi, and a new (used) lawn mower... all in one month!  Ouch! 

After dinner, Uncle Cory, Sister Kelly's and the Governor's BFF, came by to visit.  He's such a nice guy, Mommy's not real sure what he thinks about our crazy family hee/hee but he keeps coming back :)  You two are in bed fast asleep, so now it's time for Mommy and Daddy to watch a movie on the "tube," that's "old man" language for television hee/hee  Your Daddy speaks "old man" and "bear" ... "bear" is when he is half asleep and mumbles crazy things.

Mommy's budding artist! ;)

Juders, you were more interested in chewing and tearing Bodhi's work up hee/hee

Look at that concentration!

Here Buddha, let Momma help you :)

"Nakey Buddha" ;)
Juders, you never let Mommy finish changing your diaper, you always crawl away!  Mommy has some hilarious pictures of your bare butt and "little nuggets" crawling around, but Mommy didn't think it would be appropriate to post hee/hee

Bodhi pulling her bubs!  So sweet! :)

Sister Kelly fed you a new baby food... spaghetti and meatballs (stage 3) 

Buddha, you gagged when you got a meatball/chunk

"Dang Sista Kelly, that is nasty... you eat it!" "Where's ma Momma?"

"Happy Spaghetti stained-faced Buddha" ;)

Bodhi, Mommy tries to have you eat your fruit before your meal... as recommended by "The Doctors," on the television show "The Doctors."  You were eating an apple, yummm!

You have been a pistol the last few days when eating!  Your teeth have you all messed up :(

Goofy Baby Bodhi ;)

 

Rain Rain Go Away

As I mentioned in last night's post, you both were awakened by the sounding of the weather sirens, which are located right down the road from us.  You both were scared to death.  Sean Franky had just arrived to drop off the car, and he stuck around and played with you both for a while before Mommy drove him home.  You two were up late, and of course that didn't delay your wake up time this morning  :( 

"Ahhhh Wub ouhhh," "Hiya," Jude you continue to say "I love you" and "hi," when other people are present, besides Mommy!   I think you are going to force your Sissy-poo to start talking or you will be the center of attention and conversations hee/hee 

Bodhi, right before nap time, you went on an adventure with your Daddy again today.  You went to college.  You are turning into quite the little college student.  Juders you stayed home with your Momma.  I vacuumed the floor while you were in your play pen since Bodhi  and Daddy were out of the house.  You acted scared at first, but Mommy would smile and talk to you, and you would put on a fake smile for a second :) 

This evening, Jude you stayed home with Daddy while Mommy went to Zumba class.  Grandmoo came over to visit you, since she is usually the one that watches you, but since Daddy was home, you had a Daddy night.  Sister Kelly and the Governor stopped by to see you both, but Bodhi you were at GiGi's.  Bodhi, you went to GiGi's and Gi-Pa Poncho's house because GiGi was dying to spend some time with you (despite seeing you yesterday hee/hee).  So, you basically got three hours of complete attention and waited on hand and foot!  They spoil you rotten.  You wouldn't even give Daddy a kiss when you got home, you were attached to GiGi, and that's saying something since you are a big rotten Daddy's girl.  Though, you have been attaching to Mommy more  :)  GiGi of course reported that you were a perfect angel.  You ate fish for dinner with GiGi and Gi-Pa Poncho and you loved it!    You both are asleep now, and hopefully we won't have any weather siren worthy weather again tonight!  Mommy and Daddy love you both very much! 

"Hello Ladies!"



Buddha, the little noise maker!



"I love the Governor, and I really love being the center of attention!"



"Talking Buddha Baby" ;)

"I think I'll hang on to this spoon a while!"

"Weeeee, I love this!"

"My Buddy!" ;)

Bodhi in the car on her way to GiGi's and Gi-Pa Poncho's

Bodhi, you picked out your shoes and decided to wear a winter hat hee/hee :)

"I want that!"

"Oooooh, can I touch it for real?"

Gi-Pa Poncho drags out all your toys for you as soon as you arrive :)

Kisses!

More kisses!

After GiGi brought you home, Bodhi, she played with you and Juders for a few minutes :)

"What you doing sis?"

Bodhi, you love to crawl under the tables... you got your brother doing it too! :)

Twisters

The tornado warnings were sounding this afternoon!  Bodhi, the horrible "invasion" sirens, as Mommy calls the weather alert sirens, woke you from your nap this afternoon.  They scare you so much, you have major panic attacks when they sound (crying hysterically and shaking uncontrollably).  Mommy has always been fascinated with tornadoes, but I think that partly stems from being obsessed with the movie, "The Wizard of Oz" as a child.  However, now that I have you and your brother to worry about, I no longer secretly hope to see a funnel cloud.  Don't get me wrong, I hate the devastation they cause people, loss of life and/or home, but I always thought it would be exciting to chase storms :)   Aunt Sam Sears and I did try to chase a sighted tornado when we were in HS once!  Yes, Grandmoo knew about it :)  Anyway, our whole afternoon was consumed with news flashes and checking the sky.  When we thought we were in the clear, which turns out we weren't, we all, Daddy, Mommy, Mr. Murff, Mr. Arlo, you two, Bodhi and Jude, and even Grandmoo, sat on the front porch for a while.  When it stopped raining, Bodhi, you and Grandmoo blew bubbles in the driveway.  Jude, you attempted to ride Bodhi's tricycle.  You were sitting on Mommy's lap when you lifted Bodhi's tricycle (all 20-25 pounds) off the ground and toward you!  You are so strong, Daddy calls you Hercules.  Mommy then sat you on it and you loved it. 

This evening, Daddy dropped me and you, Jude, off at Debbie and Chris Riffe's house so Mommy could decorate her washer and dryer like ours.  Bodhi, you went running around with Daddy.  Aunt Debbie was amazed at how you, Jude, pulled yourself up on everything!  You were in heaven crawling on all her fluffy soft carpet.  You are use to hardwood floors, so this was quite the luxury for you :)  Once Mommy was done decorating the washer and dryer, Daddy took us all to Rays Drive-In to pick up some sandwiches.  After waiting 20 minutes, in which two cars that arrived after us got their food before us, and after watching the car hop lady give our order to the truck next to us, and then she took the food back from the guy in the truck and attempted to give it to us... after we watched the guy sip from our drink and  eat some of the fries, we pulled away.  This was a disaster!  You both were hungry, we had nothing prepared, and you both were crying hysterically.  Sorry, but we are not going to eat food that someone else had had their mouth and hands on, Ugggggh!  So, getting you two fed and settled was a major chore!  We finally got you two fed and to bed though.

Oh, and this morning, Mommy told you "No Bubby!" Jude, you began to cry and Bodhi, you started laughing and saying "Bubby" over and over.  Jude, you then told Mommy :)  "Ahhh wubbbb ouu!"  It was so cute!  So, Juders, you continue to say a sentence, and Bodhi, you made progress by saying a word hee/hee GiGi came by to visit you both this morning for a little while, she took you both outside before the weather got bad.

Bodhi Baby :)

GiGi helping Bodhi learn to use her pedals

Bodhi Show Boatin' her new skills ;)



" But Mommmmm!"



"Messy Buddha" :)

"Say what?"  "That can't be it!"



Juders and his GiGi



Bodhi being a stink pot, GiGi and Juders laughin' at her :)

"Yummmm!"

"How many bites can Bodhi fit in her mouth?"

"Bubbles!"

"I love Bubbles!"

Aunt Debbie and Juders ;)

Buddha wanting to play with the Millie

Juders pulling himself up!

Millie Riffe :)

Maggie Riffe :)


YOU both are awake, the tornado warning siren just sounded and woke you both up!  Bodhi, you were shaking so hard, you poor little thing!