Me Hanging Out With Jacob's Family the Rest of the Week

As I mentioned previously, I was so happy I was able to stay longer with Jacob's family. Look at these cute faces I got to see each morning.

I watched Natalie at her cheerleading practices.

This little trio made me smile as they stood up front in Family Home Evening with Logan doing the conducting, Luke giving the lesson and Claire being the reverence child.

Luke's lesson was on tithing and he had a tithing receipt puzzle for his siblings to put together.

Claire would venture over to me if she wanted some books read. Here we are all snuggled up together on the couch reading together.

 One day when Logan was in preschool, Laurie and I went to lunch with Rebecca Billat.

Rebecca is my friend from Georgia who moved to Spring, Texas about a month before Jacob and Laurie moved there. They were in different wards, but recently there was a big ward realignment in their stake. Now the Billats are in Jacob and Laurie's ward.  Now Rebecca Billat is Laurie's Relief Society president. Awesome!!!

Rebecca is always looking out for our kids and is quick to report to me the good stuff they are doing. The first report was shortly after Jacob moved there. Rebecca texted that she thought she just saw Jacob at a stop light. Another time she texted a picture of Jacob's family at the stake crawfish boil. I love her updates! And I love her! So glad to have a good friend watching out for my son and his family.

Emma is getting better all the time on her violin. It was fun to listen to her practice and see how she has progressed since last time I listened.

Natalie is so good in the mornings to console Claire while Laurie takes Emma and Luke and some of their friends to school. Instead of carpooling, they usually all bike to school and then another mom bikes home with the group of children.

One day we had a super fun outing where we went to the duck park. As soon as the ducks realized there was a loaf of bread in the area, they were in hot pursuit of it.

Logan started to get a little nervous when they began to encroach upon his space.

He felt much safer from the ducks when he was sitting high atop a picnic table.

When the ducks came a swarming (do ducks swarm??), Laurie and Claire soon joined him on top of the table.

There were a lot of hungry ducks at that park!!

We made a stop at the library. It was a very kid-friendly library.

We caught the free trolley at the library. We took the 30-minute tour all around the Woodlands Waterway. We could have jumped off at any of the numerous stops and then got back on again later, but we chose to just enjoy the ride before the children got too tired and hungry.

The children all love eating at Lupe Tortilla. Not so sure if it's the food they love or if it's the generous frozen dessert that comes with each kid's meal.

Spaghetti for dinner--minus the spaghetti sauce for Natalie and Emma.

 Bedtime pajama buddies.

 There was a BYU football game on television that night. Jacob got the popcorn all ready.

Claire began feeding her dolly the popcorn.

Jacob actually paused the game so the children could perform a song they had been practicing for my benefit. So cute!!

This group of people decided we would rather play a game than watch a game. It was a fun way to spend the last evening with my sweet grandchildren. I appreciated so much everyone's hospitality. And I really appreciated Glen for coming up with the idea to have me stay a full week in Texas. I loved it!!!

Ben was so kind to pick me up from the airport when I flew in a couple of hours earlier than Glen. I was able to go grocery shopping before going back to the airport to pick up Glen.

We got a kick out of the pile of mail on the table and the little handwritten note from Brooke.  

I did not get such a kick out of one of the letters I opened up.

When I was called to jury duty in Georgia, it was for a two-week period of time. This is for a three-month period of time. So, family, leave me alone for the next three months. I'm on jury duty!

Not only was the amount of time disconcerting, there was another troubling bit of info in the letter. It said I was to respond back within 10 days or there would be a warrant issued for my arrest.

I had been out of town long enough to exceed the 10-days mark. So dear family, if I go missing anytime soon--please check the local jail first.

Sunday--and Then Glen Was Gone

This little girl was sure happy when the ball game group arrived home on Sunday morning before church. She nestled herself right up on Glen's lap and sat there for the longest time.

       *Side note*      Claire tried to avoid me like the plague the rest of the week. I think she feared abandonment again and feared me being the one taking over in her parents' absence.

 Well, if that little girl wanted nothing to do with me, there was another girl who didn't mind hanging out with me. Natalie and I are practicing using the timer on the camera.

And here we are practicing our duckfaces. As you can see, Natalie knows what she is doing.

It appears my lips are doing more puckering than ducking. Wait a minute...why are so many women and young girls trying so hard now days to look like a duck when taking pictures? What is attractive about that anyway???

The little children were playing in the back yard while Jacob was grilling our Sunday dinner.

Natalie was asked to set the table. She was busy at it for quite a long time.

When we noticed each personalized love note on every family member's napkin, we were very touched by her thoughtfulness.

Sunday movie, popcorn and candy time upstairs in the media/BYU shrine room.

All the grandchildren hugged and kissed Glen good-bye because he had an early plane to catch back to Minneapolis the next morning. I was sure glad I got to stay longer!

From Minneapolis to Houston

Our fun had ended in Minnesota and off we flew to Texas.

Upon our arrival at Jacob and Laurie's home, we spotted an animal creation sitting on our bed.

Laurie had recently done a Relief Society activity with a cruise theme and she used towel animals as centerpieces on the tables. Notice the mint candy sitting on each pillow. Those were Emma's touch in getting the guest room ready for us. Adorable and sweet!

Here comes Claire. I was hoping she would not be afraid of us because I was going to be babysitting her the next day.

 She took an instant liking to Glen.

This is probably my favorite picture of the whole trip. Luke got busy dressing himself up to look like his Grandpa Thomas. He is wearing Glen's ball cap, Glen's glasses (perched down on the nose like Glen wears them), Glen's tie, Glen's belt and Glen's shoes. He is carrying a computer case (he's using his dad's which is much less heavy and bulky than his grandpa's). And he is carrying Glen's iPad (the very one Glen lost the following week on one of his flights).

The kid was hilarious!!!!!! I loved the whole look immensely!!!!!! So cute and so funny and such a great likeness to the man he was imitating!!!!!!

  Logan wanted in on the big-shoe-wearing action.

Emma decided to put on my shoes and my purse and posed as Grandma Thomas with Grandpa Thomas and the grandchildren.

 Dinner that evening was at Mooyah.

Everyone had a great time writing on the blackboard wall while waiting for the food to be served.

 We walked next door for frozen yogurt dessert at Tutti Frutti.

Jacob probably didn't sleep a wink all night in anticipation of the big event the following day. Here are some hints as to what the exciting event might be...

Yes--it was a BYU football game. Glen, Jacob, Laurie, Natalie and Emma had tickets to the game. It was several hours away in Austin and they were meeting up with friends there and were going to spend the night after the game.

So, in doing the math--that means the three little children and I were left behind. I took a poll. "Who loves Grandma?" They all three raised their hands, so they didn't seem to mind.

We played outside for a while after waving good-bye to the football crew.

Then went inside to play some more.

I kept them fed.

They kept themselves entertained. Finding a frog right outside the back door helped with the entertainment.

Meanwhile, back at the ball game... Laurie kept texting me pictures so I'd know what they were doing. It was a swelteringly hot and humid day, so they were happy to spend some time before the game in the air conditioning with the other BYU fans.

Look! Jacob must be as sick and tired of seeing that faded ball cap Glen has been wearing (see above photo of the cap on Luke's head) as I am. He bought his dad a new BYU cap. Looks great Glen!! Thanks Jacob!!

 Cosmo with the girls.

Natalie's greatest desire is to become a BYU cheerleader.

This is happy Jacob cheering his heart out for his favorite team. His voice was hoarse for days afterward.

 They all came home happy because BYU won!! Hurrah!!