Leap Year Extra Day

The sunrise was beautiful on this extra day of 2016. 

When I picked up Baylor he said they had to write about what they were going to do with their extra day.  He wrote he was going to ride his bike and asked me to join him.  The weather was nice so I pulled out my bike with his and we peddled around the neighborhood. Or at least the turn around.  

Gloria bought him a new bike and he was excited to see if he could ride it.  For being too big for him and having to get used to handle brakes, he did great, no wipeouts! I did good too! 

Long Time No See Part II

I was finally able to connect with Karen today as it has been far too long since we had a visit!! She came over to our house and we had a really nice catch up conversation.  Baylor popped in every now and then.   He read her a little Biscuit book so he could show off his skills.  She had to hug him quick because he wanted to run off!  

Gloria had asked for chicken pot pie and since she paid for the van repair, I thought I could swing a chicken for some slippery pot pie.  I forgot to put in the potatoes but otherwise it was delicious.  

Long Time No See

We headed to Chambersburg to visit with the McGraw family this morning.  We have not seen them, other than the funeral, since November and I was glad we were getting together.  I made some samosa patties to take along with some homemade beefaroni in case Baylor did not like the ham pot pie Amy was making.  

When we left I had two crock pots working.  The red one was dinner, pot roast.  The silver one was making chicken stock for chicken pot pie on Sunday.  

Amy and Lochlan were out shopping when we arrived and Julie was on the phone so it was me and the cat for a bit.  Loki is a lover, but a beast as well.  He loves to wrap around your feet and claw you, quite innocently, but painfully never the less.  He is a sweet cat until that face happens, then I was done for a bit.  

The boys really played and ate well.  They were more on the same page of interests, Star Wars, and they entertained themselves all day.  

FB brought up a memory of another visit with the McGraws, five years ago.  Julie put the two photos together for us.  

Of course we will now have memories that include Lochlan, he does love is brother and being with him. Baylor loves him as well and is very good playing with the little member of their group. 

I had to do a selfie with Lochlan as I usually do when we see each other.  He can navigate a phone already and I bet next time he will be the photographer.  It was a long visit and we did not get home until almost 10!  The pot pie was good for lunch and better for snack and supper.  It was fun moving from the living room, to the kitchen, back and forth all day. I do love a good visit with my village.  I need to head to VA soon to see another of my village people!  I miss her.  

I Don't Always Bring Sweets to Work

I made cucumber, feta and olive boats this morning to bring into work.  They were delicious.  I sliced them into bite sized pieces for serving.  The only drawback was the filling fell out!  Maybe I will just make it into a salad next time.  The flavors were great.  

Another beautiful sky this morning too. 

Teacher Conference

Since Gloria was not working today she was our driver.  We dropped Baylor off at COF and then she dropped me off at work.  At 3:45 she picked me up again so we could both go to the Parent Teacher conference.  While we were waiting we looked at the projects hanging in the hall.   Baylor had told DiAnn that he had written about her at school and I finally know what he was talking about.  I sent her the photos on Facebook and she was thrilled to see his work.  

His second valentine is Meme.  Am I sad because I did not make the cut, maybe a little but I am happy that he values the other women in his life and notices the things that make their relationship special. 

And his drawing of Meme in pink and black, which is exactly what she wears! And her short hair.  He has such an eye for these details and remembers them.  

This was the first one we found that had Baylor as a Valentine. It was by Marcel, who goes to COF and was in his kindergarten class as well: My first valentine is Baylor because he it spiers me to be a best studt.  I love the picture! 

This is Landon's : My Next valentine is my friend Baylor because he is foney. 

This is Peyton's: My second valentine is Lan and Baylor because we are all the three best friends and we all like the same games and they are bat cool. 

And there was other work of theirs in the hall: I love you like a sentence loves a period.  

 It was nice for Gloria to be there to see his classroom and to hear the good things Mrs Anderson had to say about Baylor.  His reading has greatly improved over the last two months going from level to 6 to level 12 in two months. One more level and he will be where he needs to be for the end of the year.  After the conference we picked up little man and headed out to see if the van was done. 

When we arrived at the the garage, the van was not out there so we got a sweet loaner car, complete with cassette deck!  The van needed a new water pump, which is also why we didn't have heat.  I guess they were still not done with it which is why they gave us the loaner.  

Baylor enjoyed it as well, with his Burger King crown still on.  

It has been many years since we had to stand up getting out of a car!  It was not fun for Gloria and I would have driven it for Friday but she was the one who had to drop it off and pay for the van so she was the lucky winner of this sweet ride. 

The Van is Down for the Count

We had plans to drop the van off at the garage on Thursday to have them check a tire with a nail in it.  When I was behind work at a stop sign, all these lights came on in the dash including the check engine light.  When I parked at work, there was smoke or steam coming off the engine so I pooped the hood to take a peek.  Because I am good with engines like that.  Not really, but I was hoping there was not fire and my opening the hood was not going to cause a back draft explosion.  Thankfully no fire, just steam coming off some hissing part down there.  So I called the garage, told them what happened and asked if they thought it was safe to drive.  He said no and I said Triple A will be dropping it off shortly.  That little membership is the best gift I get every year from my parents and when Baylor is old enough, I will make sure he has it.  We use it just about every year.  

Bye Bye van, see you real soon!!  

It was Gloria's only day off this week and we had already planned to go out to dinner after dropping off the van.  Since the plans changed a bit and Triple A delivered the van for us, it changed where we went out to dinner.  Baylor chose to sit with Mama this time, which is rare but then I get to talk to him more.  He was still hot and sweaty from playing in the gym at COF and took of his sweatshirt.  He looks 15 in these photos.   

Later when he cooled off, he was in matching black with Mama.  Apparently trying to get a two thumbs up for family dinner night was too much to coordinate over there.  

But we did get a bump!  

When we were home and Baylor was doing his reading with Mama I was on the bench petting Grimm.  We were doing well for a while and then I must have found the kill button and I had to stop. I know it is kill out of love, but the bites still hurt!  

Heather sent me a photo of Brigid wearing her scarf I made her.  When we were out shopping last weekend I asked her if I had ever made her a scarf because I did not think I had.  She said she would like a pink circle one and that is what I made.  I mailed in to her so she would be able to enjoy it and who does not like to get mail these days. 

And For My Next Trick

I made cinnamon roll waffles for breakfast.  The entire family declared them a hit.  Espeically Baylor, who loved the 'dip' (the frosting that comes in the plastic pot put into a small dip cup and heated) We will be sure to have these again. 

Sure Signs of Spring

On the drive home I noticed that this farm field is growing green underneath the snow.  It must be a kind of winter wheat, and it was not concerned with all the snow that had recently be covering it. 

The sun was peeking around the corner of the neighbor's barn, it was lovely.  

As we are still walking on the neighbor's driveway to get the mail, I get to see the flower gardens and I took a photo of where they usually are and I did not see any thing up yet.  

But a few feet away I spied some yellow poking up through the brown.  Grandma's acconites are up, a sure sign of Spring!! 

Tonight was a full moon and it made me a bit crazy with the camera apparently.  

Just Another Sunday

A beautiful morning when I was out with Eddy.  

Baylor was invited to Landon's for the afternoon so I was faced with another afternoon by myself.  But on the way to his house we meet the train. I don't even get a break on the weekends.  

After I picked him up I worked on dinner, samosa patties.  He had liked the real samosa we had several months ago.  I used leftover mashed potatoes instead of freshly baked potatoes and they held together really well. 

I had Baylor try one before dinner, in case he decided he was not a fan.  He said they were the best thing he had ever tasted.  Maybe a bit over kill but I was happy!  He ate two more for dinner.  It is a keeper.