October 5 - 8, 2011

I left Dallas on Wednesday morning, the 5th, arriving at Newark Liberty at 2 pm.  Vicki was there in a minute to pick me up, and we headed to Hackensack to unload luggage.  After doing so, we stopped to get a box of candy for our host and hostess, Lorraine and Rocky, in Wood-Ridge.  When we moved there in 1959, they were our neighbors and Vicki and I used to babysit for their boys [I only sat for the two older boys but Vicki sat for all three].

Rocky grilled salmon and Lorraine set her table as she always does.  Great food and SO many laughs.  They've been married 60 years or more and are still so in love with each other.  They truly are like family to us.

On Thursday, the 6th, Vicki worked at her part-time job at Lakeshore Learning Store while I got settled in. After dinner, we started getting ready for the weekend in Seekonk, Mass.  We got up pretty early on Friday, the 7th, and after a few errands around town, headed northeast.  Vicki made really good time and we got there before Carol left to pick up The Little People at The Teddy Bear School.  Laura will be 6 at the end of February and is in kindergarten in the mornings and then goes to The Teddy Bear School where Josh [who will be 4 in April] goes all day.  Of course, The Little People were VERY excited to see Grandma as she's THE BEST GRANDMA IN THE WORLD.  Laura was happy to see me as well and after a few minutes Josh thought I was okay, too.

Carol and Matt had a lovely dinner planned but Carol and Josh had some Hammock Time as soon as we got back to their house.

There's no doubt in my mind Josh will be voted Class Clown!  He's such a GOOF! We were sitting on the patio and he smushed his face into the glass door just to get a laugh.

Along with the earmuffs, he also has on gloves which were totally unnecessary this weekend as the weather was very warm.  We sat on the patio until it was time for dinner.

Then, it was TO THE SHOWERS and getting ready for bed.  Josh continued his horseplay.

In my totally unbiased opinion, Laura is going to be voted Most Beautiful, Smartest and Most Talented.

So, after showers and a story by Grandma Vicki, The Little People were tucked into bed.

And  since Vicki and I were tuckered out, we weren't far behind.

On Saturday, the 8th, Carol took us to a Primitive Shop and then to a little farm near their home.  There were animals and hayrides [too hot to think of a hayride] and cider [too hot].  Josh decided to feed Dusty the Donkey . . .

and Laura decided to feed a goat which had escaped his pen.  Actually, Laura got a little frightened when the goat was trotting over to her, so she threw the cone of food right at him.  He was pleased and Laura was glad he stopped to eat the food so she could be safe.

After the farm, we stopped at Titi Maria's home so Laura and Josh could play with Mikey and so that we could see the house after all the work Mike [Carol's brother] did.  It's absolutely beautiful!  We hung out on the patio for a while and then stopped for a quick bite to eat before heading home.

Vicki made sausage and peppers and I can testify that it was wonderful.  Everyone put their sausages on Italian bread but I'm adhering to my Paleo/Primal Lifestyle and just had the sausage and veggies.  Then it was back out to the patio so marshmallows could be toasted over the fire pit, and Josh tries to learn how to wink!

Here's my wonderful nephew Chef Matt and the female apple of his eye . . .

 and of course, with his Silly Son.

 And here's Carol with Laura.

And Grandma Vicki with her very most favorite granddaughter!

After baths and a story - this time read by Sash - Josh and Laura went to bed.

Carol showed us their wedding video again [which we love seeing] and a video of Laura during her first 18 months or so of life.  More tomorrow when the children can join in.

I think I'll be turning in soon . . . I'm worn out by these two.