This 'N That

I figured it's time to share a few more photos.

Jayna is enjoying kindergarten and is learning so many things. Every time she's with us she amazes us with how much she's learned in such a short time. April had her first parent-teacher conference and we're so proud of how well she is doing. The only problem is a family trait that's been passed down (from her grandma) ....talking too much. I remember only too clearly how badly I wanted to be the study hall monitor when the teacher left the room. When I questioned why I was never chosen, he told me that when I could keep my name off the list (of those who had been talking while he was gone) for a week, then he'd consider me .... I don't ever remember being chosen.... so I must have never had a good week. UGH! Anyway, back to Jayna, the teacher is pleased with her overall behavior and attitudes, etc. Way to go, girl!!!

Jayna's kindergarten picture (What a young lady she's becoming!)

Helping grandpa rake leaves..... well, after grandpa had raked them, she jumped in the container.

Kaylee LOVES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Every day she wants to listen to it over and over again. At the end of each program they sing the "hot dog song." I was in another room and heard her lustily singing along with it. When I checked on her, she was at the keyboard singing right along. What a girl!

VACATION IN MYRTLE BEACH, SC.

On October 30 we left for Myrtle Beach for a week's vacation. Friday evening, Saturday morning and evening was Gaither Fest at the Convention Center. There were quite a few singing groups/individuals there, and Ken Davis brought a stirring message Saturday morning. We had reservations at one of our timeshare units in Myrtle Beach and friends from Indiana joined us. It was 3 years before (to the day) that we had met Bob and Diane Cooper on the Singing at Sea cruise. We thoroughly enjoyed our time together and made many memories.

This is the condo where we stayed. Looking at the back side (from the beach).




Looking at the beach from our balcony





Walking the beach





Sunday morning before church


Sunday morning before church




Bob & Diane brought binoculars. We enjoyed looking out over the ocean and often saw cruise ships and fishing boats on the horizon. Looks like Diane is using one lens and Bob the other!!





We went to an Imax theater one day. Here we were just outside the building.





Yes, we had to don the 3-D glasses. Don't we look chic???





This is our kitchen. It was a very lovely unit, with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.



Bob and Diane brought their "Sequence" game along. We played many rounds throughout the week. Sometimes it was the women against the men; sometimes one couple against the other. What great fun we had, with a lot of laughs!!!





On the way home we got into a bit of rain, then the sun came out. I spied this rainbow and took a picture with my cell phone while we were traveling. It was so beautiful.

Now we're back home and back in the groove of normal life.....whatever that is!

We're Back Home Again

We arrived home Friday evening from our wonderful trip to Tennessee. After prayer meeting on Sept. 24, we decided to leave and drive until our eyelids wouldn't stay open any longer. (Not safe driving, I know!) But we were too excited to sleep and I, for one, don't look forward to 14 hours of straight-through driving. So..... we drove about 4 hours and slept in Harrisonburg, VA. Left there around 8:00 AM Thursday morning and arrived at Joy's around 5:30 PM (their time). Our days were FILLED with great times together and we accomplished some work while we were there. Unfortunately, I left my camera at home --- (I know, I know -- grandmas should NEVER forget their cameras when going to see the family!) But grandmas have a way of forgetting things, no matter how important they are! Just wait -- you'll see!!!!!

While we were there they had a baby shower. This is Joy holding up the cake.

Sunday evening just before we left for church.

John did Samuel's baby dedication Sunday evening. Afterward, we took family pictures. This is Wes's mother and her parents with Wes, Joy, Darren, Missy, Ethan, Samuel and John and me.

Grandpa loving on Samuel

Ethan loves his baby brother and stays close by.

One of the jobs we accomplished was to paint Melissa's bedroom. What a transformation. It is so cute with the pink bottom and yellow top divided by a girlish border. She was really pleased with the end result.

We also painted the kitchen and put extra shelving up for Joy's teapot collection. However, that wasn't totally finished until the last day we were there, and with our packing up, etc., I forgot to take pictures of it. Hopefully, Joy will post that part of our project. Check her blog's link on my sidebar or go to http://wesjoymcdonald.blogspot.com/

One day we went shopping. (A day of shopping is always a must when we are there.) SpringHill is close to Nashville and has a WONDERFUL Goodwill store. I got all kinds of goodies for our cabin, and Joy found this dress for Missy's dress-up collection. At another Goodwill Missy found this cute porcelain doll, so I HAD to buy it for her. She is obviously pleased with our purchases.

I had the privilege of giving Samuel his bath.

We had a great time and miss them already!!! Tennessee is JUST TOO FAR from Pennsylvania. We're already counting the years until retirement so we can spend more time with them.

Cabin Progress

I thought it's time to show you what we've accomplished at the cabin. Several weekends we've spent at camp working on it, and I think it's coming along nicely. I have curtains only in the living room so far, but we did get mini-blinds hung at all the windows. Most of the furniture is in place, with a few pieces to be added yet. Wall decorations are still to be hung, but I may wait to finish up on that until spring. Every time I go, I fight the urge to put a lot of things in the drawers, cupboards, etc., yet I know it won't be long until I'll want to put them away for the winter. My mind just can't accept the fact that summer is GONE!!! and that winter is just around the corner. SIGH!! Where did the warm weather go????? I miss it already.

Anyway, here are the before and after pictures. Some of them are not the exact angle, but I think you'll get the idea.

BEFORE

After (We painted it Transvaal Beige, with Earl Gray and Burgandy Wine trim.)

Took the door out of the bedroom & replaced it with a window.

In the living room we put a window to the back looking toward the creek. I think one of my previous posts showed a view of our "back yard."

The back view before the window.

The back view after the window.

NOW WE'LL GO INSIDE!!

The kitchen.....before

The kitchen.....after

(I liked the curtains they left in the cabin, so I used them as my color inspiration, and painted the kitchen Salmon White.)

Another view of the kitchen before

And....After

The living room....before

After...what a transformation!!! We just painted the paneling, put in a new window, and covered the OLD linoleum with nice carpet.

Another view of the living room looking toward the kitchen.

The same view...after

The bedroom...before

The bedroom....after

We took the door out and replaced it with a window, painted over the paneling, and put nice carpet down. It is really nice.

Well, that's about it. It will really put the finishing touches on when I get curtains up and things on the walls. I really enjoy doing this kind of thing, and don't know what I'll do when this is done!! HA

Grandma Again

Just a quick post to let you know our BIG baby arrived. Samuel Luke arrived yesterday (9/8) at 1:04 PM, and weighed in at 9 lbs. 8 oz. and was 21 1/2" long. Joy had a quick and easy delivery, for which we thank the Lord. For more information and to see pictures, Joy has posted several on her blog -- (wesjoymcdonald.blogspot.com) . You can access it also from my main page. We are looking forward to going to Tennessee for a week the end of this month. With the head start he has, I'm sure he'll be walking and eating solid food by the time we get there!! SMILE
Now we have 5 grandsons (plus 1 in heaven) and 4 granddaughters.

Family Reunion & Labor Day

This was a busy weekend, beginning with the Slagenweit reunion on Saturday. There was a good turnout, and we had wonderful weather this year. A year ago we weren't able to be there since we were in Tennessee for our grandson's birth, and subsequent funeral. Two years ago the weather was so cold we sat huddled together at one end of the pavilion away from the direction of the breeze. Good weather makes for a great time outdoors.

Part of the family watching the auction.

More of the auction.

This is the photo I bought at the auction -- my Pap-Pap and Grandma Slagenweit with their 8 children; my dad is the one to the far left. None of the pictured is living any longer, but 3 of the sibling's spouses are. Isn't life's cycle amazing??? I'm now in the older generation of our family. As I reflect back over the past post (Deja vu) I am reminded of the brevity of life, how quickly time flies and we're gone. Life is but a vapor --- how am I living this life; it is the preparatory arena for our eternal life. I want my life to be a reflection of Christ and pass on the torch to my children and grandchildren, as those who have gone before me have done, so that those who follow after me will become part of the household of faith.



NEXT.....
Sunday afternoon we went to our cabin at Roxbury, unloaded the truck, then went to visit friends who are retiring and moving to Chambersburg. Bill and Elaine Baublitz finished their term of service pastoring at Roseglen BIC Church in Duncannon that morning, and we thought they'd need someone to cheer them. We met them at their retirement house, a lovely ranch-style house with beautiful landscaping. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures!


Monday was Labor Day, and we planned to labor...at our cabin. Following are some updated photos. The colors don't show up exactly as they really are, but the main color is an off-white, with the windows and some of the trim painted a darker tan. The trim around the windows and a few other places is called Burgundy wine. I really like the color combination and feel like they dress it up nicely.

The front door goes into the kitchen.

The kitchen is to the front; the bathroom and bedroom are in the extension to the right side. Although it looks green, the roof is actually white metal.

The living room is to the left and the kitchen to the right. (In the spring we want to figure out a way to close in the bottom. We're glad it's designed off the ground like this--some of the neighboring cabins get water inside when the creek rises.)

Our lovely kitchen. We hung some cabinets on the walls this trip and put up a few decorations. It's all finished except to lay the vinyl, and I'm waiting until the living room and bedroom are painted. We still have some sanding to do, then they're ready to paint. Hopefully, our next trip down we'll be able to complete the painting, then the following trip the flooring. When will that be??? I suppose it all depends on Samuel -- the grandbaby we're "patiently" waiting for :) If he doesn't arrive before this coming weekend, we'll go back Friday evening, stay overnight and work again on Saturday.