Aw, sad way to end birthday beach visit. D’s family’s very good dog had been diagnosed recently with terminal cancer but was doing well for now, and they hoped to give him a good last summer. Sadly, he developed an apparently unrelated seizure disorder (the cancer he has does not cause brain tumors) in the last few weeks, and despite medication, was not doing well. Took a sharp turn for the worst night before last, and yesterday morning they realized they had to let him go–confused, walking in circles, not eating or drinking, etc. Reacting badly to the meds, but seizures still breaking through.
So we watched the heartbroken grandkids while D and SIL packed up. They went to the vet where SIL’s sister works, which is on the way between beach house and home. So at least they had the kindest possible venue. Very Good Dog is gone now. Will be very missed.
Last week Saturday night, 7 YO GD1 slept over with 6 1/2 YO cousin. They didn’t go to sleep until about midnight despite being in bed with the lights out. Fortunately, after the Sunday morning church activities and restaurant lunch, everyone could go back to home or hotel for rest.
D1’s family will be on the same flight back as me this Friday. As a matter of fact, D1 said she will be in my seat. I noticed in the business cabinet there were no kids and it was very quiet. My GDs are very good kids (4 yr and 9 months), but they are chatty, including the 9 month old. I hope the kids will nap and the passengers will be understanding. On our way over, it was easier because it was a night flight, but on the way back it will be an 8 hour afternoon flight.
We had a dear family friend get married this weekend. It was so heartwarming seeing all the now adult kids plus their offspring together. My granddaughter had a blast playing with my closest friends grandchildren.
IDK if any of you have grandchildren that love Toy Story. I purchased a plush Buzz Lightyear and Woody at Kohl’s (part of their Kohl’s Cares) - each was $9.99. With 5 grandchildren ages 7 to a few months old, these will get played with. We actually have a small plastic Woody that was a kid’s meal bonus from when DDs were young, and it is holding up well with the 2nd generation - it has a removable hat that is hard to keep on Woody’s head. The plush Woody’s hat is not removable. We also had a plastic Jessie that could hold small candy pieces - we never refill that.
Kohl’s has some Nike shirts and shorts discounted - normally $20, now $14. Got some for GSs. Also 20% off Jumping Beans active - got a Autobot Leader shirt that GSs will love. Spent over $50 and got $10 Kohl’s cash to use after 7/7. Store is convenient to me and also shop online when I purchase enough for free ship to DD1 OOS. What I bought today - some will come along in Sept and the toys will come with us at Christmas. In San Antonio, can wear shorts/active wear almost year-round.
GS got his “first cap” yesterday by attending the US women’s national team vs Canada. He got a button and cool photo.
My wife went the merch stand and bought matching jerseys for GS and me. The photos were pretty adorable. We got one where he had his hands up in an approximation my family call me “what the heck ref” gesture.
In the 60th minute, he looked at his mom and said “bye, bye ball.” which was his way of saying he was ready to go.
Baby Bluejay who fledged about 3 weeks ago is really starting to grow up. He’s (or maybe she’s–it’s hard to tell since males and females look pretty much identical) finally mastered landing on a branch more or less gracefully. And yesterday he discovered that he’s bigger than the sparrows and is using his superior size to chase them off the porch rail (where we scatter loose birdseed). He also chases sparrows away from the feeder, although that is undercut by his clumsy landings on the bird feeder perch. He actually landed poorly and fell off the feeder perch this morning while I was watching.
But he’s still momma’s boy (and a daddy’s boy) because even when be’s busy chasing sparrows, if momma or daddy lands nearby, he immediately assumes the baby bird begging position.
Baby still has some downy feather around his neck, but he won’t be a baby much longer. Although momma and daddy will still drop seeds in his open mouth, it’s happening less and less often this week. Pretty soon he’s going to off on his own.
Happy Fourth, everyone! Today is also the first birthday of my grandson! He is wearing an adorable red/white/blue sun-suit and came for a visit this morning. I sent cake home with them because our household is sick and we want to keep them healthy. My DIL said they might wait on the frosting because it will be such a mess, but then since GS loves baths too, DS said it might be a win-win for him!
GS1 turns 6 tomorrow. They are with the other grandparents that they see a lot less due to geography and the grandparent’s health issues/lack of travel.
I am still with a warm heart from the memories in June with the family OOS.
Happy birthday to It is a the Grand Fret. It’s a fun birthday to have (it’s mine too) and it is likely he’ll never have to work on his birthday! Let him eat the frosting.
Happy birthday to all July 4 babies from this poster who also gets a day off on her birthday every summer. Although it kind of stunk that other kids got to bring a cake or cupcakes to the school on their birthdays… the summer kids didn’t get to do that!
A friend of mine actually changed her son’s bday for celebrating. He had a summer bday, but they celebrated it at a time the kids were in school, so a party was easier to arrange. She figured as long as it only happened once a year there was no harm.
Not uncommon in our area to celebrate 6 months later on birthday for kids for that reason. It was happening when DDs were in grade school (they are 29 and 31 now).
When my kids were in K, they had ‘student of the week’ and you got to make a poster with pictures of your family, pets, ‘favorites’ etc. You also got to bring cupcakes. The teacher tried to assign you the week of your birthday, but neither of my kids ever got a week anywhere near their Dec or Jan birthdays as there were multiple kids with birthdays those weeks (and we weren’t the favored kids).
I do remember being disappointed as a 4th grader that I never got to bring cupcakes for my summer birthday. I also never had a party with friends, That didn’t seem strange to me as there are 6 kids in my family and 4 summer birthdays. We all did get a fancy bakery cake for our birthdays and mine was always red, white and blue. We had 4 birthdays within 10 days in August and I think they had to share one cake.
This is my daughter’s 4th birthday. She became obsessed with Wizard of Oz two months before her 4th birthday so had to have a ‘Dorothy’ party. Cake clearly not a fancy bakery cake (but made with love).
I have a July birthday and rarely had many/any guests at birthday parties until middle school. My kids have Nov birthdays. When D was a new student in 9th grade, I just brought lots of pizza & beverages at of day for her to share with friends. She said it would be awkward to invite some kids and not all and she was still figuring out friend groups.
At nice restaurants, the older two of my young grandchildren, at the time almost 5 and almost 4 split a hamburger meal. GS2 has enough eating off adult plates while under age 2. Now they order 3 kids’ meals, depending on serving sizes. Pretty soon they will have to order 4 kids meals as GD2 just turned 2 and the older two will each eat most of a kids meal.
and we want to keep them healthy. My DIL said they might wait on the frosting because it will be such a mess, but then since GS loves baths too, DS said it might be a win-win for him!
Although it kind of stunk that other kids got to bring a cake or cupcakes to the school on their birthdays… the summer kids didn’t get to do that!
