Part 2 My Granddaughters Visit

I have been busy, busy and really busy. My granddaughters are keeping me on my toes. I am just loving every minute of it. I have a few more pictures to share. I hope you enjoy.

Pumpkin working on her reading skills. We keep her practicing her reading and writing skills. 

Sweet Pea had to do her school work also. We are working on her coloring skills.

Lots of sand and sun.

Learning sand castle construction. Now that important!

We weeded and weeded. Then the girls had a lesson in how to tell when a radish is ready to pick. They picked radishes, tomatoes and a couple pepper plants! Yes, I said they picked a couple pepper plants. Grandma forgot to explain that pepper plants are like tomato plants. Just pick the fruit. Lol, they thought pepper plants were like radishes just grab the plant and pull. We had a good laugh, crossed our fingers and replanted the poor pepper plants. I guess you can take the girl out of the city but you can't take the city out of the girl. Ha ha! 

How is your garden growing? Do you have any good pepper plants? 

Two Weeks Of Pure Happiness

We have been given our two sweet granddaughters for not one but two weeks of summer vacation! This is what I have been waiting for all summer. I have been planning this two weeks for almost a year now. I can hardly believe that our summer vacation has arrived. I know it sounds like work not vacation. I feel like it is a vacation of pure pleasure to have my grandchildren in my home. I am hoping my grandsons will be here to visit at some point during these next two weeks. It has been almost impossible to get all the grandchildren together for a family photo. I am hoping we can do this at least once a year. Well, I have got to go for now but I will leave you with a few photos of our vacation so far.

 Sweet Pea and Pumpkin feeding the goats.

 Some serious painting going on. 

 Taking a break in the pool after helping grandma weed the garden.

 Sweet Pea dancing for grandma and grandpa.

Pumpkin making a nature collage. 

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. There are will be a lot more to come. 

Our Little Gingerbread House

We have been keeping busy, busy, busy. My granddaughters are enjoying our visit and having a blast. We made a gingerbread house and the girls had fun eating it for a few days.

 

New Years Trip

Grandpa and I took a trip to see our granddaughters. We had a wonderful time visiting and helping my son and daughter-in-law with the girls while they moved into their new home. We also delivered Christmas gifts to the girls. Sweet Pea and Pumpkin are growing so much I could not believe how big they are getting.

We started out at 4am. It was so beautiful to watch the sunrise in front of us while we drove.

Sweet Pea was not sure what to do with her stocking!

Both girls enjoyed their new art desks!

 We enjoyed every minute of our stay. Time went by all too quickly. It was sad to leave the drive home was not so enjoyable. 

Traveling Nurse

Today was one of those days I had the opportunity to reflect upon the birth of my first granddaughter Pumpkin. I have shared the story of her birth a few months back so I will not go into much detail here today. I attended Pumpkins birth as a Doula and I have so many fond memories about that day.
One of those memories was how all the nurses were so helpful and supportive. There was one nurse in particular that I have not forgotten. She was a traveling nurse. I had heard about Traveling nurses but had not thought much about their career. Through out the day we had the chance to visit a little each time she came in to check on my daughter-in-law. One question I had asked her was, " What made you choose to be a traveling nurse?" She went on to tell me how she had always dreamed of traveling and seeing as much of our country as possible. While she was in nursing school she had learned about a traveling nurses program and made the decision that it would be something to try.
My daughter was also able to be present at Pumpkins birth since she was on break from nursing school. My daughter thought the idea of being a traveling nurse was something she might think about. I knew the opportunity to meet this registered nurse and talk about the travel program might influence my daughters plans for her future.
I do have to say I think Travel Nursing programs are wonderful and can be a great opportunity for registered nurses and Licensed practical nurses who want to travel the country. There are many benefits of being a traveling nurse from building skills, free housing, to the great pay. What more could someone ask for?
On a side note, my daughter decided not to become a traveling nurse. She got married right after she became a RN and a year later had Pooh Bear.
All events in this story are true.

Meet Tootsabellarose

I would like to introduce my Daughter in law  Tootsabellarose (blog name).
Just a little about her before we start the interview. Tootsabellarose is the mother of my two beautiful granddaughters. She is a wonderful daughter in law and a great blogging buddy.

Tootsabella and Rose

 Name: Tootsabellarose

Occupation: Mommy to one 4yr old ballerina and one 1yr old cookie monster. Both are girls. I am a wife to a wonderful hardworking husband.

Hobbies: To name a few. cake decorating, crafting, photography.

Life Goal: I would love to be a photographer if I could ever acquire the equipment. Raise well mannered, god following, amazing, good morale children. Also, eventually travel with my husband to see the world. That's not too much to ask.

Where have you been? The first place I have traveled to was Texas to visit my father. We visited the Alamo, San Antonio river walk, and the San Antonio Zoo. He lived in a place called Vanderpool, TX on a beautiful 5000 acre ranch near Utopia where they are making the new movie about golfing. I have been to Disney World 3 times. It's amazing and I still haven't done everything there. I was a driver for Swift for a little while and went down to Laredo, TX and back  through Louisiana and Alabama back up through South Carolina. Just seeing the permanently bent trees from Katrina was eye opening. I have stayed in North Carolina, which is my favorite state.  I used to live in Ohio so we pretty much lived at Cedar Point every summer. The shores of lake Erie were my home for 25 years.  Amish Country is great. I have been to Rhode Island and Connecticut. Gatlinburg, TN is beautiful and there is soooo much to do. When I visited Niagara Falls, I was awestruck by the beauty of it! Last year I visited Hershey Park and just recently I had my first trip to Washington DC at the Smithsonian Zoo. I loved the zoo and I can tell the animals are very happy there. They are very active and run around and play a lot. The lions were great. We watched them play and pounce on each other for a while. From lake Erie, DC, Florida, Texas, and back up around and everything in between, I still have never been out west. I would love to see the giant Redwoods and the Grand Canyon. Someday I will but for now I can reside smack dab in the middle of my travels.

My daughter in law.
Hocking Hills, Ohio

Where would you like to travel?: Absolutely out west like I stated above. I would also love to visit the castles in England and visit Ireland. Venice and Poland would be amazing but Greece would be simply the most beautiful of all. 

Dreams: I have many dreams, but to win the lottery is the most important one of all.

Favorite place to take the girls for a mommy daughter afternoon: Well I have yet to actually do this. When Rose gets older, I would love to take them to a day spa and get the works!! We do most things as a family. That's just how we prefer it. Can't get enough of daddy around.

Favorite foods to cook: Lasagna, shish kabobs marinated and on the grill of course, chicken fettuccine, apple pie, and this amazing bean dip.

What is your favorite color?: Green.

What is your greatest accomplishment?: I have birthed two beautiful daughters naturally. One of which was born in the water. Exclusively breastfeeding both daughter's past 1yr of age.

Tell a little about yourself: I am married and have had two natural births. I am 5'8 with brown hair and green eyes. I love to shop especially for deals.  I am always trying to find new stuff for my family and I to do. I am happy and try to make and keep everyone around me happy too. 
Please check out http://tootsabellarose.blogspot.com/  She would love you to follow. If you do follow Tootsabellarose will certainly follow you back.

Thank you for the great interview. Next time I will invite you for a guest post.