Board games, apples, stories!

Got in a little late last night so I wasn't able to update!

The last Grandma Camp of the summer has wrapped up, here are some pictures! This was the Board Game camp.

Grandma Salisbury is writing out stories from the Grandma Camp experience about each of the grandkids. She wrote out two stories about Nico and here they are:

Story#1

This past week at “Camp” we found ourselves talking about the saving grace of God.  As we sat around the picnic table, our 7 grandchildren (ages 5-13) asked questions.  In the midst of a rather deep conversation about Christ our youngest grandchild came to me and whispered he had something to say to me.  For a slight moment I was worried that his insistence on talking to me would disrupt the movement of the dialogue that had found its way to our table.  I bent down and he whispered in my ear that he wanted to say something to the group.  I saw the look in his eyes and knew it was important to him that he address his cousins.    So I quieted the group and announced that Nico wanted to speak.  The kids all stopped in great respect and Nico began his speech which went something like this:  “They made a crown with stickers coming out and put it on his head and it hurt him, then they nailed his hands to the cross right here (he pointed to his wrists), and then he died.  Do you know why he died?”  Nico gave a pause and looked around the table.  Then he proceeded to say, “He died for our sins!”   Wow… there was silence around the table for a moment.  This was followed by discussion on Christ’s death and how he saved us all.  It was a blessed moment indeed to watch this child deliver a powerful message in a very matter of fact, influential way. 

Story#2 - Private Talk

With so many different personalities you can expect some difference of opinions circulating playtime and conversations.  Most of the time the kids were able to use their social skills and compromise.  The younger ones though needed some help and guidance at times and so they would come to me and ask, "Grandma, can I have a private talk with you?"  I would always respond with "Of, course!"  So we would head into my bedroom where at the foot of our bed sat my cedar chest.  We would take a seat on the chest and I would ask them what they had on their mind.  It mostly consisted of their feelings being hurt or something they did they wished they hadn't or wanting to do something I had previously said no to and them wanting to practice their negotiating skills to convince me otherwise.  (They are good negotiators and made a good argument and many times I gave in!!)  The "Private Talks" mostly were the two younger girls who were between the "life revolves around me" stage and the "you mean theirs more than me on this earth" stage.  It became a popular theme during camp and the youngest camper, our grandson Nico, was observing these girls going in and out of my room for these talks.  With his curiosity rising, he wanted to find out what the hype was in these talks so he pulled me aside, whispered in my ear and said, "Grandma can I have a private talk?"  I was a bit surprised and probably just as curious why he wanted this talk with me as he was.  So in we went to the room.  He looked a little confused because he wasn't sure of the routine.  I motioned for us to take a seat at the cedar chest and we sat down.  I paused a moment and then asked him what was on his mind.  He looked a bit puzzled for a moment and then realized he had my full attention and he could talk about anything.  He took a deep breath and began.  "Grandma, I think you should go in the kitchen and take the sprayer and spray Kai and Bruce with water!"  I looked at him and said, "Okay, let's do it!"  Nico jumps up with great excitement and runs into the kitchen where Bruce and Kai were sitting.  He took a position away from the line of fire.  I went to the sink, turned on the water, lifted the sprayer and gave a quick squirt in the direction of the boys which caused a leaping action as they sprinted out of the room.  Nico was laughing hysterically and very proud of himself.  Later that afternoon, unbeknownst to me, Nico had a "private talk" with Kai.  The outcome of that talk was a thorough drenching from Kai to me.  I think I need to have a private talk with Nico!!!

.......

Monday we had another playdate with the whole crew, we went to Quarry View Park. Behind the tennis courts there are a few apple trees that we took some apples from. We figured they weren't sprayed because most of them had worms! Chomp chomp

The rest of the week has been outdoor play time with Evelyn and Aadam & Sam. School starts in two short weeks! Are we all ready??

Yesterday was Grandpa Russell's birthday - Happy Birthday Grandpa Russell!

Now some videos... still working on the birthday video!! But here are two from Grandma Camp!

Nico showing his dance moves as part of a board game

 

Papa came home late Friday night, so while Guy hung out with the older kids at the cabin playing Minecraft, Grandma Salisbury took the younger kids with her to welcome Papa off the plane. Here's the video!

Birthday Boy!!

Nico woke up Friday morning with all his presents on the table. He opened them right away. We didn't have his party until Saturday, but we did still have cake on Friday (and his favorite meal - rice & ground beef). The Grandparents Russell and GG came over that day and Nico opened more presents. Everyone hung out and we just relaxed, played games, Grandma Russell and I went out shopping for a bit.

Playing on GG's phone

Writing in his new Where's Waldo Game Book

Figuring out how one of his new toys works

Grandpa can help

Butter on the nose!! This is a birthday tradition in Canada. The Grandparents Russell had taken Nico to the library and they picked out a book about birthday traditions around the world. Two other ones we did: Pull on their ear 6 times (for 6 years old. Brazil) and clap 6 times (Australia).

GG's gift was a big hit

Piggie and Gerald!!

Dinner and cake

Grandpa reading to Nico

Playing Diggin' Doggies

Saturday was Nico's party but it wasn't until 1 PM, so that morning Guy and I and Nico went to the Farmers Market. We don't usually get to do stuff on Saturday mornings together because of my henna booths, so this was a treat. We let Nico pick out a hand-made lip balm. The Sprouts Club gave him 2 tokens to spend and he bought a cucumber with it.

We took Camden and Evelyn with us to the party. Some of Nico's friends weren't able to make it, but I don't even think Nico noticed! There were legos to be played with and mini-figurines to build. They hooked up a zipline for the lego figurines to go across.

Zipline

Then we sang Happy Birthday and ate dessert. Grandma Russell got a good shot of him looking so super happy while we were singing. This is one of my favorite pictures!

Guy showed Grandma Salisbury and Grandma Russell how to play Pokémon Go!

The Grandparents Russell came over after the party and we ordered Chipotle for dinner. Oh so good! We hung out some more, Grandpa Russell downloaded all his party pictures onto my computer (yay!) and then we said goodbye right before Nico's bedtime.

Loved having them here, can't wait to see them again in December!

A few more pictures...

We gave Grandpa Russell his early birthday present - a ceramic strawberry that Nico painted (Guy & I helped:))

And here is Grandma Russell's henna stain, still going strong

Nico is now at Grandma Camp: Board Games! He brought Forbidden Island with him. This is the last installment of Grandma Camp for the summer! Nico has been enjoying them so much! I will have pictures from that next week :)

Grandparents Russell!

Grandma camp finished up with success. They were planning a water fight when the parents got there to pick them up, but Grandma was notified of a water shortage Friday night, so they canceled it. Two wells had run dry and on Sunday they were notified that there was no more water. She was without water until Tuesday! And now they are on a boil order. This means that before drinking the water, you need to boil it. Here's the pictures from Grandma Camp: Movie Marathon!

Nico is reading his book "Stinky" to everyone

On Saturday GG came to visit me at my henna booth, she brought me green beans from her garden and sat and talked for a while. I even gave her a henna tattoo! 

This week Nico and Evelyn and Aadam and Avery have all gone to VBS. Avery is 3 years old now and was able to join the bigger kids. This has been the most fun VBS so far.  Nico says he wants to go to this one ALL the time.

On Tuesday Grandpa and Grandma Russell came into town! We weren't expecting to get to see them that evening, but they got in early enough to head over. Wahoo!

On Wednesday they brought GG with them, and we all went to the Discovery Center. Their new display is called ZAP, lots of things to do with electricity.

Nico also opened some presents.

Grandma and Nico working hard to put all Nico's quarters in his collection folder. 

Reading a book before bed

Today was the last day of VBS. I showed up a bit early to pick them up and they were starting a prayer line so anyone who wanted to pray out loud on stage could get in line. Nico did it! Unfortunately I couldn't hear what he said and the video I took, the background noise was very loud and you can't hear. He told me he forgot what he said when I asked him about it later.

Then we saw Grandma and Grandpa again this afternoon. I put some henna on Grandma Russell! (I'll have to take a picture of this to post next week). Grandma and Grandpa took Nico to the library and they came home with some great books.

Tonight I am putting Nico's presents on the table so that when he wakes up he will see them. He has spent a bit of time this week searching for where I hid them. Heehee. I'm excited for him to open them. 

Here's the video from Jeff and Avery's birthday party. I put it together with them in mind, so it's not really a "Nico" video, but I put it here anyway if you'd like to watch, Nico is in it too. You can see him light the birthday candles, and hit a piñata, and throw water balloons :)

Birthday Party, and Grandma Camp: Movie Marathon!

Jeff and Avery had a joint birthday party last Saturday, catered by Chipotle. Wow they have good food! It was my first time trying it. We each had our own burrito bowl. YUM! We played games and had a piñata. Video will be coming soon.

Because we missed our pizza night on Saturday because of the party, we made pizza on Sunday. We had pepperoni and Nico was very excited about that. He will eat this whole pizza while we sit and watch two episodes of Three Stooges.

On Tuesday we went to see GG. He played with her toy cars and then we watched some Paw Patrol on tv. It was great to see her, and I am excited we will get to see her again next week for Nico's birthday!

Tuesday afternoon a fire began in the foothills off of highway 21, completely closing off the highway. Grandma Salisbury had to take the long way home after dropping Papa off at the airport for a business trip (3 hours to get home!). She lost electricity Tuesday night. When Guy was putting Nico to bed that night he told Nico that if the highway was still closed the next day that we may not be able to do Grandma Camp. So he started coming up with all the ways that we might be able to get to Grandma Camp, like taking a helicopter or something. In the middle of that night he crawled into bed with us and he whined. I asked him what was wrong and he said "Mommy, I know how we can get to the cabin if the fire is still going. We can go to the airport and the plane can pick up our car and carry us to the cabin. Then I can say Hey, excuse me? Can you put our car down here? And it will be at the cabin." I said that was cool and that we could talk in the morning. Then zzzz.

The highway was open in the morning! And the electricity was restored by 2 PM. When I drove to drop Nico off, the foothills were still smoking. We saw a helicopter heading over to the mountain to drop his big bucket of water on the fire. Another helicopter was making its way to the reservoir so we pulled over and got out of the car and watched as the boats in the reservoir stopped and the helicopter dipped its huge bucket into the water to fill it up. Then it pulled up and went straight to the mountain. Thankfully the fire never got close enough to Wilderness Ranch to cause any worry.

The theme for Grandma Camp this time is Movie Marathon. Nico brought Paddington Bear to watch. Nico was so excited that he wrote a list of what he needed to pack.

Thursday was a full day for both Guy and I but then in the evening we went on a date to watch The BFG. It was a good movie and worth owning. Guy has today off from work (Friday) so we were able to go for a bike ride this morning, and then watch a movie downstairs together. Jeff & Allicia and crew are all out of town for the weekend so it's very quiet around here!

double espresso shot for Guy before the movie

Next week we will have Grandparents Russell in town!! Birthday week!!! Excited to see them!!

Update tomorrow!

Guy and I had a date tonight!! We went to see The BFG movie. But we are home late, and the blog update will happen tomorrow! Goodnight!