YE OL' CUPCAKE PARTY

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010 Niki threw a cupcake decorating party at four this afternoon for Alexa and some of her friends. Niki called and asked if I would “come over” and help take care of her kids while she cleaned house and finished getting ready for the gala. In the last little while Gavin has gotten really clingy and whiny and Niki is finding it difficult if not impossible to get anything done. When I got there Alexa was at pre-school and Niki and Gavin had gotten some yellow and some pink snapdragons. I put some in the two planters on her front porch. I put yellow ones in the center and the pink around the edges. They look nice. With eight of the remaining pink flowers, I put one each in some cute, cup-sized pails Niki had gotten from Shannon, Greg’s sister. They have pink ribbons on the outside and really look cute. There are still a half dozen or so pink snapdragons left over, though two of them are dwarf sized and have no flowers on them. From there, I picked Alexa up from school. She squealed when she saw me and chattered all the way home. I think if she had it her way, I would pick her up every day. She had a little toy doggie in her bag and we talked about what to call it. I suggested “Kitty” but Alex(She prefers Alex to Alexa) thought that was a lame idea. She kept sticking it out in my direction then pulling it back, saying, “No doggie, don’t bite grandpa!” Alexa announce that she has a ten-year old sister named Rock Star. She said that on her next birthday, Rock Star will be seventeen. On the way home we got a Little Casers’ pizza and some breadsticks and dipping sauce. I tried to take care of Gavin while Niki cleaned etc, but he screamed and screamed and finally Niki put him in her lap and sat on the couch and tried to get him to go to sleep. I left at that point so who knows how that turned out.

EPHESES, (ISMIR) TURKEY

MORE PICTURES from OUR CRUISE

EGYPT PICTURES

A CUP of COFFEE PLEASE!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010 Tonight Corey called and said he had talked to Judy and that we were going to Won Won Wok to eat. I got there first and stood outside the door until they drove up. Bailey had her window rolled down and was waving and yelling. As they were pulling in, Jayden the consummate comedian saw the coffee shop sign next door to Won Won Wok and said “Let’s see, sushi or coffee. Hmm I’m tired. I think I need a cup of coffee!” and laughed. When they got out of the car he started walking to the coffee shop to get his “cup of coffee.” Bailey, wanting to get in on the act; knowing Jayden was joking, grabbed the back of his shirt yelling “No don’t go in the coffee shop.” while he of course insisted on going in. It was really quite the comedy act, watching the two of them. Corey and Stacey just stood there, watching, shaking their heads in bewilderment. Jayden wolfed down two California Rolls in record time but when asked if he wanted more he admitted he was stuffed. I mentioned that I haven’t heard anything recently about Jayden and girls. He and Stacey (I think it was) said in unison, “Isabelle is crazy. Nicole is crazy. And Issie is just weird!” I guess that answers that.

HOW MUCH do TEN YEAR-OLDS KNOW?

Sunday, March 14, 2010 I am still feeling ill with a head and chest cold. I am also suffering from severe headaches and three days ago I threw out my back. I don’t even know how I did it. I went to the chiropractor twice and had a massage. It seemed to help a little but I am still in pain. Sometimes when I first get up my back seems normal but after a couple of steps it’s right back to the same-o-same o. Tonight Corey, Stacey, Jayden and Bailey came over to swim in the pool. I decided to go over with them. It seems like it helped my back. I jogged in chest high water and twisted back and forth then sat in the hot tub. I asked Stacey if she had any new funnies to tell on her kids. She told me the following: “When we were at Cabela’s the other day, they were giving away free peanuts and we of course got our share. Corey decided to go into the dressing room and try on a shirt. He turned to Jayden and said, ‘Hold my nuts!’ “Jayden laughed hysterically for about ten minutes.”

MALTA HARBOUR