Let's Talk Politics

On the other hand, let's not. I think there are plenty of people out there with very strong opinions that have no qualms about voicing their opinions with no regard to my opinions. And my opinions? I have them. And maybe when some of the candidates stop yelling and saying stupid stuff and ragging on the other opponents, maybe I'll have other opinions.

For now, let's just say I will be voting. For whom, we shall just have to wait ...

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Thankful today for: future vacay planning; paying bills; getting new yard people

Grandmothering

These days and nights, I spend a lot of time at Maribeth's. With Mathieu deployed in Cuba, and with a newborn and a four-year-old, Maribeth seems to welcome any help I can offer. Of course, things are different than they were when I had little ones at home, so I try to pay attention to the latest things in baby-rearing. For instance, mandatory car seats were just getting serious when we had our first baby, and let's not even get started talking about breast pumps and feeding. I just try not to look completely ignorant and out of date.

Anyhow, I try to do the right things and not totally corrupt my granddaughters. And just about the time that I think I am doing it all wrong, I just remember the thing that is most important - being a grandparent is all about love. While we want to offer our expertise (no matter how long ago we were experts), or question the latest trend (which changes quite often),  our most important job is to love as unconditionally as we can, especially when they are little. I had that blessing as I was growing up with my grandmother, Nannie, who loved me for who I was, not who I should become. And so I shall try my best to continue that legacy - because in the end, love is the most important thing I can do.

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Thankful today for: Lindley, Everley, and Emmatha time - and at different times!!

Goodbye Dollywood!!

Although Maribeth and I and the girls had planned to return home tomorrow, we decided to leave later this evening. We figured the girls could sleep some on the way home and then sleep in their own beds tonight (okay, so maybe we were looking forward to that, too). And we wouldn't have to load up all the stuff in the morning. But before we left, we still had a few things to do.

Eventually we finished our plans, loaded up the car, and headed out. We only had to make a couple of feeding/diapering stops, and soon we were back home.  It was a great birthday trip!!

Sisters - Part 2!

We needed to go to The Island for a bit of moonshine shopping.
All these people were probably waiting to eat at Paula Dean's.
It was a beautiful day just to sit and enjoy!!

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Thankful today for: beautiful day in Pigeon Forge; riding the trolley and shopping with Everley; eating at the Apple Barn; safe road trip home; McDonald's parking lots along the way

Sisters

Need I say more?

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Thankful today for: Steve's safe travel back home; Wal-Mart shopping with Everley; beautiful day looking at the mountains

Happy Birthday Everley!!

As I said, Everley's wish was to come to Dollywood for her birthday, which is today. So this morning, PawPaw, Everley, Emmatha, and I loaded up the supplies and stroller, and boarded the trolley for the park. Maribeth stayed back to get some rest - not that walking around the park two weeks after having major surgery wouldn't be a great idea ...

We had a great morning at the park, although it was chillier than I expected. Everley had her sweatshirt and we kept Emmatha warm with her blankies and in the stroller, but the senior citizens of the group got cold and decided to call it a day. 

Once back at the hotel, we had some lunch and PawPaw and Everley went swimming. Afterwards there were some gifts to open - and Everley declared her birthday a success!!

Our first stop was to get a birthday button!!

Everley's first stop was going to be the fire truck roller coaster.
So we trudged up the hills to get there, only for her to decide that she didn't want to ride it after all.
So we went back down the hills, stopping at her favorite photo op.

 

No trip to Dollywood is complete until she gets her face painted.
Usually it's a tiger, but today she opted for a panda.
Guess she's growing up ...

PawPaw rode the carousel with her.
We were going to ride the train, but it was chilly and was going to be awhile before the train arrived.
So we convinced her to go back to the hotel.
Only because there's a heated swimming pool there ...

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Thankful today for: fun day with Everley and Emmatha at Dollywood; nice lady who helped with PawPaw's Dixie Stampede ticket; vendors from different nations during festival at the park