Good Weekend

It was wet and sloppy this weekend but Friday night Conner and Cole came to spend the night with us and we had fun all weekend until they left this morning to go to Sunday School and Church. I love my grandchildren even though they tire me out when they visit. They are not perfect but they are little boys and are certainly some sweet little boys that are well behaved.

Cole is still all about the camera. In front of and behind the camera. Here is a picture of him as a Blues Brother.

We had to find plenty of rainy day activities to keep them occupied. We wrapped change, made pepper jelly, played computer games, tossed a little soft ball, watched cartoons (what ever happened to Scooby Doo?), and more.


Cole took this picture of his Granny. I guess she is a Blues Sister?

Trip to Europe

I just returned yesterday from a trip to Beligum and Holland. The picture of me in front of the windmill at the Duyvus factory is proof that I was really working and not on a vacation. It was built in 1620!

We left Atlanta on Saturday and got to Belgium on Sunday. We were in a town called Luven which is about a half hour from the airport in Brussels. It is a College town and the closest town to the company we were visiting. Belgium Electronic Sorting Technologies has an x-ray machine at which we are looking to use to speed up a 50 year old grading system.

We ended up with about 3 hours to look around Luven one afternoon and about two hours in Brussels the next day before we went to Amsterdam. While in Brussels we visited with the Ag Minister from the US to the European Union. He was from Georgia and was glad to see some home folks. They are really helpful in working through problems that may arise with importing countries in the EU member countries.

In Holland we met with the head peanut buyer for Duyvus which is a Pepsico brand. They make a cracker coated peanut which I wish someone would market in the US. It is almost like a peanut coated with a shell of flavored corn chip. It has a nice crunch and many flavors. Folks all over Europe love them, especially young people.

We had about three hours to tour Amsterdam when we returned from the Duyvus factory. We took a one hour cruise of the canals. It is a typical central European city. We got to see Anne Frank's home on the tour.

Here is a picture of windmills in Holland and of the Cathedral in Luven.

Fun Day

I had a really fun day today. Conner and Cole spent the night. It is a real treat and truly a reward to grandparents when our grandchildren spend the night with us. This morning we walked to McDonald's and had breakfast. We also took a walk across America and back. There is this map of the United States at Northside Elementary School and Conner and I go step on the different states when we go out. This was Cole's first walk across America.

After McDonald's we came home and did yard work. They were some help but mainly just company. It takes me a bit longer to do my yard work but I don't at all mind. I don't see my family nearly enough because everyone is always so very busy. Sometimes I think it would be fun to have a big slumber party and have the whole family over for pizza and to spend the night. We could watch movies and eat popcorn and just enjoy each other.

Conner and Bart ran an errand and Cole and I watered Erika's plants. He was so proud that he could do that for her. He is truly enamoured by Jason, too. I love seeing them together. Cole will just look at him and sometimes just reach out and gently touch him. They are two little rough and tumble little boys, well, they are just little boys, but they are also so good and if you tell them to be careful they truly make an effort at whatever it is you told them to be careful about.

I wish I had known how to correct my children as well as I do my grandchildren but I don't have a time machine so no need lamenting that fact. I think they always knew I loved them and I continue to love them today, Brad included.

Conner got this wild scooter for back to school. It is like a razer scooter but has three wheels and wings you stand on. The two back wheels are casters and it does some really interesting stuff. He rides it with no fear.

Cole's and my morning started with us throwing a football. He has a great arm, throws a better spiral than Joe Namath. Only problem is that most of them are just slightly over knee high.

Cole has got this newfound interest in being the next Ansel Adams. He loves taking pictures with our digital camera. He won't be five until August 19th but he is really good at his hand eye coordination. Last night he wanted to get the camera as soon as we walked through the door. Some of them are at his level and his perspective. His granny has learned to bend down for the camera. Sometimes I forget.