Hey there– It’s been a grand week– we trooped up to San Francisco to meet our new baby grand-guy baby Otto!! Hung out with his brother & sis– that Eero and Mae. Watched baby Lois 3 days while her mom headed off to work and to top it off landed in Ojai today with the 3 big grand-girls to celebrate Maryann’s birthday #9!! It was a fine full week!
It was good times with little Lois — reading, crawling, hanging out with Mom & Dad.
Always a great time with Mae & Eero –picking Mae up at school, out for ice cream, playing at home, and Mae & I assisting on Jessica’s extraordinary donut making day!
And then there was new baby Otto– sweet and tender– so much fun to study his little face and watch him squirm and wiggle!
To finish the week off, we trekked up to Ojai to get in on the fun of Maryann’s #9 splashy birthday party at the pool. Love that friendly, inventive girl!
So it was the best week– lots of hugs and talks and playtime with grand-kids. What more could a grandma ask for?! And one more photo to remember that getting that perfect angelic grand-girls photo doesn’t always work out–
The Thankful Heart 
How sweet, from all the expressions you caught from Otto, Lois and her books, school pick up, the party! I love all of it 🙂
And holy cow! Um homemade donuts? I’m impressed.
I know Lacey–I never heard of anyone actually making in their very own kitchen. But they were super and it was a fun group project! After last week we have a low key weekend– just church and a movie with friends (The Glass Castle) — What are you up too?? hugs!
You have been going and going. I bet it was nice to have a low key weekend. We had a mostly low key weekend too.
Ohhhh have you ready the book? Did you like the movie?
The move was really worthwhile– but so sad when you know it was a real life. I liked the book a lot– more about the mom in the book and the movie went more into her life as an adult in NY. Just a great story how these kids survived and thrived in a weird sad family. xox friend!
I’ve wanted to read the book, but sometimes I just can’t do it if I think it will be too sad, especially involving kids anyway. I like to read books BEFORE I see the movies. I’ve been back and forth on starting this one or not. Good not know the movie is okay on it’s own though.
Hi Lacey– agree on the sad book thing– sometimes there’s enough sadness in life around us. But I think the tone of this book is set by how the kids come out OK in spite of crazy parents! — What is your book group reading for next time?? xo
Okay that’s good to know, thank you. I’ll go ahead and add it to my to-read list.
We haven’t meet for the next book yet, but I am ready. Is your book club on a new book??
Hey Lacey– we’re reading Commonwealth by Ann Patchet. I loved her book– Bel Canto– Commonwealth is the story of a complicated broken family. It is OK. take care dear girl! xox
Bel Canto does look like a good read. My to-read list grows 🙂
I know Lacey– there always too many good books– and not enough quiet book reading time! I don’t know how you squeeze in reading with all you do! you’re amazing! xox
I ignore the kids sometimes. Just kidding! (and thank you). It’s sporadic at best, but I try to squeeze it in when I can.
ha ha ha! I think small kids are pretty impossible to ignore. But I admire you for squeezing in all the reading and other things that you manage to do Lacey! xo
Omg Otto is such a cutie!!!! Love all the pics 🙂
So kind! thanks! We are already doting on that little guy! xo
Wow…What a wonderful post.It is always so much fun to be around the family and specially the kids. Otto is super cute and his expressions are cuter than him.Loved all the pictures.!!
Hi Anshu! thanks– we do adore our kids and grand-kids. They all live a ways from us so we do a lot of traveling to keep in touch! Loved your roti recipe!! Looks super! thanks! xox
Thanks a lot Rhonda for liking my Roti recipe…Loved your family pictures Rhonda..All are adorable specially kids !!
Thanks thanks Anshu– now we’re home, I’m missing all those kids! Loved your nut cluster recipe– would be perfect for Christmas treats! xox
Baby Otto is so cute! Gorgeous photos of your lovely family Rhonda☺
Hi Ursula! thanks — we are crazy about that little guy! Fun to hear from you! xo
Absolutely gorgeous baby! 💕💕
Why thanks! We think he’s the best! Read through your post on the Peace of God– beautiful. thank you. xo
He really is!
Thank you, Rhonda, glad you liked it.
Hayley 😊💕
Baby Otto is super cute. All r pics are amazing
thanks Ruchi!! Your custard cookies are so pretty!
Ahh this makes my heart happy ❤ looks like the perfect week! x
It was a sweet time for us! Our grand-kids are scattered up the state from us– so we make lots of trips to see them! Happy weekend Becca– any plans??! xox
Had a nice relaxing one, lots of pottering around the flat and a beautiful walk in the Autumn air. Hope you had a restful / exciting weekend (whichever you fancied!) x
You’re so cute Becca! We were mostly home except for dinner out and a movie. I’m stitching away on a baby quilt for our niece having a baby boy in November (so exciting!). Hugs from here Becca!
First of all, congratulations in order! Your new grandson is sweet as can be, Rhonda! How precious are these photos of special family time! Hugs to you friend. ❤
Thanks Mary! I know you agree sweet time with the family is the best. Now we’re home– I’m missing those kids! Hope you’re in the middle of a relaxing weekend. xox
We are, Rhonda. Last night we went on a classic car cruise and show at a drive in theater. It will be in a future post. BLessings to you!
How fun Mary!! I haven’t been to a drive movie in years! What did you see?? I went to see The Glass Castle with some book club friends today– such a sad moving movie. OK, well, back to school for yo tomorrow –hope it’s a productive week! xox
Hi Rhonda, yes I’ll try to write a post about the car cruise and movies. It had been about 10 years or more since we’ve gone and it was really cool to have our son and his girlfriend drive us, just the opposite of what we used to do. The last time we went the boys were little and in their pjs! I want to read the Glass Castle, it’s written by Jeanette Walls or something like that, right? I read a book penned by her before but don’t remember the name. I hope your week is off to a great start! Blessings to you
Hey Mary– yep, isn’t it great to enjoy your kids as adults?! I think her 2nd book was called Half Broke Horses (or something like that) –about her grandmother. The Glass Castle is a gripping book– really liked it– amazing how she and her siblings came out so well from that home. And the movie was different– more about her adult life, but good as well. hugs hugs Mary!
Yes, now our kids bring us to magical places, like we did when they were children. I cherish my time with them and I know Tom does very much so. I’ll have to check out The Glass Castle, thank you! Hugs to you, Rhonda.
So agree Mary. xo
Hugs to you, Rhonda!
Oh that Otto!! So precious! He just may steal some hearts or three! So wonderful that you could spend time with them. Love that last pic, LOL -Kat
Hey Kat– yep, we really adore that little guy already. Hope all’s well at your house. hugs!
What a lovely post Rhonda. Little Otto is a cutie. I love the sound of that party. You are very blessed. X
Thanks Brigid! He’s a squirmy little sweetheart. So fun to get sit and hold him while he napped! hugs friend. Hope you are holding up well.
Yes Rhonda. I am doing better than I expected. X
I’m so glad to hear that Brigid– You are an amazing person with all you’ve been through and the way you’ve fashioned your life. God bless you in all that’s ahead… xox
What a magical time that must have been! 🙂
Yep, we’re missing all the kids now that we’re home. How’s the big move coming along?? xo
Tomorrow is the big day. The packing is pretty much done and we have had lots of help from a wonderful organizer and my stepsister is a dynamo!
OK, Mollie, so the move should be all taken care of by now! Hope hope it went well! Now to settle in!! Blessings friend! xo
The folk’s move is pretty much done, now moving all my things that have accumulated here, emptying the house, new carpet, new roof, painters, drywallers, plumbers. Oh my!
Whoa Mollie– So it sounds like the work’s just begun! Are you staying on at the house?? Or is your sister handing all the work on things?? Hope it’s all going well. You are amazing! xox
Aw, Otto is such a sweetie, congratulations! And of course little Lois is, too, as always. That last picture, ha ha! 🙂
Almost forgot, I love the birthday pictures, too. Happy Birthday to Maryann!
Hey Marcia– thanks. It is so sweet to have that new little guy in the family– missing him now that we’re back home! xox
Perfection. ❤️
What fun you tcently have had in your family. Otto is Such a cuty.
Thanks Sophie!! have plane tickets booked to get up and see him again end of October– can’t wait! xox
Looks like a fun time with the family! The babies are just so sweet. The birthday pictures are fantastic!
Agree about the babies! Do you have kids?? xox