Grandma Lulu

Grandma Great
Mom came into town and immediately got to work building a tent out of pvc pipe and a drop cloth for the girls (plus an extra for their dolls). I also put her to work making rice bags as gifts. Can you believe she calls my home a sweatshop!! We now have a play tent and 20 rice bags. She certainly does leave her mark. I can’t believe she can get so much done so quickly. Of course, she made a gigantic mess. I am still finding strings, rice and pins everywhere. Worth it!

Conference
I can’t believe that Ella is now old enough to be coming to women’s conference with me. It was awesome that Mom was still in town so that we could make it a three-generation event. We made it special with dinner before and dessert after!
Here was Ella’s take on the event:
Lauren: What did you think?
Ella: Well, it was a little boring.
Lauren: Did you learn anything?
Ella: I liked when she told the story about the girl who couldn’t speak anymore (from the first speaker).
Lauren: Anything else.
Ella: I didn’t like when they made us sing. That was embarrassing.
Overall, I think she would sit through another “boring” event with the promise of dinner and dessert attached.

Since Grandma’s trip was short, we took advantage of Donald’s attendance policy and took a day-off including a trip to Chik-Fil-A. After spending a week in North Carolina with three busy boys, Grandma Lulu made a couple of funny observations about being around my girls.
(From Grandma LaCinda) I entered the world of four, sweet and beautiful little girls where emotions are a roller coaster and tears are as common as rain:
Grandma:  OK, girls, it is donut day.  Let's get ready and we will walk to our breakfast store. 
Lauren:  Ella, don't take the smiley balloon with you. 
Stephen:  It is probably OK.
We were running late (soccer game morning) so Lauren and I jaywalked to buy the donuts and get the morning picnic ready. 
Kayla:  (crashes on he scooter while riding to the donut shop--Tears.)
Grandma:  We have 12 donuts-enjoy! 
Ella:  But, I wanted a maple one (tears).
Lauren:  You have never wanted a maple donut. Eat the sprinkled one.
Ella:  But I want one now (tears). 
Grandma:  If you have a problem and money will solve the problem, then use your money and pay to solve the problem.  Ella, let's go buy you a maple doughnut (Item #4 in Grandma Lulu's Handbook).
Ella:  Who drank my chocolate milk (tears)?
Lauren:  Stephen?
Stephen:  I thought it was mine.
Dessie:  (Accidentally knocks over Ella's scooter and her smiley face balloon is released).
Ella:  My balloon....DESSIE!  (tears)
Dessie:  (tears)
Lauren:  I told you not to bring the balloon.  
Stephen:  At least your balloon still has its smile. 
Ella:  (tears)
After her scooter crash, I was truly just surprised that Kayla was the only one not crying at this point.

It’s that time of year again in Texas: the bluebonnets are out and we had the added bonus of being able to show them off to grandma! I got my traditional picture, although Olena refused to cooperate. I may have to try again before they expire in a few weeks. This also means that the Texas weather has turned crazy. One day I was listening to reports of a tornado and the next we were shedding our coats for an 82-degree day. The next day was rainy and the coats came back out when a south wind dipped the temperature in the 40s. Crazy stuff.