The "Bella & Bastian Express" left in the wee hours of Sunday morning...carried out in jammies, blankets and sleepy eyes; they were the last to be added to the already fully packed car...stopping only long enough to give Grammy a blurry hug and kiss goodbye. I might have been tired. I may not have even seen those little faces clearly; but the tears that were welling up in my eyes didn't help.
We had a wonderful week together, and I think we managed to jam a lot of things into that week for those two little ones. Well, let's say my daughter and son-in-law managed to keep them quite busy with a lot of things other than what they are really into every day which is Pokemon for Bella and Thomas the Train for Bastian.
They had several play times at the park near my house. They had a couple of play dates with friends. They went to the beach one day....and down by the lake another. They went shopping at the mall. We played board games and we played on the Wii. We went out for pizza one night and out for breakfast at our special pancake house one morning.
We managed to celebrate Bella's 6th birthday with presents from us for several days and two Pokemon cakes made by Aunt Jenna filled with chocolate mint mousse. Bella's actual birthday isn't until the 8th when she will have her party with friends at home.
One day Julie and Chris took the kids to the Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago for the day. Here are a few photos from that outing.
The funny thing is these are really the only pictures we have from the whole visit. I don't know why. We were having such a good time, I guess everyone forgot to take pictures. We went to my brother-in-law's house on July 3rd for a barbecue and fireworks show down the street at the high school from him, and we all forgot our cameras. It was a beautiful show, and we all had a great time. The look on Bastian's face alone was priceless. He was frozen....kind of hypnotized. He wasn't afraid, he just wouldn't talk; but then he got pretty chatty. Then incredibly....he fell asleep right before the 'finale.' We were amazed how he could fall asleep with all the loud noise; but it WAS pretty late for him, and he didn't have a nap. He slept through dessert back at my brother-in-law's house and everything....maybe he was shell-shocked.
Honestly, the best thing about the visit was just having their little faces there every morning. "Grandma, it's time to get up." The conversations, the hugs, the silliness, the coloring sessions and making pictures and presents for everyone, the cuddling, the stories at bedtime.
My house is filled with knickknacks...always has been. Bella has noticed many of my things before. During this visit Bastian was checking out a lot of Grandma's things...especially in her computer room. One of the things he thought was so 'cool' was this little plastic thing filled with colored sand. One side has a heart and the other side says 'Best Friends Forever." When you turn it over, the sand reveals the message or the heart. Bastian asked me what the words said. I told him, "Best Friends Forever. When you love someone, you want them to be your friend forever." He said..."Gramma, we bess friens forever." Need I say more?
OMG that is beautiful. Of course you two are BFFs! Adorable. (and my how they've grown since the last photos you shared!)
Posted by: Denise | July 07, 2009 at 07:38 AM
How sweet! Glad to know you enjoyed your visit with them. I went the the Shedd A. back in 1955. I'd love to see it again.
What gorgeous hair Bella and Bastion have.
Posted by: kenju | July 07, 2009 at 08:36 AM
We had so much fun Lady! The kids will always have fond memories of packing up for trips to Grandma's house. Love ya, Julie
Posted by: Julie | July 07, 2009 at 09:01 AM
Just reading your post brings tears to my eyes. When I went to pick up Ella at the sitter's one day when I was there, she said to Jenny, "Here comes my best friend, Grammy." I will cherish that forever.
Posted by: Beverly | July 07, 2009 at 09:06 AM
Gorgeous kids and wonderful sharing of your "adventures" with them.
1) It is more important that everyone be enjoying one another's company than that someone get photos of it. You were living!
2) I think that grandkids tend to remember the time they spent with grandma more than what they did. My own memories of the early-mid 1940s is of sitting on Grandma's lap while she read to me, hoeing in the garden with her, going on the weekly trip into town, etc.
Glad that you had such a wonderful visit with your troop.
Posted by: Cop Car | July 07, 2009 at 09:09 AM
Glad you had such a wonderful week with those two darlings, oh and their mom and dad. lol
Posted by: janeywan | July 07, 2009 at 09:18 AM
What a wonderful story about your wonderful visit.
I love it when a plan comes together.
And the best friends comment - priceless.
Cas
Thanks for sharing
Posted by: cassie-b | July 07, 2009 at 09:49 AM
Those redheads are adorable. I'm having a wonderful time with my three grandkids in Seattle.
Posted by: Hattie | July 07, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Bastion and Bella are so adorable. I know how much their visit meant to you and I am so happy for you that you had such a great time.
The memories that were made last week will never leave and they will be with you over and over again.
It sounds like the perfect week in a grandma's life.
Posted by: Darlene | July 07, 2009 at 04:02 PM
What beautiful children. I love that red hair. Wow!
Posted by: Rain | July 07, 2009 at 08:54 PM
Sounds like a perfect visit. You really did pack a lot of fun stuff into your week.
Your grandchildren are gorgeous!
Posted by: Tara R. | July 07, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Being partial to redheads I'm the first to admit my prejudice, but those photos reveal they truly are very attractive grandchildren. Yes -- best friends forever.
Posted by: joared | July 08, 2009 at 12:22 AM
Dear Joy ~~ I am so glad you had a beautiful week with Julie, Chris and the adorable Bella and Bastion
You sure fitted a lot of activity
and made wonderful memories.
Time sure gets away with us, and I never have enough to read and comment and even post too often.
Those grandkids have sure grown up a lot and have become little charmers as well as "bess friens"
Keep well dear friend, Love Always, Merle.
Posted by: Merle | July 09, 2009 at 06:27 AM
Dear Joy,
What wonderful memories you captured!
Those are the best times ever-times spent with your little ones!
OH! And they are both such beautiful kids! Love that red hair!
Hugs))
Junie
Posted by: Junie Rose | July 09, 2009 at 02:09 PM
Joy - we have been blog friends for an amazing amount of time - watching our little ones grow. Bella my goodness she is so grownup and so beautiful.
And Batian, now such an inquisitive youngster. It is a joy and a blessing to watch them grow and blossom. Hugs across miles xoxo
Posted by: Suzann | July 11, 2009 at 12:16 AM
Those grandkids are truly beautiful and that red hair is to dye for. (Sorry, just had to add that.) I had been back and back waiting for you to post and here you are and have posted twice already. I so enjoy hearing about you and your family. There is so much love to bask in even from this distant viewing.
Posted by: Maria | July 11, 2009 at 01:45 PM
love the red headed grands
Posted by: patty | July 12, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Your Bella and my JJ would get on like a house on fire with a mutual interest (or obsession in JJ's case) with Pokemon. Glad you all had a great time.
Posted by: jen | July 14, 2009 at 08:46 PM