HURRY BACK RACHEL!

It seems so lonely in Rachel's bedroom. She's gone now, you know.
I hate that story.

There is nothing in the bathroom that even shows a trace she was here.

Here is an episode of Hannah Montana.
This was Rachel's favorite show while she was here.
Notice the empty chair.

This is the famous apple tree.
Whenever Rachel was hungry - she ran out to the apple tree
and picked as many as she wanted.

Well, I am told that all good things come to an end.
Her mom and brothers came to take her back home.
(Driving away after three weeks) I hate that story.
Rachel is in this car. I can see her waving back to me.

After they drove away -I walked back to the house and I saw this posted on my door.

A little closer look reveals the true message of those fun days we spent together.

I love you too RACHEL!


I really LOVE YOU and MISS YOU!

So - you ask - "what's next?"
Glad you asked that....but you'll just have to wait and see!
I heard there's more grandkids on the way to spend a week with Grandma!

"HURRY BACK RACHEL!"
Love, Grandma Cookies

RACHEL AND THE DOLLS

The truth of the matter is this... I AM REALLY the LOVER of dolls. Dolls - dolls and more dolls. When Rachel got here I couldn't wait to show her all my dolls.
She simply loved them. Whoa - That made me so happy!
(side note: look at how young Rachel looks here compared to the last picture when she was here for 2 weeks) (but wait until you get to that last picture to look!)

Rachel had so much fun putting the dolls into pairs and lining them up and
pretending just like I had hope that she would.

She even played with them upstairs.

Then Ashlie came over and we put up a new doll house. Now the fun really began!

Dolls - dolls and more dolls!
The blanket over the area in the back was like a tent for the doll "village".

Then when Madison was here, the girls decided to make paper dolls or
fairies to hang over the doll village. That blanket would come down!

They spent the whole day doing crafts and creating the paper dolls.

Here is Ashlie, Madison and Rachel.

Looks like the dolls are ready to hang!

Emily came over to play with the dolls. These dolls got a lot of attention! Sweet!
See the paper dolls swinging in the breeze of the fan!

Then one day Rachel and I went shopping. We actually found a special doll just for Rachel.
She liked it. Rachel really liked it!

The doll in the red dress even had her hair cut just like Rachel!

Rachel decided that this would be her very special doll. We talked about it for a little while and she decided to keep her here. For some reason she thought the doll would be safer.
Hmm.. I wonder if she thought her brothers might cut off her eyelashes or take the scissors to her hair. What a funny thought!
But then again - Rachel is pretty darn smart.
I decided to believe her - so the doll stays here!

RACHEL AND BOOKS!

This post represents Rachel and BOOKS! We went to the library many times plus we hit the store BORDER BOOKS . Rachel is a fast reader so we had to go often! We also took books to Jacob's ballgame because sometimes they were very long games. It was quite fun to sit and read next to Rachel. Sometimes - I even read the books SHE checked out! Sweet!BORDER BOOKS is next door to the movie theater. One day when we went to the movies - we were really early - so we just played and read in the store for about 1 1/2 waiting for our movie to begin. I think I was reading a book from a brain surgeon and her experience with cutting open the brain. It was very fun to read. Rachel loved doodling with the computer she found.

When I told Rachel it was time to put the books back and "go" - she gave me "the look".

"AW - I'm not done!", she replied. But when I reminded her that Nancy Drew was going to start...she jumped right up.

Even when Rachel went to bed each night - she wanted books. I would find books scattered all over her bed in the morning. I think that's a really neat thing!
Hey - I just remembered that I never went back to find out about more about that brain surgeon.

RACHEL AND THE POOL

Rachel spent a lot of time in the pool. Ashlie loved it also.

They would play crazy games and play forever it seemed.

Here's an overview of the pool for Rachel's sake.

Of course swimming in the pool wouldn't be complete without drying off on the trampoline!

Then to top off the day....ice cream bars! Yahoo!

I have to say that Rachel and Ashlie became really great friends.
I love that story!

RACHEL AND THE WATER

Rachel loved to go swimming a lot. She swam at my pool - but also swam at the Starlight Park pool with Ashlie each day for a week. I was able to capture her using the water slide.

Climbing up...

Coming down...

Coming down...

Almost in...

And even a little wave! Gotta love this camera - gotta love this girl!

Sweet!

"WATCH THIS!" yelled Will and Matt.

Will and Matt came down to Phoenix to pick up Rachel and take her back to Show Low.
(Jana came too)
While they were here, the boys and I played in the pool for 2 hours!

"Watch THIS!" yelled Will.
Grandmas always do.
With a smile.

Will is so funny. He announced to me before he could even think about swimming....
"Grandma, I HAVE to have goggles or I cannot go into the water."
Oh goodie - goodie - I found some.
You and I know both know that every Grandma always has to have a bag of tricks.
Glad goggles were in that bag.

Here is my "Matt boy". I call him Matt Boy because he's the only boy that calls me almost everyday. (We're really "tight".)
Rrrrring.
"Hey. What are you doing?"
"Shopping, Matt Boy."
"Okay - BYE!"

You see - he isn't really much on conversation as he is just wanting to know where I am certain times of the day. So...I tell him. I like that he likes to "check up" on me! Sometimes he calls me even four times in one day. That would make you smile too.
I always laugh when I hang up.
I wonder what he does.

Listen to me.

Absolutely no comment about Matt Boy being in a pink tube. It was the only one that fits him but you watch... next time - we'll have plenty of blue ones.

So please... just look at his smile and move on.

Matt could have played this "rescue game" forever with the hose. He felt so STRONG pulling himself up by using it. He must have told me a hundred times....
"Watch this, Grandma."
Grandmas always do.
With a smile.


We put up this fun umbrella. Matt is actually hiding under it.
In the meantime....Will yells, "Watch this!"
Grandmas always do.
Still smiling.



Here are the boys playing. They were actually so nice to each other.
Brothers equal fun.
Grandma's pool equals even more fun!
BUT letting them see that you are really watching them equals even more and more fun!


"Take a picture like this." yelled Matt.
Grandmas like it when grandkids want their picture taken.

I have a very full apple tree this year. Wow. We pick a million everyday - and more just keep appearing. We cannot possibly eat enough apples each day. Come and get some - okay?
Apples make a perfect snack for hungry, swimming boys. I think Will had at least 20 this day.
They made him happy.
They made me even happier.
(the phytochemical thing, you know)

We have a rule - no eating in the pool.
So Will would jump in for a minute and then climb back out to eat a couple of more bites.
Matt - nope.
He wanted to eat every single bite before he jumped back in.

Love that shade. Love those apples!
LOVE THOSE BOYS!!

When we got out of the pool, they wanted to play on the trampoline with the sprinklers on and then eat popsicles and cookies.
"Watch this!" yelled Will.
"WOW - YOU GO HIGH". I answered. I know I yelled the right thing
...because he laughed.


"Watch this!" yelled Matt Boy.
"WOW - YOU GO REALLY HIGH TOO!" I yelled back.
He laughed too!
(I'm on a roll)

"WATCH THIS!"
Those are the words I'm really gonna miss.
It was a really fun day even for this grandma.
In the meantime...while they are gone....
I'll just have to wait for the call with the little voice at the end that asks...
" Hey. What are you doing?"
I'll reply, "Smil'in, Matt Boy!"
Grandmas alway do.

She got her cantaloupe!

Jana is here with the boys. I wanted to make sure she got HER cantaloupe before she left. So we picked the only one that looked "kinda" ripe.

Here is proof positive that she got it.
Life is good.

It could have been a little more juicier, a little more flavorful, a little more sweeter but the fact that it came fresh from the garden made up all the difference. Thanks for being a good sport Jana and Rachel!

Cantaloupe anyone?

We have a great garden! Rachel just picked this cantaloupe - come along and see some more!

Inside the pool area - we have the best cantaloupe growing.

If you came over to see us...you might get one of your own!

Well - I take that last statement back. Once I told people I had cantaloupe - I ended up giving them all away. We picked 5 more since I took this picture. We only got to eat three of them.
We are grateful for this garden. I am grateful for this granddaughter! Rachel is the best!