Enjoying the Nice Weather

Little did we realize that Kate likes to do Yoga stretches and positions. Here's one from yesterday.

On Thursday I got to play golf with Steppy at Sun Crest Golf Course. Steppy is one of the foursome that I often play with. This is the first time just he and I played alone. The other guys are away. It was a nice afternoon and I hit a few straight.

Yesterday I went to visit with my mother in Monongahela. We were able to take care of a couple of bills and spend some time together. She had plans for the afternoon with the Senior Center she attends. They were having a "volunteer recognition" gathering at 3:00 p.m. So I took care of what I needed to do and headed home.

Then Dee and I went to Zelienople and picked out a new kitchen table. It's a pub height table with a found out leaf. It'll measure 36x54 when folded and that'll work fine for us. While we were at Kerri's we sat at her pub height table and liked it. That confirmed our decision to get this one. It's off white with a light brown top. Earlier in the week Dee met with a gal from Penny's who came to the house with ideas for window treatments that Dee liked. So the front windows will also get a make over. should be nice when it's done.

We spent the evening on the deck reading and enjoying being outdoors. It had been 85 degrees during the day and so the evening was pleasantly warm. The news people said it has not been that warm in Pittsburgh since last October. We also signed up with Netflix and received our first movie. We watched "Get Smart" in the evening and enjoyed the story. I laughed a lot.

Back at Home Again

Here's a photo of Kaitlin taken by Kerri with her Blackberry phone. I'm currently using it as my cell phone wallpaper. I also put some of our photos on my Facebook page and got instant responses from friends there who saw the photos and loved them. That was nice.

Yesterday we settled in to our old routine. First I went to the post office to pick up our mail. There was a pile of stuff to sort through. I was glad I didn't have them keep delivering it. (All that is now done on the computer.)

Then, I went to Rotary where we heard a speaker from the "Butler Blue Sox" a new baseball team that will play at the new Pullman Stadium". this summer. The players will be college kids from around the country who play for their colleges during the school year. Their hope is to eventually play professional baseball. The speaker was the Owner/Manager of the team. He started a similar team in Washington PA that now gets about 3,400 people per game in their 3,200 seat stadium. The tickets are $6.00 per game and sounds like it will be a lot of fun for the whole family as they have various activities between innings to keep the kids engaged. Sounds like fun. The start playing on June 4 and play for 9 weeks. Their home games will be in Butler.

During the meeting I was asked to make an announcement. I told them about Kaitlin's birth as our first grandchild. Everyone applauded! Nice.

From there I went to pick up Bonz from the kennel. He was groomed on the last morning there so he'd be ready for the summer. He was in good shape and quite excited to be with us again and back home. We walked him later in the day after the rains stopped.

Dee stopped in a McGinnis. They were happy to see her and they said they'd put her back on the schedule starting next week. I stopped in at Giant Eagle where I could print out some photos of our trip to be with Kerri Pat and Kaitlin. Now we'll have some photos to show folks. I also printed some to mail to people and to give to my mother.

Dee heard from Kerri during the day and they're doing fine. Had a good night with Kate as they regulate her day/night clock. Every time I look at the picture above I realize how blessed we are.

Our First Walk with Kaitlin

Today marks Kaitlin's first week out in the world. Her visit to the doctor's office went well. She'd gained back the 6 oz. and so her mom doesn't have to use the formula every other feeding now. Yipee!

Kerri and Pat are doing well at trying to figure out how to respond to the baby's various signals when she cries. (Is it a bubble?, Is she hungry?, Does she need changed? etc.) It seems they have a good night and then a long one alternately. Tuesday the weather was good in the afternoon and so we all took a walk with the baby in the stroller. It was a nice time together out in the sunshine Kaitlin did just fine. Here are a couple of photos from that walk.

On our way back to PA we stopped in Bedford to try a restaurant we'd seen from the turnpike for years. We had dinner at the Jean Bennet Tavern on Route 30. It was a 200 year old establishment with a restaurant on the ground floor, a tavern on the second floor and a bed and breakfast (American Colonial style) on the third floor. Very Nice. We got home about 9:30 p.m. after a wonderful trip to be with Kerri Pat and now Kaitlin. PTL!

A Busy Time

well Kaitlin (Kate) has been home for three nights now and seems to be adjusting just fine. We're getting used to her sounds and enjoying her immensely! Kerri and Pat took her to the pediatrician this morning for a check-up. Here are some recent photos you might enjoy.

Dee and I have been busy doing odds and ends while Kerri and Pat tend to Kate's needs. I painted a patio table they had that was weathered and now more serviceable on their deck, but the stroller together and tried to figure out (still unsure) how the car seat attaches to the stroller for walks around the neighborhood. I went to the local Episcopal Church on Sunday morning and attended their "family service". It was amazing, I'd never been to a service like that. The children did everything - scripture readings, ushering, a drama of the scripture, the various responsive readings, special music. there were lots and lots of children with their parents. For communion, everyone went forward to get the wafer and dip it into the juice. Parents took their children up with them. It was all done "decently and in order". A real family and children's emphasis. There was no sermon as such for the adults during the service. But there was a "homily" time after the worship service for adults who wanted to stay the extra 20 minutes. About 30 adults did in a classroom where the pastor shared the message informally in a seated position on the theme for the day.

Sunday afternoon I was able to do some golfing at a local course and they paired me up with three other people. It ws a nice afternoon. I played 18 holes and it was good to get out and hit a few straight. We're going to bring Kerri's clubs back to PA for Dee to use as she tries to take some lessons and get acquainted with the game of golf.

Topday's task is to build the hibachi we got the other day for them to cook out on the deck from time to time. Raining here today after 3 beautiful days in the high 60s and 70s.