Making Memories and Having Fun With the Four Bells!

 We have had THE best weekend with the Four Bells!

While I didn't have a firm agenda, I did have several menu ideas and activities loosely planned for the three days they were here.

Harrison brought his bike so he would have something to do while the girls crafted and sewed.....although, as it turned out, Harrison sewed as much or more than they did!

Anyway, he was riding his bike and we girls were walking around the block when our dear friends, Brenda and Ilene spotted us. They parked the car and walked back to the house with us and then came in for 'Tea and Conversation.'

Ilene is our neighbor a block behind us and Brenda is a friend from church and a special friend to Louis Dean because she plays the guitar and sings like an angel.

I love this picture. Trystan and Harrison talking with Brenda and Granddad.....Kailey chatting up Ilene and outside the camera view, Logan is over there at the game table talking to Pam.

I love hearing the hum .....and the kids all know how to carry on a conversation.

Harrison had moved over to talk to Pam, who later helped him with his bike by adjusting the seat and giving him some pointers on riding since she is an avid cyclist! Kailey continued to talk with Ilene and Trystan came over to visit with me. Logan had gone off to do some exploring in the house.They love finding things at MeeMaw's!

Pam gifted the kids with some special pieces of jewelry from her mother's collection.

Reaoma was very much in touch with her Native American bloodline and Pam recently made a trip to Oklahoma to research and learn more about her ancesters.

Harrison got a ring and a cool necklace......

Logan loves the Indian beading on this hair comb.

Kaily and Trystan both got special pairs of earrings - truly special since they just had their ears pierced!

And I got several pairs of  Reaoma's PIERCED earrings!!

I am SO happy I can wear them now!

Plus I have two pair of Honeybee earrings I am excited to get to show off!

After everyone left, the girls went out to the kitchen deck and put a base coat of paint on a large piece of plywood that they would later divide into four sections and do their own mural.

It took about 15 minutes and they were done!

They are all wearing the karate shirts their Uncle Dean gave them!

The kids love being here and I think part of the attraction is that we give them so much freedom.

While the others found one thing and another to occupy themselves......

Trystan was interested in helping me prepare dinner.

Logan had pulled and washed all the kale from our garden and Trystan cooked it up!

She used olive oil and stirred as it cooked, adding lemon juice and garlic......

Dinner was served and we ate at the dining room table.

We are all loving the new chairs.

Dessert was ice cream with pecans and chocolate syrup.

Louis Dean and I split a banana between us, making ours a banana split!

My goal was to have everyone in bed and asleep by 10:30 since we were going to church on Sunday and the kids would be going to the 4th grade class for the first time.

I missed the goal but not by much!

We were up early enough on Sunday morning to enjoy some serious coffee time together before we all got ready for church.

All three girls love their coffee with MeeMaw!

It's a tiny bit of flavored coffee, and a good bit of milk with a extra dose of frothed milk and a sprinkle of ciinamon sugar along with a squirt of Hersey's chocolate syrup.

What's not to love???

We got to church - not only 'On Time' but EARLY!!

I have to admit it, I was pretty proud of myself, but I truthfully couldn't take credit for anything but providing snacks on the dresser for when they woke up (which served as breakfast - which saved a lot if time!) because they had all packed their church clothes and got themselves ready. We do showers at night before bed so that helps, too.

I checked the kids into their class- the very first time they have been since Covid.

I gave the info and thent the volunteer guy checked each one in .....

Trystan.....what grade? 4th.

Kailey......what grade? 4th.

Harrison.....what grade? 4th.

Logan.....what grade? 4th.

That's when I told him they are quadruplets.

It made his day and he exclaimed over them and said I did a good job getting them all there on time!

Of course, we met up with Amber and Mike .......

She celebrated her 36th birthday on Sunday.

She is now the same age I was when she was born.

Perfect photo op to remember the day.

When we got back home later that afternoon, it was time to prepare for the tea party.

It's a tradition that goes back to when they were just 18 months old.

Pam joined us and this just made it an extra special tea party!

Tea, fruit, sandwiches, cookies (lemon shortbread - not pictured) tea cakes.....

A filling 'High Tea.'

Later that evening, the kids worked on their mural.

I may have given them too much freedom......they used a LOT of brushes!!!

And guess who cleaned them???

For dinner, I made a chicken and rice bowl and we ate in the den watching Gunsmoke episodes!

And I'm talking OLD ones!

The kids love it and Louis Dean does, too!

Monday dawned and the kids were all in the sewing room when I got up and guess who was sewing??

Harrison!

Normally I leave the morning snacks on the dresser in the guest room, but that night the girls were still awake so I left them on the hamper lid on the hall, thinking I would wake up later in the night and put them on the dresser. Well, I forgot! Harrison was sharing his - since he was sleeping in the living room and I had left his right beside him.  Bless their hearts! They thought their MeeMaw forgot them!

We had a big breakfast that was actually brunch and then we gathered in the den to do our Bible reading. The kids all took turns and read from Luke chapter 10.

Trystan and I went to the kitchen and threw together a lemon pound cake as I had an appointment with Dr. Bloom that afternoon......and I always bring him something good to eat.

But first I had a mammogram......

then I raced home and packaged up slices of the cake and rushed back up the the medical offices beside the hospital!

I admit - having so many UTIs lately has discouraged me - not to mention made me so uncomfortable!

It's not as bad as what I have had in the past but, since I was infection free for several years, these recent bouts have brought back so many bad memories. For the last year or year and a half, I have been dreaming about bathrooms every single night. Trying to find one. Or they are not working. Or there is a line. So many variations but it's all about getting to the bathroom!

I was encouraged after my visit and I started another antibiotic program - but I will be going to another specialist and I believe - and my doctors believe - that there is a solution to my problem.

It will most likely include surgery but I am okay with whatever will work.

I have a follow up aappointment with Dr. Bloom's assistant - and he is wonderful!

While he always shares - I promised her that from now on - I will bring her some cake, too!!

For our last supper together, I heated up the King Ranch chicken from Saturday and added organic shells and cheese plus green pesto pasta (for Trystan), a large garden salad and garlic bread knots.

It was so good!

Granddad told us to all go outside and play while he did all the dishes!

And so we did.

Logan took this pic and the next two to follow......

Look how tall they are! Kailey is the tallest of the four and she is to the right.

Trystan is the shortest and she is to the left......still nearly as tall as I am.

Kailey 'reading' some songs to me.....

again, Logan's photo.

And this one of Trystan.

They all love drinking from my tiny wine glasses!

Their mommy arrived to take them home......

And Logan took this video as Amber went in to visit with Tabitha and Samantha.

She does love all the kitties!!

These videos may be out of order.....

but it's late and I'm tired so I will figure it out tomorrow!

I'll close with this photo of my beautiful daughter reading the birthday card from her dad and me.

And, just like that, they were gone!

But they left some precious memories with us to treasure.