Rainy Week

Well, posting this past week took a side path when a tummy virus went through all three elementary schools and ended up with Mimi for the weekend. No picnics at my house.  I am just going to pretend I didn't lose any days.

Our Tuesday Morning Planned Breakfast on the Beach

This afternoon (Wednesday) we are sitting in our warm living room while thunderstorms rattle the windows. We spent our first morning free of preschool searching at four stores for a Hot Wheels semi truck to go with the railroad on my living room floor. We were not only successful, we found one in his favorite color - blue. 

A view from the causeway to the where we would have breakfast on the deck overlooking the lake.

Monday was a busy day with school buses, preschool water day (it was warm enough for swimsuits and the slip 'n slide), my church board meeting and kids for dinner.  Some had asked how we are able to help all these needy households. We do receive donations from three churches, individuals and companies. We also have been the beneficiaries of two trusts who send payments quarterly. Even all this is not enough for all our requests.  There is a separate St Vincent de Paul in our area (they have their own monies and 501c3). We work with them, a few churches with smaller funds, a group that a retired business owner in the southern part of our county and various state and federal agencies in our county to try to come up with what they need. And this requires that these households contact all the places we refer them as we all have separate application processes. There are social workers who assist those who cannot navigate the system on their own. Unfortunately several households are experts at navigating the system. We do prioritize the elderly, children and the disabled whose funds are limited. It is a juggling act.

Repping my grandson's band merch on a freezing day at the
amusement park. 

So enough of that.  Meanwhile Tuesday happened. My daughter took the day off since it was our youngest grandchild's last day of preschool. She dropped off both of her children and we went to the amusement park with our passes and planned to use our food passes to get breakfast on the upstairs deck of the pavilion next to the lake. 

Not the delicious fancy egg breakfast we envisioned, but it worked. 

The fact that it was freezing cold by Tuesday and the clouds made for a very gray morning did not deter us. But after we drove to the park, parked, went through security, went through the gate and hiked to the pavilion, we discovered that there was no breakfast upstairs due to a "private event". . . It was already 10:30 so we decided to do lunch since we needed to get back. 

Showing mommy and grampa how to mix something scientific. 

We made it back in time to meet stepdad, grampa and Gramma Nancy at the preschool for the science presentations and experiments that signal the end of preschool. 

A science experiment with food coloring, making bubbles to print on white paper. 

It was fabulous. 

Creating an explosion to frighten mommy and the teacher. 

The grand finale frightening students, parents and grandparents.

Then, we switched car passengers. My daughter, my grandson and I headed to my granddaughter's school pickup and we all headed back to the amusement park for supper. 

Still repping the band merch.

By the time we got there it was very gray again and the skies were threatening. The wind had really picked up off the lake. Did that stop us? No. 

How we spend our summer vacation. 

We went through security, the admissions gate and headed to the back of the park to try some new dishes at one of our favorite restaurant.  Are we crazy? Yes we are. 

Chicken strips, macaroni salad and biscuit. 

Chicken fingers, potato wedges and biscuit. 

My daughter, my grandchildren and I all have season food passes that give us two meals a day, four hours apart. We have now paid for our passes in meals. 

My daughter choose the 3 sides option with a side of chili, a side of macaroni salad, a side of grilled brussel sprouts and a biscuit. 

And my 3 side choice with a side of chili, a side of chicken and dumplings (like a soup but delicious) and broccoli and cheese casserole with a biscuit.

As you can see, the food is pretty darn good for an amusement park and the portions are more than enough to share.  Her family usually has one meal at the park and then when they leave in four hours, they get sides of fruit and salads to take home. I think four of the seven I take during the summer now have meal plans and if we all order chicken and fries, it is enough for the table.  For Easter I got everyone season drink pass and try to encourage lemonade over soda. 

I worked in the church office on Thursday with no clients and came home sick to match the child on the couch with a bucket. Friday we had two children on couches, Saturday morning a third child sick during siblings games with a high fever.  

I finally rose from the depths on Monday and even showered - just in time for grampa to go down. 

Tomorrow we will put one on the bus (hopefully) and then I am taking the same two back to the amusement park for the day to flee grampa's germs. And because it is the only day of sunshine this coming week.