Grandpa and Grandma

4th of July 2011

2011-07-24T17:18:00.030-05:00

Once again this year we took off over the plains, mountains and deseret, but this time to visit Steve, Erin and family with the newest member arriving just a week before Grandma got there. We brought with us some heat and humidity from the midwest since they had been lacking some. Grandpa didn't come until one week later after Grandma - but eventually we all got together and kept busy doing all sorts of things.

Grandmas first couple days were filled with walks and trips to the splash park where there were toys to climb on and water to play in.

Time to relax in the shade out on the back porch

play in the backyard pool

take a nap on the side of the pool

Then Grandpa came and Brock got out his list of chores of things that needed fixing

Of course some of the chores included playimg "horse" until Grandpa's knees got all worn out - so then we played "cars"

Such a good helper

Father and son had time to fix the handle on the dresser that had come loose

Then, of course, there were meals that had to be made with all the help needed to make fruit smoothy's

and all kinds of other goodies

after all that work we needed to turn on the sprinklers and run through them to cool down

While all the work and play was going on the newest member of the family needed to get her rest

and every once in awhile she would wake up to make sure we were all still around

Big Big sister and Big brother with baby sister

and it rained (monsoon season)

and 3/4 inch of rain filled the canals with raging waters

Bushes in the front yard were trimmed up

Then there was the cake that was made for the 4th of July

Then the decorations that were put up inside the house

more cooking

There was a bike to fix

and the final decoration of the cake

and of course the fireworks

We made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

more fixing on the stairs

riding on the carousel

Picture taking time

Sister and Brother out on the back porch

The kids with Grandpa and Grandma

Spring 2011

2011-07-16T18:12:00.037-05:00

First we had a birthday party

Then we began traveling and visiting families. We began our travels by flying over the Plains, Mountains and Deseret before .......

arriving in California to spent time with Adam, Meagan, Preston, Kyler & Tyson

playing games all sorts (wiffle ball, four square and anything involving a ball), took a walk to the park, sent Preston off to school on his school bus, cooked much in the kitchen (pizza)

enjoying a good piece of watermelon

and picture taking time

Even found time to go camping and boating on the lake, using ski's, board's and tubing (more like a little boat).

Thanksgiving 2010 - Church & Gym

2010-12-12T17:06:00.007-06:00

Thanksgiving 2010- making cookies

2010-12-12T17:03:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving 2010 - Eating

2010-12-12T16:53:00.005-06:00

Thanksgiving 2010 - presents

2010-12-12T16:48:00.004-06:00

Thanksgiving 2010 - Zoo

2010-12-12T16:15:00.008-06:00

Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh my

Henderson Vacation

2010-07-18T16:30:00.038-05:00

Dean & Virginia McDavitt Family reunion in Liberty, Mo.

Tired from the long ride home

Reading books - all sorts

Visiting Raeanns gymnastics studio

Keeping cool in the backyard

A trip to the Zoo with the Lymans

Lucas & Raegan

Swinging around and keeping cool

Making sure the plants are well watered

Keeping all the marbles moving

Horsing around

Running with the Deere

Dress up time with Anna and Raegan

Gotta climb over - not through

New "original" dress made by Mary Ann Lyman

Squirt guns coming

Raegans dance recital in Henderson, Nv

With flowers afterwards (with Kyler and Preston)

Came to visit Henderson for the weekend
Adam, Meagan and Boys

Time to make cookies

Keeping cool on the slip n slide

Swimming lessons for Raegan

Visiting a aquarium in Las Vegas

Jellies

Time to work around the house - got to have tools

Painting all the doors

Fixing

Playing

More fixing

Trip to the candy factory

More swimming lessons for Raegan

A visit to the temple in Las Vegas

Eating out

more Fixing

and more fixing

and cleaning

Back home to Kansas where storms are brewing

Spring events

2010-04-18T19:38:00.008-05:00

Flowers are blooming all over

Red Buds

Pear tree

the new garden

putting the deere to work

Grilling for the group below

Missionaries to the very far left (out of the picture), Hobsons & Lloyds

flower boxes on the deck

new compost pile

new gardening approach

Sarahs pre-birthday day, making her own cake with Grandma

California, here we come!

2010-02-09T20:53:00.002-06:00

Larry had promised Adam and Meagan that when they bought a house, we would both come out for a visit. Gayle had gone out in October to help when Tyson was born, but there's not much room in their 800 sq ft. apartment and not much for Larry to do. But when you own your own home, it's a different story. Now there was plenty to do!

Larry painted the kitchen...twice...because Adam and Meagan didn't like the first color of "red".

He painted the kitchen and living room ceiling all the same kind of paint, where it had been 2 different finishes before.

Both boys' bedrooms were painted....with some help from Erin and Meagan.
Brock tried to help as much as possible.

Ready to Roll

As soon as Grandpa was ready to paint, Grandma took Brock down to cook.

Other Chores and activities experienced:

Tearing out rosebushes and replanting

cutting down a humungous thorny tree thing

cleaning up the backyard

planting a vegetable garden

smores at the fire pit

making rolls

decorating valentine cookies

digging for "worms"

making salad

Family Home Evening

reading

"flying" (or falling "with style")

Christmas with "the boys", basketball and birthdays!

2010-02-08T19:24:00.000-06:00

Greg, Will, and Todd all came home for Christmas vacation. It was Todd's first Christmas home in about 6 years. It was great to have them all home at the same time. Some of our "amazing" Christmas activities follow:

sleeping (Todd's days and nights were totally opposite from South Korea)

Reading....Will finally discovered the joy of reading for fun!!

Intense Mario Kart races (Todd, Larry, Will)

Gayle...this is as good as it gets

Will's "3 strike run"

Bowling...Larry's "finesse"

Presents!! Santa didn't forget you, Greg!

Play games; all sorts

1500 piece puzzle....it took a long time

The KU fans...Will and Samuel

In January, we celebrated Samuel and Jared's 7th birthday, starting with their basketball game at the Y. It was fun (they are so cute!) to watch a bunch of first grade boys play. They take the game very seriously! Then it was off to their home for pizza and presents.

The boys weren't real excited about their new blankets, but the 10 gold dollars for each of them were a big hit.

Christmas & Thanksgiving 2009

2009-12-08T19:41:00.000-06:00

Keeping warm on a cold night ...

Nativity under the tree

Entryway Santa with his duck (carved by Uncle Andrew)

The village

Village continued

Kitchen corner ...

Projects under construction ...

Family and friends at Thanksgiving Dinner

Affects of dinner

After dinner activity

Beginning of Fall

2009-09-20T11:37:00.000-05:00

9th Grandchild:
Katie - 14 September 2009, 8 lbs, 20 " She looks kinda like a football in this picture:)
Parents - Ben & Misty
I (Gayle) spent 3 days at their house while Misty was in the hospital and Ben was staying with her. Since she has c-sections, she requires more help with even the simple things like getting out of bed, picking up the baby, etc. Three days with 4 children made me remember the good ole days, and why we have children when we are young! I got labeled the "mean" grandma because I required the kids to pick up after themselves, come inside before dark, eat their good food before dessert, and do their chores and homework....apparently grandmas aren't suppose to do those things....only parents.

Find the grass hopper?

Fall flowers around the house after a morning's rain

20 September - the grass seeds are growing
Larry has even mowed it!

work on the deck continues with staining and sealing

A drippy job - paint upside down

It was a great day to work in the shade

While Will worked in the sun on top of the deck - lots of slats to stain/seal!
This was our Labor Day activity.

Little grass seedlings coming through the new dirt. (above)

'Before' the grass seed (below)....notice all the dirt piles.

DIRT.....6 tons of it....all moved by shovel, wheelbarrow, and the "sweat of our brow".

Hauling dirt one wheel barrel at a time - coming back for another load

Dumping - again and again - over and over

Filling the wheel barrel

Asparagus Green Beans: not very productive and not very tasty. They are about a yard long.

Our giant sedum was mysteriously getting eaten. At first we thought it was bugs.....

but the plants inside the fence were unmolested.

Evidence of a bigger culprit....deer poop...look closely

He cleans more than windows - spraying stuff on the siding to remove the mold/moss/whatever it is that grows in wet, humid climates.

Have a happy Fall!

2009-07-21T12:48:00.000-05:00

Here we are, parasailing at Big Bear Lake, California.

(and if you believe that, we have some "oceanfront property in Arizona"...)

We did actually spend a lot of time doing some "high class" activities. Note the following:

Making our way over the dam at Lake Mead

A session with a "fashion consultant"

Attending ballet and tap performances

Reading "in depth" about princesses and ballerinas

"Building" projects

and destroying

"Play games, all sorts" (those who are Mary Poppins fans will understand)

Hitting the lights of the Great and Spacious Buildings (oops...I meant) the Las Vegas Strip

Communing with nature in Zion (the park...just in case you thought you might have missed the "invitation" to the actual "city of".)

The "boys" in intense competition on the waterfront (skipping rocks...or just throwing them in the water. Larry was the only one with any "skipping" skills)

More competiton on the golf course

and in the bowling alley

and racing down the Alpine slide at a snail's pace...sorry Meag....the sign says "no pregnant women"....(did they think there would be pregnant men??)

water sports...floaties included

and late-night Wii tournaments (no picture)

WE CLIMBED, WE CONQUERED.....AND FOR THIS????

At the family reunion, we hiked up Mt. Baldy, the 2nd highest peak in Arizona. The bald top of the mountain belongs to the Apaches and is, therefore, a restricted area. We hiked 7 miles up the mountain thinking we would actually be able to see the top. Apparently, we should have taken the "other" trail in order to do that. So after we had our pictures taken with the "restricted" sign, we got to hike all the way back down the mountain. I had really sore toenails the next day

This is El Moro National Monument in New Mexico. We have stopped here a couple of times and made the climb up to the top. This one is worth the hike.

On the way home, we drove through the canyonlands of Utah along highway 12, from Zions clear up through Capitol Reef. We highly recommend it. Having "turbo-boost" on your vehicle really helps on the uphill climbs.

Rather than take the 3 days planned to drive home, we did it in 2. Larry was holding up well as the sole driver and we had food and books on CDs to pass the time. We missed a giant hailstorm by about 20-30 minutes...we realized this as we came upon cars on the sides of the road with broken windshields, cornfields destroyed, and remnants of the hail on the sides of the roads. It was a tender mercy.

Since we were officially on vacation until Saturday night, we just kept quiet about the fact that we were home. The garden held off producing while we were gone....another tender mercy. I thought for sure we were going to miss a lot of the harvest. We are VERY GLAD to be home...where it is green....without irrigation. Hooray for humidity!

Summertime!!

2009-06-28T18:55:00.000-05:00

Before we know it, school will be starting, which means seminary will be starting again. Summer is flying by! Not that anything really exciting has been happening around here. We are just in the business of living life quietly .... our kids would say "boringly" (is that even a real word?) .... but we like it that way. Erin, Steve and kids moved to Las Vegas the end of May which leaves us officially "empty nesters" ... again. These are the sights and sounds of Kansas in June at the McvDavitts:

Watch the clouds build and the storms roll in....why we love Kansas!

Wheat fields..."amber waves of grain" takes on a significantly greater meaning.

Whatever that stuff is that they roll into big hay rolls.

Larry in his official "lawnmowing" gear, on his official "Deere". (for those of you who are not aware....Larry loves mowing lawns....)

Our garden....probably will be at the height of production about the time we are on vacation.

I finally finished the quilt for grandson McDavitt (not born yet). It's a jungle motif in case you are wondering. I started it a couple years ago. Guess I just needed the right motivation to finish it!

Isn't this just too cute! This squirrel was lounging around on our deck handrail.

More local wildlife

This turtle is about as big as a dinner plate. It washed into the road during one of our torrential downpours. Thinking it would probably get squished because it was the color of the road, I rescued it and put it in the yard....after making sure it wasn't a snapping turtle...they bite!

Fireworks are legal one week before July 4th and at least one day after. An amazing phenomenon happens at exactly one week before the 4th.....These things are all over the city!!

Have a Great Summer!

Backyard Deck replacement progress

2009-05-26T21:10:00.000-05:00

May 1st - well into the destruction of the old deck

May 1st - and it rained ...... but the destruction continued

The result of the destruction - firewood for next year

May 9th - the new construction in under way

May 11 - rain stopped and more progress

May 20th - decking and stairs are in

May 22nd - roof (Shade) has been put on

May 26th - Railings are up and planter boxes in front are under way.

May 26th - Lower deck addition for Grill

Our Maiden Voyage

2009-05-10T12:04:00.000-05:00

We are about to enter the unknown world of "blog". This is new to us; it's going to take some time to figure this all out. Erin thinks I am totally computer illiterate (I am). It's a good thing her dad is a lot more computer savy than her mom. They are taking these cute little grandkids far away...but that's the way it should be....we will miss them.

Brock and Raegan

I will miss all the "help" I get from Raegan. She helped plant onions and peas and lettuce, etc. The rows are a little scattered, but it works.

Below are all the grandkids as of Thanksgiving 2008.

Two more are due this fall.