We were all able to get off on July 3 - July 6 for a long weekend, so we decided to go to see Randy and Joy's family in Parkston, SD. It had been over a year since they had been to Kentucky, and we had never seen Mandylyn in person since she was born August 26, 2019.
So we traveled from very early on Friday morning and arrived at their house at almost 9 p.m. We packed in as much excitement and fun as we could the next two days and then came home all day Monday. It was almost 2000 miles!
Mandylyn trying to get acquainted with Grandma.
Elizabeth with Joy, Jewelyn and Mishael in Joy's kitchen. Randy remodeled the house completely before they moved in. This part of the kitchen was not even part of the kitchen. It was part of the garage; but what he did was so helpful for more space and more storage.
In the dining room. It is a large room with two tables, and the portacrib behind Jewelyn. Right behind me is going to be a breakfast bar, but right now it is the second table.
Some of Joy's beautiful flowers!
Micah in the tire swing
Piggy back rides for all!
Fun on the trampoline
Grandma's tradition to clip fingernails and toenails for the grandkids and tell them stories while I do it!
Joy showing Daddy her garden
Games at the large dining room table
Grandpa playing a game at the smaller table
The girls all accidentally matched on Saturday.
Mandylyn watching the goings on from her portacrib.
Mishael trying out his new quilt from Grandma. It is actually a great fit for his toddler bed!
Lunch on the picnic tables under the pavilion.
Afternoon swim time!
Grandma did NOT want her hair to get wet, hence the pink shower cap...
Joanna came after her shift at Wal-mart. We were so happy to get to spend time with Joanna, as it's been a long time since we've seen her, except for Emily who drove to Illinois and surprised her with a visit in early June when she was at her parents' house. Emily and Joanna are best friends, as well as aunts to these precious grandchildren of ours.
Emily and Joanna with Jewelyn and Mandylyn
Jonathan holding Mandy
Jewelyn and her sweet sister!
Micah and Mandylyn
Suppertime after grilling burgers, hotdogs, and chicken!
July 4th was very pleasant, not too hot or too humid. It was a perfect day.
Elizabeth holding Mandy.
Joy, Randy, Janet, and Rowen
Mandy in the highchair
The aunts' and kids' table
Grandma and Mandylyn
Playing at the park with the aunts
Playing school
Making home made ice cream!
Yummy s'mores
Toasting the marshmellows
Yummy!
James with his ice cream and strawberries
Joanna with her marshmellow masterpiece
View from the tree fort
Mishael coming down the slide from the tree fort
Jewelyn at the top of the tree fort
Grandpa
Jonathan
Joy and Randy
James and Micah
Fun on the trampoline
We walked to a close by park for fireworks.
The beautiful moon while we waited for the fireworks.
Grandpa and Mandylyn ready for fireworks
It was a very nice fireworks show, especially for a small town!
This one looked like a bouquet.
The next morning was Sunday and we went to Ravinia to the reservation church Randy pastors.
The day lilies were very beautiful and so is the little girl!
A handsome young lad named Jonathan
A couple more beautiful ladies and the flowers.
We were early so we took turns playing the piano.
Elizabeth
Micah
James
Grandma and Grandpa and six of their nine grandchidren
Grandma and Grandpa and Mandylyn
Aunts and the kids
Joanna and Emily. Emily and Elizabeth stayed at Joanna's house while we were there, so they had a wonderful time visiting with her there.
We went to a lake after church for eating our lunch. The kids are watching a boat get into the water at the boat ramp. They are very interested in the process because this is where they bring their boat sometimes.
Jewelyn with two of her aunts
Eating the Sunday dinner we brought along in crock pots.
Watching the water
After we got back to their house, Emily and James painted each painted a picture.
Micah drew a vehicle
Micah's truck
The paintings complete!
We went to Mitchell for Faith Missionary Church's service. Randy's family sang a special song: "Here am I, Lord, Send Me."
After church, supper
Time for bed. Emily read the kids books and we had to say goodbye. We packed it in and had to leave early in the morning.
We are so glad we got to go and see them where they live now and get reacquainted with the kids. It was a special time.
Monday morning we started out early and the kids did not wake up to see us off like they wanted to. They were worn out!
We stopped in Osklaloosa, Iowa at lunch time to eat with the McKays and Tonya Poe and her granddaughter. The McKays furnished the food and we had a good, quick meal and visit with these dear ones.
The young people's table.
Waving good-bye until next time.
We got home just after midnight. It was a safe trip with light traffic. We are so glad we got to go on this fast, short, long weekend trip!
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