The Calvert Family

Saturday, May 12, 2012

A Mother's Day Surprise...

My mother is the least "demanding" parent I know...she never demands our time, ask us to do very little for her, and never ever says a word about the holidays...although I know she enjoys having us with her, if we are not there, she is very understanding and never says anything that would make us feel guilty. Now with this being said, I tend to not do the little "special" things for her that I know she deserves because I know she will say..."it is no big deal...I understand". But this year has been a challenging one for her, and I knew she could use a "special" day so my brothers and I worked up a surprise Mother's Day lunch. To make sure she would be at home, Joey told her he was coming by, but she had no clue the rest of us were coming.

We all showed up at her house with a new grill, which she needed, and grilled steaks (one of her favorites). After lunch, we headed to the nursing home to see our Nanny...one reason my mom's year has been challenging...no one wants their parent to be in the nursing home. Hopefully it will not be forever, but we are just not sure...Nanny is not liking the idea of going home with a sitter...she wants to go home by herself. And reality is...that may not be an option.

And because there were so many of us at the nursing home, we managed to spend some time outside on the patio before the rain...this was a good option with all the kiddos...but oh how Nanny LOVES seeing her great-grandkids...she got to see 6 of the 13 today!

Our Nanny...I know...she doesn't look like a nursing home patient does she?

Anna Lauren does NOT like the hospital...but...she does great at the nursing home and even ask to go see Nanny.

Bently, Anna Lauren, and Nanny...and yes, the girls got in Nanna's jewelry before we went to the nursing home.

Reid, Coooper, Bently, Nanny, Anna Lauren, Jake, and Ashton...

Ashton, Reid, Cooper, Jake, Bently, Nanny, Anna Lauren, and Nanna...

Nanna and Nanny...

And this sweet lady...this is Grandmother. Grandmother is the grandmother to my 1st cousins, and she has always been like another grandmother to me. My mom's brother married her daughter (Aunt Pam and Uncle Terry). She and Nanny are having a good time together! And Anna Lauren didn't want her to be left out so she pushed her to the patio so she could visit with us...

She had just as much fun as Nanny visiting with all of us!

Mini Vacation to Chicago...

This past week I had the opportunity to "tag along" with Matt to a work conference in Chicago. We took an early, early flight Monday so we had most of the day Monday, all day Tuesday, and I took a late flight home on Wednesday which gave us pretty much all day Wednesday. He stayed for an all day meeting Thursday and then came home on Friday.

He has a FABULOUS boss that says go to enough meetings to justify your trip and then make sure you have fun. Therefore, he went to meetings Tuesday and Thursday and got to play with me and his co-workers Monday and Wednesday.

When we arrived Monday, we had some lunch then went on the architectural river tour. We are so glad we went...but...it was COLD and raining...definitely something you want to do on a sunny, pretty day. Monday night we met up with Matt's cousins at a local pizza place for our first taste of the famous deep dish pizza...yum!

Dinner with cousins...Matt, Paul (1st cousin), Nora (Paul's wife), Casey (Emily's boyfriend), Mandi, and Emily (1st cousin)...so fun visiting with them...Matt for sure has fun cousins!

Tuesday Matt was in class so I woke up and went for a run along Lake Michigan...wonderful way to start the day! I then did a little window shopping, had lunch with the Ashley (Matt's co-workers wife), and walked to the Navy Pier. By night, several more co-workers had arrived so we headed to the Purple Pig for dinner.

After dinner, we headed to the Wrigley Field area to just look around...well, the game was tempting so we found some reasonable priced tickets and got to watch a few innings of the Cubs game. Here I am with Joe (Matt's boss), Ramona (co-worker), and John (Ramona's husband).

The famous score board...yes, a person still changes everything on the board...it was kind of funny watching hands poke through to change the score, etc.

And the ivy covered fence...

On Wednesday, I got a full understanding of why Chicago is called the "windy city"...it was super windy, and cold! Here we are at the Navy Pier / Lake Michigan...I was so surprised the water was so blue...I guess I just thought it would be brown like our rivers.

Joe, Ramona, and Matt...I guess you could say they were "team building"...

These mirrors provided some good entertainment and much laughter...

Let's just say...Matt has one good boss...this man is so fun! And...you would NEVER know he is right in the middle of cancer treatments...what a trooper!

And of course, Matt wasn't going to let Joe get one up on him...he found the hamburger!

The building in the middle is the Trump Tower...it was one of my favorites...

We stayed at the Inn of Chicago...an old hotel that kind of reminded me of the Peabody in Memphis. However, we could not have had a more perfect location...it was right in the middle of everything.

In the Hershey Store...we could have eaten everything!

And the last adventure before I left...we went to the 96th floor of the John Hancock building to check out the view...here is the Navy Pier/Lake Michigan...

Buildings, buildings, and more buildings...if I had to summarize Chicago, I would say...many tall buildings, any store you can imagine, and good pizza!

This is the John Hancock building...I was standing on the sidewalk looking up...yes, we were on the top floor checking out the view of the city...

Yes, I was acting a little like my mom checking out the flowers...but...I'm telling you there were gorgeous flowers EVERYWHERE...for sure a very clean and well taken care of city!

The crew at their last function of the week...Joe (boss), Nick, Ramona, Vicky, and Matt...

Friday, May 11, 2012

Sunday Night Worship ~ Kid Style...

This past Sunday night, the children led the worship service...three different age groups sang and how sweet it is to hear our children remind us of the love of our God.

Anna Lauren has this LOVE for a stage so she was so excited about getting to sing in church...and she did just that...she sang every song and never missed a motion. She really does love music so it is so fun to watch her sing...you can tell she is having so much fun!

This picture makes me laugh...the 3, 4, and 5 year olds all came into the sanctuary together. The 4 and 5 year olds sat on the steps while the 3 year olds sang. Look at them...they look like they are having to sit through torture. However, it is only fair...they were 3 once too!

Here come the smiles...it is their turn now! Emmy, Anna Lauren, and Kenley...

"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"...

"Mighty is our God"...

And we were so proud of Rileigh...the 1st through 5th graders sang, and she had a speaking part!

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Field Trip Fun...

Being a 4 year old at Ridgecrest Weekday is a BIG deal for the little ones, and I know it is only because they get to do many things the younger children do not get to do...one thing in particular...field trips! This past Thursday was Chuck E Cheese field trip fun!

Matt and I are so fortunate to have extremely flexible jobs...therefore, we both left work for a couple hours and met Anna Lauren and all her friends at Chuck E Cheese.

When Anna Lauren woke up Thursday morning she asked me two things...(1) are you and Daddy still both coming to my field trip? (2) Will you take a picture of me and Garrett? I asked why she wanted a picture and she replied that he is her boyfriend...hmm...news to me...she never talks about boys! I asked her if Garrett knew this and she said...all the girls like him...Ms. Theresa says he'll be a model one day because all the girls think he is cute. And as you can tell...she happily took her picture with him...not sure Garrett wanted a picture, but he got one!