It was a week ago today that we returned to Muncie after our New Year's week break in West Lafayette. It's been busy! I'm behind in posting but will try to catch up. Our New Year's week was spent tending our Indiana grandchildren while our son and his wife went to an Economics convention/conference in San Diego.

We had no students for the Institute that week - so we had permission to spend it with family (a most unusual mission perk to be sure!) On New Year's Eve afternoon Brenda went to the school with Dacia and the kids to video them while they went sledding - on the 1/4 inch of snow left on the hill! They had fun despite the cold temperatures. New Year's morning was selection time. The children picked, out of a stack of choices, and additions of their own, the theme they wanted for each day we were there. For some reason they didn't pick "Books Day," "Joke Day", or "Extra Jobs Day",or "Argue & Tattle Day" (interspersed throughout the week instead.)

The iPad, iPods, DSs, and computer were kept super busy that first day - "Electronic Games Day" - and then hardly touched the rest of the week. This was also the first day of January and since the "12-days before Christmas" box arrived late, we had the "12 Days of January" instead. Thanks to Mom and Edwena for the fun gifts. The first one was these nesting dolls. Each evening we opened another gift. It just extended Christmas for us!

Wednesday was Movie Day. Stars Wars was the consensus - except for 2 1/2 yr old Hailey who wanted Dora the Explorer whenever possible. Gary watched a movie about Babe Ruth and Brenda watched a missionary flick, "One Man's Treasure" while walking on the treadmill.

Chuck E Cheeses was the preferred choice of the girls for "Go Places Day." Grandma took them and they had a good time - grabbing Happy Meals on the way home. Bryson played basketball at the church and the afternoon with friends - switching the day up with Friday's "Friends Day." Gary used the

quiet day to work on upcoming Church History lessons. He took Bryson to Monster Mini Golf and out to lunch on Friday instead. To cap off "Go Places Day" we all ate dinner at IHOP - they all like something on the menu there!

Saturday was an adventure. The girls created a talent show to highlight pogo-sticking, dancing, (and other indoor talents) for Sports Day. They made tickets and rehearsed. Kaitlyn also sang the song she was using for a community theater audtion.

Later Bryson and Kaitlyn sold tickets to their outdoor sports events - electric scooter riding (if under 100 pounds), sledding (with Grandma pulling them on the sled!), basketball on the driveway, and their indoor sporting events - wall ball, mini basketball,and other unselected games. After all that exercise we sat and watched "Valiant" - a cute animated movie about homing pigeons in WWII.

We capped off Saturday with ice cream at the Silver Dipper. The kids were almost perfect at church (during the Sacrament prayer was the only time Hailey cried the entire week!). We fit in some games for "Board & Card Games Day" - Qwirkle, lots of Family Fluxx, Labyrinth, and Dominion Prosperity. Only one story for bedtime as school started back up the next morning. Parenting was much harder than grandparenting - but we all survived and hopefully they will have some fun lasting memories of our week together.