Practice Feast

Just to be sure that the night of the Great Hall Feast would go as planned, family rehearsed the dinner tonight. Starring grilled pork chops (shown here before the grilling), menu items came straight from the books. Lucky us to be here for the sampling!

HP Takeover

The Great Hall of Hogwarts has banners for all four houses and portraits of staff members. The brick wall is up and ready for students to enter the train platform beneath the sign. The quiz sheets for sorting new students into houses wait for answers to determine futures. Even though the party is two weeks away, the fun is in full swing.

Sunday Brunch

For all our work transforming the house from Christmas to Hogwarts, we celebrated with brunch at the family's club. For beverage, daughter highly recommends the bloody Mary made table-side; granddaughters tout the hot chocolate with double whipped cream. Then the five of us managed to sample every offering on the buffet tables.

Before we left, granddaughters renewed their acquaintance with a nutcracker they call Bob.

Somehow we must work off this meal to be ready for the practice Hogwarts feast tonight. Impossible! I hope to substitute romaine for whatever is on the menu.

Sunday Church

Ready for church, granddaughters quietly occupied themselves with iPad and Kindle. Their Cherub Choir sang a two-song medley at church this morning as the featured music. First graders stand in first row and third graders on third row. I'm counting on you readers to find our girls.

Still Saturday

After a filling lunch of Minn-Mex (not that different from Tex-Mex), we continued weekend fun. I knew my procrastination period was about to end and my brick wall assignment would soon commandeer my day.

Younger granddaughter dressed up for a friend's birthday party having a Justin Bieber theme. Not a fan of his, she came home claiming the party had way too much of his music.

Older granddaughter took advantage of a quiet house and spent time reading but also taking a few breaks to supervise my project. I learned that bricks must have some uniformity but not too much, be dark and heavy looking but not too much, have some texture but not too much, etc.

I had the basement to myself (except when quality control supervisors came down to check), worked on the brick wall until finished, and then came upstairs to reward myself with adult beverages. All who viewed my handiwork proclaimed it as genius art, and I graciously accepted the praise. Tomorrow is certain to produce more decor and accessories to transform the house into the world of Harry Potter.

On the Ice

Saturday means skate day for the granddaughters. They improve week after week and eagerly show off their new skills after class ends.

Friday Fun

The day started and ended with food. First meal was school lunch with older granddaughter and her friends in the cafeteria. Last meal was famous burgers at Lucky's. Hard not to fill up on their yummy free popcorn first.

Center photo hints at my project between those two meals. If you don't recognize what my hand holds, then you haven't done that activity any more often than I have. After buying supplies, I began the prep work for creating a brick wall. Not just any brick wall, but the one for 9 3/4, known well by HP fans. Tomorrow the painting begins!

Birthday Bounty

Tonight granddaughters finally had time to open their gifts from us. With birthdays so close together, they manage to multiply the celebrations. Once again the American Girl Dolls were the beneficiaries, this time acquiring scooters and furniture. I can't imagine that Oprah's dogs could have a better life than those dolls.

Field Trip

Into the big yellow bus we go! Half of Pawpaw is on the far right, and younger granddaughter is to the left of him and wearing a flowered coat. First graders have third grade buddies, so the group was a combination of classes and adults.

We have chaperoned several field trips in the past, but this one to The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is probably my favorite. We have also taken granddaughters on our own, especially since the Children's Theatre is next to it.

The third photo shows Pawpaw sporting his official yellow chaperone badge as we exit the building and line up for the return to school. Another fun day!

Still Busy

Driving from the movie to granddaughters' school, we picked up a few store items, really important stuff like Dr. Pepper. At school older granddaughter explained her "immigration trunk" representing the four countries from her heritage. Inside she had packed pictures, maps, mementoes, etc. to represent her ancestors and their cultures.

By 5:30 all five of us were sitting down at their church's family dinner. Since so many church activities occur on Wednesday nights, the congregation started a custom of preparing a meal for any and all to support participation. Tonight's menu was lasagna, Caesar salad, tropical fruit salad, garlic bread, cookies, a variety of puddings, and drinks. Those church ladies know how to run a kitchen!

After a few minutes in the church library, granddaughters went to the choir room for practice. Lucky for us, they will sing at the Sunday service this weekend.

So much fun!