Sophia’s St Ignatius volleyball team had a tournament on Sunday at Christian Brothers. I was there for the first game and the girls looked so good, they sort of crushed the other team in two quick sets.

They won the tournament. Sophia with Lily and Emma:

Sunday was also my birthday. We are all so busy that our September birthday family dinner will happen soon but not today. Lucy came by in the afternoon for a glass (or 2?) of champagne. Justin came by with flowers. Special thanks to all who sent a card, including – LOL – my doctor:

This morning, Phyl flew home. She packed a lot of visits with family and friends while she was here, but in between, we still had plenty of time to visit with each other. In person, the best way.

Saturday, Carson played at St Ignatius. Sophia and her friend DeDe helped form the tunnel:

Avery played in W Sacramento:

Sunday, Avery played volleyball at McClellan ALL day.

Carson and Thais practiced on a side court during a break:

#18 for Thais and Lenin. Phyllis (who arrived from Montana yesterday) and I watched Sophia, Avery, and Carson while Thais and Lenin went out to dinner. Carson taught Phyl how to play Guess Who.

Followed by a game of Parcheesi. Carson won. Figuring out his next move:

Another week in the over-elbow cast, sigh. Another book finished, another jigsaw puzzle nearly complete.

Carson and Avery came over. We visited Swainson’s Hawk Park and went “Grandma shopping” – their term for going to Target for something special when Sophia is away at camp.

And a surprise. Ray loaned me his recumbent trike. I am back on a bike!

On Tuesday I got an over-the-elbow cast which included 2 minutes of bone realignment when the orthopedist squeezed my wrist with both hands (excruciating pain). Beyond that, learning to live using only my left non-dominant hand has been interesting and acrobatic. Besides riding a bike, I enjoy cooking and sewing, neither of which are possible now. I discovered DoorDash – a steak salad from Jack’s Urban Eats on my doorstep 15 minutes after placing my order! I can drive – nothing was going to keep me from getting a much-needed hair cut. On Thursday, left-handed, I did pretty good throwing a small football into the basket. Carson and I played many 5-point games, the basket migrated to many locations including halfway under the bench.

Adrienne gave me the first two books in a series by CJ Box. She can’t put them down. Sophia suggested doing one of the many jigsaw puzzles I have in a cabinet.

Five weeks to go.

A couple of weeks ago, Jibe asked if I could sew their logo patch onto some picnic blankets. Sure.

I finished 10 of them and thought all along the way how to make the process faster, more efficient.

Grandchildren to the rescue for the final 20 blankets. Big thanks to Dad who made the suggestion. Everyone unboxed, unwrapped, and opened up the blankets. Sophia laid out one blanket at a time on the ironing board and pinned back the inside label, set up the ruler, patch, and pins.

I pinned and sewed on the patch.

Avery unpinned, refolded, rezipped.

Carson packed up the finished product:

What would have taken me 5 hours took just 2! One happy grandma by noontime!

At Morse Park in Elk Grove. Avery had games on Sunday and Monday.

Sunday. Avery’s River Park team beat the team from Galt. Avery bunted a fair ball just inside the line and made it to first:

Monday. River Park v Laguna. A hit to the outfield:

Avery scored the only run River Park got.

Sadly River Park lost.

Justin and I met at Thais and Lenin’s house for dinner.

Despite the nearby overhead lines, the parachutist made a perfect landing:

All the usual rodeo events including barrel racing:

And, of course, fireworks at the end:

Today when I arrived, the games were stacked in order of play. First up, bird bingo.

Carson always chooses a couple of memory games – he knows he can win those.