WWC: "F" and "Altered"

We welcome you to the First Birthday edition of the Weekly Word Challenge. It could also be known as the "Cake, cake, cake!" episode. But it isn't.

We have been away for a couple of weeks due to illness, general laziness and the necessity of planning The Granddaughter's first birthday party! That's right, this frickin' adorable little girl is now one year old. It's amazing, isn't it. It seems like only 12 short months ago that she was kicking and screaming her way into this not-yet-but-soon-to-be-zombified world of ours.

Our daughter decided to have a simple party for the little one, and Gramps certainly appreciated the rather mild celebration. It could have had a lot more children involved, and you know how the old man feels about snotty nosed brats. There is also a very interesting story to tell about the birthday cake, but we'll leave that for another time. For now, on to the all-birthday edition of the WWC.

F (The Granddaughter ate the cake from her first birthday off the floor.)

Altered (She also permanently altered Gramps' sweatshirt with lots of ground in chocolate stains.)

Bonus Photo (Somebody here looks a little like the cat that ate the canary, eh?)

Unfortunately, there was no cake left or we would share some with all of you. Maybe The Daughter will make a bigger cake for birthday number two. It has been a fun year for Granny and Gramps, and we thank you for sharing it with us. Be sure to tune in next week when we will be sure to have some great Halloween photos. Gramps is pushing hard to turn The Granddaughter into a zombie. Will he win the day? Tune in next week to find out.

WWC: "S" and "Water"

Another week has gone by, and Gramps has once again been delayed with our WWC Postings. This week, however; Gramps has multiple good reasons ... 1. The Granddaughter has been MIA for the past week (that alone would put anyone in a spiral of depression). 2. The Dodgers have clinched a NLC berth, (bringing the Philadelphia Phillies to LA for a last season rematch). 3. The XBoy had his first HS homecoming formal/dance and 4. Gramps is once again, lying in the bed - sick with the sniffles and a hacking - congested cough ...

Granny and Homemade Vegetable Soup to the Rescue!

"S" is for Sick. The Granddaughter has the Sniffles, Snot and Sneezing



"Water". Nothing like a luke-warm bath to ease the aches and pains.



"Bonus Picture" The Granddaughter is Lovin' on Her Sick Papa



From Gramps, Granny, The Granddaughter and The Rest of Our Family - Thank you for spending the 1st Year of Our Adorable Apfelpfankuchen's Life with Us ... Enjoy some cheeks on us!

WWC: "Warmth" and "Depth"

We're back on schedule for this week's episode of the Weekly Word Challenge, sponsored by zombie Tink and Jay. Unfortunately, no one has tried to blackmail us this week, so we don't have anything for which to apologize. That will mean low ratings for Old Before Our Time. Again. But we thank you loyal viewers for tuning in to see more of that baby goodness known as The Granddaughter. This week's words are "warmth" and "depth."

Warmth (Granny and The Granddaugher sharing a warm, tender moment.)

Depth (Somebody got deep into the cabinet beneath the grandparents' sink.)
Bonus Photo (This one cracks me up every time I see it. The Granddaughter looks so terrified. It's sort of a Home Alone look.)

We know you have many sources on the Internet for cuteness, and we appreciate your business. Please tell your friends and family about us--even the ones without computers. We'll be sure to give you the best baby photos apfelpfankuchen cheeks can buy. Au revoir.

WWC: "Favorite Quote" and "L"

We may be a day late, but we're right on the money for this week's edition of the Weekly Word Challenge, brought to you by the ghost of Tink, hauntings for all occasions. Since it's my lunch hour, and I'm in a hurry, let's get on with it, shall we?

Favorite Quote ("It's time for Dodger baseball!" --Vin Scully)

L (L is for the light that bathes The Granddaughter while she helps with housework.)

Bonus Photo ("I have a headache, Granny.")

Thank you for your patience with our tardiness. We promise to do better next week, but if we're late, it's Granny's fault. Have a moderately tolerable week.

WWC: "Go Green" and "Square"

Hello? Is anyone there?

Yes, it has been a long time, hasn't it. And we have some perfectly good excuses. We've had lots of drama with kids. Our granddaughter was MIA again for many, many days. Granny has been dealing with some pretty rotten chronic illness. Gramps had a virus. Then he got just plain lazy.

And Mafia Wars. Yes, there was that, too.

But we're back. I can see from your blogs that lots has been happening with you, too. Before we go any further, everyone please go congratulate Cate on her new frickin' adorable baby! We're very happy for you. We're also terrified for you. It's a kid, and it's yours. All yours. You and Nate will make great parents.

Our own grandchild has been standing and taking her first tentative steps. She will be eleven months old tomorrow. She is still, of course, the most delicious apfelpfankuchen in the world.

Now on to the most recent edition of the Weekly Word Challenge. You may recall that the last time we spoke, Tink had been snuffed by a zombie alligator, and she was hosting the WWC from the heavens. Jay is her avatar on this plane, though some think he is a heretic. I am still awaiting further evidence, such as his turning water into beer.

We've skipped several weeks of the WWC, but we're back on track for "Go Green" and "Square." Thank you for your patience.

Go Green (The Granddaughter just loves to recycle.)

Square ("Grandpa, can you help me put this square into the right hole?")

Bonus Picture #1 ("I don't wanna go!")

Bonus Picture #2 ("HEEEELP me, Grandpa!")

Thanks for still being here, Internet. We love you. Please stay tuned, and I can assure you that next week--on schedule--we'll have more baby goodness just for you.

WWC: "D" and "Green"

Welcome back, friends! After last week's travails, I'm sure you wondered if we would ever go to print again, but here we are. Don't let anyone ever tell you miracles don't happen, because they do. As bad as it was two weeks ago, last week was so good that it made up for it and then some.

My first complaint was that I was number 218 on the wait list at the library for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Well, it just so happens that my birthday was last week. My dear, sweet wife sensed my sadness and sent the kids out for my present. I was truly surprised to unwrap that very treasure for which my soul had been longing: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, of course. That was miracle number one.

Miracle number two means that you are safer tonight than you were last night. Yesterday I killed more than 600 zombies because the newly repaired Xbox 360 had arrived! "No way!" I can hear you exclaim. All I have to say to that is "Yes way."

Add to that a wonderful birthday dinner with my family, a granddaughter who is still frickin' adorable and the fact that the ghost of Tink sent us new words for this edition of the Weekly Word Challenge, and things have been pretty peachy at the old homestead. And now, on with the show.

D (The Granddaughter visited the ducks (and geese and seagulls and pigeons and grackles) at the pond.)

Green ("It's not easy being green.")

Bonus Picture ("Cigarettes are like money in here, Grandpa.")

That's it for this week, loyal readers. We look forward to a great week of destroying zombies (that is if Granny doesn't kill the TV after another frustrating Dodger loss), eating apfelpfankuchen cheeks and enjoying the tail end of another summer. We hope you have a good week and will be back to join us for another installment of the WWC. Drive safely, and don't feed the inmates. Bye until next week.

WWC: "West" and "Favorite Story"

After a rough week, including a dead Xbox and a long wait list at the library, we were soothed by the dulcet sounds of our frickin' adorable grandchild who is learning to scream. Sometimes she'll do it just for the sheer joy of screaming. Or because she wants what you have (like beer) and you won't give it to her (or at least not enough to make her drunk).

We did, of course, get some photographs of our blubbery bundle of sweetness. And, since Tink is now somehow communicating to us from the Great Beyond, we're still getting words for the Weekly Word Challenge. Hooray for ouija boards! Enjoy the pictures.

West

Favorite Story (Guess How Much I Love You)


Bonus Picture ("Grandpa, I think somebody messed up your clothes.")


That's all for this week, Superfriends. I hope you have enjoyed this week's edition. Please tune in next time when we hope to have even more mug shots of Gramps from that regrettable incident in 2002 involving a can of orange soda, a brick and a police cruiser. Really, it was all one big, hilarious mistake. Barring that, we'll have more photos of The Granddaughter.

Have a great week!