grandpa and his little buddy

 Love, Val

the backyard in summer

Sometimes important things stay the same.  

That old saying says to enjoy the little things because one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

Yes, exactly like that.

Love always, Grandma

 

monday guys

They were impressed with the sand box and stayed outside playing in the cold morning for quite a long time.

Of course the dog thought this was the greatest EVER.

My friend Elaine gave me this little track and box of cars last week.  She said her grandsons had outgrown it and thought mine might like it.

He really did.  He stopped crying about having to eat lunch and happily munched on his chicken nuggets while he worked.

He said the cars were, "Way cool."

And this guy, he's just so doggone cute.

Julia said during the baby's nap he was still at the table working. She said the cars were having an argument, some elaborate storyline he was creating.

Pretty sweet, Elaine.  You made this guy very happy.

Love, Val aka Grandma
 

the end of march

It was warm and beautiful last weekend and some guys wanted to come over and play.  The yard is a bit muddy, so the boots were very smart.

I made a pan of taco dip and the baby LOVED it, was gobbling it up by the handful.  We got him his own bowl and Maria found him crackers. Tortilla chips seem hard for a little guy to chew up.

This was from lunch on Monday.    He and Grandpa have become buddies.

Here they finally have the Monster Truck program on the TV. The older kid loves to watch this with Grandpa and they can have it.  It is so mind bendingly boring, honestly.  But they love it.

The girls and I were laughing, noticed that while they watch this together, they chat.

"Oh, he's going in the ditch now.   Look out. He's going to be on fire."

"That tire is coming right off."

Etc. etc.  

It's okay.

Nothing but love, Grandma and Grandpa
 

A pic from preschool this week:

good fortune

This guy was mad at lunch last Monday.  He slapped his Batman fork, slapped his plate.

Lunch?

Who eats lunch?  

Dumbest thing he'd ever heard.

In an attempt to jolly him along, I mentioned we had fortune cookies left from the night before.  

He frowned, almost a scowl.

I cracked it open and read it to him: "Your Thursday will be filled with positive energy and optimism."

Well, darned if that didn't change his whole mood.  He smiled! He put the fortune on the placemat by his plate and patted it, even said, "Poptimism."  He asked for another meatball.

We'll take it. 

The baby's fortune was, "Follow the rhythm of your own life."

I think he's got that covered.

And there was snow early last week.

But by afternoon, this:

So much love, Grandma, aka MOM
 

friday morning

We went to his school for this circus program, and the kids and teachers did a great job.  It was very fun.  He was in the script as a seal.

But he got overwhelmed.

It's fine. Life is like that sometimes.

 Yes, you little monkey.

So much love, Grandma and Grandpa

last week hijinks and shenanigans

 

These guys were here last Monday.

That little baby is so pretty and sweet, but see that coffee table in the photo with Dani?

It came from Maria's house and she brought it here.  I love it, but that baby has a vengeance on it. First he pounded it with a matchbox car real hard.

No, no, no.  Not a good idea.

Then he climbed on it multiple times.

Again, bad idea.

THEN? He got underneath and pushed that heavy plate of beveled glass up with his feet.

!!!!

Okay, no.   All done. Be all done.

Jay and I carried that thing out to the living room.  Seemed like the safest idea.

We're going to take it out of there again tonight, in preparation for the morning when they'll be back.

Hahaha, you little devils.

See you tomorrow.

Love, Grandma and Grandpa

silly

See those toes?  This is how you end up with cheese on your socks.

Love Grandma, aka MOM