Grammy Reads

Chapter Three

2012-02-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

I am just beginning to turn the pages on Chapter Three in the Grammy novel. PBuddy, as I have now dubbed him, is more and more alert and aware of his new surroundings every day and this first month saw him add a few pounds, sneak us a smile, and melt our hearts with cuddliness.

I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. ~Psalm 139:14 American Standard Version

Each grandson is definitely one of a kind. PBuddy has a stock of reddish brown hair and deep blue eyes. He knows his momma's voice and lets her know when he is hungry beyond any shadow of a doubt. When his eyes lock onto something, he gets very, very still and stares several minutes. His hands are more active than his legs. He waves them around and loves to get his hand up to his mouth. He likes a paci...thank goodness. He sleeps for a few hours at a time. When he's awake, he is pretty quiet. (unless he's hungry) He prefers a dry, clean diaper as soon as possible. He needs burping when he drinks a bottle. He loves to sleep on you more than he likes sleeping in a crib. He is not a fan of riding in the car. He stops crying as soon as he is picked up. He loves to be held. Yes, he is wonderfully made. I know that right well.

With gratitude~

Bringing Up Boys who Read

2012-01-29T14:41:00.000-08:00

As a former teacher, I heard lots of Moms tell me their sons just didn't like to read. I always enjoyed the challenge of finding that 'just right' book for the reluctant reader. But as a Grammy, I couldn't help but be concerned that maybe this was a 'boy' thing and that MY boys would not like to read either. So it's been a mission of mine to make sure that books are at their fingertips and that there's usually something new or even a golden oldie to enjoy.

Baby Bird reads during a diaper change.
Yeah, it was going to take a while to change this one.

It turns out that my daughters were way ahead of me. Walk into my grandsons' rooms and you will instantly spy books, books,books. Books left in mid sentence, favorite books by the bed waiting to be read for the umpteenth time, a supply of books in the waiting on the bookshelf...yes, there is no shortage of books. Since before they were born, books have been there as part of their everyday lives.
Mama at Law took PDub to preschool one morning recently, and as she was leaving, she heard him talking and talking. So much so that she turned around to take a peek into his classroom. There was P reading a book. Looking over his shoulder were some of the other little boys listening intently to the story. This makes me not only proud, but hopeful. I believe that my grandsons will grow up always loving books. Yes, they will love playing video games, watching movies, playing outside, and hopefully some art and music in the mix. But the one constant (besides my love, of course) will be the company of a good book.

"You cannot open a book without learning something."
~Confucius

"You cannot raise a decent boy without books."
~Grammy

Going Once...Going Twice...Gone!

2012-01-22T14:37:00.000-08:00

I was waiting at the nail salon to get a manicure. Later I would go see Mom who was about an hour away in a nursing facility. The call came first from Papallama. "Call the Home. They called you and want you to call. I think you need to call them." My heart sank. Usually, the nurses started their message with "It's not an emergency, but..." When I reached the nurse, she softly said, "I'm afraid Miss Evelyn is gone. She passed away just a few minutes ago. She was being fed and when the nurse turned her back to get something, your mom stopped breathing. She called for me, and by the time I got there, Miss Evelyn was gone."

I left the salon, got in my car, and headed straight for the Home. They had been unable to reach my father and I wanted to get there to be with her.
When I walked into her room, she was lying there in the bed.
Still.
If you've never seen someone who has died, words fail in describing just how still they are. Yes, she was gone. I sat by her and wept.

Going once...

In preparing for her funeral, my sister and I selected some jewelry, a nice jacket Mom had recently bought for a granddaughter's wedding, and we asked that her hairdresser attend to her hair. But when we went to view her body, it was sad how little it resembled her. I pulled out some of her lipstick for the funeral attendant to use. It helped. But it wasn't her. Then my sister and I realized what was missing. Her eyes. That's what we were missing...the sparkle in her eyes. In fact, my sister said it used to creep her out to see Mom sleeping because her eyes were closed. No doubt about it...Mom was gone...

Going twice...

until you walked into her house. Mom was a collector of antiques, vintage, kitsch, and it seemed that little that entered her home ever left it. If you've seen the hoarders on reality TV, I'm afraid my mom would fall into that same category. It got the better of her. Rooms were impassable, doors began to close, and she became a prisoner to the stuff. My dad hated it. Called it junk. He ridiculed her for buying it, and they argued heatedly about it. But one thing is for certain, it wasn't junk. It may have been a mess, a cluttered, dusty, heap. But it was far from junk. My sister and I, who went with Mom on many an antiquing trip, knew about most of the collections, and how meticulously and methodically Mom went about acquiring her treasures. She would wear a dealer down if it took hours to get what she wanted at the price or trade she wanted. 'No' was not an acceptable answer.

As I walked through the once forbidden rooms, the strangest thing began to happen. The anniversary clock she had placed on an old secretary desk would chime at what seemed to be moments when I needed a sign. Not on the hour or quarter or half even though it was keeping time accurately. I mentioned it to my sister and she laughed until it began to happen to her. Even Dad, who we had not told, asked, "Why is that clock chiming now?"

Now Dad is ready to get rid of everything. Because there is so much, the family finally agreed to hand it over to an auctioneer to pack and sell. Forty years...gone in one week.

The packers were excited to show us the empty living room that they had not been able to walk into when they first arrived because of all the 'stuff'. All that remained was the dusty furniture.

For me, it was like walking into to see Mom on her death bed once more. Not one sign of her remained.

The clock sat still...it never chimed again after the movers came in...

Gone...

Active Duty

2012-01-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

2012 has started with great jubilation in our family. On New Year's Day, Baby Bird was christened with friends and family looking on in delight. When there was applause, he studied us for a second, and then broke out in the sweetest grin. He is going to be an entertainer, for sure. I loved the homily given by Jaybird's and Mama Cat's friend. He talked about the importance of names, specifically the name given to Jesus. He used Baby Bird as an example, too, and it was touching to think about the "original" for whom he and his daddy and grandfather are named. Consistency, faithfulness, family values...virtues that are being passed on from generation to generation thanks to the examples set by him.

Then, two days later, Mama at Law and Daddy at Law welcomed PDub's baby brother. He bounded in at 8 pounds and 7 ounces, ready to take on the world. PDub and I spent the week together trying to stay on schedule while Mama at Law recuperated at the hospital. I found a book that PDub loved that is simple but to the point and very helpful for a new brother. I'm a Big Brother, by Joanna Cole, is the perfect length and comprehension level for a three and half year old. PDub had to read it at least once every day, and Mama at Law says he now reads it to her.

I came back to touch base with Papallama and spend a few nights in my own bed, but I will be headed back to spend some time with the Baby P and PDub this week. While Grammy duty commences, I leave you with the newest pictures I have. You can be sure that more will follow.

PDub and Baby P

Baby Bird (who is now sporting his first tooth)

Happy 2012!

The Year in Review

2011-12-29T18:53:00.000-08:00

The media has begun its 'year in review' and 'the year's top stories', so I started to reflect on my year and what I would pick as the top ten events. 2011 has been a humdinger, and as I looked back, I discovered something very important. It wasn't all bad. Here are my top ten from the past year:

1. Both my mother and my mother-in-law reached the end of their lives. Both death certificates cite 'failure to thrive' as cause of death. I wonder if that's the new term for 'natural causes'. Neither of them failed to thrive in their lives. Both grew up in low income homes. My mom sold violets to earn money for food. Her feet showed the deformity of wearing ill fitted shoes handed down from her sisters. Lib took care of many of her 11 siblings. They both were wonderful seamstresses and needle crafters. They were not college educated, but could run circles around anyone with a degree. Most of all, they were devoted to their families and were excellent mothers who made sure they raised children who would make a difference in the world. Failure to thrive? No, not these two. So, I suggest that the medical community come up with a better term.

2. Another loss this year was Baby Bird's great grandfather and the Sr. for whom he is named. I only knew this great guy through a brief encounter when Jaybird and Mama Cat were wed, but he left a lasting impression. Like Lib and Evelyn, he was one of the ones that earned the title, "Greatest Generation". He set an example for his sons and grandsons that I am certain is going to be handed down to Baby Bird.

3. There were births this year. Baby Bird was a welcome addition in late spring after losing Lib and Evelyn in March and April. His birth signaled a new start and I was joyful again. He has been a ray of sunshine since his birth. Such a happy baby, he smiles and giggles and seems to say, "Life is good," over the simplest of things. Riding in a stroller through a store...cool! Mommy tickling me behind the ears...hysterical! That __________ (fill in the blank)...tasty! I never tire of seeing the world anew through my grands.

4. The other birth was a new law practice for Mama at Law. She was blessed to have worked with not only a gifted attorney, but also a dear friend. While she probably thought it was a match that would last a lifetime, life once again threw a curveball. Guess that's what we get when we think we are in control. In the end, her new practice, I feel with all my heart, is taking her in the direction she is meant to go. Mama at Law has a strong faith and believes that God places you where you need to be. That faith and belief continue to be her best guide.

5. I retired again. Yes, I am just lousy at retirement. I love to work, but I want to be available for my family when they need me. So, I am working as I see fit. Still more than I probably have time for, but not full time and on my own terms. Retirement is starting to feel more comfortable, and I might even make it a full time endeavor in 2012.

6. The family vacation makes my top ten. We have visited our little slice of heaven since the girls were small. We never know from year to year now whether we will get us all under one roof, so I am always grateful when it happens.

7. One thing that Papallama loves is his Gamecocks, and I love spending time with him tailgating or cheering the teams on. This year, Papallama was president of the local Gamecock Club, and I really enjoyed the extra activities he planned. We went to a baseball and basketball game with local members, and it was fun. Nothing beats the football games though in Williams-Brice. This year was exceptional.

8. This year I was able to attend an annual reunion held by my college buddies. I am more of a biannual attendee, so this was an on year for me. It's wonderful to get together with them and to feel their support and love. We have all changed since college...duh...but our affection for each other seems to be the constant that keeps us coming back to the circle.

9. I have spent a great deal of time handling Mom's massive estate of antiques, collectibles, and curiosities. This has educated me in history, opened my eyes to groups of collectors I never knew existed, and has kept me connected to her while spending time with Dad as well. It has been interesting, exhausting, frustrating, and cool. You always hear how families split up over this stuff. I sort of get how that happens now, but I refuse to allow 'stuff' to replace 'family'. What material object would I possibly exchange for a family member? Trade you one brother for a vase? I don't think so.

10. The highlight of the year (after Baby Bird, of course) has to be the trip to Jamaica that Papallama and I just took in December. Paradise. Perfect. Peaceful.

So, as I look back, the year has not been as dismal as I might have thought. Do I hope for a better 2012? Of course. And it's getting off to a great start.

On Jan. 1, we will witness the Christening of Baby Bird in Charleston with his family and their friends. On Jan. 3, Baby P will be delivered via c-section. I'll be waiting with open arms.

The same way I am welcoming 2012...

with open arms.

When it comes, may you, also, have a blessed New Year!

The Gift of You

2011-12-09T12:29:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday, Papallama and I were celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary with a stroll around Main Street when we happened upon a book signing. I love running into events like this and meeting new authors in person. It provides such a personal glimpse into the inspiration for the story.

This was the such the case that afternoon. Donna Thornton described her book, The Christmas Donkey, that she wrote for her mother as a gift. With her mother's encouragement and urging, Donna published the story to share with all of us. Donna's family owns a working raspberry farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. One year a wee donkey was born and named Drupelet just like the bump on the raspberry that produces the drop of juice. In the story, Drupelet was pretty satisfied with life on the farm until he happened upon a pasture where he saw, for the first time, the beautiful horses with their glossy coats and long, slender legs. Drupelet very much wanted to belong to this group of equines, but his mother admonished him. They would have no interest in a common donkey. Drupelet's feelings were bruised, and he was no longer satisfied playing among his other farm friends like before. Then, at the beginning of winter, a truck arrived with a trailer. Drupelet was loaded on and taken on a short ride to a small town up the road. What he saw next was the strangest sight. There were sheep, goats, and even three camels. Humans were dressed in heavy garments and they placed a baby human on a manger of hay! For hours that evening, people walked by and watched. Drupelet stayed very still. When he returned to the farm, he told his story to all of his farm animal friends. Buster, the wise barn cat, had seen an event such as this before and explained to Drupelet that he had been chosen to represent the donkey that Mary, the mother of Jesus, rode into Bethelem so her baby could be born exactly where the Bible said he would be born. Now Druplet was filled with joy and understood his purpose. He knew he didn't have to be a race horse to be important. He was meant to be a Christmas donkey!

My favorite line is this. "It takes the single drupelet and MANY others for the fruit to be beautiful and delicious."

We all have a purpose, a gift, something meaningful to give. Donna's mother has the gift of growing beautiful gardens. Donna's gift is writing beautiful stories. Lynne Pryor uses her gift to illustrate it.

I think (and hope) the story will touch someone who in some way has felt left out, put down, unimportant, or disappointed. Perhaps it will help PDub and Baby Bird understand to accept themselves and recognize the gifts in others. We all have a purpose, a small, yet important role in the bigger story.

Go ahead and open your gift and have a very Merry Christmas!

He's Coming to Town!

2011-12-02T05:43:00.001-08:00

No, not Santa. PDub! But in a way, he's bringing Christmas with him.

Being three this year, it's like PDub is seeing Christmas for the first time all over again. When he got home from Thanksgiving, his mama read The Elf on the Shelf book to him and "Diesel", the elf, made a reappearance in his home. PDub was awestruck. The first person he looked for the next morning was Diesel, and he laughed with glee when he discovered him peeking out from behind the blinds. For him, the magic of elves is real.

For Grammy, though, this is already starting out to be a less than jolly season. Shopping in stores with knickknacky signs that talk about mothers and daughters, not racking my brain over what to get Lib and Evelyn, and missing my phone calls and visits with Mom is taking its toll.

So I am really looking forward to some Christmas spirit this weekend! Thank you, God, for sending him (and Him) to me to remind me that your love is not only magic...

It's real.

Thanks for the Memories!

2011-11-27T12:33:00.001-08:00

It's been a wonderful family filled Thanksgiving holiday and the house is much too quiet now that everyone has headed home.

Last minute changes meant that Mama Cat and Jaybird could spend Thanksgiving with us! Papallama and I were excited to get some time with Baby Bird who is changing every single day! He is sitting and cooing and grabbing and eating...so much activity for one little guy! Mama at Law and her family have in laws close by, so we were all comfortable and had enough 'space' physically and mentally.

When we gather at our Thanksgiving table, we share what we are thankful each year. (Family and health are givens, so everyone must think of something else.) While PDub is thankful for jump castles, Papallama is thankful for shared memories. He explained how shared memories connect us as a family. See why he is our 'Llama'?

We sure added some memories to the book this year.

Mama Cat brought tons of snacks and kept the table full of goodies for us. My favorites were the little acorns made from Hershey kisses and Nutter Butters. I knew they were cute, but also yummy, too, oh my...glad they are all gone from my reach now!

Mama at Law was given a reprieve from cooking this year since just being here eight months pregnant is enough. Plus, she is starting a new law firm, so her 'plate' was already full, so to speak. It was fun to watch some of the plans come together 'virtually' as she and her partner shopped via email and MMS. Can't wait to see it soon!

The boys set up the turkey fry camp complete with satellite TV and a jumperoo for the youngest boy. They cooked THE perfect turkey once again.

Mama Cat and I braved Black Friday and had fun shopping for decorations and gifts. A marathon wrapping session followed and I sent her home with a sleigh full of presents to put under one of her two Christmas trees. Can't wait to see her retro Christmas this year!

PDub was a wonderful big cousin to Baby Bird who was enthralled with him. He is going to be a great big brother! Baby Bird won't be much longer in being able to follow him around. He is sitting up and creeping all around the crib.

On Saturday, Mama Cat and Jaybird headed home while Mama and Daddy at Law joined us for an afternoon of tailgating at the Palmetto Bowl. While we pull for different teams, we are not divided in our loyalty to each other. While my team got the win this year, the best part of the day was being there with them.

So overall, it was a wonderful, fullfilling holiday and like the other team is saying today...

~Wait until next year!

PDub II

2011-11-07T05:40:00.000-08:00

First the big news! PDub's baby brother has a name! Porter William. Yes, there is a PDub II on the way! Pretty cool that all the monogrammed bibs can have another go round.

Mama Cat and I hosted a small gathering of friends and family this past weekend just to let Mama at Law know that we love her and PDub II. We are very excited about his pending arrival in early early January, 2012. (or sooner) Mama at Law has decided to coordinate the boys' rooms with a madras theme and we ran with that as the shower theme. Working together by phone, internet, and mail, I think we did a pretty good job tying it all together. I wanted to share a few photos for folks who may be like me...looking for ideas that are easy!

Mama Cat loves cake stands! We used her collection to set up centerpieces on the tables. See PDub II's name on display? Mama Cat used the same fabric we used under the stands to make a wall hanging for his nursery!

We ordered plainly decorated cakes from Publix and added coordinating ribbon with double sided tape. Since this is a second little baby boy, guests generously gave the gift of diapers and Mama Cat had diaper cakes in the centerpieces, too.

Other decor included colorful napkins and utensils, mini milk bottles (recyled Starbucks bottles) with striped straws (Etsy) and baby shoes made from plain white cups and ribbon that served up some fresh fruit.

It was all relatively simple and Mama at Law loved the chance to see hometown friends and special family members.

Weekends like this warm the heart.

Happy, sappy sigh~

Here's the Scoop!

2011-10-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

When I went with PDub to the Pumpkin Patch, I had a blast. On the way back to school (via the bus), I remarked to P that Grammy sure was 'pooped'. His eyes got big as saucers and a little sly grin came on his face. "Grammy pooped?!" Immediately, I saw we had a communication issue. "No, P, not 'pooped in the pants poop', TIRED poop." He just looked puzzled and we dropped that subject like a sack of...oh, nevermind!

Well, later that day, PDub and I were back at Grammy's house hanging out in the yard and P decided he wanted to 'wake'. (translation: rake) So we went in the garage and he grabbed up Grammy's pooper scooper rake and bucket. Not wanting to deny my first grandson the pleasure of picking up poop in Grammy's yard, I played along. Whenever PDub saw a pile, he would happily shout, "POOP AHOY!" What a great attitude about such a nasty job.

I told Mama at Law that I thought we should all take a lesson from PDub's attitude. Whenever we are faced with a poopy job or challenge, let's just say, "Poop Ahoy!" and approach it with an attitude of discovery and accomplishment.

Because in life, poop happens.

Poop ahoy, matey!

You Gotta Have Friends

2011-10-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

This weekend is the annual reunion of Grammy's college friends and I am looking forward to seeing some of the best girl friends anyone could hope for. It got me to thinking about friendship this past day or so. Some people gather friends like my furniture gathers dust...quickly and without effort. I, on the other hand, tend to keep most people at arm's length. Not that I am not friendly. My dad, the small town politician, took me on the campaign trails with him, so I am at ease with perfect strangers. I guess I just don't care to share my every thought and feeling with more than a handful of people, if that many. Makes me an awful facebooker.

A lay person talked to our children at church about friendship last Sunday. He made some great points. Friends are people you know and spend time with. Friendship is an important relationship. So that best explains why I consider myself very blessed to have a few important friendships.

This first (I know it's corny) and best friend I have is Papallama. I love spending time with him, and I can trust him with every thought and emotion I may have, whether I am right to think or feel that way or not. He's my go-to guy for advise and support, and we have alot of fun most of the time. When we're not having fun, I couldn't think of a better person to be miserable with. Ha!

Two other dear friends are Mama Cat and Mama at Law. They also are two people I love hanging out with and who listen and want to know about my comings and goings. But they are also daughters, and there are things that mothers and daughters aren't meant to share.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention work friends. Not colleagues, but friends. Ms. M is one such friend. In another time, another life, we might not have matched up, but the years we spent together at a little brick schoolhouse were some that I will always treasure. She has that one virtue that any friend of mine is going to need...she is a good listener. I hope I was for her, too. And I knew as she did, that the thoughts we shared were for our ears only. Good friends will honor that, no matter what.

Then there are school friends, like my sisters that I am meeting up with this weekend. We shared a special time in our lives and had a camaraderie that is only experienced by living with a person for years and seeing them at their best and their worst. They are the ones who can send you into a side splitting laugh at the drop of a hat. That's why I am going to spend a whole weekend away from my best friend to see my girl friends. Plus, I will probably need to defend myself when the storytelling commences...

Dogpatch, here I come~

Pumpkineenies

2011-10-11T05:15:00.000-07:00

I love fall! Finally, the humidity starts to subside and the world around me puts on a completely new costume to entertain me. One of my favorite fall activities when I was a little girl was going to the county fair. Daddy-O would hand me a dollar's worth of dimes and I was set for the day! (Sometimes he might give me a few extra dimes if it was an exceptional fair.) So, it should come as no surprise that when Mama Cat was born in October, Grammy did not let that keep the family from attending the State Fair with 2 week old in tow. It must have made a lasting impression because Mama Cat is as crazy about fall and fairs as I am. While two states separate us, we engaged in parallel fall excursions with our favorite pumpkineenies.

Mama Cat took Baby Bird to the county fair!

How tall must you be for that ride?

Blue Ribbon Mommy

Baby Bird gives his day at the fair two dimples!

Grammy and PDub headed for the pumpkin patch!

Been a long time since Grammy took a hayride!

I have to admit that petting zoos aren't my favorite, but these three seem to enjoy it.

This is just the start to this wonderful season! Still to come are so many possibilities...apple picking, mountain scenic tours, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and oh yeah, football...right, Papallama?

Go, Cocks, Go!

~Happy fall, y'all~

It's Showtime!

2011-10-05T06:34:00.000-07:00

People (in general) think toddlers and preschoolers are cute, and because they think these little people are so cute, they like to use them for show. Now these same people are usually only seeing the little people for a few minutes at a time, sort of like an audition, I suppose. So they see cute and assume that the little person is cute 24/7.

PDub is cute. Cute as a button. He has grown into this little expressive fellow with a winning smile and friendly demeanor. So he has been recruited for some performances where cute is required.

The first was an unveiling of a portrait of his great grandfather in a pretty auspicious ceremony. Now I am certain that the attendees were hanging on every word of the three speeches that preceded the actual unveiling. PDub was not as impressed. Of course, we knew a three year old's attention span might not last for, oh, more than five minutes, so we had a plan B. Mama at Law would take him into a back hall and entertain him with an iPad or iPhone until curtain call. Problem was, Mama at Law, picked up a stomach bug on the way to the courthouse and was throwing up whilst trying to entertain P. Poor Mama at Law. She told PDub that 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' made her feel better, so while she heaved, P sang.

When they were summoned for the unveiling, you would have never suspected the mayhem that had been going on backstage. His performance was flawless. He waited for his cue, gently pulled off the velvet veil, and pronounced, "ta da!" for the waiting eyes. He waved sweetly to his great grandfather who beamed with pride and then Mama at Law escaped out the back door to continue her battle of the bug.

Next performance? The wedding of his uncle. PDub will be appearing in tuxedo and carrying a ring.

Need cute? Call his agent.

He Went That Away

2011-09-25T21:12:00.000-07:00

PDub and family stopped by for visit today and we were enjoying some front porch/sandbox time when Mama at Law stepped out to chat. She sat down on the front steps, and PDub muttered something about going to find Suzie, the Lab, as he wandered around the corner of the house. Well, literally, 20 seconds later, when he had not reappeared, I decided to check on him.

Gone.

Vanished.

I stuck my head in the back door and asked Papallama and Daddy at Law if he had come inside, and they said he was running across the yard the last time they saw him. (Really, guys, that didn't strike you as odd? Papallama said I had never lost a child before, so he wasn't worried.)

Be still my heart! No sign of P anywhere in the yard. Now, he loves to hide, but I could tell he wasn't on the property. You just know these things. So I started yelling for him. I thought I heard a reply, but it was WAY too far off to make me feel any better. I took off across the yard, through the woods, and onto the street behind our house. (See why Grammy has to run?)

Sure enough, four houses away on the street behind us, there was my sweet P. With Suzie. Did he get a scolding? Oh, yeah, Did he understand? Mmm, a little. But Suzie had disappeared and he was on a mission to find her.

That's one more difference in girls (mine, anyway) and boys. My girls would have never left the yard, much less run through any size, shape, or form, of woods to chase a dog. But then, you know what boys are made of, right?

Snips, and snails, and puppy dog tails~

Tough Grammy

2011-09-22T05:28:00.000-07:00

There is a children's book that I love (surprise, surprise) by Mem Fox. It's Tough Boris, and it's a patterned story of a pirate, Boris von der Borch. It goes something like this. Boris is tough...all pirates are tough. Boris is scruffy...all pirates are scruffy. You get the idea. Now here's the spoiler alert. I'm going to tell you how the book ends...after all the adjectives telling how tough, scruffy, mean, greedy, fearless,and massive Boris is, his parrot dies. And Boris cries. All pirates cry. And so do I.
I thought about it yesterday when unexpectedly I was hit by the grief of losing my mother last spring. I was doing a simple task. I had to deposit a check from her estate into the bank. Suddenly, a flood of memories came over me and the tears began to flow. Gut wrenching, cry out loud sobbing that left me sitting in the car and just letting myself 'get it all out'. The tears stayed with me most of the day and I just let them be. I know that it's normal. I know it's something I have to go through...well, I don't think I'll ever be over it, really. I do know how to accept it though. So I share that experience, just so Mama at Law and Mama Cat understand that I'm not as tough as I act. Just like Boris.

I think you could take the Tough Boris book pattern and create one like this. Grammy is fun. All Grammies are fun. Grammy is silly. All Grammies are silly. Grammy is sweet. All Grammies are sweet. Grammy is happy. All Grammies are happy. But when Grammy's mommy died. Grammy cried and cried. And so do I.

It's okay to cry~

See Rock City

2011-09-12T04:53:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl headed to church camp in the mountains, I vividly remember seeing the barn roofs in the valleys painted black with big white letters...SEE ROCK CITY...or SEE SEVEN STATES. I always wanted to visit this magical place, but its location remained a mystery to me until this past Saturday.

Rock City, it turns out, is part of the charm of Chattanooga, TN, and close enough to Baby Bird's nest to check out! Here are a few helpful tips in case you decide to go see it for yourself.

No strollers are allowed. You'll understand why as you read on.

Come on, Mama Cat. You carried him for nine months. How hard can it be?

Hydrate yourself. Walking is involved. And a cap and suncreen are advised.

They don't call it Rock City for nothing.

Be prepared to squeeze through some tight places,

or cross over high and narrow walkways...

or swinging bridges.

Your reward will be to see fantastic fauna and mountain scenery, or view seven states if the skies are clear.

Papallama takes a count.

But most of all, you will love spending time in the fresh, autumn air with the ones you love.

~SEE ROCK CITY

The Family That Reads Together...

2011-08-22T05:13:00.000-07:00

The family that reads together learns together. Papallama wisely says that children learn not only from what we do, but also by what we don't do. PDub and Baby Bird remind me that reading needs to be what we do everyday. I am so proud of Mama at Law and Mama Cat for making reading such an important daily routine for the boys.

Mama Cat says that Baby Bird tuned in to Good Night, Moon recently. She thinks it's probably due to his visual development. This book contrasts black and white pages to color pages, so it not only teaches Baby Bird the sweet rhythmic sound of reading, but also helps his little eyes start to focus. I'm a big fan of Margaret Wise Brown and this book will be a favorite for many years, I'm sure, since it is such a great bedtime story. She also wrote Runaway Bunny, another must have in a child's library.

PDub is reviving some old favorites at bedtime. He has shelved Peter Rabbit and checked out The Kissing Hand and LlamaLlama once more. Both of those stories deal with separation and I can understand why they would appeal to him once again. He's moved to a new classroom with new challenges and the arrival of baby brother is starting to become a reality as Mama at Law's tummy expands.

I have even managed to share some new books with Mama Cat and Mama at Law. Mama Cat is reading The Help and What Alice Forgot. Mama at Law tried out my Kindle version of The Weird Sisters. She loves the book AND the Kindle. Maybe This Time or Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption will be my next read. Right now, my nose is in books about antiques and costume jewelry as I list the things that are left from Mom's estate. You can follow that in our Etsy Shop. (See the link in the right sidebar for updates.) I am learning that you can't know much about antiques without learning history in the process, and for me, that's been very enjoyable. Messy, cluttery fun.

Back to the bling~

Cheese!

2011-08-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

Mama at Law called with the big news that our beach pictures had arrived. Thanks to Brook Bertschy for capturing a small piece of our family time at Kiawah in July.

The chance to have us all together gets more and more precious.

As sweet as he looks

Bored already

Hair is looking a little red.

Come on, PDub, picture taking can be fun!

His job was demolition.

He has no fear of the water.

Is there any better backdrop?

Biker Grammy

2011-08-07T17:06:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun this weekend that I thought I would blog a quick post about it while the peach cobbler is cooking. Thanks, Mimi, for the recipe that has alluded me for years!

On my last birthday, Papallama humored me when I asked for a bicycle. Then I informed him that in order for me to enjoy a bicycle, it would mean he would need one, too. Who else was I going to ride with? And I sure wasn't going alone! So he gave me a sweet ride. It's a Specialized Arial 24 speed number. It's not a road bike. Those tiny tires would be the death of me! Still, it's a speedy bike and like Charles Shultz said, "We all have gears we never use." At first, I would shift gears every few minutes playing around with it. Mama Cat informed me that I should not be changing gears unless absolutely necessary, so for once, you can call me conservative. Just once though.

This is such a great amenity for Greenvillians.

Papallama had one last Friday free before school starts back, and he invited me to go to The Swamp Rabbit Trail for a ride. I love The Swamp Rabbit Trail! We had already explored the upper end when we first got the bikes, but I have been wanting to go downtown and explore there (See Map G). We parked close to the Peace Center and headed toward the Greenville Zoo. Wow! What a beautiful trail! I told Papallama that it was like an amusement park built for bikes! We crossed over stone bridges, rode along a bubbling brook, stopped to look at a WW II fighter jet on display as a memorial to Rudolph Anderson, the only human casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and just enjoyed the breeze you get while gliding on your bike. We rode for about an hour and decided to grab lunch at one of our favorite downtown dives, Chicora Alley. Oh, and of course, I had to step into the ice cream parlor on the way back to the car. Riding sure works up the appetite! Speaking of appetite, the cobbler is done!

Happy Trails to You!~

First Day Jitters

2011-08-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

When the calendar turns to August, my brain goes into teacher mode. Even after retiring, I can't help anticipating those first hectic days when school starts back. I flipped my ME calendar yesterday ( Yes, I still keep an old fashioned wall calendar and a day planner in my purse even though the iphone is keeping track of everything.)This month's quote was one I had not seen before and it is so fitting for this time of year.

"There is one thing which gives radiance to everything. It is the idea of something around the corner." ~G.K.Chesterton

Even after thirty years, I would still lie awake the night before the first day of school, absolutely unable to calm my excitement and anticipation. The day itself was always exhilarating and exhausting. You know, that good kind of exhaustion, where you feel a great sense of accomplishment.

Some joke that they fear change. I prefer to take Chesterton's outlook on it. I am eager to see "what is around the corner." There are so many wonderful opportunities and experiences ahead, it makes me absolutely giddy to think about them.

So I will be thinking about all the folks, big and little, who are beginning a new school year. I hope it brings learning, adventure, friendships, and most of all, great accomplishments.

~Welcome back!

Are We There Yet?!!

2011-07-22T19:27:00.000-07:00

We are blessed that our daughters and their husbands and the grandsons are willing and able to join us for vacation at the beach this year. We have visited Kiawah Island for many, many years and we have always left with anticipation for the next year. It's that much fun! The girls have grown up with summer vacations there with high school friends, college buddies, boyfriends, and now husbands. AND the grandsons! I am so excited to spend the time with everyone and watch PDub enjoy a whole week with the beach at his beck and call. He is already a junior surfer dude who loves to troll the beach for new friends. Baby Bird will be spoiled by his Auntie Mama at Law who will meet him in person for the first time, and hopefully, Mama Cat can get some rest. She and Jaybird will also be checking in with old friends who they haven't seen since the move, while Mama at Law and Daddy at Law avoid the city altogether.

By the look on Mama Cat's face, you would think she was being told that next year she would bring her own baby! She didn't have a clue!

We have many traditions on our vacation. One is that we take turns preparing dinners. Mama Cat and Papallama tend to be the most creative. Mama Cat tries out new recipes on us and is a fabulous cook. Papallama goes all out with a Louisiana meal that he has been presenting for several years. Red beans and rice, gumbo, jambalaya, beinets, hurricanes...oh yeah, no biking is allowed on the night he cooks. Speaking of which, biking is another fun tradition. Kiawah has trails throughout the island and we have literally gone on day long treks. Don't know if we'll be doing that in this heat though. Then there are books in all our hands, even PDub's, and a community puzzle that is usually finished in a marathon session the last evening there. This year is a 3000 piece number. I may have been too ambitious.

Last, but not least, are the photo sessions, loved by the women and dreaded by the guys. Gotta have 'em though!

Don't take beach pictures on the beach. Too much sand, wind, and sun!

See how much they love having their picture made?

Completely out of control

This year, we have a 'professional' coming to capture the moment. We'll see if she can control the guys any better!
~Surf's up!

Bling!

2011-07-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

Today I am sorting and sifting through thirty plus years accumulation of jewelry from my mom. It's a girl's dream come true.

Mom was bitten by the antique bug in the 1960's, so in addition to her love for jewelry in general, is a mix of vintage pieces she would buy from her trips to different treasure troves. And by vintage, I have learned that that term includes jewelry from the 70's. Not the 1870's, my friend, the 1970's. That's right. Are you vintage, like me?
To sort the jewelry, I am accompanied by a magnet to test for gold (not magnetic) and a magnifying glass to read the silver label or costume signature. I am getting an education in this field of antiquity as I go. I place each piece into its own bag and label it with any notes I need to make, so that its new owner will have a place to start in determining its value or use.

I have purchased and almost used at least 1000 bags so far. It has been a great adventure and I only wish Mom were here to enjoy seeing these again. I have discovered her intelligence in knowing what she was buying, her eye for beauty in the lovely pieces I have picked up to admire, and her appreciation for the whimsical in the funny little pins of clowns, owls, frogs, and smiley faces, that are included right along with the 'good' stuff.

Like books, I believe jewelry should be used, not shelved and tucked away, so most of this will be passed along to the next generation. One piece I did find that I think I will keep is this peach pin. Born in Atlanta, my parents referred to me as a Georgia peach. I imagine that had something to do with why Mom bought it.

And speaking of births! There's another grand on the way in late '11 or early '12, depending on doctor's holiday schedule. I even know what the baby will be...but the word is still getting around to family, especially Mama Cat, so I'll save that till next time. Or you can just check Facebook, the telegraph of this generation.

Until then,

~I hope life's peachy~

Aaaargh! It's a Birthday, Matey!

2011-07-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

Capt'n PDub turned three on Saturday, and celebrated with a pirate themed birthday party at a nearby play zone. Plenty of mateys showed up to have fun and enjoy the pirate booty of cake, whistles, silly bandz, and most of all, FUN!

The pirate theme was so cute and perfect for PDub's third birthday!

Capt'n PDub

Watch out for this swarmy crew!

Yes, pirates love Tonka Trucks!

When it came time to blow out the candles, there was another surprise. (The next time Mama at Law has to run in for birthday candles, I bet she'll read the box.)

It's hard to believe PDub has already turned 3!

Where does time go?~

Dive In!

2011-07-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

We are officially in summer, in case anyone missed it, so now is the time to really dive into some summer books! I've been searching for something new for PDub to read, and now I am adding Baby Bird's new book to the search, too. I don't know why summer has such the reputation for reading, except I guess, that people take vacations and find more time for reading. Gotta tell you, though, that children need to be immersed in books all year. You heard it from Grammy. Books are always a great investment for your children. Never feel guilty about buying them.

So, on to the selections...

For PDub, I picked Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat, by Philip Stead.
I was drawn first to the illustrations. Having illustrators in the family, I can not help but be a fan of the illustrator's work. This is a beautiful book with no accidental details. Look closely and appreciate the story told through the drawings and the use of color. Secondly, the story is one of a little boy who has lost his beloved teddy bear. He sets sail to find him and picks up a rag tag crew along the way. There is adventure and triumph and will spark PDub's imagination. Last, there are lessons of shape, size, and colors that will continue to help him learn new concepts. So let's set sail with this one for PDub's beach book this summer.

Now Baby Bird needs books, too, so I am going with a board book favorite of mine, Karen Katz's
Where is Baby's Beach Ball? Much like Where is Baby's Belly Button, this is a lift the flap book that I think Baby Bird will enjoy for easily his first year. I have a feeling that PDub may sit and help read this one to him while they are at the beach together.

For Grammy, I have selected What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarty. In this story, Alice wakes up to find the last ten years gone from her memory after an accident. What if you woke up with the last 10 years of your life erased from your memory? What has changed in that time? How has your family changed? Your friendships? Your living arrangements? Your personality and appearance? Those are questions I am sure I will be wondering as I read what will be a different kind of beach book for me this year.

And speaking of diving in, I have done that with my mother's estate and have begun to shift through at least 30 years of collecting various antiques, collectibles, and trinkets. I started with some of her jewelry. What a blast to the past as I sorted through 30 years of earring collections. It was a wonderful few days of recollecting both those times and my mother's takes of the events during the 70's, 80's, and 90's. There is much more to do, and it can seem overwhelming, but the material things remind me of the priceless treasures she gave us all. My sister said, "We know that everything in the home is meaningful, as my mother wouldn’t have gotten anything without it having some particular significance. She would never have placed anything in her home without great thought and intention." We honor her in how we now give her things new homes. I just have to remember to come up for air.

~Stay afloat~

A Stitch in Time

2011-06-26T06:29:00.000-07:00

Baby Bird passed the two week milestone with flying colors along with Mama Cat who is settling into her new job as a SAHM. Here is the quilt and Baby Bird in all their glory. Just love him to pieces!

"May your sorrows be patched and your joys quilted."

Happy Day, Daddy-O!

2011-06-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

Happy ~~Daughter's~~ Day...uh, I mean Happy Daddy's Day! You see, I feel like the one who has been given the best gift on Father's Day. I have a father who has been everything a dad should be and more. He has been a true friend. There are too many lessons learned from Dad to list them all, but let me share a few of my favorite.

Your belly button holds your bookey up. Okay, I just had to get that out there. If no one ever told you why you have one, now you know. Dad can tell you the whole story. It's pretty bizarre, but believable when you are six years old.
"Go wax your car." What Detroit and Japan won't tell you. Whenever new car fever struck, my dad would tell me to go and wash and wax my car. Sure enough, a few hours spent primping my ride would usually cure car fever. Don't forget the wax part. It's very important that your car shines when you are done, not to mention you''ll be too tired to go car shopping.
"I didn't send you to college to drop classes." I was going through some adjustments my freshman year at college and my advisor suggested I drop two of my classes to stand a fighting chance of passing my first semester. Feeling relief, I gleefully informed my mother of this. A few hours later, my dad called to tell me I would be doing no such thing and to suck it up and get to work. I passed the courses and finished school on time and with a GPA that I could actually own publicly.
Practice makes perfect. Whether it was learning to jump rope or play the piano, good ole Dad was always there to give me an audience and wipe away the tears of frustration. In fact, he would inspire me to go beyond learning and strive for perfection. Not in a pressuring way, but in a "I honestly think you can." kind of way.
Shortcuts often become scenic routes. You're not lost when you are taking the scenic route. Your outlook on a situation makes all the difference in the experience you will take away from it.
Make a difference. He truly enjoys helping people. He is generous to a fault, but the world needs more people like that.
"Be careful what you put into writing. You never know who will read it." Boy, that has been some of the best advice ever. I had the misfortune of sharing my feelings toward a teacher when I was in junior high only to have the note fall into her hands. Ouch. On the other hand, I have written down feelings and thoughts to hold on to fresh memories and provide a gift to those I love. Like my Dad.

~Happy Father's Day!

Chapter Two

2011-06-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

Baby Bird has hatched and is more beautiful and miraculous than I could have ever imagined. Did being in the waiting room for the second grandchild feel just like the first time when I was waiting for PDub? No, it was different and special, just like this wonderful little baby boy! A friend once told me that "Love multiplies not divides." I believe with all my heart that is so true.

Mama Cat and Daddy Jaybird delivered Baby Bird at 9:28 p.m. on June 8. He weighed a whopping 8 pounds 4 ounces and was 21 and 1/2 inches long. He has blue eyes and blonde hair like his daddy and loves to be cuddled just like his mommy.

Never one to take the miracle of birth for granted, I give thanks and praise for his safe arrival. Now let the adventures begin~

Anticipation

2011-06-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

Here we go! We will finally get to meet Baby Bird this week. Stay tuned!

The Nest

2011-05-30T16:12:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a wonderful weekend with Mama Cat and Daddy Jaybird. I had hoped to bring you pictures of Baby Bird, but he is not quite ready to hatch. In his place though, I have pictures of his nest! It is adorable!! Mama Cat would call it modern vintage. See if you have a better description.

This is a mobile Mama Cat won at auction at shopgoodwill.com. I had no idea that such a website existed, but she was looking for this particular mobile and just lucked up in her search. If I remember right, she won it for less than ten bucks. I was having trouble following her train of thought on the 'modern vintage' thing until I saw it.

Before their move, Mama Cat and Daddy Jaybird were limited in storage space. They found this dresser on craigslist and it was perfect for storage and just the right height and width for a changing table. You would not believe how deep the drawers are. Baskets tuck easily underneath for even more storage.

These are a few of the finds Mama Cat has picked up along the way from different antique shops. I love the wagon! It's a Radio Flyer and I think it was still in the antique booth because it was filled with stuff like a display. As my mama would have said, "You can't find these anymore!"

Speaking of Great Grandmothers, their presence is in the nursery with sweet touches. The yellow frame was repurposed with the ABC print from her maternal great-grandmother's antique booth and the bookshelf holds a cross stitch that says, "Bless this hard-working engineer" and was from her fraternal great-grandmother's home. Mama Cat's 'Papa' was a railroad engineer. The shelves are shower gifts from the hostesses who found them on her Pottery Barn registry.

Winnie the Pooh is another memento that made it to Baby Bird's nest. He was Mama Cat's security blanket and she never left home without him. Well, sometimes she did, which meant we would have to turn around and go back for him.

Mama Cat purchased the chair from Buy Buy Baby and the rug from Garden Ridge. She loved the muted colors of yellow and gray and used them as the backdrop colors for the nursery.

This is not just a baby quilt. This is THE quilt. Mama Cat made this while perched in a hotel during the transition between cities. Each fabric was meticulously selected and arranged. It is the center point of every thing else she did.

So, here it is...all put together and ready for Baby Bird...

All it needs now is~

Are We There Yet? Are We There Yet? Are We There Yet?

2011-05-07T16:54:00.000-07:00

In just a few weeks, Baby Bird will be making his appearance! Mama Cat is looking great, but she is well aware that BB is getting bigger and bigger each week. I was able to feel him moving around and he is packing a great punch and definitely not the little butterfly flutter I felt when she shared his movements with me the last visit. Soo excited to see this little boy!!!

So is his nest ready? Not just yet. Mama Cat and Jaybird just moved to Alabama, and while his nursery is painted, there are some repairs that must be addressed before the furniture is set up. Breathe, Mama Cat, breathe. It will all get done in time.

In the meanwhile, she was showered on her last trip to SC and sent home with books, books, and more books! Yay! I love baby showers that stock the library! She got some wonderful titles, classics, and new ones alike.

I gave her Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake. Little Mouse is in a hurry, but he finds a chocolate chip raspberry filled cupcake that is much too big to handle alone. His friends come by chippng in to take a nibble until finally...it's just the right size for Little Mouse. I loved the message of sharing, helping, and the wonderful illustrations that tell the tale. I know Baby Bird will love it, too.

She received so many wonderful classics. The Country Bunny,

Guess How Much I Love You , The Golden Children's Bible,

Skippyjon Jones just to name a few.

If there's one thing my girls and I have in common, it's that we love to plan a party. This was so much fun and was a much needed opportunity to gather and celebrate this bundle of joy.

Now, let the countdown commence!

Is he here yet?~

Only One Mother

2011-04-29T19:58:00.000-07:00

When I was in first grade, my teacher, the dear Mrs. Sanders (who just turned 109 by the way), had a chart with the poem 'Only One Mother' printed neatly on it. I, of course, could not read, but each day we would recite the poem until one day without even realizing it, I was reading! Now, Mrs. Sanders was brilliant to use this to teach her small pupils, but the real inspiration for me was the connection I made instantly with the message.

Only One Mother

by George Cooper

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,

Hundreds of shells on the shore together,

Hundreds of birds that go singing by,

Hundreds of lambs in the sunny weather.

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,

Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,

Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,

But only one mother the wide world over.

Today, 51 years later, the poem came back to me just as I remembered it as a little girl who adored her mother. Today I lost my mother, my one mother, my friend.

Today, Heaven celebrated her arrival.

Hundreds of kisses, Mom~

Caterpillars!

2011-04-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

There were other guests at the house during PDub's visit over spring break...caterpillars! It seemed that everywhere we went and everytime we turned around, there was another one! Maybe they are taking over the world and we are turning into one big butterfly nation! PDub was uncertain about handling them despite Grammy showing him they were harmless. He couldn't resist the urge to stomp on one poor catty...squish!...now he knows they're green and gooey on the inside. Ew...

It brought to mind a wonderful book I am sending his way. This is the 40th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. It's a wonderful story of a caterpillar that awakens to a ferocious appetite. As he eats his way through the vegetation, holes appear in the pages. (Which is why I am buying the board book lap edition, so PDub can poke away!) Sold at a rate of one every 30 seconds somewhere in the world, this wonderful book teaches counting, days of the week, metamorphosis, colors, fruits, nutrition, and most of all, that beauty can not be judged by what we see on the outside. This year, there is a special commemorative pop-up book that is especially fun for telling the story.

Here's hoping all those caterpillars, minus one, revisit us in their new butterfly bodies!

'cuse me. I'm suddenly very hungry~

Lost and Found

2011-04-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

Diapers...Buzz Lightyear...3 lbs...

What do they have in common?

Those were all lost during PDub's week with Grammy.

I hope he keeps wearing the big boy underwear he wore while he was here. It may not have been his favorite activity at Grammy's, but he sure made some great progress in using the potty.

Buzz Lightyear, one of his favorite toys, went MIA somehow. It's not exactly something that blends in easily, so I think it was a clever plan on Buzz's part to fly the coop.

I lost 3 lbs.,apparently just from chasing PDub around and playing outside and not having time to stuff my face. Pretty sure they will find their way back.

Be on the lookout for Buzz~

Papallama and PDub

2011-04-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

During Camp Grammy, we discovered that PDub was a different little guy around his Papallama than he was with the two of us. I had to attend an out of town meeting, leaving the guys behind. PDub was calm, easily entertained, soft spoken...

until I came home.

Then he was a wild child. Why is that? I guess I just have that effect on my guys. They love me.

It's mutual~

Under Construction

2011-04-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't have fond memories of playing in the sand box when they were little? It is one more sign that spring and summer are back! My daddy used to have a truck deliver wonderful clean sand right to the back yard sandbox frame. (Why a truck? No such thing as Walmart back in the day, and he would have never guessed that one day you would buy sand in a bag.) Nothing beat that fresh sand.

We thought a sandbox would be great entertainment for PDub, too! We purchased an under the bed storage bin with a top, some bags of sand, and a set of Caterpillar trucks and tractors. Total? Less than $20. It turned out we could have saved a few dollars because the bin only held one bag of sand, but who can't use sand around the yard to fill in holes.

It was a huge hit! He spent hours playing with tiny dinosaurs or trucks or both! Being on the porch provided a safe, cool, and dry place to play just about any time of day.

Oh, I still love that wonderful cool damp sand. Thanks, PDub, for taking me back...

Still diggin' it~

Day Two

2011-04-06T04:59:00.000-07:00

PDub and Papallama couldn't wait to show me the 'sticks' PDub stacked on the trailer. Hmmm...a grandson may be good for more than just kisses and hugs.

Take a load off~

Spring Break!

2011-04-04T18:46:00.000-07:00

Kids will travel to Fort Lauderdale, Key West, and other exotic locations, but there will never be a match for a week with Grammy and Papallama. Day One: playground, lake, geometric sandwiches, m&m's, chopping down trees, watching Scooby Doo, wearing big boy underwear, mashed potatoes, playing on the trailer, riding a tricycle, playing in a sprinkler, bubble baths, storytimes, lots of hugs and kisses...

Don't get too close to the...

water!

Splash~

In Memory of Lib

2011-03-30T15:37:00.000-07:00

I know my blogs have been sad of late, but that is life, my dear friends. If you love, you will hurt. If you love, you will one day suffer loss. I am sad, but I am grateful. I cry, and yet I smile. Sort of like the sun shining when it's raining. I know the two don't go together, but yet they do. Had I not had the love and support of this wonderful woman for so many years, I could have been spared this pain. I would much rather hurt. So here is a post I wrote in November. Spring is showing me a promise that sunnier, happier days are ahead. But for now, I am going to allow myself to just be sad and miss someone who was dear and special and will never be replaced. We will laugh and the sun will shine--another day, another time.

In memory of Lib~ 11-10-1920 to 3-30-2011

The Other Mother

~God Bless

Beau

2011-03-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

My price tag was high

but I was worth every penny.

You won me at auction;

the bids~there were many.

"Take him back," you begged

the man with the gavel.

"No, he's yours to keep now.

All bids here are final."

My big brown eyes melted your heart.

I had you at "SOLD!"

You knew from the start.

I was bred for the hunt,

webbed toes for swimming.

I grew strong and handsome,

a dog made for winning.

We made quite a pair

just you and me.

Then along came a wee one,

My buddy P.

I looked after him.

As I watched over you.

You looked after me.

But I just had to go.

I was made for the hunt.

I was made to fetch.

I was made to run far.

I dreamed of the catch.

I loved you royaly.

You loved me well.

I will always be your Beau

and you my belle.

RIP Beau 3-28-2011

I will miss you, too.

The Weird Sisters

2011-03-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

Mama at Law and Mama Cat

Are you a sister? Then you are not surprised by the title of this post. Sisterhood is weird. As Charlie Brown says, "Big sisters are the crabgrass in the lawn of life." But to anyone who has ever started a lawn, they can tell you that crabgrass is better than no grass. So a big sister is better than no sister, right? Absolutely! I happen to be one myself. Why, if it were not for me, sister would not have learned her dance moves, her impeccable fashion sense, nor her wicked sense of humor. Or maybe she would have, but I like to think I get some credit. My mother and father did not have my little sister until I was nine years old. I can tell you it was a huge relief to hand over the title of 'baby' to her. Being a 'born' teacher, I was a natural at bossing her around and planning her life. But then came college, and dating, and starting out on my own, and baby sister and I grew apart. The recent illness of my mother has brought us closer once more since she and I know Mom in ways that noone else would understand. It is 'weird' how much she sometimes sounds like me and thinks like me since we are very different. Mom is a stronger thread than I realized.

I just finished my March installment of reading one book a month with an early finish of The Weird Sisters, by Eleanor Brown. This lovely novel stars three sisters, daughters of a professor, who share a love of reading with their parents. The scholarly father infuses literary quotes into his conversations with the girls that you will enjoy if you are a lover of the classics or Shakespeare. I am neither, but I enjoyed this riddling dialogue all the same. The sisters all return home to help care for their mother who is undergoing cancer treatment, but each young woman is harboring a cancer of her own making. If you have a sister or are one, you will find yourself relating to one or more of the characters in the novel. Even sisterhood takes on a voice in the book. At one point, I thought there was a fourth sister, but then I realized it was simply 'sisterhood' herself speaking. And the sisters are not 'weird', so to speak. That, too, is a literary reference. I highly recommend the book to you whether you are a sister or not.

It was wonderful to raise two daughters. It gave me an opportunity to try the sisterhood business one more time. I know I raised two wonderful women. They will have to judge for themselves how the sisterhood stuff panned out.

"You're not like me," Rose said.
Cordy looked at her like a curious squirrel. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm exactly like you. We're all exactly alike, you know."
"Sure. In the way that we're completely different."
~The Weird Sisters~

I always told the girls, "Your friends will come and go. You will be sisters forever." I hope that will be a blessing to each one throughout her life.

~Stay close, sisters~

Dapper P

2011-03-05T07:08:00.000-08:00

You may be feeling sorry for me that I have no granddaughters to dress up and primp. Well, pack up your pity party supplies! My PDub loves clothes! He is just as thrilled to get a new shirt as he is when he gets a new toy! Here is a chronicle of P and his fashion sense.

PDub at 14 months. He is a mirror image of his daddy.

Last Easter, PDub was 21 months. One of his first words~roll. (his sleeves)

Still rolling. (Check out Daddy at Law's shirt.)

two and a half
Still lookin' dapper!

The latest shirt from Grammy...he inisted on putting it right on! Again, check out Daddy at Law's shirt.

Growing in style~

Wacky Wednesday

2011-02-28T12:21:00.000-08:00

Do you like green eggs and ham? Do you like them, Sam I Am? You do?!! Well, here is a recipe from the blog, Babble, that you are sure to love. You should fix it on March 2 to celebrate what would be Theodore Geisel's 107th birthday. I can not believe he has been gone for twenty years now! Still, generation after generation, we enjoy his crazy rhymes, and countless children no doubt cut their reading teeth on his silly stories. Don't you just love the colorful characters? Like Thing 1 and Thing 2? Here are some cute cupcakes and other goodies from Good Life Eats if your itty bitty's school is having a Seuss day. And chances are high that they are since March 2 is Read Across America Day! PDub's favorite Suess book is Wacky Wednesday. His Papallama gave him a book with a collection of just right Seuss books in it and this is one he likes read over and over. Now that's wacky!! It makes me happy that a guy like Theo could capitalize on his ability to rhyme and reach. "A person's a person, no matter how small."

~Let's remember that, y'all.

Grammy Mobile

2011-02-21T15:42:00.000-08:00

Three years ago, I was driving my dream car. I had finally arrived. I was at the pinnacle of my earnings potential, had no children to cart around, or worse, teens to ding and dent my car. Yes, I could have just about any car I chose. (well, almost)

I chose a beautiful Solara convertible. V6 ~ alloy wheels ~ leather seats ~ 6CD/Satellite ready stereo ~ power EVERYTHING! With one push of a button, the top would open up to the blue sky and fold neatly down in the back. It was the kind of car that drew the attention and admiration of complete strangers. Knowing that it was a mid-life crisis kind of car, I chose to lease it. I had never leased before, but I knew I wouldn't be putting too many miles on it, and there were not going to be many underage passengers to mess up the interior.

Then came the wonderful news that I was becoming a Grammy and with the end of the lease coming due, I said farewell to my sleek beauty.

In its place, I bought a very sensible Honda Accord. It was safe, reliable, economical. Three adjectives that I could use to describe myself and now, my car. Owning a Honda Accord does not alone qualify it as a Grammy car. No, it must be Grammy pimped first. Add the following: Lint brush roller, cash for emergencies, a phone book, a GPS, a roll of paper towels, an umbrella, grocery bags, trash bags, hand sanitizer, flashlight, extra sunglasses, chapstick, and a first aid kit. MOST importantly, and this is the DEAD giveaway that you have fully equipped Grammy mobile, place a box of Kleenex either in the console or under the front seat. Do not get caught without it!

Now, lest you think that driving a Grammy mobile makes me slow, I think you should know that Grammy mobiles are great camouflage. No patrolman in his right mind would spend his time picking me out of the crowd of potential speeders.

~Zoom, zoom, zoom...

How Does Grammy Say, "I Love You!"

2011-02-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

Valentines' Day is a lovely day for letting the ones you love know how special they are to you. Even more, it can be done without the hype and commercialism of so many other holidays.

I love sending cards for two reasons. I love to pick them out! And I love to hear the reaction from the recipient! All my cards are sealed with a kiss and on their way.

In celebration of Valentines' Day, I am giving Preston How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen. This is one of a series of How Do Dinosaurs... books, so if Preston loves this like I think he will, I can add to the collection. On top of that, I found the plush Dinosaur that accompanies the book, and I am super excited to see his reaction to the set! This particular book shows that even though ~~little boys~~ dinosaurs aren't always perfectly behaved, their parents love them unconditionally. So true.

When will he get it? Before Valentines' day, I hope!

Oh, goody! Love is in the air!

Kiss Kiss~

Heaven is Nesting

2011-02-06T18:10:00.000-08:00

In a recent devotional by Max Lucado, he wrote about how Heaven celebrates the arrival of a newly departed loved one. If that's the case, then Heaven is nesting right now.

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:3 (New International Version)

Florence ~
She never let any harm come
to Evelyn when she was young.

Heaven is nesting for the arrival of Evelyn. Unlike earthly mothers, the angels do not have to guess her due date. They were given her exact arrival time by her heavenly Father on the day of her creation. The pink streamers are being hung. The guests are gathering: her mother, Sally, her grandparents, Asa and Florence, her son, Jay, her brothers and sisters. The infant son she never held on Earth waits for his mommy's heavenly birth. Oh, what rejoicing there will be! The material treasures she collected will be replaced by heavenly favors. Blow out the candle. The wish for peace of mind...granted. Her frail earthly body is replaced with her heavenly birthday suit.

Would I like for her to stay here with me? Absolutely!
Do I want things to stay the same? Can they?
Would I keep her from this celebration? (as if I could)
I would be tempted, but I hope I love her enough to let her go.

I think my time would be better spent saying farewell.

Goodbye, Mama. Happy Birthday.

It's a . . .

2011-02-04T05:15:00.000-08:00

The news is in! Mama Cat and Daddy Jaybird visited the baby doctor yesterday. Are you curious about what their bambino will be?

Maybe, a little?

Want to take a guess?

Boy or Girl?

You have a 50/50 chance.

Have you already peeked?

It's

a

Last chance...

BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would show you the proof, but since Julian Howard "Ward",IV will one day be President, I should not spoil his politcal future by posting his junk on the Internet.

He can thank me later.

I am one, happy, excited~

Help

2011-01-31T18:58:00.000-08:00

Farewell, January. Good riddance. I have never liked you, and 2011 has given me even more reason not to.

February, come on in. I wouldn't care for you either, but at least you're short. I guess I can put up with you for 28 days.

I apologize for being such a crank. I just don't winter well, and this month has been particularly harsh. Both mom and Lib, my MIL, are very frail, and I am powerless to help them. I am down, I admit it.

So tonight I am selecting my book of the month for February, and I know my mood played a major role in my selection. I picked The Help , written by Kathryn Stockett. It's described as having 'heart and hope'. It had me at heart. The story is set in 1962 Mississippi and features three 'unforgettable' females. One is Skeeter, a twenty-two year old graduate of Ole Miss who has returned home. The pressure to get a ring on her finger is huge and she would love to find solace with her dear maid, Constantine, who raised her. But Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she is. The second woman is Aibileen, a maid who is raising her seventeenth white child. She has changed since her own son was killed while her boss looked the other way, but she loves the child she is raising. It may break both of their hearts. Finally, Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue. I have a feeling I may like her the best.

Did I finish my January selection, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? Well, it's not midnight yet, so I think I will. I was right. I often don't enjoy books from the New York Times bestseller list. This one was horrid. The writing was vivid, don't get me wrong. Too vivid. Too sick. Too foreign. I am glad to know what everyone is talking about; however, I wish I had never read the violent and twisted events, and I won't be continuing to the next one in the trilogy.

On a happy note, Grammy finds out what Mama Cat and Daddy Jaybird will be having this week! Guess you know what I'll be writing next.

It's a ~

I Want My Grammy!

2011-01-25T15:49:00.000-08:00

I got an audio the other day from Mama at Law. I wish I could play it for you, but I am not that tech savvy. PDub was crying for me. "I want Grammy!" with big sobs. "You want Grammy?" asked Mama at Law. "Uh huh, I want my Grammy!" he cried again. Then seeing Mama at Law with her iphone in hand and without missing a beat, he cried, "I want Dumbo!", the video he watches on her phone on the way to school. Oh well, it was sweet while it lasted, and it was hard to hear him cry for me and not be able to reach out and say, "It's okay. I'm here. Always."

I think I know what triggered this sudden desire for me. I shipped the LMNoPeas book directly to him, and it had arrived after his bedtime. When Mama at Law went in to see him the next morning, she delivered the book and said, "Look! Grammy sent you a book!" Imagine being a two year old and having Grammy give you a book. There is only one way that could be. Grammy is here in the house! How cruel he must have thought I was not to even speak to him before he left for school! Breaks my heart. I guess I need to find a book about the post office for him now.

My love for PDub is very special, and I, too, sometimes feel like crying, "I want my PDub!" Like now..

~waaaaa

L.M.No.Peas

2011-01-14T19:57:00.000-08:00

Wonder if this book would help PDub like peas?

Remember being little and what it was like to be offered something new to eat for the first time? Were you an eager Guinea pig? Or did you feed it to the dog under the table?

I recall our family meals when I was little and a ~~strange~~ new dish was put on the table. Having two older brothers, the dish was usually passed first to them before reaching me. I vividly remember one dinner when the prettiest little chicken breasts were proudly presented by Mom for dinner. "Quail!" wailed my brother. The other one began to giggle. Now at the time, I didn't have a clue what a "Quail!" was, but one thing was for sure. I wasn't touching it. My brothers laughed at me, my father fussed at me, and my mother was clearly disappointed that her attempt to serve something new had set off such drama at the dinner table. But my theory was that anything that created a reaction like the one given by bro was to be avoided at all costs.

That and other unpleasant dinner experiences led me to crave peace at the dinner table. The slightest unrest and my stomach tightens and my appetite excuses itself. I think the dinner table is sacred territory. It is the one time that the whole family stops long enough to shut out the rest of the world and receive nourishment. To me, it's not the food that matters, but the nurture.

That brings me to the cry for help Mama at Law posted on facebook last week. How could she get her picky eater to eat something other than chicken nuggets. It seems that PDub has a habit of not eating his dinner and Mama at Law rescues him by fixing him a side of nuggets. She got lots of suggestions, and I admit I like the ones that said to include at least one food she knows he likes. (Hint: It starts with chicken and ends with nuggets)

My only suggestion is this. Keep dinnertime sacred. Don't use this precious time to teach him a lesson and show him who's boss. Fix a dinner (with chicken nuggets on the side, if needed), sit down together, turn off the television and be together. Offer him what you're having, but don't turn the table into a battlefield. You're eating something healthy, right? *wink* He will develop his taste buds over time.

Now if you have a better idea, I would love to hear it, but keep in mind that Mama at Law works until 6:00 or later every day, and sculpting faces out of vegetables is probably not an option.

~Bon Appetit!

This year, I resolve to...

2011-01-07T07:47:00.000-08:00

Get a tat?

Heavens no.

What is it about a new year that makes us resolve to do more/better/harder/faster/smarter? Well, I still have those ten pounds to get off, but in 2011, I am adding a new goal. I am going to read one new book a month. Each book will be something I would not normally select and something that will challenge me as a reader.

January's selection is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by the late Stieg Larsson. It is the first book in a triology. I selected it, frankly, because I was hearing and reading so many reviews that I was beginning to feel left out. I let that happen during the Harry Potter saga...not again, I say! It is not the type of book I would normally pick out. I am not swayed by the label "Best Seller". In fact, those books usually turn me off. So it fit my resolution well.

I am just getting started. My goal is at least a chapter a day. I am not having any trouble with that pace. I sat with my mom and dad at the hospital last week and had the book with me. It drew a lot of attention. People had already read it or were planning to. My sister in law said she could not put it down. I have not gotten there yet.

It is set in Sweden and I don't know Swedish, y'all. So I am having to glaze over some places for now. It also has alot of financial talk. I don't know financial, either, so again, hop, skip, jump over those passages. I am just hoping there is enough I DO understand to keep it glued together. I am beginning to feel some intrigue about the main characters and one mystery that has been presented about a girl who disappeared some forty years ago.

I guess the new year is as good a time as any to set some new goals. And since I am far from perfect, I don't think I will run out of ways to improve for a long, long time.

As for the tattoo? PDub and I will have to have a long talk one day about that.

Happy 2011!~

Peter Rabbit's Coat

2010-12-30T06:34:00.000-08:00

The weather has dominated the headlines across the country this week as snow blanketed parts that had not experienced a white Christmas in over a hundred years, while others dealt with crippling conditions created by the blizzard. Even PDub's neck of the woods saw some snowfall, but he slept through it. That is probably for the best. PDub does not like to wear a coat. No, he HATES coats. Put one on him and he will pitch a fit and take it off. What he WILL do is carry one. Since carrying it does little to keep him warm, he generally runs from the car to the door to get inside. Come to think of it though, he pretty much runs everywhere he goes. One cold morning as he got out of the car and ran to his school door with his coat in his arms, he stopped abruptly and yelled to Mama at Law, "My sock broke!" Ever see a broken sock? Sure enough, when he got inside, he sat down, took off his shoes, and showed his mommy the sock that had slipped off his ankle and landed under his foot. Got to hate when that happens. Well, it seems that Mama at Law was able to trick PDub into wearing his coat. He now has Daddy at Law's hand-me-down pea coat. You know, the one that looks like Peter Rabbit's coat. "PDUB! Want to wear Peter Rabbit's coat today?!"

Yeah, Sure!

Stay warm~

I'm Dreaming...

2010-12-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

of a white day after Christmas...

All across the southern state where I live, you can track the excitement on facebook and twitter and blog land as the snow makes a magical and historical appearance at Christmastime. For us, it meant cutting short our visit to PDub.

Fortunately, we packed in lots of memories in the time we were there. The first night, we watched PDub visit Santa and though he promised to tell him that Grammy wanted presents, too, I am pretty sure he only gave Saint Nick his own wish list. Never send a boy to do a woman's job.

Then we drove through the famous County Park Holiday Lights. PDub oohed and ahhed the whole time and it was like seeing it again for the first time. He did not want to go home. Yep, I can relate. (See paragraph one.)

Then on Christmas Eve, Mama at Law, PDub, and I took a nice walk around the neighborhood and visited a nearby playground. PDub now knows the way, and when you see his Christmas present, you know Mama at Law will need to keep it under lock and key to keep him from venturing back on his lonesome.

We attended a wonderful Christmas Eve service and held our annual Christmas card contest. Daddy at Law's parents tied for first place, and were followed by a reader of this blog and friend of mine who wrote me the sweetest note. I hope she had a very Merry Christmas. She brightened our hearts with her warm thoughts. (See! Our Christmas card contest is not tacky. It's touching.)

Christmas morning was just pure joy and magic as we watched PDub's reaction to Santa's visit and shared in our gift exchange. Can you believe he LOVED everything he got? Even the clothes? Sure you can, if you follow this blog at all. He loved each and every gift. I believe we all did.

Papallama and I reluctantly decided to head home Christmas afternoon before the storm created travel problems. We woke up today with a beautiful winter wonderland.

I asked Papallama why it's so nice (and romantic) to be here alone with him and yet miss my girls at the same time.

You know those people who tell you to enjoy your children while they're young because time flies and they'll be grown before you know it?

They're right.

Now I am really, really excited about 2011! My mom always said, "Don't wish your life away!" but I can not wait to meet grand #2 in June! Guess in the meantime, I will go make some New Year resolutions and begin breaking them.

Auld lang syne, y'all~

Don't Judge . . . That's my job!

2010-12-19T13:59:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit

We have a unique tradition on Christmas Eve that began years ago when the girls were small. We felt sorta guilty about it for many years and kept it a secret, but slowly word got out. You see, we judge you. Yes, if you send us a Christmas Card, it is entered into the Christmas Card Contest for a chance to win...
well, that's it, for a chance to win before hitting the first recycle pile of the New Year.

Here's how it goes. After the Christmas Eve service, when we are all holier than thou, we gather around the table and number all the cards we have received. They are then evenly distributed among the judges and evaluated in three categories. Using our special secret ballots, we first look at the cover. Based on our impression, it will receive a score of 1-5. Glitter cards used to do well here for some reason. The next category is message. I like this one because it gives us a chance to really read and absorb the good wishes being sent. Bonus points to the folks who take the time to actually write a short note! Then it gets an overall impact score based on the totality of the cover and the message. The record holder for most wins is hands-down my mother-in-law. I think she must have gotten to the Hallmark store super early before all the good ones got away. It isn't always the fancy ones, though. We've had some handmade cards produce winners, too.

When a few senders discovered our dark secret, we discovered something about them. They are COMPETITIVE. It is easy to spot the ones who are in it to WIN IT.

We never dreamed this would become such a fun tradition, but it is definitely something we look forward to from the very first card that arrives.

Now is yours in the mail?

Put a stamp on it and have a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Promise

2010-12-13T17:27:00.000-08:00

I got one of "those" calls last week. "Judy, I am calling about Ruth. Please call me." Ruth. My dear friend, Ruth. She and I worked together as a team with special ed. students for six years. She was my assistant, my shoulder, my back up, my cover, my relief, my salvation. When the day was done, she would often laugh and say (In a Jack Benny tone of voice), "Well, Judy, we made a memory today." I could not have survived those early teaching years without her.

We were more than work partners though. She was my friend. Even after spending all those hours together during the day, she would call me in the evening and we would chat and laugh about all kinds of things...politics, family, children, friends. We would meet for dinner or take a special shopping trip to an antique market. I never tired of her company.

She was older than me. My senior by 13 years, but age was certainly never a barrier for us. She and I just had one of those friendships that only come around once or twice in a lifetime. If you are blessed as I was.

She moved to Florida when her husband got a nice job there. She gave me her bedroom furniture. I still use it. I visited her once with my husband and children, and she set up base for us while we enjoyed a visit to Disney World. It would be the last time I would see her.

I talked to her off and on over the years. She was invited to both daughters' weddings though I knew that was a stretch. She called all excited about how the girls had grown and gushed over how pretty and successful they were. She vowed to set my youngest daughter up with one of her co-workers. Glad she didn't, but it was a vintage Ruth scheme. We still laughed and cackled over the phone and the years apart melted away in seconds.

How did my friend become so ill and pass away without so much as a goodbye? I am certain that was not her intention. I am sure she intended to fight the lung disease, secure a transplant, and live to laugh another day.

But that did not happen. She died at the young age of 69 leaving a grieving husband, children, grandchildren, and friends.

There was one more thing you need to know about my friend, Ruth. She loved the Lord. She often shared what she had learned in her bible study or sermon. Not in a preachy way, but in a "I need to do this better/more myself" way. I learned about God from her example.

Christmas is not the time I want to say goodbye to my friend, yet it is the perfect time to cherish the promise that Christmas holds. Ruth is in Heaven now. Heaven has one more happy angel. The memories? She left those with me.

Thank you, Ruth.

Deal O The Day

2010-12-13T04:13:00.000-08:00

Pretty sweet deal

December 13th already?!! Hope your Christmas shopping is further along than mine! I received a message from Barnes and Noble that my readers are being offered a special discount today, so I wanted to be sure to pass it along. I am one of their members, and if you buy many books, I recommend you get a membership, too. Savings and free shipping! My membership has paid for itself already.

And just so you know, I get about $.50 for any book you order using the link in the sidebar on my blog. I AM on a fixed income, you know.

~Wink~

Snips, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails

2010-12-06T15:33:00.000-08:00

PDub was here for a sleepover this past weekend. It went something like this.

4:00 Arrive and scout out the house for anything that has changed since last visit.
4:00:01 See the Christmas tree and quickly discover he can crawl under it like a tunnel.
4:02 Go get toys to drag through the tunnel and put in the corner behind the tree.
4:02:30 Done with toys, move on to next room
4:03 Find Grammy's new bicycle

Get the drift? With PDub, it's go, go, go!

Since I had two daughters, this boy business has been a new adventure for me. Think boys and girls aren't wired differently at birth? How about this? I recently delivered all the Christmas Barbies we Santa had given Mama at Law over the years for her to store instead of me. As she put them away, she decided to show one to PDub. He picked up the Barbie, quickly threw her aside, and proceeded to use her doll stand as an excalibur.

Yeah, he's all boy.

So I think he will love this book. It's perfect for this time of year, and I think it will be a great holiday book that won't have to be put away with the decorations. Ten on a Sled is a rollicking tale of ten wacky animals who go whipping down the hill together on the toboggan. One by one, they fall off the sled: "Seal spilled out," "hare hopped out," "sheep shot out,". Ah, alliteration alert! There's counting, too, and PDub is a math wiz already. It comes from all those times he hears his Daddy at Law say, "One.....TWO....." But here's what PDub will LOVE...the silly animals created by illustrator, Liza Woodruff, the rhyme crafted by author, Kim Norman, but most of all, the

WIPEOUTS!

Oh, and if you've ever wondered what to give a teacher for Christmas, I suggest a book! Better yet, give one to her school library in her honor! I promise it will be money well spent and a gift much loved and appreciated!

Sending you warm thoughts~

He's Watching You!

2010-12-02T12:33:00.000-08:00

I have been MIA for a few days, but I have been busy trying to get back into the swing of things at work since the Thanksgiving break. As a virtual teacher, I don't have to worry about all the little excited kiddies running around driving me crazy, right? HO HO HOld your horses. I have been wished a Merry Christmas at least four times this week via the chat box. So, yes, even virtual students are feeling the spirit! And that's okay with me.

That goes right along with the book I just gave Mama at Law and Mama Cat. I bought them the much hyped Elf on the Shelf that I have been hearing about and seeing in stores for a couple of years now. I had been hoping to find a deal on it, since I knew $29 bucks was a bit of a gimmick. But that's a Grammy's job...spoiling the grands.

They both loved it. Papallama read the book and thought it was a really neat story idea. Seems the little elf returns to the North Pole each night to give Santa a report. (How did you think he could keep up with everybody?) Each day the elf returns and the child wakes to find that he has moved to a new lookout location. The children are warned not to touch the little sprite or his magic will disappear.

That's cute enough. I can remember thinking along those lines when I was little and it was Christmas time. I sure felt "the eyes" were on me then more than any other time that I can remember. Just an innocent child's imagination, right?

Well, go to Amazon and read the reviews! I couldn't believe it when I read a review from a sister Grammy who said she had been admonished for sending her grandchild the wrong message. She was instructed to return it to the store. Some reviewers reported being CREEPED OUT and SCARED!

Really?!

Have they seen the news lately? No, I guess not. They would be a basket case. Why just this morning, I saw where a college girl had been 'friended' on facebook by a phony sorority sister and asked to take a picture of herself with her unmentionables wadded up in her mouth. Now THAT creeps me out! The poor girl was so scared that she returned home for the semester and will go back in January to resume classes. So, you people who are creeped out by a little toy elf...GET A GRIP!

Let me put it into perspective for you.

Facebook + sorority pledge + weirdo = Creepy
Book + toy + Christmas = Cheer
Now go be merry. And just remember...

He's got his eyes on you!

Chapter Two

2010-11-21T17:21:00.000-08:00

Being a first time Grammy has definitely been a new adventure. It is so different from being the mom. I love the time I get to spend with PDub, and he is my best little buddy in all the world.

Now it is time to begin a new chapter, Chapter Two. The one I should title, 'Mama Cat'. Yes, Aunt Cat and Uncle Jaybird are going to have their very own baby! I will keep you posted on the milestones, but just to get you started, I can tell you they have heard its little heartbeat. (Awwww...) And it has little fingernails and toenails now. Cat has outgrown her britches already, but you wouldn't know it to look at her. But tell her she is showing. She'll like that.

I already have a book for Baby H, too. I won it at one of my favorite blogspots, PB Junkies. Alicia Padrón illustrated ABC Baby Me! by Susan B. Katz. "Adore me, Bathe me, Cuddle me, too, Diaper me, Encourage me, Fix my Boo..." I love the multicultural babies that Alicia drew and the fact that she included GRANDPARENTS in her illustrations! It won't take any time before Baby H will be able to relate to all the activities in this sweet board book. I am giving this signed copy to Cat, but I will be giving this at all baby showers from now on. It's the perfect gift for new mommies and babies. Thank you, Alicia, for getting this wonderful book to me all the way from Venezuela!

Chapter Two. I can't wait. This is one time I won't skip to the end of the book to peek. I am enjoying this adventure one grandchild at a time!

It's a page turner!~

Thanks for Thanksgiving!

2010-11-16T12:48:00.000-08:00

This will be at Grammy's house for PDub to enjoy.

As I look out my windows, I see the world changing colors and taking on its autumn glow. In a day or two, I will put away the mess that occupies our space from day to day, and Papallama and I will set the stage for the Thanksgiving family gathering. The table will be expanded and adorned with linen, flowers, and the fine china. The silver will be polished and the candles set in place. There is shopping to do, making sure that everyone's favorite dish can be prepared. Ham delights, macaroni and cheese, cornbread dressing, Toll House cookies are all must haves.

The Turkey Committee

On Thanksgiving Day, the men folk will gather outside to fry the turkey and make sweet potato garnishes. The women folk will handle the rest. The preparations will take much longer than the actual meal where we will stuff ourselves despite our promises not to.

We use the highest sanitary standards in our kitchen!

After the meal, we will go around the table and tell what we are thankful for. It is not easy. We are not allowed to say family or health because those are a given, so it's a challenge to come up with something that does not fall into one or the other. We start with the youngest and go up the chain of command. Papallama will close for us.

Then there will be a game of RISK, minus me. I have never played. Don't plan to start now.

The entire time will be spent being together. Papallama,Grammy, mama, daddy, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, grandchild, nephew, aunt, and uncle...one big happy family. I can't wait!

Thanksgiving '08

Gobble, gobble~

Red

2010-11-11T04:58:00.000-08:00

As we celebrate this Veterans Day, I honor my father, aka "Red", a veteran of World War II, or "The Big One", as he calls it. He was a signalman in the US Navy. Today, at the age of 85, he continues to practice law. I think Tom Brokaw said it best, "It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced."

The Other Mother

2010-11-07T12:01:00.000-08:00

In memory of Lib~ 11-10-1920 to 3-30-2011

1963-r.Lib, my MIL

Gramma is turning 90 years old this Wednesday. She is the first to say, "Now, that's old!" Lots of family gathered at the Home to celebrate and honor her. Born in 1920, she was one of 12 children, grew up in a mill town, and married the man who took one look at her and declared his intention to sweep her off her feet. She birthed twin boys, one daughter, and another baby boy. (Papallama) She managed a household, and had the bulk of raising the children while her husband worked hard on the railroad. She stretched a dollar and sewed many of her own clothes, as well as clothes for the children. She went to church and was a good wife, mother, daughter, sister, neighbor,and friend.

Lib at 60 right before our first child was born.

When I married her baby boy, she welcomed me into the family with open arms. The first Christmas after we were married, I cross stitched a picture for her that said, "A mother holds her child's hand for a while, his heart forever." That is so true. My husband loves her dearly. So do I. A mother-in-law can be a formidable opponent. She knows her son better than anyone until the new wife comes along. But Lib was a wonderful mother-in-law. She shared the recipes that her son loved, like caramel icing, her special turkey dressing, and a chicken dish that will make everything all better! She made me feel like I was smart and talented, and never once put me down.

She wore the title "Gramma" proudly.

Her support was always there, from the piano recitals to the graduations, and even the youngest granddaughter's wedding. She was my confidant on many occasions, and I was honored to be hers in return. We had a trust that neither of us betrayed. Was it always perfect? No, families aren't perfect. She was allergic to scents and I had to hide all the scented soaps and candles until I gave up even buying them. She was kinda bossy, but if you had been part of our crew, you would have appreciated that someone was in charge, and that it was her. Oh, yes, I feel blessed in the mother-in-law department.

In happier days with her husband and children

But now she is 90. She has lost a son, a husband, and says, "It's a lonely life." Each day, she leaves us just a little more. On this birthday, I celebrate the 90 years that have passed rather than the one that lies ahead, and I do it with a grateful heart for a woman I proudly call my 'other mother'.

Four generations
2 Wallaces and 2 Elizabeths

Shark Bait, Ooh Ha Ha!

2010-11-01T17:43:00.000-07:00

Nemo, played by PDub

I vividly remember Halloween as a little girl growing up in a small town in the *cough* 60's. I pulled my costume together at about five o'clock Halloween day with some old jewelry, handerchiefs, scarves, and if I had planned ahead, a plain mask over my eyes. You can't tell what I am?!! Why, a gypsy, of course! I would tag behind my big brothers, who were either Dracula or ghosts, until I had made the rounds at the local houses. Then my dad would take me to his secretary's house. She always made delicious candied popcorn balls, guaranteed to pull out at least one filling, but worth the trip to the dentist. Halloween took two hours~ tops.

I would say things have changed just a little. Today's costumes are elaborate Oscar worthy designs. Halloween doesn't just occur on one night. There's the school party, the church party, the neighborhood bash, and the community haunted houses. I think it's all great fun, but it does make me wonder how it will look in forty more years. Oh, and I do intend to be around to see for myself!

So here is the recap of PDub's Halloween. Many thanks to Mama at Law for the pictures and the title for today's post.

It ain't fun to trick er treat without yo pawdner! Here's PDub with his BFF, Deputy Hunter. And speaking of partners, that pretty girl in the door is PDub's Partner in Crime. She helps him score some big Halloween loot every year! And yes that is a shark bag he is carrying; my one contribution to the wardrobe.

And they're off!

Be afraid, be very afraid!

Now gaze into my crystal ball...the future is looking verrrrrrrry interesting!!!!!

Hoppy Halloween!

2010-10-25T17:34:00.000-07:00

With all the excitement of Halloween around every corner, I bet you were expecting a post about Halloween books! Well, I hate to disappoint you, but as much as I love Halloween, PDub is hot on the bunny trail of a different subject right now.

Peter Rabbit.

Yep, about as anti Halloween as it gets.

Mama at Law reports that PDub has to have four particular books read to him every night at bedtime. To feed his cravings for this newest obsession, she reads Peter Rabbit, The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail, and The Tale of Benjamin Bunny. I had never heard of the Fierce Bad Rabbit, so I did some investigating and discovered that it is one of the shorter books written in the Peter Rabbit set. It is about two rabbits, one good and one nasty rabbit bully. The bully steals the good rabbit's carrot. If you object to hunters and guns, the resolution to this conflict may make you wince, but rest assured that no rabbit is harmed in the making of this tale. It just raises a little fur in the end. (Read the book to get the pun there.) The power of books is that they transcend all time and borders. Beatrice was raised in Victorian England. She did not receive a formal education, but was schooled at home by governesses. Art was her love, and she painted what she saw, such as the little animals she and her brother kept in their little schoolroom at home. Mice, lizards, snakes, and birds became her subjects against quaint landscapes that were part of her everyday view. In 1893, she created the picture story of Peter Rabbit for a little boy who she knew had been ill for some time. In 1902, she printed 200 copies herself and sold them for a shilling each! I love that PDub can escape 2010, and go to that special place where Beatrice once dwelled and hear her small English voice speak to him from the pages of these classics. I also love that he loves it. Mama at Law will love that there are 23 Beatrix Potter books, so 19 more to go!

Hippity Hoppity and Happy Halloween~

My Little Pumpkin

2010-10-18T19:52:00.000-07:00

PDub is so cute right now. I can't help it. He just is. His family took a trip to Legare Farms for some good ole fashioned fall fun. There was a playground, hayride, petting zoo, and horse rides. Oh yeah, and pumpkins! What a great experience for my little pumpkin!

Yee Haw!~

This is the book, My PDub got Hooked!

2010-10-11T17:46:00.000-07:00

When Mama at Law was expecting PDub, his Aunt Cat gave me a book for Mother's Day congratulating me on Grammyhood. Now when PDub visits, he always sorts through the book basket and finds this book. I can't give it a better endorsement than that! And it just goes to show that books are a wonderful gift to expectant mommies and grammies!

Such a Silly Baby is a rollicking rhyming tale of a hapless mommy who can't seem to go anywhere without having a hitch and getting baby switched! He gets switched with the chimpanzee at the zoo, with the dancing bear at the circus, with a lazy sow at the farm, and with a buffalo at the Wild West show. Then, when she finally gets the child home for a nap, all the animals follow. What is it that PDub loves? The animal sounds! "Oo-oo-ee-ee! He got switched with a chimpanzee!" Each switch builds on the other. "Grrrr Grrrr, Oo-oo ee-ee!" Exercise your lungs while reading this one as the sounds continue to string together. Add to the sounds, the colorful pictures, and you have such a silly book that no toddler will be able to resist it!

Thanks, Aunt Cat! Oh, and by the way, with PDub, there was no hitch. He didn't get switched! Take one look at him, and you will agree...

Daddy at Law looks just like P!

~Such a silly...

I've Been Working on the Railroad

2010-10-05T05:45:00.000-07:00

All aboard! The train is leaving the station! PDub was here for a visit with Grammy and Papallama, and Grammy got to take not one, but two terrific train trips! The first was on Saturday at our town's Squealin on the Square. (That's a smokin' hot BBQ competition and festival.) The festival featured among other things, Thomas the Train. Grammy and PDub took the trip with Thomas down the street and back. Twice. We waved at the pedestrians and Papallama. Twice.

After deboarding, we used some of our 'que-pons' to buy PDub time on the bouncy rides. At first, he was not sure what to do in the bouncy house until a bigger boy arrived on the scene, jumped in the house, and began to do Olympic flips before our very eyes. PDub flashed his famous grin and joined in the bounciness. Just when I thought he was ready to exit, he would make like Tigger, and turn tail and bounce away. "Oh, he's going to take a big nap after all this," thought foolish Grammy.

Next was the giant slide. Again, he had to watch once or twice. Then he was off to the races! From the flailing that occurred when we took him off, I gathered this was his favorite of all. Move over, Thomas.

The rest of the festival sort of fizzled from a two year old's perspective. Only a balloon from a local dance shop made the walk around the Square worth the trip.

And the nap? It never happened. Papallama took PDub upstairs and read him some stories. "Read some books to me," suggested Papallama. PDub obliged until....zzzzzzzz....Papallama was fast asleep.....zzzzzzzz.

WAKE UP! yelled PDub.

The next train trip happened the very next day at a very nice park in a nearby town. The whole family got in on this one. This little train runs on actual tracks, goes over a wooden train trestle and under a covered bridge. It was a hoot. Or maybe I should say, a toot!

PDub played some more on the playground right there next to the depot and impressed us all with his jumping skills and fearlessness.

And most of all, with his ability to do it all without a nap. Now, excuse me, please. I am needing mine.

ZZZZZZZZZ~

Yes, He Can!!

2010-09-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

So proud~

Good Night, Sleep Tight

2010-09-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

My mother in law always put the girls to bed with this little rhyme:
Good night, sleep tight,
Don't let the bedbugs bite,
Wake up bright
In the morning light
To do what's right
With all your might.
AND DON'T LET THE BEDBUGS BITE! (with an added tickle here)
It is one of those very sweet memories that they have grown up with, especially now that she is approaching her 90th birthday.

The recent news of real bed bugs is enough to give anyone a bad case of the willies, and I sure hope they don't migrate to the South, but something tells me they will soon join our lice, termites, ticks, cockroaches, and fireants. Bugs love us down here.

And just in time for their invasion, PDub has moved to a big boy bed! He had finally discovered a secret his mama at law had known for several months. He was more than capable of climbing out of his crib.

He LOVES his new bed. He has a pillow for his head now and still keeps the 'blankie' that his great aunt Bee knit for him. He loves it so much, he is known to beg for a few extra minutes in the morning to just sit and be by himself in his bed to sing and talk and wake up at his own leisure.

Now in thinking about books for this blog post, I wondered, "Bed or Bug books?" How about one of each? The first I came across is Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner. Mama at Law is not crazy about the outdoors, in large part due to the fact that is where bugs live. She has already instilled in PDub the lesson that "spiders will bite you!" Since we also have Black Widow Spiders here, I am okay with that. But not all bugs are bad, and maybe this book would be a goodwill ambassador on their behalf.

A must have book for bedtime is Time for Bed, by Mem Fox. It has beautiful watercolor pages and a gentle verse sure to lull even the most energetic two year old to sleep. It may even put Mama at Law to sleep, but then again, she's an easy target.

Good night, sleep tight...

PDub Gets Skooled

2010-09-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

PDub started a new school this fall. And though change isn't easy, Mama and Daddy at Law felt like it was time to provide a little structure and routine to his day. (Cause you know as well as I do that he will be in 5K in the blink of an eye!)

PDub is learning that his new school has some rules and boundaries, and that there is this word that grown-ups are starting to use that is not always to his liking.

LISTEN

But he sees a toy over there with his name written all over it...

LISTEN

But he wants to go outside and play...

LISTEN

Stop and eat? Not right now...

LISTEN

Take a nap? Are you serious?!...

LISTEN

Stay in this room when there's a big ole world out there to explore?...

LISTEN

It's a powerful word. It keeps us safe. It teaches us important lessons. It tells us stories. It is a comfort when we are troubled.

But for now, LISTEN is a hard lesson for a two year old to absorb. He'll get it though. Maybe not the easy way. But he'll get it. And whenever he needs it, I'll be here to...

LISTEN.

Cocky Rocks! (and Reads!)

2010-09-04T06:43:00.000-07:00

For the last few months, Papallama has been very busy. Busy reading articles about Gamecock football. Busy watching interviews with Gamecock coaches and players. Busy gathering his Gamecock football tickets and parking pass. Busy gathering the tailgate paraphernalia.

And it was all worth it! The USC Gamecocks kicked off their season this week with a big win over Southern Mississippi. The crowd was electric and the team showed great talent, execution, and teamwork.

At the beginning of the game, it is tradition for the band to play the 2001 Space Odyssey with smoke and fireworks, but my favorite part is this. A cage with a black drape hanging down is rolled out onto center field. Once in place, the drape is raised. As the music reaches a crescendo, the cheerleaders and players run onto the field.

But don't look there! Watch the draped cage! Out of nowhere, it's COCKY!! He magically appears in the cage and comes out fighting, ready for action! Each game it's the same routine, and yet each time I am excited to see him make his magical appearance.

I just learned that Cocky is working magic in another way. He is traveling around our state to visit children in grades K through 3rd grade to teach them the importance of lifelong reading.

Why that age? According to the USC School of Library and Information Science, "Research shows that if children acquire strong reading skills and a love of reading by the end of third grade they are more likely to succeed academically and graduate on time. " Wow! I mean really. Wow! The Cocky Reading Express places emphasis on visiting 'underserved public schools', and the children are given a book to take home with them. The Cocky Reading Express is already receiving recognition for the impact it is making on literacy.

Now if you read this blog, you know that I will make sure that PDub loves to read. But most of all, I will teach him that the alphabet begins with U S C!

I just want to thank Cocky for the magic...on and off the field.

Cock a doodle doo!

Kiss, Kiss

2010-08-24T17:12:00.000-07:00

I sure have missed PDub these last few days. He breezed through here a few weekends ago just long enough to play outside with Grammy a little bit. We ran up and down and INTO hills. We watched truck, cars, and motorcycles drive past. We played with the little red wagon. And in those too brief moments, I felt a calm and peace that only comes from spending time with PDub and sharing his wonderment at the smallest of discoveries. He saw for the first time a little clay rabbit hidden in the straw beneath the pines. Oooh! He exclaimed. And then a clay chipmunk. Oooh! again.

Since then, PDub and I have been much too busy. He is in a new school and I am in a new school and it is just enough to make a body...well...just plain exhausted.

At times like these, a comforting kiss, a gentle hug, an encouraging word...they can make a big difference in someone's day. I thought of a book that helps when life gets busy or big changes come along and you don't know what you're doing, who you'll know, or whether you will like them or they will like you.

The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn, was written to comfort her own daughter at the start of school. Audrey had noticed a mother raccoon kiss the cub's hand. The cub then rubbed the kiss on its own mouth. And that inspired Audrey to try the same thing with her daughter. I think PDub would like this book. I think about the way we pretended to take little hats off a page and place them on each other's head. I can see him accepting a kiss and taking it with him in his sweet little hand to school each day. I can also see him giving his mommy a kiss to take with her. Who will you give a kiss to today? Need one for yourself? Here it is.

~X~

Grammy's Got a Brand New Blog!

2010-08-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! I just can't hide it!

Look! Look! Look!

I have my very own custom blog design!

Check it all out!

I enlisted the services of Amy at Designer Blogs to design a blog that would be cheerful, but not too ABC-ish. I wanted everything coordinated: the backgrounds, the fonts, the dividers, the header, the sidebar. I dreamed of special touches like a button others would find cute enough to use on their own blog sites. I wanted pictures to be framed. And I wanted a signature! I am so happy with the results, I just had to ~~brag~~ share!

Whatcha think?! Love it, don't you?!

Blush~

Hooray for Hollywood!

2010-08-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

Today, PDUb got a taste of the big screen for the very first time. Mama and Daddy at Law met Aunt Cat and Uncle Jaybird at the theater to see Despicable Me. In 3D, of course.

Now, when Mama at Law told PDub what the plan was, he was just as excited about seeing Aunt Cat as he was about the movie. She is a star in his eyes!

The first thing PDub's parents found out was that he was not heavy enough to hold the seat down. So he got folded up...oops! Daddy at Law rounded up a booster seat and with Twizzlers in hand, he was all set. Except Aunt Cat was not there yet. So, every few minutes, he checked with his mama. Yes, Aunt Cat is coming, she reassured him.

When Aunt Cat finally arrived, PDub kept taking off his glasses and waving to her. Correction: PDub gave her multiple SHOUT OUTs! She would wave back and point to the movie to get him to watch. This repeated itself several times until Mama at Law finally offered to let him sit with Aunt Cat. Yeah, sure!

I asked how PDub liked the movie, and Mama at Law said he liked one part that showed a big moon. (He always points out the moon when he sees it!) And there was one part where the little yellow minions photocopy their rear ends and giggle. PDub thought that was funny, too. Who laughed loudest? Uncle Jaybird, of course!

As for Mama at Law, she said it was one worth waiting for the release on dvd. But they had fun, and it was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.

PDub lasted until almost the very end and finally had to get up and go play in the lobby like any two year old high on Twizzlers is bound to do. She said he just ran around in circles. Maybe I should go eat some Twizzlers right now and head out for my run.

See you in the movies!
~Grammy

And the Award Goes To...

2010-08-09T16:43:00.000-07:00

ME! Little ole ME! My heartfelt thanks to Kristina over at The Churchill Family and Life As We Know It blog. Blog awards, for those of you who just enjoy browsing blogs for your reading pleasure, are a blogger's way of saying, "Nice job!" "Way to go!" "Look at her!" I can never get enough of that kind of recognition. Yes, I write to journal my adventures with my grandchildren, but I love my readers and I really want them to feel like stopping by the blog was worth their time and something they will do again and again. I also love comments here as well as in person by folks who read it but don't want to comment publicly. I thank all of you for tagging along. So, thanks, Kristina! Go check out Kristina's blog. She has the cutest kiddos, and she also has beautiful photography and poetry from her everyday life that will encourage and inspire you.

Here are the Rules for this award:
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave it to you.
2. Share SEVEN things about yourself.
3. Pass the award on to 15 bloggers who you recently discovered, and who you think are totally awesome.
4. Contact the bloggers and let them know that they have won.
So here I go with seven earth shaking, life changing, can't believe she said that...things about me.

I have tried to retire twice. It never works. I am too restless and broke to stay at home all day doing nothing. (which is what I do given my distaste for cooking and housework)
That lead to this. I just returned to teaching, except this time I will be a working in a virtual school as a virtual special educator. I am really (not virtually) excited about it!
I am afraid of knives. No reason for it. Just a random fear.
I live vicariously through my two daughters, which makes me beautiful, smart, an attorney, and a runner. Thank you, girls!
I just directed a wedding. What an honor!
I have had some very trying times in my life and I wouldn't trade them for the world. How would I know how to fully appreciate the calm or joyful times otherwise?
I married my husband of (almost)33 years just 13 weeks after I met him. And that has made all the difference in my life.

Now since I will be busy getting myself in gear for the new school year, it's a perfect time to let you browse some of my favorite blogs. Come back later when I have more time to share what Grammy and PDub have been reading.

The World from My Basement is a blog written by someone I actually know. She is so talented and you will love her monogram shop. You can thank me later.

I love parties. She makes me want to have one every month! Visit Attention 2 Detail for inspiration.

Readers who enjoy deals and especially those who may live in the low country area of SC need to follow soireesandshenanigans for some heads up about some sweet deals. She also has another blog about a sweet little baby on the way, so this is a two-fer.

Book Buddies to check out. You will not be disappointed!
Brimful Curiosities
Vintage Children's Books
Silly Eagle Books
Happy Birthday, Author

Mommy bloggers:
Cultivating Rosebuds
Mommie Cooks
Mommy Teacher 123
Our Abby
Just a Mom, Reading to My Kids
Making Lemonade

Craftier than Crafty! The Seasoned Homemaker puts me to shame.

Last, but not least, The Green Hanger Shop! My other blog and business undertaking. You didn't think I would pass up a chance for a little more self promotion, did you?!

Humbly
~Grammy

Potty Time!

2010-08-02T05:35:00.000-07:00

This is a potty tale based
on a Cinderella plot.

Warning: This post is rated PT: Potty Training May contain words like pee, poop, and bookey(boo-key)
Mama at Law had breaking news for me yesterday. She had just purchased three sets of Thomas the Train underwear, size 4T, and three pairs of easy on, easy off shorts and was ready for potty training to commence starting today!

This is called a potty system.
A system...really?

This shouldn't come as a complete shock to PDub. She bought him a potty some months back. He commenced to take it apart and put it back together, take it apart, and put it back together, take it...yeah, you get the idea. It was one big ole toy. An editorial note here, potties today are ridiculous. They play music and have lights and talk to you. How many of you sit on toilets that do that? I say bring back the little wooden chair with the pot underneath that does nothing but catch number one and number two. If you want to have a bunny decal on the back of it, okay, but no music, faces, or lights! This is the potty, not Vegas. Back to the potty, though. PDub has actually managed to hit the mark a time or two, but he has remained in diapers up to now.

When he moved into the two year old room at daycare, the first thing Mama at Law noticed was the lack of diaper cubbies and the presence of potties. When she picked PDub up last week, he had managed to poop in the potty for the very first time. Oh, the joy!

So, with the teacher's encouragement, PDub is going to quit diapers cold turkey this week. Mama at Law washed all his new drudies last night and even let him try on a pair. Ah, warm undie...makes you want to...oh no, wait, PDub!

Gives you a warm feeling, doesn't it?
~Grammy

Field!! Trip!!

2010-07-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

Good news, readers and followers! I am ending the giveaway of The Fathers Are Coming Home on July 31st. All you have to do to enter is become a follower of the blog.

When I was a student, I loved field trips! When I was a teacher, I loved field trips! Now that I'm Grammy, guess what? I love field trips! To me a field trip takes you somewhere new, very interesting, usually educational, and with a group! So I think my first trip to the Children's Museum of the Upstate with PDub, Mama at Law, and Papallama definitely qualified as a field trip.

Right now, if I were not sitting here typing, I would stand up and give the museum a big round of applause. It was AH~MAY~ZING!!

Start your engines!

From the moment we entered the door, we were spellbound. We paid our admission and were given 'bracelets' with a bar code that matched us to PDub. Without matching barcodes and our child, we would not be able to exit. PDub was not crazy about the way it felt on his wrist, but it was durable enough to withstand his tugs and later, his water escapades. Museum policy requires one adult for every five children. (Wonder how many adults one child can bring? )

Where to start? Oh my! The museum was three stories of adventure and exploration. We started in the race car exhibit. He could sit in a pretend race car or be part of its pit crew. Or he could race wooden cars down a ramp and change their course by adding different tracks.

Wind, an Invisible Force

We moved on to one of his favorite areas. The Power of Wind. PDub spent a long time in the activities using wind. He ~~played~~ experimented with wind socks and tried his hand at flying a plane. He fed balls into chutes and watched them get blown through a giant maze of clear tubes.

One exhibit is an entire grocery store complete with buggies and check out registers for children to play shop. Preston filled his buggy with all the onions.

Good thing he has a little mama!

Heads up!

PDub was mostly interested in the action, climbing, noise making exhibits. Take for example, the recycling truck. It made a sound like it was cranking up and he was driving it. It even had a horn he could blow. Or the construction site, definitely a hard hat area.

Somebody is gonna get wet...

And what would a children's museum be without water? This museum had an entire complex of water activiites modeled after a local river. There was a bubble hood that kids could climb into and look up at the water without getting wet. It blew PDub's mind and he wouldn't get completely in it, even with Mama at Law.

You might think it would be hard to keep up with a child in such a big and busy environment.

My Co-Pilot

It was. . . I lost Papallama more than once. He said all those kids were getting in his way.

Can Papallama have a turn?

That kid...

~Grammy

Book Review - Roly Poly Pangolin

2010-07-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

PDub was here for a visit and Grammy was itching to find something new to read. I needed a book for a baby shower gift, so I had the perfect excuse to browse the new children's picture books!

You can see from the cover how this would catch my eye. I should have known from the look in the Pangolin's eyes that this was the work of Anna Dewdney. She is the author/illustrator of the Llama Llama books that PDub has enjoyed since he was teeny tiny.

As I previewed the book, I was captured right away by its illustrations. Anna has a way of illustrating characters that makes you say, "Aw," and "Ha!" from one page to the next. And the illustrations are also B-I-G, and I think that makes them more appealing to two year olds. (and fifty-somethings, too!)

Now here in SC, if you hear roly poly, you think of this.

A pill bug, or roly poly, as we like to call them. Unfortunately for them, children are easily entertained by getting these tiny critters to roll themselves up into a ball.

But a Pandolin is a mammal. An endangered one. It is toothless and doesn't see very well. It's defense is to roll up into a tight ball, and it makes itself almost impossible to pry apart. The Pandolin has one baby at a time and the baby rides on the mother's tail sometimes. If you visit Anna Dewdney's website, you will find much, much more fastinating information about this very special animal.

PDub loved the book! How do I know? Uh, ask any of the three of us who were with him this weekend who were asked to read it over and over and over. We could even ~~bribe~~ convince him to do things he didn't want to do (like put on a new diaper) with the promise of reading it again. He also started to repeat the easy rhyme that is part of the book right away. "Roly Poly, very small/ Doesn't like new things at all." Boy, we can relate to that, can't we?

I loved this book for several reasons. One is that I learned something. Another is that it reminded me how special our earth and all her creatures are. It was fun to use this book to travel to a place I may never visit.

Yeah, books have a way of doing that.

Roll on,
~Grammy

It Won't Be Like This For Long

2010-07-14T06:06:00.000-07:00

As you know, PDub just celebrated the BIG 0-2. His excited mama at law took him to his new class at daycare this week. He had outgrown his other class and was missing his older buddies. His mama was eager for him to try new things and enjoy all the summer activities planned for the two year olds. So this was a big day for PDub and here's how it went.

Mama at Law set the stage on the ride there. She told him he would be seeing his friends. He smiled and laughed at that. Then he told her he would be seeing his teachers. You got it, the ones in the 'under two' room. "Noooo," cautioned Mama at Law. And she reminded him who his new teacher would be.

They walked in together and PDub got busy right away showing Mama at Law all the new toys in this classroom. Mama at Law noticed all the potties. Hmmm, yeah, that is something he will be tackling now that he is in this room. (Should provide some good material down the road.)

When she thought he was occupied in his play, Mama at Law began to slip away. Mamas, you are not very good slip-awayers. Children have a radar detector/GPS thing that lets them know when they are about to be dumped. Sure enough, as she went out the door, the screaming commenced. Having been through this before, Mama at Law calmed herself and ~~bolted~~ walked to her car. At work, she worried about her little boy until a text arrived from a staff member. It said PDub was grinning ear to ear because his class was with The Music Man singing songs and playing instruments. PDub loves music! Alleluia!

The teacher met Mama at Law at the door when she picked him. "Hasn't stopped playing all day!" she reported. Literally. No breakfast, no lunch, no nap. Seems PDub was just too excited to stop. Maybe he thought this was his only shot. Maybe we would get more done if we all approached our days like that.

On the way home, PDub passed out. Yeah...that was some day!

I asked Mama at Law if he was better about her leaving him in the morning now. And she said he was, "a little." But she's been through this before. She told me she thinks about Darius Rucker's song at times like these. So I gave it another listen, and I want you to listen closely, too. See, I enjoy all these moments I have with PDub now. He won't play with his Grammy forever. One day, he won't let me put him to sleep or give him a bath or take him for walks.

I'm going to be like PDub and go nonstop for as long as I can. As they say, Life is not a dress rehearsal.

Make it count.
~Grammy

Yeah, sure

2010-07-12T06:25:00.000-07:00

It must be fun to work in marketing and think up those catch phrases, like "Got Milk?" or "Just Do It!" Remember these? "Tha's hot." "Talk to the hand (cause the face don't want to hear it)" "Whatever."

What comes to mind when you hear these?

Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh, what a relief it is...
I'M LOVIN IT!
The quicker, picker-upper
Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's ....
Have it your way.
When it rains, it pours.
Celebrate the moments of your life.
We work hard, so you don't have to.
Bring out the _______ and bring out the best.
Like a good neighbor, ______ is there.

PDub has started a catch phrase around here. He has traded his simple "yes" with "yeah, sure." Not just sometimes...ALL THE TIME. Go ahead. Try it. Everytime you need to say yes today, substitute, yeah sure.

Catchy, huh? Think I should get him a trademark?

Yeah, sure
~Grammy

He's Twoo! Twoo!

2010-07-09T13:18:00.000-07:00

It's official! Today PDub is two years old! Mama at Law describes him as WILD today, so he must be having lots of fun! She has prepared birthday bash #2 for him to share with all his buds at daycare. Cupcakes with trains, Thomas plates, kazoos, Cheetos, juices. Party down, toddlers!

We observed his special day while we were together at the beach. Keeping the Thomas the Train theme, I used primary colors of green, red, and blue. Papallama graciously agreed to produce some computer generated train track for the placemats and the rest came from Party City. We had a Thomas cupcake cake, old fashioned popcorn cooked by Jaybird, and those little bottles of Coke that taste so much better than the cans or plastic variety.

Papallama picked out a cool Thomas the Train haunted mine piece for PDub's collection and we also gave him some much needed train track. Aunt Cat and Uncle Jaybird gave him an amazing Bubble blower that really put out the bubbles as promised and a Winnie the Pooh kite to fly on the beach.

PDub accepted his gifts the same way he accepts everything in life right now. With enthusiasm, excitement, and endless energy.

So, join me, won't you?

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday, dear PDuuuub!
Happy Birthday to you!

Now make a wish!
~Grammy

Beachy Keen!

2010-07-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

The beach was a blast! There was family, great food, beach time, horseshoe tournaments, bicycle rides, and fireworks! And, of course, books! I finished reading The Girl on Legare Street, by Karen White, and it was as good, if not better, than the first book in that series. It definitely needs a follow up to it, though, and I hope she will tie up those loose ends for me soon.

PDub brought his own collection of books to the beach, and I made a note of his choices.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit was the tiniest book in the set. As I was reading it to him, he pointed out poor Peter being pursued by Mr McGregor. He enjoys the story line in this book though it takes some paraphrasing to get through its entirety just yet.

There were a couple of flap books he is really enjoying. His favorite of these was Farm, by Mary Novick and Jeremy Hale. He knows the names of all the animals in the books who are cleverly hidden in the illustrations and flaps. The colorful and large illustrations really appeal to him. The other flap book is a cute one with puppies. Puppies Count has the additional bonus of being a counting book, too.

The oddest book he shared with me was The Adventures of Sammy the Wonder Dachshund, by Jonathan Miller. I have seen these in Charleston book stores, but I would have never known how much fun they are for children to read until PDub insisted on several readings of Sammy on Safari. Again, some paraphrasing was needed. Still, he loved the adventure of going to Africa in search of the kangaroo! Did we find one? Well, you'll just have to read to find out for yourself!

Thomas the Train books are still in his stack and he can recite it along with you when you read. I added a new one for his birthday. He turns two on Friday!

Books are not just for grown ups at the beach. They were just as relaxing for him and sure came in handy at nap time. Be sure to pack some books in your bags when you take your vacation this year.

There were more adventures to share with you, but the real world is calling today. Maybe I'll just close the blinds, turn off the lights, and refuse to answer!

Shhhh, don't tell it I'm here...
~Grammy

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms blogging program to be eligible to get an "I Can Read!" book. For more information on how you can participate, click here.