I Heart My Grandchildren

 My grandchildren are getting older.  All but one are between nine and twelve.  They don't need me to read stories to them any more.  But they still like to make sugar cookie and decorate them.

(This picture is out of order.  The last time I tried to move it it went into cyber space and I had to start over.)  Another thing they still like to do is play games.

Megan and I had a hard fought game of checkers.  We started this game of Scrabble and Michael came and we started over with him.  Megan was the scorekeeper which was a good way for her to practice her math.  Being a grandmother/teacher I have to guard against making every thing a lesson but I am thrilled when some skills are involved in our games.  She used the dictionary a lot during our Scrabble game.  She found two or three words I really didn't think were words.  It was a good thing she did look them up!

They also spent a lot of time hunting with the bb guns we keep here.  They did get one starling.  Hubs made them bury it :)

I hope you get to spend some time with the people you heart :)

Cooking with Permissive Nana

Here are the pictures of my youngest grandchild, Gates, making Easter cookies with Nana. Somehow he has survived to the ripe old age of 3 without making cookies with me.

Note, he is pretty well dusted with flour. Also he liberally used all of the sprinkles I have been accumulating for years now. But that is why I am called "Permissive Nana".

I never or hardly ever say No.

Want to dance naked in the rain? Why not?

Want to paint yourself with finger paints....sounds like fun to me.

Last night during bath time Gates wanted to tease me by drinking the water from the tub.

Even I, am not that permissive; I know what people do when they get in a tub of warm water.

So, I made my biggest ugliest face and said "Don't drink that...it is tee tee water!"

You would have thought I was Jay Leno and Johnny Carson....."Tee Tee Wadie",

Gates chortles!

So as a stand up wannabe I do what any good comic does....say it again..."Tee Tee Wadie!" more rolls of laughter.

Later my husband says something Gates interprets as "Poopie"....more belly laughs from the kid. It just goes to show...men love bathroom humor from an early age. It is genetic, folks!

Well, I have to go to work at the library today....so Gates just left for "school" aka...daycare.

I take down the basketball hoop from the den door, put away the finger paints, golf putter, golf balls, football, and wonder....why do they call me permissive Nana?

Ode to Michael

This is my sweet oldest grandson Michael Curtis Chapman.
He is eating his favorite breakfast, pancakes and bacon.

This child is so grateful and cheerful; he inspires me.
His living situation is not the greatest but you'd never know it.
He is excited by EVERYTHING! Seeing his cousins. The Christmas tree on the top of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Building in Columbia. Harry Potter movie on television. Seeing his aunts Beverly and Pattie at the Cantata at his church.

And his prayers will melt your heart. "Dear God, please help Mama and Daddy sing well in the Cantata and have a good weekend while we're here at Nana's."

What other ten year old prays for his parents to sing well and have a good weekend?

Thank you Lord for this special boy who has given me joy every minute of his life. Please protect him and never let him lose his enthusiasm and innocence.

Nana