First Day of Summer

Today is the first day of Summer, 2008. Instead of being able to work in the yard or go swimming on my day off, we are faced with:

It's okay, really, because this lovely, gentle rain has given me an opportunity to hang around the house and do some things I've been meaning to catch up on. This morning I actually made a nice breakfast for husband. Then, I got busy and made this:

I had some Georgia peaches (purchased from the Farmer's Market on Tuesday), a package of organic strawberries, and some nice raisins. Mix them all together with a bunch of secret ingredients and you get a lovely treat for a relaxing, rainy day at home.

Pie Song
Michael, movie soundtrack and album

Pie
Me oh my
Nothing tastes sweet, wet, salty and dry
all at once o well it's pie
Apple!
Pumpkin!
Minced
an' wet bottom.
Come to your place everyday if you've got em'
Pie
Me o my
I love pie

So, if you're in our neck of the woods, come on down (as Drew Carey's announcer likes to say) and enjoy a piece of Motherkitty's homemade pie, me o my.

Yesterday was another sweet day, spent with daughter alipurr and the grandkids.

Alipurr

Little Fencer Boy (enjoying some guacamole and rice)

The highlight of our visit was a ballet recital at the University. (Both girls had been enrolled in a week-long ballet class and the girls and their classmates were very proud to show off what they had learned to the parents and visitors.) Both girls are very graceful and talented and we wouldn't be surprised if they continued to dance throughout their lifetime.

Little One, getting her ballet slipper shoelace tied

Dancer Girl, doing what she does best

Before we left daughter's house, we were presented with this video, purchased by daughter at her local library for $1.00. We watched it last evening and, surprisingly, it was wonderful. I actually remember watching this live-action performance (on NBC) in 1960 featuring Mary Martin as Peter Pan and Cyril Richard as Mr. Darling and Captain Hook. The video was in great condition and I can't wait for the grandkids to see it. They will really enjoy all the singing and dancing as much as we did. Not at all like the cartoon version. (You couldn't even see the wires used to make everybody fly!)

Clap if you believe in fairies.

Tomorrow it's back to work for me. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy myself in spite of the rain.

Fancy feet

The following picture and cutline appeared as part of the lead story (on the front page) of daughter and son-in-law's local paper today. Granddaughter was so proud and happy, she called us this evening to excitedly tell us she was on the front page of the paper.

“Dancer Girl,” 6, demonstrates a lunge during her father "J’s" modern fencing class for children ages 6-9. The class is held Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. as part of “L” Sword Arts training.

Our eldest granddaughter is so graceful and talented. In addition to weekly ballet and piano lessons, she is also learning the art of fencing from her instructor, her long-haired daddy, who just opened his own fencing studio. Dancer Girl and Little Sister are also being home-schooled by daughter Alipurr. And, boy, are those girls smart!

Daughter + 3 just spent a long weekend with us and we had a wonderful time doing all sorts of wonderful things, including playing footsie.

Alipurr + 3 (ages 6, 3, and 4 months)

Everybody loves mommy

Baby Boy enjoying his first taste of cantaloupe

We had a great time visiting with daughter and her three young'uns. The weather was just perfect and we were all pleasantly tired by the time we took them home. The picture with granddaughter fencing was taken by the newspaper that afternoon. She doesn't look tired, does she? Grandma and grandpa took it easy today!!!

Can't wait to see them again really, really soon.

A visit with daughter + 3

Husband and I traveled to see daughter + 3 today and we had a lovely time. Husband took the girls to the library for the summer reading program and this grandma had a great time playing with the baby. Daughter and I decided to keep a weekly record of baby boy's growth so here are the first two installments.

06/03/07

06/11/07

As you can tell, baby boy certainly loves his mommy's milkies as he seems to be gaining nicely. He is such a sweet, even-tempered baby and is such a pleasure to hold and rock. I spent a bit of time rocking him in the rocking chair until he fell asleep. This is the same rocking chair that I rocked my babies in (daughter now has possession of it). I told the girls about some of their mother's antics when she was their ages. They thought those stories were better than chocolate cake.

Being a grandmother is so much fun. I can appreciate my grandchildren and love spending time with them. They are good children and fun to be around as they are so enthusiastic (read that to mean they laugh at our corny jokes and funny faces, put up with a multitude of hugs and kisses, and tell me how much they love me). I know that one of these days they will say, "Oh, grandma, I'm too old for (that)" or "Grandma, I can do it myself" or "Grandma, I'm too busy to come visit you." For now, I will cherish these precious moments and hope that I can leave our grandchildren with loving memories of their grandma. And their grandpa can teach them a thing or two. I will also try to teach them some songs that my mother taught me, how to cook and bake, and maybe even how to sew. Maybe we will even be around long enough to see them through college and as they start their adult lives. If we are lucky, we will even get to see a great-grandchild or two.

For all you grandmothers out there, I give you this:

Blessed grandparents' day

Husband and I were invited to spend the day with our daughter and granddaughters, so off we went early yesterday morning. We had not seen the girls for about a month because of bad weather and illness. So, it was great being able to hug and kiss everybody again (without fear of getting sick).

We were all very glad to see each other. Our grandson-to-be is now at 26 weeks 1 day gestation (only 97 days until his debut into this world). Daughter continues to feel well for which we are all so very thankful.

Early signs of Spring were everywhere. Daffodils were popping up all over daughter's yard and the trees looked as if they were ready to bud out. I hope we don't get any more icy, snowy, cold weather, but in our neck of the woods, unpredictable weather is the norm rather than the occasional occurrence. All in all, we spent a very pleasant day together. We talked, laughed, looked at bunk beds and mattresses for Little Sister's upcoming 3rd birthday (March 14), had a light lunch, ate doughnuts fresh from the bakery, played games, and enjoyed each others' company. Just before 3:00 p.m., Little Sister climbed into my lap, proclaimed that I was her "favorite" grandma and promptly fell asleep in my arms. Oh my goodness, it almost brought tears to my eyes.

Little Sister, just waking up from her nap, with a smile on her beautiful face

We went home a while later and arrived home pleasantly tired. We enjoyed the day very much and thank daughter for inviting us to spend the day with them.

This morning we received an invitation to attend Dancer Girl's gymnastics competition next Saturday. She will be performing her first floor routine and maybe on the uneven parallel bars. How exciting for her.

We were also invited to Little Sister's birthday party on March 17th. My, she is growing up so fast and no longer seems such a little baby. Both girls are pleasant, articulate, and entertaining. As grandparents, we feel blessed being able to share their lives.

I have almost finished the baby afghan I am crocheting for our newest grandchild. While the girls were showing us how neat their room was, I photographed the afghans I had made the girls when they were babies. I thought I would share these photos with you.

Dancer Girl's afghan

Little Sister's afghan

Daughter has stored these afghans away as keepsakes for the girls. When they were babies, they loved to snuggle down with these soft afghans which in turn made me very happy. I will publish a picture of baby boy's afghan when it is completed.

We can't wait to see the girls again next Saturday so we can feel blessed again!

You know you're a homeschooler's grandparent when . . .

You're the life of the party, even when it lasts until 8 p.m.

You're very good at opening child proof caps with a hammer.

You're usually interested in going home before you get to where you're going.

You're good on a trip for at least an hour without aspirin.

You're the first one to find the bathroom wherever you go.

You're awake many hours before your body allows you to get up.

You're smiling all the time because you can't hear a word they're saying.

You're very good at telling stories, over and over and over and over again.

You're aware that other people's grandchildren are not as bright as yours.

You're so cared for - long term care, eye care, private care, dental care.

You're not grouchy. You just don't like traffic, waiting, crowds, children ...

You're positive you did housework correctly before your mate retired.

You're sure everything you can't find is in a secure place.

You're wrinkled, saggy and lumpy - and that's just your left leg.

You're having trouble remembering simple words like ... ah.

You're now spending more time with your pillow than with your mate.

You're realizing that aging is not for sissies.

You're anti-everything - anti-fat, anti-smoke, anti-noise, anti-inflammatory.

You're walking more (to the bathroom) and enjoying it less.

You're going to reveal what goes on behind closed doors - absolutely nothing.

You're sure they are making adults much younger these days.

You're in the initial stage of your golden years - SS, CD, IRA, AARP.

You're wondering - if you're only as old as you feel, how could you be alive at 150.

You're supporting all movements - by eating prunes, bran, oats and raisins.

You're a walking storeroom of facts - you've just lost the storeroom.

You're so proud to have found Third Age online.

You're a grandparent and you're having the time of your life!!!

Baby boy

When I viewed daughter alipurr's blog this morning, I noticed her lilypie.com baby ticker showed that she was now pregnant 24 weeks 4 days. I was a little curious to see how big baby boy would be now so I googled fetal development and saw this.

The normal human gestation period is 40 weeks, and I suddenly realized that daughter was fast approaching her third trimester. Development of her baby will be amazing during the next three months and daughter's body will be changing rapidly to accommodate baby's increased size. I know that there have been babies born at this stage who have survived, but we hope that our newest grandchild remains safe, warm, and protected in mother's belly just where he belongs.

This reminds me: I MUST FINISH baby boy's afghan now because later will be too late.

Happy Valentine's Day to all my favorites on my favorite links list. Hope you receive warm, sloppy kisses from someone you love.