14 yr. old Lucas, a North Daviess Cougar!

Make a Smilebox postcard

Precious Grandgirls

If you thought the picture of our daughters was lovely, have a look at these grandgirls!
Could they be any cuter?

Growing Up

It's amazing how fast time goes by, and it's not just an old wives' tale that the older you get, the faster it goes. Here are some recent pictures of Naomi at age 5 and Leah at age 3-1/2. Weren't they tiny babies just yesterday? Will it be just tomorrow when they are teenagers? I guess that's a lesson on "enjoying the now" and "carpe diem", because even though we will always treasure the special moments of the past, they are quickly piled up under new moments that also, and too quickly, become memories. It gives me great joy to watch my grandchildren grow, but it also makes my heart ache. Perhaps only a grandparent could understand.

Another Day to Remember

January 11th is my dad's birthday, but rather than write another maudlin post like I did about my mother, I have decided to celebrate by writing about his great-grandboys, of whom he would be very proud.

Yesterday was a day with the "grandboys", Lucas and Ian. Colleen was off to work at 8:15 and Eric had left much earlier with some other football coaches for a one day football clinic. Mike had arranged to be at their house by the time Colleen left and had gathered the ingredients to take over for making the boys' breakfast, which was sandwiches made with bagels, ham, eggs and cheese. I understand they went over well. (Sounds yummy; here at home I had my usual boring oatmeal.)

Ian was up and ready to go when Mike got there. He's is a bit like the energizer bunny and gets up earlier than Lucas, who loves to sleep in on the weekends. Lucas has a 5:30 wakeup time a couple days a week when he goes to school with some buddies to lift weights and do other conditioning exercises for football, so he gets pretty tired. Growing in height as well as musculature takes a lot of energy. Just being 13-1/2 takes a lot of energy, if I remember correctly.

Mike brought them to our house around 12:30, where I was taking the last batch of French pastries out of the oven. It was a first try for this recipe, which was labor intensive (in spite of what the reviews said!), but they were delicious and a fine treat for all of us. The boys balanced out the sugar a little bit with a bowl of red grapes, their favorite fruit as far as I know. Lucas also had a diet drink which led to some creative belching.

As usual, Ian headed directly to my computer. He knows my password and is familiar with several game websites, so he was settled in early on. Ian seems to be particularly fond of the fight-wound-kill variety of games with lots of clashing noises and grunting. I assume he knows the difference between reality and the other worlds he enjoys in these games. Occasionally I hear him laughing over a particularly spectacular kill, which is disconcerting.

Lucas and I sat at the dining room table and talked about any number of things including school and sports and friends, shared some stories and laughed a lot. He recounted the funniest parts of the movie "Home Alone", and insisted he had seen it only once. He's had that amazing memory from the beginning; at the age of four he could recite whole pages of information about dinosaurs, word for word. Scary.

Eric got home from his clinic and called around 3:00, so Mike rounded up the boys and took them home. They took a bag of pastries to share and Lucas said, "Just make sure we save one for Mom." (only one?) Suddenly the house was very quiet, and I was very tired. Those boys had gone home to be with two parents who love them very much, after having spent the day with two grandparents who also love them very much. Some day they will realize how special those relationships are. I sure do love those guys.

Later, Mike and I watched a Netflix documentary about how the government lies to us (nothing new there!) and I hit the sack early and slept in this morning. It was a great day, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't survive it every day.

Those Amazing Grandboys

Eric just posted this picture on his Facebook site, and since he doesn't have a blog (yet) I am stealing his thunder (and this picture) because it's so good of both the boys. It is very hard to get a good picture of these two at the same time and I can't imagine how Eric bribed or threatened them to look so darned cute. Ian, on the left, is 8 going on 18, a computer wonder, and a heart stealer. Lucas is 13, a "beautiful boy" (just ask John Lennon) and delightful teenager, and also the best hugger in the whole wide world. This winter he finally got taller than me, and being immensly proud of the fact, he chuckles every time he gets near me.

Would you ever guess that they are my grandchildren? I'm only very slightly prejudiced.

New Year: New Buddy

Let me introduce you to my new buddy for the new year. I found him under the couch where he has been hiding since the grandgirls, Naomi and Leah, were here this spring. He stayed clean and happy (as well as very, very quiet) all these months. Mike and I had moved the couch which made cleaning around and under it much easier, so while he was in Bloomington during the last few days I undertook some major projects, including of course cleaning around and under the couch. Lo, and Behold! This happy guy emerged, who makes me smile; a real "feel good" critter that will be a joy to have around. Thanks, girls, for leaving me such a wonderful memory of your visit. I'll take good care of him.

Lucas at 13 1/2

Lucas at 13 going on 23. Eric in the background. Both watching Notre Dame football. (Actually, it's a more thrilling game than it looks from this picture.) Hard to believe the grandsons are growing up so fast. I think Lucas is an inch or two taller here than he was a month ago... I have to go see him before it reaches the point that I can't recognize him!

GrandGirls

 
 

Look at these darling cuties; they're Danielle's daughters and MY GrandGirls, Leah 3 and Naomi 4. Both of them brilliant and spunky and vibrant and so excited about life they never want to miss anything. They have two very different personalities, and I treasure them both.

GrandBoys

 

Grandchildren are wonderful. Here's a picture of me with Ian 8 and Lucas 13. We had gone out to breakfast in town and our next stop was the golf course, where Lucas and I played 9 holes and Ian watched cartoons on TV. It's impossible to explain the depth of love I have for these guys; what's nice, though, is that I think they both know it. Being alive and well and able to watch them grow is pure gift; perhaps my heavenly reward on earth. Lest I wax philosophic, just let me say they're really cool kids.