Middle Child

Fashion plate. This is Jada. She insists that these colors really do go together. Jada starts school next year and I predict some compromises on her Mom's part. Jada has a mind of her own.

She changes clothes many times in one day. Her little personality is just as colorful. She was my helper as I learned what to do while taking care of her and her sister while big sister was in school.

She likes bacon and sausage for "bresskiss". My attempts at hair ....... well, see for yourself.

When I asked about diaper disposing procedures, Jada informed me that "We just throw them out in the snow." Lots of giggles, then, "No, just kidding."

On Thursday Jada told me that her Daddy was coming home the next day and that she was going to miss me. I got lots and lots of hugs and kisses. She told me over and over again that she would miss me so much and that she loved me. I can still feel those arms around my neck.......

Friday came and the Jada of hugs and kisses was long gone. It was all business and she told me matter-of-factly that she would not miss me and did not love me. As the time for me to leave grew closer she became very demanding and tearful. As I tried to get her dressed for the trip to the airport and she realized that I was going soon she threw her arms around my neck and proclaimed her love and told me that she was lying about missing me. So dramatic.

There will always be drama around this little girl! I am missing her funny little voice and giggles today. I have an assignment, though. I have to make some dresses and lots of ruffles "like a tutu".

100 Days of Kindergarten

While I was in Minnesota, Gavin's class celebrated 100 days of learning. Parents were invited to come to school to help with the days activities. At Gavin's request I went and his Mom took my place with her nieces. No small feat. She took Gavin to his school and then came to get me and the girls (after Maya was on her way to her school on the bus). She led me to Gavin's room and then took the girls back to their house for a bit, then came back to get me when his day was over. Confused yet?

Gavin was happy to have me there ........ everyone already knew I was coming. They already knew that I was Gramma Kathy and that I had come all the way from Missouri and that I had come just for this event! I didn't correct them.

Everything was ready when the "volunteers" arrived. Gavin's teacher is very organized. She had work centers set up to celebrate the day. All the centers involved 100, usually in sets of 10. I was assigned to 100 stars. Each child was to take a clipboard on which a sheet was clipped with 100 numbered blocks on it. There were numbered stars taped to the walls and cabinets and chalk boards around the room. They were given 4 crayons in the 4 primary colors and were to find the star and color the numbered block the same as the star. There was a definite pattern going on and it was fun to see how long it took the kids to realize they did not have to go find each star. Most of the girls found it after coloring 10 blocks and most boys after 20 or more. Well, except for the two little boys who decided to cheat and copy each other.

As you can see Gavin is wearing a necklace of fruit loops ........ 10 of each color. They had 10 snacks to count 10 pieces of each. This seemed to take forever as each child carefully counted 10 skittles, 10 marshmallows, 10 cheerios, etc.

This was on Tuesday and one of the mothers was nice enough to take a picture of us. I was fairly well rested. The pictures taken on Friday were a little unsettling to look at! I have rested a lot since getting home!

Water Baby

Meet baby Zara. I have yet to encounter a child so easily entertained. A chair to stand in, a cup and a stream of water from the faucet = endless fun.

Fill the cup.

Over and over again.

Empty and start over.

She also likes to sweep and dust and throw things away. And always happy. If she does something she knows she is not supposed to do she will wrap those little arms around your and give you a serious hug!

I will miss the sweet weight of a sleeping baby in my arms ......... as soon as I get some rest and my muscles stop aching!

Can We Paint?

See my sweet grandchildren? Maya is showing me that she can play the violin while Gavin watches. Baby Zara is headed back to the kitchen to finish emptying the cabinets into the floor. I haven't done this in a long, long time! I have already cooked two meals and cleaned up. I forgot that clean up involves not only dishes, but hands, faces, and floors!

So, when I heard the call, "Gramma, can we paint?" I said "No, not right now, as I tried to read my e-mail." Nap time is not observed by all and Baby has already had hers.

Jada came to tell us that they were spilling paint. I cleaned up most of the mess before I took pictures. Two 5 year olds, a 4 year old and an almost 2 year old were afoot. But as you can see that had indeed gotten some paint out. Green. Green is Gavin's favorite color. There was a two ounce bottle of green paint. Not anymore. It is in the trash along with a lot of construction paper.......


This where the toys are neatly stored in baskets .......... well, they were. This basket on the floor is the one that holds permanent markers and crayons and paint supplies!

This drawer has paper for coloring ........ The drawer is back on track now.

Gavin's mom is here with me and she questioned all the suspects to determine exactly who would sit on the steps for a time-out. Baby wasn't talking. Jada was an eager informant and Maya and Gavin were trying to side-step the issue. Maya did not get the basket down. She was very clear on this. She did not actually take the basket off the shelf. When directly asked Gavin replied with a question of his own ......... "What paint?" Did I mention that this child looks like love of my life? He is clever like his Papa, too.

Gavin took the basket down, but Maya told him he could ........ she is , after all 6 months older than him and it is her house..........

They are not happy!

Dreams

Sitting here drinking my coffee and reading e-mail this morning and the phone rings. I don't look at the caller ID and answer the phone expecting it to be a telemarketer. Instead I hear my daughter's voice. A welcome sound first thing in the morning. This is my baby girl, mother of Gavin. Gavin, boy of dog Wall-E and look alike of Papa (aka love of my life). Above you see Gavin arriving at our home for his annual visit last June.

This is the Gavin that helped Gramma plant an garden and move some rock last year ...... when he wasn't busy riding his bike.

My daughter called to tell me that he woke her in the middle of the night. "Mom, Mom ....." "What, Gavin?" "Are you having a good dream, too?" " No, I am not dreaming" "I had a really good dream" "What are you dreaming about?" "I was dreaming about Gramma Kathy".


I will be wearing a permanent smile today as I finish packing........

Peanut Butter

Went shopping yesterday to get all the last minute things I might need on my trip north ......... like a tube of hand lotion that did not exceed the 2 oz limit imposed by the airline industry. Mostly I went to ensure that love of my life might not starve in my absence and that my dogs would be well taken care of. Dog food and cat food I bought. Treats for the canine group and toilet bowl cleaner. We have very hard water and if the bowl isn't scrubbed every other day it will form a ring that is super hard to remove. It is with high hopes that I bought this. I will also post a note at eye-level in the bathroom with a reminder to clean the toilet, take his pills and put the cap on the toothpaste. Similar reminders will be posted about feeding the animals.


Back to the subject, though. What will my man with high cholesterol and high triglycerides eat in my absence? Last time I left I carefully prepared meal sized portions of things that could be heated in the microwave and told him daily what was available for him in the fridge. I returned to find all these "meals" exactly where I had left them. When questioned he admitted to eating a lot of fast food. So, this time I haven't bothered. He won't eat them any way.

His two favorite foods are peanut butter and cheese. Cheese crackers with peanut butter. He buys these by the case and keeps them hidden in his truck. He thinks I don't know. I know everything. He also eats peanut butter sandwiches. His combinations vary. Sometimes jelly (grape and occasionally strawberry), sometimes marshmallow fluff, and his current fave ... honey. So, I bought two big jars of Jif (choosy moms choose Jif). This should last a week, don't you think?

I like to buy bread from the bakery at WalMart and I really like to buy it from the day old cart. It is only 90 cents a loaf and I usually get the Italian. I make sandwiches with this. Last time I bought a loaf of Italian with garlic and asiago cheese and made some really yummy turkey and provolone sandwiches for lunch one day. That evening as we were watching TV in bed love of my life crept out and disappeared into the kitchen and in the dark made his favorite peanut butter and honey concoction. He reentered the bedroom, taking a big bite. He chewed for a second and then held the sandwich at arms length and stared at it, making a face of distaste.

"Whatcha got there, honey?" I ask.
"The nastiest damn sandwich I have ever tasted!" he replies.

I knew right away what he had done and couldn't help laughing. Apparently peanut butter and honey doesn't go well with garlic and asiago. I bought him a whole loaf of plain white bread to have while I am gone.

Getting Ready To Go....

Still snowing. Finally got new boots. In a bright color so I won't have trouble locating them. Easy to slip on and shuffle through the snow to get more firewood. Gotta keep my fingers warm as I get everything ready to go north to the grandchildren ..........

Three little girls need three monkeys. I would say these are late Valentines, but really, they are just because I love them.

Blue for Maya, the oldest. Maya goes to Kindergarten and is the oldest. She is the helpful big sister. She has a shy sweet smile and is slow to warm up to strangers (and Gramma Kaffy, who she doesn't get to see that often)

Jada loves pink. Her Daddy told me so. Jada is a hot pink sort of girl. She has no problem expressing herself and will do so. You will notice that the blue monkey and the pink monkey are exactly the same except for color. Maya and Jada are very competitive and Gramma Kaffy does not like little girl tears and fights.

Baby Zara will get a baby monkey. This was a pair of toddler knee socks. Harder to work with, but worth the effort, don't you think? It is just coincidental that the baby monkey sort of matches in design, I bought the socks at different stores.

My little guy, Gavin, wants a skateboard bedspread. The only fabric I could find was flannel. I like flannel, especially when it is cold outside. I wasn't crazy about the black background, but it has the requisite skateboards. His favorite color is green. I was going to go buy some green broad cloth and some batting. I will admit that I was putting the task off because I wasn't looking forward to hand basting the layers together. Procrastination paid off! I found in my fit of spring cleaning a set of flannel sheets and they are green! the top sheet was the right dimensions for the finished product and I decided that two layers of flannel would provide enough weight for a bedspread without the additional layer of batting. Took a whole afternoon, but I ran a line of stitches between each row of skateboards, then self hemmed the sides and used cotton blanket bindings on the top and bottom. It is just the right weight and the flannel lining will help it stay where you put it. Gavin is responsible for his own room and this will make it easier for his little hands to "make" his bed.

I found some green broadcloth in my stash. Not enough of either one for two pillow cases, so I made one of each color and trimmed them out with a strip of leftover skateboard fabric. I hate waste, you know.

I am hoping the roads will be clear as I am about to venture out to purchase a separating zipper to repair a hoodie for my oldest grandson, Gage. I hope I can find the right size. I have a zipper in the right size, but it is navy blue and I need black. Gage is almost 15 and very fashion conscious, so it has to be the right color. Teens. Gotta love them and I love this one the best!

This is just a few of the items I have packed to go and the large suitcase is full. I may end up wearing all my clothes in layers just to get them there!