Visiting Firemen

I am a long distance Grammy. This is not by choice. It's just that the grand-kidlets live in Washington and Utah, while Papa and I call Texas "home".

From the beginning we have done all we could to build relationships from afar. Framed 5x7 glossies of us, at our finest, grace the dressers of all 3rd generationists. We send cards or packages quite frequently. We started calling to talk with them from the time their parents were willing to hold a phone up to their dear little ears. (At first, of course, they just want to eat the reciever. Next they speak gibberish for long periods of time. Then just as they get old enough to carry on a resonable conversation, they are suddenly "too busy to talk to Grammy now.") But we persist!

One way that I have been really blessed is that I've been able to be with each of them for some time at the very beginning of their lives. It's let me be of some help to the new mothers, but mostly it's let me hold them and bond & bond & bond! Here are some pictures taken during those sweet interludes:

Me with Laylee



Beanie & me



Magoo & Laylee with me in the center




Do you notice anything similar about these pictures?

Yup! In each case one we are laying down! We didn't get much sleep in those days, so we took every chance we could to get friendly with horizontal surfaces!

These last 2 weeks (when I haven't blogged at all) Laylee & Magoo - oh yeah, and their parents have been at our house. I've been able to be an up close and personal Grammy! It is so much more fun! It also takes so much more time, energy and verticality.

We have visited the "Quarium" ( with all of it's wildlife and amusement rides),



"Enchilada Town", several ice cream shops and Charles E. Cheese's fine establishment. (I don't know him nearly well enough yet to call him "Chuck.")



We have shopped - mostly at "the HEB buddie store". HEB is our favorite local grocery store, but until 2 weeks ago, I had no idea how truly exceptional it was. Before then I just thought they had really good produce and decent prices.....but that is not all, my friend. No, that is not all! They give little children "buddie bucks" with which to play games to win points toward prizes. So far laylee has gotten 2 outstanding sippy cups, 2 beach balls and a box of chocolate chip "buddie cookies". I'm telling you, this is 3 year old excitement!


We have baked and done playdough, paints & sidewalk chalk. We have spent hours playing in the swimming pool and watching Disney movies. We've read loads of story books played a bunch of games, encouraged 1 year old exploring and walking . We have hugged and smooched and tickled. And we have talked.



Mostly we have spent our time upright, but honestly some of my favorite memories have been those times cuddling in my "big bed".



Last Saturday morning (when Papa had already left for his early morning excercise and everyone else was still sleep) Laylee climbed in with me. Our conversation started out like it does every morning:

L: "What day is today?"
me: "Saturday"
L: "What's it to do?"

{Here's where it became day specific.}

me: "Well, after breakfast this morning I have to go to my quilting class for a little while."

At this point, my little sweetheart wrapped her arms around my neck, buried her face in my shoulder and cried real tears. "Grammy, don't go without ME!"

I can't remember many things in my life that have ever tugged at my heartstrings quite so hard. Nothing is more precious than the expression of love from a child you adore. I'm so happy that I've had this chance to be Grammy in person!

They left this afternoon. I was bawling before they were out of the garage!