Double Standard???

So, maybe I'm a little more accomodating when it comes to my grandkids......

Sirius and Sabian were over for a couple of days. When I was preparing dinner, Sirius asked if he could have chicken noodle soup instead because he didn't like what we were having. Then Sabian asked if he could have a sandwich instead...

My son, Jacob: "No way, this is what's for dinner, you eat this or you eat nothing!"

Me: "Of course you can!"

Not only did they get what they wanted for dinner, but I stood at the kitchen counter picking the celery bits out of Sirius's soup.....

What can I say? It's a grandmother's job to make sure those kids are happy!! And how could I say no to those two!

Sabian (left) is 4 years old. Sirius (right) is almost 6 years old.

Happy Birthday!!

While today is Groundhog Day, and the world is focused on whether or not the groundhog will see his shadow (here in SC, he already has - 6 more weeks of winter for us!) at our house we are focused on this adorable boy......my grandson, Sabian.

Today is Sabian's birthday. He is now 4 years old. Just so you know, Sabian is awesome. He has such a sweet spirit. He is kind, loving and generous. If there were only one cookie left in all the world, he would give it to YOU. He is also snuggly, has a great sense of humor, and gives great back rubs.

Happy Birthday, Sabian!! I love you bunches and bunches!! I hope you have an awesome day!

Making memories....

I'm of the opinion that memories are made in the little things. Sure, the kids would remember a trip to Disneyland/World, whatever (not that we've ever taken one....okay, maybe when Eleanor & Laura were 4 and 2 1/2, and I don't think they remember!), but I think it's really the little stuff that we sometimes don't even think about that they really remember.

For example, when my kids were younger, we took Eleanor, Laura and Jacob to the cannery. (They were the only ones old enough to go at the time, Jacob was probably 12.) They still talk about how fun that was and wish that we could have done it more often. They talk about our summer days at Powder Springs Pool a little community pool where we spent our summers during the years we lived in Atlanta. They remember playing behind the elementary school across the street from our house, 4-square in the street, the pile of dirt that was in our backyard for years, jumping in the sprinkler, riding bikes, playing with the neighbor kids, making cookies, etc.

I guess my point is that memories don't cost a lot of money, but they do require time, effort and patience. It took time for me to load up all the kids (and half the neighborhood) and go to the pool all the time. It took me being outside with them (instead of inside doing chores) to help them learn how to ride bikes. It took a lot of behind the scenes looking out for them to let them have the freedom of ruling the neighborhood the way they did when they were younger. It took patience to let them build a mud bath in the dirt mound and play in the mud because I knew I was going to have to hose them off and that laundry was going to be a pain. It was a lot of work, but they have great memories of those days.

And now, with the next generation, I get to do it again. Tonight, when I was making the gourmet dinner of French Toast and Sausages, I tried to be patient when Sirius and Sabian pushed chairs up and 'helped' me. Because I knew that we were making more than dinner, we were making memories. I hope that someday, when Eleanor has her own place, her kids have fond memories of the days they lived at 'Abuela and Grandpa's house'. I hope they remember the nights when mommy was at work and we went to the Neely Farm pool and stayed until they closed. I hope they remember the nights we had 'game night' and played Mouse Trap, and Dominos, and Battleship. I hope they remember Grandpa taking them for walks, and going to feed the ducks in the pond, and playing at the park, and Grandpa telling them bedtime stories. I hope they remember Family Home Evening and singing 'Do as I'm doing'. I hope they remember hanging out with Sam, Peter, Jacob and Mary, watching tv and playing video games.

I hope they remember it all. I know I will.

DON'T!!

(ignore the date stamp, my camera reset when I changed the batteries!)

It's tough to be a kid these days. I've determined that the word Sirius and Sabian hear most around here lately is: "Don't!".

Here are some of our "Don't's"

Don't:

.....hit your brother!

.....slam that door!

.....pee in the backyard!

.....smear your popsicle on the backdoor (window, house or each other!)

.....touch that computer!

.....ever, ever go into Sam & Peter's room!

.....touch my stuff!

.....turn that channel!

.....push that button!

.....treat your brother that way!

.....talk like that to me! (or your mother, or Sam, or Peter, or, or, or)

.....stick your hand in your milk!

.....blow bubbles in your milk.

.....be afraid of wasps, they won't bother you!

.....go off the grass.

.....go near the dog!

.....open that fridge!

.....push that chair up to the counter!

.....climb onto the counter!

.....scare me like that!

.....spoil your dinner.

Yes, they hear a LOT of "don't". Yet, they keep on smiling. And on any given day, if you ask them how they're doing, the reply is: "Great!!" If only I could be more like them when things don't go my way. Roll with the punches and keep on smiling. Because after all, life is GREAT!!