The Hearth/Stage

Ever since Isa first started to walk and then discovered that she could climb, our 11 inch high hearth has been one of her favorite places. It has become a sort of stage for her imagination and performances. Being our oldest grandchild, she has paved the way for her brother and sister and cousins to follow. There's something about standing even 11 inches off the ground that makes them feel like they are in the limelight. And the fact that the TV is right next to it being watched by the adults, makes it easier to have a captive audience! But capture us they do. I can't help but wonder though, what future compromises may have to be made when Sydney starts walking and wanting to join in on the fun....and then there's Baby Yerkes.  Will 6 fit fit up there all at once?

THE CAST:

More Catching Up--Sock Hop

On Valentine's Day I was, at first, disappointed when I heard that Isa's school doesn't have Valentine parties. As a teacher, that was always my favorite. It was fun showing them how to make hearts and watching the kids open their cards and sort through their collections. Although I'll have to admit that it was more of a girl thing than a boy thing. Many of the boys would get caught up in the whole idea only because the girls made them feel like they needed to (not much changes as we get older, huh?!), and more than once I found valentines in the trash after they were opened, viewed, and all of the candies removed. The cards in the trash always belonged to a boy--NEVER a girl!

But Isa's class did exchange valentines, they just didn't have a party. Instead, they took the kids to the cafeteria for a Sock Hop for the last 1/2 hour of the day. The kids were told to dress for the occasion, so I retrieved a poodle skirt that I had made for Jill at that age from our costume collection.  SO cute!!  I think the Hokey Pokey was Isa's fav dance.

Where to begin?

I seem to have gotten behind in my blogging. The last couple weeks have flown by; it almost felt like a time warp when I came home after being gone for 5 days/6 nights. Then this morning when I woke up and my left eye was glued shut, it added to the strangeness. But I did my obligatory 2+ hours at the urgent care to get eye drops for my conjunctivitis and I hope tomorrow begins with both eyes popping open. I thought about posting a picture, but decided it was more than I wanted to share!  I also thought it somewhat strange (and pointless) to be given an eye chart exam at urgent care--well, not the whole test, but the part with my glasses off.  Chart, what chart?? Well, yes, I could read the top row of one large letter....

Now to get back to what I've missed posting about.

Cade and Isa have begun soccer practice and I rearranged my schedule so I could attend one of the practices a couple weeks ago. Before Cade left to go out on the field, I told him to turn around so I could take his picture. The pose was his idea.

I think maybe he's been watching big sister, Isa, who is in to posing.

Walking out to the field with Daddy

 
Following directions
 
The sideline gallery was busy, too.

 

As much fun as it was to watch these 2 and 3 year olds, I'd have to say that it was not as much fun watching the adults out on the field with them. Come on parents, pick ONE family member to accompany your little one! Some had both mom and dad out there giving directions, and one little guy had mom, dad, grandma, and grandpa!!! Poor boy didn't know who to listen to!

Funny Faces

Little Miss Isa and Little Man Cade recently tried teaching Amelia and Nathan (and Sydney!) how to make funny faces. Isa has it down pat. She's had plenty of time to practice while looking in a mirror. (Her mother also had a thing with mirrors. When she was about 3 or 4 and would get upset and the tears would flow, Mike and I would have to stifle our laughs because she would run to a mirror to watch the tears, and then the volume would increase.)  Cade is kind of half way there. The tongue is out, but he is still looking cute.

 But these 3 sweeties will need more practice to look anything but cute and adorable.

Lucky Dog

No, the Lucky Dog is not this adorable pup:

Although she was just as cute as cute can be today at school when the Kdgn classes were celebrating the 101st day of school by dressing like dalmatians.

But no, the Lucky Dog is me, The Grandma (or Damma, as Cade calls me, or Gram, as Amelia says). Today I took Isa to school and spent the morning helping her teacher by running sets of papers at the copy machine and then helping in class at the "Parent Table". Today it was a fun project of cutting out hearts to glue together to make a dog. 

 From school I moved on to take care of Cade and Sydney until Jill got home from work. They are starting to feel so much better than last week and the weather cooperated, so it was great to get outside to enjoy the sunshine. Jen came over with Amelia and Nathan (who are also feeling better) and we all enjoyed the warm sun together.



Well, Sydney was enjoying it til I put her down to take the picture.

So, Lucky Dog Grandma (and blessed) who got to spend time with all 5 grandbabies and both daughters in the same day!

Random Posts

It seems I haven't taken very many grandbaby pictures lately. With all of the runny noses and sore throats going around, the opportunity for pics just didn't seem right. I did, however, mark the occasion of Sydney starting to sit on her own without support. If she's doing this already at 5.5 months, I wonder what that says for when she'll start walking?

Here's a Happy Birthday picture of Marcus. Is it 30 when people stop putting all of the candles on your cake?? (That cake was yummy, btw.)

I've been indecisive as to what project I should start next. What do you think; should it be the beanbag chair cover that I've been procrastinating since before Christmas? (It's the minky fuzz that I know is going to fly everywhere as soon as I lay it out to cut. It was already getting all over just getting it out for the picture!)

OR, should I make the new valances for the Playroom/Used-to-be-Guestroom?

OR, lastly, (for now) should I make Valentine hairbows and fabric flowers? The fabric flowers I have been very anxious to start practicing, but I have a feeling that I won't know where or when to stop!   

Decisions, decisions....

Patiently Waiting

Yes! Amelia finally let Jen put her hair in a ponytail and leave it for more than a few minutes!

 Jen and Steve left at 4 for an evening out on Friday and Amelia's ponytail stayed in over 2 hours and she was briefly disappointed at bath time when I told her it had come out. I'm hoping this is a sign that she soon will be willing to wear hair bows. I only have 2 pictures of her with bows in her hair, one on her birthday when I sneaked it into her hair and quickly took the picture before she pulled it out,

 and the other at her adoption ceremony where the picture was snapped just as she was reaching for it.   

Now,  this is a girlie girl,  who notices and wants to wear all kinds of jewelry and shoes (!). So I'm remaining hopeful that I'll soon be making her some bows that she will wear.