Living outside the city limits and in the middle of several acres allows our grandchildren to do things like “we used to do.”
As a kid in the 50’s, I’d get up in the morning, hop on my bike and be gone for hours. Mother knew I was closeby — just didn’t have to worry about my safety as far as strangers were concerned. So, if we kids wanted to stop playing with dolls, cars, ball, or whatever and ride off on our bikes to surrounding fields, we did. Kids in suburbia don’t get to have that experience today.
So, if the outside temp’s aren’t too high, our g’kids like to go outside at our place. They hunt — and catch — lizards and keep them in Mayonnaise jars for a day. If the lizards are hiding, they look for other “critters.” Just keep reminding them not to bother any legless ones (we DO have some “bad” critters around). They also climb trees (and sometimes get stuck), go on hikes carrying big sticks, chop on old tree stumps, dig big holes looking for whatever might be in what was once a little hole, take Hooper (their dog who lives at our house) for a walk, pick up sticks that look like swords or spears, ride the John Deere with Papo (or help him wash it),
and once or twice have ventured to a nearby wet-weather creek with Papo — starting out in dry clothes and coming back soaking wet.
Now that Keegan is old enough and responsible enough to handle a BB gun, that has become his favorite outdoor activity. A few days ago, he was here and was spending too much time on the computer. So I suggested he go out and “hunt big game.” He was off to the “back forty” in a flash — barefooted and in shorts. So, he didn’t venture past the back porch! Came back in after a while and said something like “those darn birds keep flying away” and I had one in my cross-hairs several times. Now, I really didn’t want him to shoot anything (except maybe a scorpion), and told him that whatever he shot and killed we would have to eat for supper. Maybe that’s why he came back gameless.
Yesterday Keegan and the girls were here and he decided to go out “big game hunting” again. Our gun rules include “no one else in the yard while shooting.” However, I noticed that all three were in the back yard, along with the gun. Opening the back door to tell the girls to come inside, I saw a sad look on Keegan’s face (as he sat barefooted, in shorts, on a tall bar stool, on the back porch, with the bb gun nearby). He looked up at me and said, “Mamo, I have something to tell you.” Immediately I did a quick visual check of the girls — nothing looked wrong with either one. So, I relaxed and said, “OK, sweetie, what is it?” A much sadder expression appeared on his face, and he told me about accidentally breaking my bird feeder. He was pumping the gun, it went off, hit the side of this SMALL bird feeder (a plate hanging on three chains), and broke it. Now, the bird feeder is hanging dangling vertically in the tree. Time to go inside and do some arts and crafts.
We have three very talented young artists. Each one can draw and color or paint exceptionally well for their age. Keegan and Brielle’s teachers have submitted their work to a school district art show each year. McKenna starts school this year, and she will also have her art on display, I’m sure! For example, she chose to paint a wood cut-out of a cat during our arts and crafts time. The detail and shading that she used on it are very far advanced for a 5 year old! 
Keegan chose a cut-out of a moose and a bass; Brielle colored a turtle cut-out. All of them are “keepers.”
Just about the time they finished their projects, Ann and her ten year old grandson, Parker, dropped in for a visit. Oh what excitement our three displayed when they saw him. Of course, our girls wanted to know where his sisters were and looked out the window — but he was alone. But the foursome headed outside for a while and were obviously having a blast. (The bb gun was locked away.) Parker brought in a new game, The Price Is Right, and “we” all played it for a while. Then, it was Twister. Then, it was “chase” — thru the house, until Mamo and Grandmother put a stop to it. Movie time — our cable service provides Movies On Demand (for a fee, of course) — and it took about 15 minutes for the four children and 2 adults to agree on an appropriate or a good movie to watch. The choice — “Like Mike” — rated G — and only seen a time or two by several. It is a good movie — only $1.95 and available for 24 hours. About an hour into it, Papo came home with a BIG DAVE pizza — so, we paused the movie and ate (at the table like an old-fashioned family). Back to the movie, and Papo served his famous chocolate malts to all — yum!!
Our guests left about 8:30 — to the chagrin of all the kids. Then, the “discussion” about dibs on sleeping on the couch, or in the big bed with Mamo or Papo, or in the guest bedroom began. Now that we have a tv in the guest bedroom, it somehow doesn’t seem like such a bad place to spend the night.
Keegan got the couch — again — and is still snoozing there as I write. Just wondering if he might be dreaming about the “big game hunt” he will probably go on today.
Every one was up and stirring by 10:00ish — and it was a hurried morning. Breakfast cereal for Keegan and McKenna and chocolate malt-o-meal for Brielle (still has a sore mouth from upper and lower expanders put in her mouth on Monday). Filled the tub with bubble bath for the girls and showed Keegan how to use our 1970’s style shower — I was off for an 11:00 appointment for my regularly scheduled three-month CT scan. “The Plan” was for me to be home by noon, pick up the g’kids and meet Ann and Parker for a quick lunch, and then go to see the movie, “March of the Penguins.” Well, how do you tell the staff at the cancer center to hurry because you have a schedule to meet? My 11:00 appointment didn’t get started until 11:30. Finished at 12:05 — on the road at 12:06 — called Terry at 12:07 asking if he can bring the g’kids to the lunch site — arrived at the lunch site and placed our orders at 12:15 — Terry and g’kids arrived at 12:20 — Ann and Parker arrived at 12:30 — finished our lunch and on the road at 12:50 — made the 1:05 movie by 1:10! Whew!
March of the Penguins review — adults seemed to love it; kids were antsy. Guess it was worth the $21 I plopped down for the four of us.
Time for a treat (per McKenna’s request) — to Culver’s for a chocolate custard! So yummy. Off to a playground where these “antsy” kids could spill out some of their energies. When the heat got too bad, we left the playground — dropped Ann and Parker off — while driving to our house, got a call from our g’kids Mom — Melissa — wondering where we were. Asked her to let them stay a bit longer — we had a swimming invite at our neighbor’s pool next door — and it WAS hot! Only problem — no swimsuits at our house. But . . . it is a private pool . . . so, shorts and t-shirts were acceptable. Keegan was awesome — diving like a swan (and once came up with less on than when he dove in). McKenna has almost mastered the shallow end — can swim the entire width without stopping. Brielle wore one of my old swimsuits — held “on” with a coverup t-shirt; she is also an excellent swimmer. Water was warm and wonderful — and then . . . a cloud appeared with some wind and who knows what else — so, we hopped out of the pool and headed home.
Papo loaded us all up in our new Explorer about 6:30 and headed for a favorite catfish restaurant. Only three of us actually eat catfish — Keegan and McKenna think that chicken is a better choice. Brielle was able to eat the chicken filets at lunch and the catfish tonight (the expanders take some time to get accustomed to when eating). The news of the day happened here:
McKenna lost her first tooth!
We put it in a napkin and carefully wrapped it up (it is soooo tiny). Carefully tucked it in my purse and she asked every 5 minutes if I still had it. Some of her comments were: “I’m going to be so rich after tonight.” “This is my lucky day.” “I can’t wait to tell Mom and Dad the news.” “Maybe I shouldn’t put it under my pillow tonight — maybe I should save it to show Mom and Dad . . . naw, I’m putting it under the pillow tonight . . . I’m going to be rich.”
Now, I don’t know about the tooth fairy at Mom and Dad’s house, but the one at this house hasn’t been known to make little ones “rich.”
Her lucky day continued as Terry paid our bill at the cashier’s counter. He gave each g’child a quarter for a jaw breaker gum ball. (Oh no, Brielle didn’t get to have a jaw breaker — not with that orthodonic work in her mouth.) McKenna’s quarter netted her TWO gum balls — a yellow and a red one — “This Really IS My Lucky Day.” A nearby waiter heard her and kiddingly said “oh, you have to give one of those back.” If looks could kill . . . .
Our day ended with a wonderful visit to Aunt Jesse Lee and Uncle Harold’s house. They haven’t seen the g’kids for almost three years, and we were nearby and thought it would be a good time to drop in. They were overjoyed to see all of us.
The g’kids are tucked in again — this time it’s Brielle’s turn to sleep on the couch. They are spending one more night with us before leaving for a short vacation to the Coast — and then school starts again on August 15. And, now it is time for the Tooth Fairy to scrounge up some coins bills.