I 'yam Twila

Guest Blog by Twila:

My Mom and Dad thought some time at Grandma and Grandpa's farm would be fun for me while they went on a trip before their puppy comes. Oh wait Grandma says it is a baby human, not a puppy. 

When my Dad left, I was in terrible shock. I saw his orangey Subaru pull away in the rain and I just couldn't belief it. He forgot me! Wait. The Grandma said not to worry, I'd get to see them again soon. I don't know what 'soon' is so decided to circle the house endlessly for a while. 

I checked all the doors and windows. 

The Grandma said 'Chill out' and she sat on the couch with Charlie. I was still worried and decided to sit there too. Maybe my Dad just made a huge mistake and once he looked in the back of the Subaru he'd know I was forgot.

Pretty soon the Grandpa joined us on the couch.

I settled in for a bit and then after sorting and arranging the toys and bones...
I took a nap.

When the rains stopped Grandma took out my leash. It has a chain thing on it because I chew through leashes when I take walks.

I like sticks, I like smells, I like sticks very much. I like smells very much. I like Charlie too. I like to follow him.
Grandma says I am strong. I am strong. I pulled her right up the hill with me. I'm a big help.

When we got to the Big Woods, I got to smell lots of wild things. There were deer bones, deer poo, and other delightful things. Charlie showed me around. 

By the time we reached the top of the second hill I wasn't pulling the Grandma up the hill anymore. I was just walking next to her.

I even sat pretty when she told me to. She wanted to take my picture to send to Dad so he would know I didn't get loose or lost. 

Grandma says I look like a coyote. I am not sure what a coyote is but Dad says I am cattle dog and a lot of other things. Grandpa calls me Heinz 57 and I don't know what that is either.

Charlie calls me Dog or Hey You.

I got back from the big hike/walk and it was supper time. Charlie ate his food and I ate mine only after Grandma put some of Charlie's Kibbles on top of mine.

More time outside after the humans ate their supper and then it was time to relax.

I slept all night in my bed when the humans went to sleep. I cuddled with Grandma around 4 in the morning.

After our breakfast and morning outing, Grandma told me she wanted us to do quiet time while she had her morning coffee.

We can be really good doggies.

I wonder what we will do today!

I 'yam Twila...or Dog.

 

Wishing it was Grandma & Grandpa Camp...

Last year we were in day two of Grandma & Grandpa Camp.
This year due to health issues [see The Long Road if you are curious].

Grandpa Rich is doing much better but lacking in energy still.

We sure would like to have all the kids here again this summer but everything is sort of up in the air at this point.

Work called and after being off the books for a month, they are sort of desperate to have me come in and cover for a full time person who is having shoulder surgery on July 6th.

I must admit, I will not mind going back to work.  I miss having those deposits in my account!  I have my eye on an infared filter for doing some creative photography.

For a while this spring I considered giving up a regular job all together in favor of striking it out on my own in the field of art and photography.

Well, I like it when I know I am getting paid, and I am horrid at promoting my own work.

That aside, we are going to work on trying to set up some times in the future this summer for kids to come and visit.
Working out the details will be a bit confusing as I never know when my work will want me.

But who could pass up the chance to enjoy having children around?

Morris says he misses having all the kids around here too.

So let's hope things continue to improve and we can have some adventure this summer.

I doubt I'll have the hours off, but hopefully we can work something out.

Grandma Grandpa Camp? They forgot me, Morris.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to watch 3 bigger kids and a baby kind of kid that is just my size all at once?

I mean I love kids.  I like kids.

But.
All that kid watching can wear an old fella out.
It is like watching a whole litter of kids ~~~  especially when you add the kidlits from the neighbor's place.

I'm the dirty diaper alert-er deluxe.
I can smell when the wee little one with the thing they call a NUK in its mouth does the smelly thing in her diaper.

I get all happy and try to stick my nose up her leg.
Funny.

Grandma Val goes 'EWWWW and so do some of the other folks around here.'
I don't think EWWWW at all.

But then I guess they don't have refined noses like myself.

I've snuggled with the girl kids and most nights I spend in a nest I make next to the wee kidlit.  She can crawl pretty good for a pup.  Her eyes are open and sometimes she even growls at me.
I'm not sure what that is all about though.

My most important job so far has been to come into the kitchen after meals and after the wee one eats and clean up the floor.

I'm pretty sure it is an important job and I just don't see Grandma Val getting down there and licking up the spilled crumbs.

Well, I better go take a nap in my crate.
The wee one with the plug in its face keeps keeps trying to grab me.

I learned after one pinch that it is best to avoid her little hands.

Day 3? Of Grandma & Grandpa Camp!

There aren't a lot of shots from yesterday as it started out horribly hot and humid.

After eating breakfast the three older kids went out and did what chores they could do.  
'Can we go out to play?'

Yes!
Off they went to feed animals.
I was a bit stuck with Elena as she was very busy trying to move like lightening across the floor and hone up on her crawling skills.

She was following Morris and trying to open his crate and crawl into it.  She got angry because she hasn't figured out the door latch on it yet.

Grandpa had to go back to bed.

When the kids came in they told me that it was HOT out.

So we swapped places, the girls watched Elena play while I went out and finished up chores and watering all the stock tanks.

Then it was snack time and lunch time.

Tell me that Elena does not have the cute-ness factor of 10!  I dare you!

We decided to head out to town and I'd show them where I work.
We started out but then I realized that the clouds to the west were very dark and there were spotters on the ridges.

We turned around and came home.
The storm blew through and while it rained we watched Benji.

After the movie, it was brownie making time.

It was an awesome group effort.  
Everyone had a hand in making them.

Elena supervised from her 'high' chair and ate Honey Nut Cheerios.

The kids each night volunteer to help with dishes.  I was naughty.  I did do a slight bribe on this account.
Whoever volunteers gets an hour with the Kindle to play games.

But hey, I have no shortage of dish-washing help!  And the other grands clear the table and put things away.

Morris has been the 'bomb'.  He keeps tabs on the kids and especially Elena.
He pulled a blanket over to near her Pack n Play last night and made his bed so he could be next to her while she slept.

Last night the kids ran out after helping with cleaning up the 'Grandma Ooops' supper [I didn't have spaghetti sauce in my cupboard!  We had buttered noodles instead!]...they ran outside to do chores with Grandpa Rich.

He merely supervised while they tossed flakes of hay to the proper animals.

The girls wanted to get up early to see the sunrise.
Hmmm.
It is nearly 7am and the whole house is still sound asleep except Morris and I.

Tonight?
Campfire?
Glow sticks?
Today?
Playing with the neighbor kids?
Walks?

So many things to do.  

Tomorrow we are hoping to go to Jersey Valley for a picnic with the neighbors.  Grandpa and Lily want to have a fishing contest.

Just need to say this.

I have the most awesome-ist Grand kids ever.
I think Grandpa and Grandma will be crying when these wonders have to go home.  And not crying with happiness either.

These few days have enriched our lives and I must thank the parents for allowing their little wonders to come and stay on the farm.

GG Camp Day 2

Day 2.
Wow already?

The kids slept in late.
I guess country air is good for them.

Even Elena slept in late.
[This morning it is past 6am and she is still zonked out.]

We all went to The Fort.  Which is a pile of rocks in one of the wooded pastures.

The kids loved climbing around on the rocks and looking at the moss.


Elena even got her first taste of clover buds.
At this age everything goes in the mouth and she tried out the sweet ends of red clover. 
She liked it!

Our morning walk turned into a rainy morning walk, but we all had a blast.  Elena absolutely loved the stroller that my neighbor lent us.
She cooed and kicked her feet the whole way, even when it was raining on her legs.

The rain passed and the afternoon got warm.  The kids changed into their swimsuits and played in the stock tank and baby pool.  

Elena sat on the large carpet and watched cheering them along when she wasn't banging on the ice cream bucket or charming Grandpa Rich.

Then there was supper and a meeting on doing a few things to help this ol' Gramma out.
The kids each volunteered to assist with washing dishes and clearing the table each night.

I wasn't too surprised as they have been going out in the morning to do chores on their own.  Ariel usually leads the way.

After evening chores Grandpa and Dennis played catch.  The girls went to visit the mares, donkeys, and mules in the Meadow and Elena slept.

Another beautiful day at Grandma & Grandpa Camp.

2 Days and counting!

Guess what?



Only 2 days left until the beginning of Grandma and Grandpa Camp  2014.
From what I understand the moms and some maybe the dads are more nervous about the kids being away from them than the kids are themselves.

I have it on good authority from young son that he will be relieved to have a break from his littlest child simply due to the fact that they are expecting another in September.

Maybe I am a bit nervous also.  It has been a few years since I've had this many children all under one roof.  But the old skills of wiping up baby drool, and handling all the demands of children will probably come back just like riding a bicycle.

I do however think that being a Grandmother has its advantages.  I can recall my grandmother Pearl with great fondness.

She was pretty cool.  But then again that is because she was not my mom and that makes some strange odd difference in children that I didn't understand before but do now.

Tomorrow will be the big shopping day for groceries and the last clean up and pick up of the house.

I leave to get Elena and Lily on Thursday.

Grandpa is going to get Dennis and Ariel on Thursday night.  Their trip is much shorter than mine.
My drive is 4 hrs one way.

So I will be staying Thursday night and bringing back Elena and Lily on Friday morning.

Let the fun just be great!

How Many More Days? 7!!! Until Grandma & Grandpa Camp!

Oh my.
How many days?

Long hikes, short hikes, playing in the meadow. Looking for butterflies.
Playing in the stock tank?

Picking wildflowers.
Fishing with Grandpa.
Picnics?

I think I am just about ready.
Whew, I think I'm nervous and excited at the same time.

Tick tock, it is getting close.
Beautiful sunrises and sunsets if we can stay awake for them!

9 Days To Grandma & Grandpa Camp?

What?
9 days?

Uh oh.

Better get a move on.  Start checking my lists.

There are so many things that we can do.
Visit a power plant?
Visit the Mississippi River?
See the Humongous Aluminum Can Turkey?
Visit a real farm with real farm kids and feed pigs and run around overlooking the river ridges?

Watch incredible sunsets?

Catch fireflies and run in the yard?
Ride a mule?
Play flashlight tag?

Paint a Happy Chair?
Color, read, hike, fish, .... breath country air?

Do chores?
Make cookies?

Oh hey, that sounds like something I want to do!

Where do I sign up?


9 days and counting down.

Grandma & Grandpa Camp Countdown ~ 16 days

This is the first year of what I hope to have many of...

A week's vacation for the Grand-kids at Grandma and Grandpa's farm and woods.

I've been asked over and over by the eager kids wanting to know 'what' are we going to do at G&G camp?

Well.

We could get muddy feet if we so choose.
We can go to parks, we can hike, we can fish, we can bake, cook, and paint things.

We can play.
We will get up when we wake up and go to sleep when we are tired.

We may go into the garden and pull some weeds.  

Grandkids will make their beds and pick up after themselves.

Maybe there will be a 'Kid Parade'.  I need to get in touch with my neighbor's daughter who wanted one last year.

At G&G camp there will no set time that we have to do this or that...
The clocks will be there for reference but not for a schedule.

There may even fun with Chinese Lanterns.

16 days left to the start of 'Camp'.

Morris is in training.
Grandpa is talking about it...
the mules are talking about it...

Are you kids counting the days????