Mountains

This past Sunday I was driving to church…alone.  Wally was finishing up plowing and shoveling from a fast two inch snow storm that came through overnight. It was our second storm already and followed a week of record breaking low, low temps for November.  It felt like deep winter, but my heart warmed as I drove to the west, the foothills were gorgeous covered in the fresh snow.  Then I had a warm memory hit me…a memory of driving toward these same mountains this summer with the grandkids in tow.  Ben and Andrea had been in town and I kept telling Nolan and Elaine (mostly Elaine), “We’re going to go the mountains!”  The day of our outing finally arrived.  We started out with Elaine and one of the twins in our car.  Ben and Andrea followed behind us.  The mountains seemed so far away and little ones don’t really have a sense of time and distance.  About thirty minutes into the drive we were winding around Coal Creek Canyon.  Elaine’s excited voice sounded from the back seat, “Grandma, look we are at the mountains!!”  “Yes!” I replied, just as excited that she noticed!  After a few minutes of staring out the window she asked, “How much does it cost to come to the mountains?!”  Thankfully that pleasure is just a tank of gas!  That is where the warm part of memory ended.  Because after that we had about two hours of…Elaine: “When are we going to stop?”  Me: “We’re going to keep climbing higher and higher until we reach the very top.”  Elaine: “Do you mean that very top over there?”  Me: “Yes, way, way over there.  We are going to keep climbing higher and higher!”  Repeat!  Quite a few times!  The problem with Colorado mountains is that it does take awhile to reach the very top, but it’s worth it when you do.

When we reached Estes Park took the River Walk into the shops.  We spent time enjoying cotton candy (I love being a Grandma!) and salt water taffy and letting little legs run and stretch!

Then we got back in the car and journeyed on, climbing higher and higher!  Along the way a herd of elk was spotted and those New Yorkers jumped out of the car and went running across the tundra to get a closer look!

At last we were at the very top!!

We had a little picnic and photo shoot.  This is a great shot of the kids…not sure what the parents were doing! 

 
But then here’s a good one of the parents, and typical of the kids!  It’s hard to believe Nolan was smiling and looking at the camera…rare!

And here’s a very young set of grandparents!!  Life is good at the very top!

The Grands Visit

Two weeks ago I was looking forward to having Ben and Andrea visit…and all the grands!  Now I can hardly believe they have come and gone!  They came to be part of  the Mission’s Conference at Beth Eden Baptist Church across town.  We knew it was going to be a full schedule at the conference and that we would have to share them.  We picked them up at the airport and had them for one night.  Then off they went.  Sunday evening they presented their video of  church planting in the Bronx.  We took my parents and Jo and went over for the Sunday night service.  The following Sunday night, Ben preached at the close of the conference and we all traipsed across town for that…and brought more family along!  Interesting thing about going into a strange church….you are not strangers.  You are brothers and sisters in Christ, likeminded.  To find we had old friends and acquaintances at Beth Eden was just icing on the cake!

The first afternoon together we took a walk around the neighborhood.  The kids were very much into walking Sadie.  The twins were very much into moving!  We had a couple of close calls near the edge of the pond when we went to find ducks.  I do have to say, Sadie was the best dog.  She never did snap at the kids…even when they were in her food dish.  She played keep away and chase with them…I think she thought we had brought her home a new toy, or four!

We did get to snag Elaine and Nolan for a couple of days.  And of course they love to go out with Grandpa in the golf cart!  We had a good time.

 
I did kind of forget just how low to the ground toddlers are.  I don’t think I have bent over so much in a long time.  One night Wes came by and we all went to get a burger together.  Elaine was squirming pretty good in her booster and Grandpa had to get on her not to move or she would fall!  Not more than ten minutes later, she head planted off the booster right into the floor!  A couple more things I forgot about toddlers, they cry loudly in public and everyone looks at you like tortured the poor child.  And then just how badly you feel because they are hurt!  As I was trying to comfort her I said, “Elaine, that’s why Grandpa wanted you to sit still”  and between sobs she replied, “I wasn’t moving, I was rocking!”  Free ice cream sundaes for her and Nolan did help a bit.

Elaine is very much into “helping” with whatever you are doing.  And Nolan is very much into doing what Elaine does…and adding some spice to the activity.  So we filled the bird feeders together, we fed the dog together, we watered the plants together, and we made spaghetti sauce for dinner together!  Elaine is a non stop talker, so I heard about all the things she helps her Mommy do.  I loved every minute of it!!  Elaine is also into “set ups” with her toys.  She takes it kind of serious, and she likes to use all the toys.  She has an interesting negotiating strategy with Nolan.  Nolan, however,  does not take too much and his strategy is to knock over her set ups!  

Now just  take a look at the work to put all these little people in place.  Not to mention the imagination of a horse and carriage in  a castle tower.

One day we were supposed to meet Andrea at the zoo as one of the activities the mission conference was providing.  Since Jo is home, I invited her to come along.  The day was very rainy…and the zoo outing was cancelled.  So my parents and Jo just hung around with us to enjoy the great-grands!  Nolan loves puzzles and I still had a bunch that Wally had made years ago.  Nolan was not stumped by any of them…even the backwards number puzzle.  Turns out Jo is pretty good at working a puzzle herself! 

On Wednesday, it was still cool and drizzly but we went to the zoo.  I always like to go when its cooler because the animals are active.  We had a great time!

I tried all day to get a picture of all the kids together.  That is a tough job.  But finally, in Tropical Discovery, I was successful!

^{Grandkids are just Grand!}

Let’s Go Fly A Kite!

I have had this kite hanging around for awhile.  Wally said we picked it up when we visited Mackinac Island three years ago weekend away somewhere, thinking we would fly it, but never did.  When I got the suitcases out to pack for our Florida trip, there was the kite, still new, leaning in a corner.  I put it in the bottom of my suitcase on a whim.  One day in the Keys, Kenny, Becky and Wesley wanted to head down to Key West, another hour and half away.  Rather than getting the kids into the car again,  the rest of us decided to explore the resort.  We found a nice grassy patch with a nice breeze blowing.  That makes for nice and easy kite flying! 

 

The secret ingredient to kite flying is…grandkids!

The House of Twins!!

A couple of days ago we got in a quick Skype session with Andrea and Elaine…Nolan was out on an errand with Daddy and the twins were asleep.  Before we said goodbye, Nehemiah stirred and Andrea went to get him.  My word, he has grown so much!!  I could not believe it when Andrea said he was 9 lbs.  He has filled out quite a bit since our visit a few weeks ago!  Which made me lament to Andrea that I had not posted my twins pictures yet!  So, before they start walking, here is a little taste of what a house of twins is like!

The best part of babies is just holing them and enjoying looking at them.  All their tiny little baby parts…ears, fingers, nose and mouth, those tiny little nails are in place, the feet!  I just can’t get over it!

Those little bodies need a lot of care.  Feeding, burping, nappy changing!   The twins graduated from a single in the sink to both in the tub while I was visiting!  I think the tub suits them better!

Bath time is always followed by a good lather of Baby Magic lotion and a big sister who loves to rub it in!

Then the baby gawking starts again! 

Mom and Dad have been doing a good job managing the double action.  I can’t believe this is the only shot of Ben with his babies  that I took.  He was pretty tired when I arrived.  He’s a good Dad, working, helping with the twins and still playing with Elaine and Nolan and reading to them and helping get them into bed. 

When Mom and Dad’s arms wear out, Elaine is always ready to help out.  She loves talking and singing to the twins.

Wally flew our for the Memorial Day weekend. He was determined to see these babies when they were still tiny.  See, you just get caught up looking and looking at them!

Hope you enjoyed looking too…they are pretty sweet!