Taking Time To Catch Up...

When I last posted, the boys, Caden and Chase, had just celebrated their birthdays with a joint birthday party.  Christmas quickly followed on the heels of their birthday celebration.  December is a very busy time at their house!

It's amazing how quickly these boys are growing!  Caden is growing taller by the day, and since Christmas, Chase has been walking all over the place!  He's anxious to get going and join in the fun! The most exciting thing for me, lately, is hearing Chase say several new words. He's been quiet until recently.

Madison is doing lots of growing and changing, as well.  She attends kindergarten from 8 until 12 each day, and it's amazing how much she is learning in those four hours. Reading, counting, writing, memorizing Bible verses, and her newest challenge--addition!  Madison's blessed to have a patient and loving mom who works with her daily at home, too.  My heart swells with pride each time I hear Madison read!

Due to my on-going health issues, I haven't been able to spend as much time with the grands as I once did.    Fortunately, they'd rather spend time with each other anyway.  There's nothing Caden and Madison love any better than visiting each other's houses.  I'm glad they are close.  It won't be long before they'll have another little fellow joining them in play, too.  Time marches on...

Guess Who Turns Four Today...

It's almost impossible to believe that four years have already passed since grandson, Caden, entered this world!  It seems like it was just yesterday.

I still remember the day well.  I was in the middle of hosting a Christmas luncheon for Ed's co-workers when I received "the call".  I hastily left my food in the care of others, and my daughter and I headed to the hospital.  We were able to make it to the hospital about an hour before Caden arrived.

These days, Caden is a typical, active, little boy.  He spends his days playing with his farm toys or his Thomas the Train play sets.  He still enjoys driving the tractor he received for Christmas last year, and looks forward to hitching a ride on "E's" big tractor whenever he can.  Riding in Grandpa's old pickup, on trash day, is also something Caden often looks forward to.

Caden now spends his days in the company of his baby brother, Chase, who will celebrate his first birthday later this month.  Caden's a very loving and protective big brother to Chase.  I hope this will always be the case.

Happy Birthday, Caden!  Mimi wishes you lots and lots more happy days ahead.

Guess Who Is Learning How To Read...

Things are certainly changing around here.  Some days I look around, and wonder where time went!  Wasn't it just yesterday when our little "Maddie" was toddling around the living room watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse?  I spent a lot of time with little "Maddie" back in those days, but these days--not so much.  As I mentioned, things are changing.  It's a bit sad, but it's just the way life is.

First of all, our little Maddie isn't so little anymore!  She's growing into a beautiful young girl, and these days she prefers to be called "Madison"!  Madison has a very busy and fulfilling life of her own these days.  She has Alex, the little boy her mama keeps, to play with and keep her occupied whenever he's there.  She is also attending a private K-5 program, and goes to school from 8 until 12 five days a week.  Then, of course, there's AWANA on Wednesday nights, and some homework to do, too...Oh, and did I mention that she has a new puppy, too?

The other evening I had the pleasure of hearing Madison read to me for the first time!  She did an excellent job, and I was one proud MiMi.  My mind couldn't help but wander back to my old days of teaching reading in first grade. I've listened to scores of first graders reading out of the very same book, but none of them made my heart sing quite like Madison did!

Madison has always loved books, and I hope she always will.  I'm a firm believer that if you can read, you can do anything!  Way to go Madison, keep up the good work, and come back and read to me anytime!

Trick-Or-Treat - They Sure Are Sweet...

All three "grands" posing together

Chase the duck, with his brother, Farmer Caden

Madison, the cowgirl

Ed and I only had three trick-or-treaters come our house on Tuesday night, but I happen to think that our three little visitors were the best of the bunch!  That's probably because they are my grandchildren!  As usual, I had a "goody bag" waiting on our little visitors when they arrived, which they promptly tore into!

This year, our little ones came dressed as a cowgirl, a farmer, and a duck.  All were equally precious, but that little duck with those striped legs just stole my heart!  I couldn't help but think about the year his brother showed up dressed as a skunk!  Then, of course, there was the year his brother was dressed as a monkey, too...

Our visitors didn't stay long, but they did take a moment and allow me to take a few photographs.  Some of them were more willing participants than others, but all participated.  What can I say, except "Like father, like son.", his daddy was the same way, when it came to having his picture taken.

I'm told that all three "grands" now have lots of candy, which they will enjoy munching for the next several weeks.  Oh the joys of being a kid!

Male On The Move...

It's official, as of last week, our little Chase became a "male on the move"!  He's learned how to crawl.  Almost overnight, it seems, Chase went from scooting to crawling everywhere.  Last Friday evening, Chase kept all of us busy keeping him out of trouble!  It's been a while since we had an active baby in the house.

Why is it that second or third children seem to grow up so much faster than first ones do?  Judging from the gleam in Chase's eyes, I'd say it's so they can keep up with older siblings!  Chase seems to adore his older brother, and Cade feels the same way.

Chase seems to have outgrown his "cranky phase", and is now a happy, busy little boy.  He also loves to eat.  Now, if those first aggravating teeth would just come on through so he could chew!

Chase's dark brown eyes just sparkle with excitement, these days, and one of his favorite words seems to be "Yay".  He understands praise, which tells me he gets a lot of it.  This speaks volumes for his parents, and makes this MiMi happy.

Time Is Passing...

Where has this summer gone?  It's nearly over, and I don't think I've posted but two or three times!

The grandchildren have had a busy summer.  Madison and Caden have both been on fun vacations with their families, and have been involved in various summer activities throughout the summer--including VBS and swimming lessons.

Chase has spent his first summer learning how to navigate.  He's gone from rolling to pulling up.  He can scoot, but hasn't quite gotten the hang of crawling yet.  I suspect it won't be long, and he'll be trying to keep up with the other kids.  It seems as if he's growing up more quickly than the others.

Summer is nearly over, and soon Madison will be beginning her second year at "Busy Little Beavers".  She'll be attending their newly-formed Kindergarten class.  She'll be attending school five mornings a week, instead of four.  She's lucky that she's already familiar with her teacher and her surroundings.  I hope it will be a happy and productive school year for Madison.

Caden will be enjoying another year at home, in the company of his mom and little brother.  He won't turn four until December, so he still has some time...He started attending "Storytime" at the library over the summer.  "Storytime" is when the librarian reads several books out loud, all with a common theme, then follows up with a craft project.  She also teaches the children a few "wiggles songs".

I'm so happy that my grandchildren have been able to spend all of their early years at home with their mothers.  What a blessing for them!  I don't regret a single day that I spent at home with my own children.  Time passes too quickly, and children are just too precious give up, until you don't have a choice!

I haven't posted here as regular as I once did.  I keep telling myself that I need to get back into the routine of posting regularly, but the truth is--I just don't have the time and energy anymore.  What a difference a year or two can make when you are older, especially when you have health issues!  It takes me twice as long to do half as much as I used to do :)  Gotta' love growing older.  Until next time, here are a few grandchildren pictures...

Caden at the library

Chase up on his hands and knees

Chase and Caden going for a wagon ride

Madison and Caden playing at the park

Caden and Madison roasting giant marshmallows

Where Are You Going, My Little One?

Today's post will be an update on grandson, aka "Baby Chase".  This is the last time I feel like I can call him "Baby Chase", because he is growing up so fast!

Chase continues to be a "Mama's Boy", and there isn't a thing in the world wrong with that!  While he gives the rest of us tiny smiles and some of his attention, he saves the best for his mama.  His smiles for her can light up the room!  Here's what Chase's face looked like after his mama left him with me earlier this week...So serious--almost sad!

I had the pleasure of Chase's company for a while on Tuesday morning.  It's rare that I have Chase all to myself, without any of the other "grands" around, but the others had gone to the park with their mamas, to play.  I'm not sure Chase knew what to think about being left behind, but I was tickled to have him all to myself.

I threw the old bean bag down on the floor and got down on Chase's level--something that's becoming increasingly hard to do these days!  Chase and I  played for a bit, and before long,  he began to enjoy himself.  I loved watching him explore.

After a while, I got the chance to sing and rock Chase to sleep for his nap--one of my favorite "grandma things" to do.  It's good to know that I still haven't lost my touch!  Is there anything more precious than a sleeping baby?  I would have taken a picture, but I was afraid I'd disturb him!  As it turned out, Chase's daddy called--and did disturb him!

Believe it or not, Chase is already seven months old!  He's rolling both ways, and actually pulled up for the first time on his seven month birthday!  I suspect that he's in a hurry to grow up and have some fun with his big brother, Cade,--who happens to be growing like a weed himself!