Running in His Footsteps

 

This is my middle grandson, Chad, who wins his fair share of ribbons at the local track and field events. He is a very good runner.

 

Running behind, by seven years, is my youngest grandson, Liam, who ran in a fund raiser at his elementary school this week. He is the focused one with the horizontal stripes on his top.  I sponsored him and hoped he would not run more than 10 laps around the track. He did not break the bank but was a very determined young man and I am sure he will some day run circles around his older brother.

Yuck!

 

My grandson, Chad, turned 14 last week. It was an exciting and eventful week for him, apart from his birthday. He has another school drama under his belt, he performed admirably in an interschool track meet, he turned in an excellent report card, and, we all got to help him eat birthday cake on Sunday.

He loves his mom very much, but he likes to be cool and pretend that this display of affection is not to his liking. Actually it really is.

Ice Caves

 

That tiny glacier, or snow bank, in the distance became more intriguing as we approached it. There was an opening with a small stream pouring out from under the snow and as we followed the channel, we discovered the ice cave. Here is Liam and Keith, entering and as long as you could see the entry, Liam was OK with it.

 

Here you can see the look of apprehension as the water is dripping and it is bit darker back here. The wonderful blue green glow in the background is the light filtering through the ice.

 

The smooth, hard, gentle undulations of the surface were icy cold and wet, giving us a great relief from the outside temperature of 28 C. It was a mysterious and intriguing place to be as the water dripped and the branches of the cave spread outward.

 

Here is Nate in the back of the cave where it was very dark and only the camera flash gave light. The walls look pillowy soft but they were as hard as nails so we were not concerned about a cave-in.

 

Here are the boys exiting the cave and ending their most excellent adventure. We got wet and cold so welcomed the hot sun as we returned to the trail.

Growing Up Too Fast

 

My Grandsons are growing up too fast. We had so much fun with these guys at busylizzy's birthday party on Sat. Nathan, Chad, and Liam, the best grandsons in the whole entire universe. Bar none. Without a doubt. Unequivocally. It's true!  

Riding Mower

 

My grandsons came over on Saturday to mow the lawn, but had not got the message that they were cancelled this week. Except for that green part you see in the photo, our lawn is dry and has gone dormant until the Fall rains. They did cut it in this area and then with a bit of time on their hands, they got inventive. This is the poor man's riding mower. Patent pending.

Rodeo

 

This is as close as I can come to a cowboy photograph as I search my photo files. Why a cowboy photo?

busylizzy and I took the three grandsons to the rodeo tonight. I have been to a few, but the boys had not been to one before so it was an experience.

By gosh, it was as western as it gits in this here city. There was barrel racin', horse back ridin', calf ropin', bull ridin', and a gosh darn funny rodeo clown who had a thang about gay jokes. Wasn' he a gay cowboy? Well shoot my britches, I don't rightly know fur sure. The biggest thang to hit rodeo in many a year happened right before our very eyes as two bronkin' bulls come out the chute at the exact same time, one with'n a rider, one with'n no rider. You all never saw such excitement since Daisy Mae's cat sat too close to Gramma's rockin' chair. I was spectin' one of those bulls to crush one of those cowboys, plum flat. We had nuff of that after a spell and headed out to the rest of the Fair.

 

Not much at the Agri-Fair, I must confess. We bought some ice-cream at a concession that bragged it had about 50 flavours at $3.50 a cone. What they do is squirt some soft serve into a container, squirt some flavour from a chemical jar into the 'ice-cream', give it a stir with a whipper-snipper-whirley-gig thingy and then put it back into the machine and it squirts it back into a miniscule cone. It was the most unorganised and inefficient setup I have ever seen. And the two gals working in there were not getting along. I was embarrassed for them.

We then cruised through the midway, and then the animal barns, and then headed home.

Three hours with the grandsons is great. Three hours at the Agri-fair, not that great.

Swimming Lesson

 

I watched Liam take the final session in this round of swimming lessons at the local pool. He was trying really hard because he was promised ice-cream if he passed. His two older brothers are good swimmers and took the same lessons.

 

There is a lack of focus because of the many students in the same class and all the activity of the wave pool on a Friday morning in the summer time. He seemed to be doing no better or no worse than the others, but .......

 

he got a failing grade. He will have to either repeat, or take private lessons. I think he was a bit weak on the part where they have to glide forward with their faces in the water. It is not a natural thing  for a land loving, air-breathing creature to do. As for the ice-cream, he came by later in the afternoon on a bike ride and I gave him some ice-cream anyway. Grandparents are allowed to break the promises of their children made to their children.

Boys Will Be Boys

 

Proof that Nathan is an Angel! Or a Saint!

 

Chad is growing so fast that even the trees bend under his weight.

Farewell .... Sort Of

Tuesday was the last day of our little grandson's 12 days of sleepovers. It is not like we will never see him again, but it was a bit difficult to say goodbye. Sure, it is a bit time consuming, and tiring, but the payoffs are huge. We became quite close, much more than usual. These two photos were taken on his last day. In case you didn't notice, this is a happy kid.

What is so great about Liam? For starters, he is a very positive little boy. He wakes up with a smile on his face, and was never once grumpy or reluctant to get right up and get on with his day. The first topic of the day, at breakfast is "How is your day going?" That is him asking me. When I am being honest, I am saying something like  "so so". I ask him and his response every time is "Great!" That immediately puts me in a better frame of mind.  

He is full of ideas for the activities of the day. If I am reluctant about something, he quickly and easily changes gears and goes for plan 'B'. (he is flexible) 

He never complains. Ask him how his 'leftover' lunch is and he always says something like "delicious" or "super good". Riding his bike, playing with a ball, playing table games, or doing puzzles, he is always cheerful and is a good sport even when he loses. He slides down the longest snake in "Snakes and Ladders" and takes it in stride. I jump two of his kings in checkers and he doesn't get one bit upset, even though he is competitive and really wants to win.

At bedtime, he willingly gets in the tub and when it is time to get out and get on the PJs, he just does it. I did not hear one whine, complain, or gripe the whole 12 days. 

I doubt I was like that as a kid because I am not that way now. Is it a learned behaviour, or is it his personality and God-given disposition? I hope he does not change. He and I get along fabulously and I want it to stay that way. I love him to pieces and when he spontaneously and without solicitation throws his arms around me and announces that he "loves me so much" my heart melts and I want time to stand still. 

Now, if you think this is just a grandfather bragging on his grandson, I will drop a little honesty here. Everything I wrote above? All bets are off when he is around his two older brothers. We will not talk about that. :)  

Combo

 

We are having the best time ever with our grandson staying at our house for 12 days. He is an 'outside' person and loves getting outdoors to garden, walk, play, or his favourite, riding one of his bicycles.

Here he is, in a lovely combination outfit right off the runways of Kidz 'R' Us Clothing Inc. It is part warm weather jackets and hoodies, gardening gloves, and the latest in cycling pants. If the rain had not stopped, he would be wearing gum boots for sure.

His Nana in the background loves to garden and she is out there every chance she gets. She really should have been a farmer.

 

Her fashion statement is much more appropriate and becoming.

Grandson Delight

The Grandson's parents are away for a much needed holiday and we  have the delightful task of  keeping them out of trouble. Nathan's 15th birthday happened to fall on Spring Break right when mom and dad were gone. We didn't miss a beat and had a party anyway. 

With the table piled high with gifts and cake, Nathan dug right in. 

He has a flare for the dramatic. Mmm. Years of acting in the theater may have been the origin of this. Or maybe the other way around. 

Mom and Dad left him a big Care Package/Gift Package and his eyes really lit up when he found this jar of  peanut butter/jam all in one. It should cut school sandwich making time in half. 

In this climate, one can always use a new Hoodie. 

Even though he is fifteen, he still has a little trouble dressing himself. 

Not to be left out, Chad got the consolation gift. Give him Chocolate and he is happy. 

A badminton set from the Grands, to balance off the electronics. "Keep 'em fit," we say.

Liam loves parties. In fact he is a little party animal. I snuck in a photo of him before he got wind of the camera. 

He loves to 'ham it up' in front of the camera. Even more so, apparently, than eating Black Forest Birthday Cake. 

He is definitely on his way to the 'School for the Gifted'.  :)  

Titanic

 

Sunday evening, 9 pm. the urge came over me to do my annual jigsaw puzzle. I set it up and an hour later I felt like I was stuck so I went to bed.

 

Feeling fresh and inspired, I continued on Monday morning and by noon I had completed the border and a few of the easy parts. I even got a long walk in the snow under my belt before getting back at the puzzle.  I would have to call in the recruits if I was going to get this thing done. Some kids with fresh eyes, but not crossed eyes. C'mon Nate!

 

They stayed for 2 1/2 hours and we were really making progress when I had to take them home.

 

By 9 pm it was "Mission Accomplished". Not an easy puzzle at all, but the funny thing was that I had forgotten that this puzzle was a 'hand-me-down' from the recruit's home. They had done this one last year! They claimed it was not any easier than last time but they sure did well.

I'll break this one up soon, but there will not be any icebergs involved.

Grinch

           My grandson Nathan was in another Abbotsford Children's Theater production this weekend. "The Grinch Project" was written directed and performed all with local talent. Even the poster was home grown, really home grown, because Nathan's dad designed it.

           We took in the Friday night performance and as usual we were not disappointed. The enthusiasm of the young actors is apparent and the work that goes on behind the scenes is amazing. The costumes and sets are a feast for the eyes, a riot of bright and gaudy colours that look so amazing under the bright lights of the theater.

          Nathan was 'Proffesor Green', an environmentalist who is in opposition to the local big business person who is cutting down all the trees in the area for his saw mill. The Grinch is always blamed, but in the end the Grinch solves the problem which is the greediness of the villain, dressed in black, of course. It is all done in fun, with plenty of comedic moments.

        We have enjoyed watching Nathan over the years as he gets older, bigger, and more experienced on the stage. That experience has paid off as he just received word that he has been given a part in his High School's spring production of "The Sound of Music".
He assured us that it is not a singing part. It seems he can handle every aspect of the stage but the singing. Hey, nobody is perfect.

Trombone Debut

 

My middle grandson Chad is now in Middle School and had the option to choose an instrument and join the band program. His dad still had his trombone from his school days so it was a bit of a no-brainer. Like father, like son. He has been practicing diligently and tonight was his debut as he played in the grade six band at his school's Christmas Concert.

Of course, he was the best looking kid of the whole bunch and he just might have been the best trombonist. It was difficult to tell though as there were many others playing instruments for the first time. With the exception of a few squeaking flutes and the odd grating clarinet, the kids did a great job. If I listened really closely, I could hear one trombone standing out above the rest, sounding like a young man with a musical future. Hmm. Could it have been Chad? I will have to get him to play me a solo so I will know for sure. I will get back to you on that.

A Ticklish Situation

 

Two of my three grandsons are touchy feely guys who love to be stroked and tickled. They sometimes compete for the best position under Granddad's fingers. I have two hands so I can do two at a time. They are like putty when under my spell, as you can see.

 

Liam was half ways ready for bed when he needed me to draw a race car on his back but because I was busy with Chad, he had to create another layer of grandsons without getting Chad too upset. This was his idea of solving the problem. He is very creative in getting his way.  

Lots'a fun!  

Four

 

We enjoyed a very special occasion last night, our youngest grandson's fourth birthday. Liam is growing so very rapidly in every way. He is a strong, healthy, and active boy, all boy. His request was a chocolate cake with racing cars on it, and his mom made him one. It was delicious. It was so much fun watching Liam open his gifts and just be the life of the party. He got plenty of action toys, gifts that you would never get a young lady, unless, of course, you were trying to turn her into a tomboy.

Having eleven and fourteen year old brothers, he thinks he is much older than he really is and doesn't believe there are any limitations on anything he can do. So, it was with great gusto and a total lack of trepidation that he not only started his first days of school this month, but also started Wee College, following in the footsteps of his older brothers.

My little super hero is moving onward and upward.  

Snack Time in Nana's Garden

 

Just up from a nice afternoon nap, Liam discovered that his Nana had just baked some buns. It is a warm afternoon and what is better than to dangle your feet in the cool water and munch away at a fresh home-made bun with strawberry jam. The only thing missing from this photo is a fishing pole.

Liam

Often, when I would wake Liam from his afternoon nap, he would tell me of crocodiles and alligators that pop up in his dreams. I would ask him if he was frightened of them and he assured me that he has nothing to be afraid of because he uses his "super powers". "I zap them with my laser eyes" is one reply I get. In the photo above he is preparing for takeoff as a super hero.

Let me tell you that this little grandson of mine indeed does have super powers. He can tug at my heart strings without leaving a wound on my chest. He can capture my heart and yet leave it to beat in my chest. He can swell my chest and lift my shoulders with pride just by entering the room. He can make me laugh out loud without tickling me. He can make me stop dead in the middle of a heated political discussion with my peers when he comes to me and whispers to me that he wants to "tell me something in my ear." He can make me read 'Curious George' one more time even though I am sick to death of it.  

Super powers?  You bet. Somebody get this boy a cape.

Another Sleepover

Liam is so much fun. We love having him stay overnight. With proper handling, little boys can be very sweet and also very sweet smelling.

Double Double

The guests had all arrived and it was time to wake the sleepy Lion from his nap. And then, a big warm hug from mom.

 Time for celebration. Keith and Chad have birthdays so close that it worked best to have a double celebration, especially because Chad's mom was under the weather and had just put Nate's big sleepover party behind her the night before. The flares were just at their last sparks when I got this photo in, Father and Son, sharing a birthday and a beautiful Lemon Cheesecake.

Chad getting a big hug from Uncle Murray.

Proud to be eleven years old.

'Best buds' for life.

Happy Birthday Chad and Keith. We love you both very much!