Well, Philadelphia it ain’t, but we still love to have visitors! Grandma Shelly and Grandpa Larry came to visit us. It was the fastest week in the history of the world, but, oh, how we loved having them here. Our daily adventures were constrained by suburbia and complicated by a school schedule, but fortunately Grandma and Grandpa can find joy in things like walking to and from school, watching gymnastics lessons, exercising, having lunch at an elementary school, telling stories, and playing imaginative games. We even managed to enlist them for some help in the yard and in the house. That will teach them to come for a relaxing visit. Although our activities were a little on the less exciting and adventurous side they were happily sprinkled with priceless moments.
Priceless Moment #1: The Hug of All Hugs
The day my parents arrived we drove directly from the airport home and before even unloading bags or going inside the house, we walked down the street to the elementary school to pick up Kate. The bell rang and Kate shot out the door, running directly into the open arms of Grandma Shelly. Kate snuggled down into those arms she had missed so dearly and held on for dear life. Kate is not usually one for being held. As soon as you get her in your arms she is looking for a way to escape, but not this day! She was content and comfortable and safe and she was not going to let go of her grandma for any reason!
Priceless Moment #2: Tut-a-Ta
Kate came home from school earlier this month and taught me a song she had learned in school. I told her to remember that song when Grandpa came because is was one of his favorites. After dinner the first day Grandpa Larry was in town, Kate led everyone in singing “Tut-a-Ta.” The girls were laughing hysterically as they bounced around with their thumbs up, elbows out, knees together, feet apart, bottoms up, heads back and tongues out. Grandma and Grandpa were both right in there with them, bouncing around looking like muggle nutters.
Priceless Moment #3: Story Time
Grandpa Larry’s fairytales are well known. They are energetically told, filled with detail and imagination, but usually have some sort of tragic end like Goldilocks jumping from the window of the bears’ house and breaking her neck! My girls were entertained one evening with different versions of The Three Little Pigs. They acted out each version out with their puppet play set. The endings were getting more and more tragic when suddenly Grandma Shelly jumped in with her version. The pigs picked up an apple from an apple tree and threw it for the wolf. He chased it and brought it back. They continued to play ball until he became a nice friendly pet and they all lived together happily ever after!
Priceless Moment #3: Honoring Our Veteran
Kate’s school put on a special Veteran’s Day program. Because Grandpa was in town Kate was able to honor him in the assembly. He sat up in front with the other veterans. They read his name, “Larry Staker, Navy, honored by Kate Woodford.” Moments like that are special and not soon forgotten.
Priceless Moment #4: Park Day
After several days home doing our usual routine we finally planned a fun outing to the Dallas Arboretum, which I have heard great things about. We picked Kate up from school in the car and were headed on our way, when we learned that the arboretum closes early and we would have only had a few minutes to explore. We changed course and ended up going to a local park. Our failed attempt became a grand adventure in itself. The playground has an old fashioned wooden playground that is perfect for imaginative little ones. We watched the girls play and then ended up on the swings doing underdogs and underducks, and underwolves, and underdragons. From the swings we walked down by a little lake and found paths winding through the wooded areas of the park. We had a lovely time gathering leaves, avoiding poison ivy, rolling green seed balls, and chasing bunnies. When we were throughly chilled we drove home, sat by the fire, and made art out of our leaf collection.
Priceless Moment #5: Green Space
Our yard in Philadelphia was about four square feet of concrete. We have a nice yard here, but we don’t really know how to take care of it! After consulting with our neighbor and going slightly overboard at Home Depot we came home and did some yard work. We trimmed the bushes, mowed the grass, cut back the roses, and pruned a few trees. It was fun to be working outside and having my dad remind me not to cut the power cord in half with the pruning sheers and have mom mom teach me about rose bushes. At dusk we left the men out standing on a ladder trimming a bush with the power sheers--a scary proposition. The hedge looked surprisingly good the next morning. For the moment we have the best looking yard on the street. Somehow working outside is good for the soul.
Priceless Moment #6: Dirty Italian
One of the things Josh liked the least about our house when we bought it was the color of the walls in the kitchen. Someone had spent a lot of time painting them a varied rustic brown hue that was all the rage 10 years ago. My term for the look was “dirty Italian” and the more I was in the kitchen the more it started to bug me. Thanks to help from Mom and Dad we took care of that in no time. They are now a bright, spring green color. Painting isn’t such a bad job with a lot of help. I love the new look! It is much more my style. Kate wanted to help when we were painting, which of course is not a lot of help. Grandma Shelly was so patient with her. She let her roll a whole wall all by herself. Grandma was on site with a wet rag cleaning up all the drips as they came. Kate’s wall is one of the best in the kitchen thanks to a little patient TLC from Grandma.
Priceless Moment # 7: Texas BBQ
One of my favorite moments of the week was taking Mom and Dad to Rudy’s, a Texas BBQ joint. I have learned a few things by going to eat there and went prepared with hummus and veggies as a side. They have great meat, but they don’t bother with anything else. In fact the shirts the employee wear say, “I didn’t work my way to the top of the food chain to eat vegetables.” When Josh showed up at the table, spread a piece butcher paper in front of my mom as her plate, poured some BBQ sauce right on the paper, and plopped down an enormous pile of meat in the middle of the table for everyone to share, I thought my mom was going to fall off her chair! She did a great job of trying to hold it together but I could see visions of Smith & Edwards running through her head. I wanted to laugh out loud, but I could tell she was putting all her will power into holding her composure and I didn’t want to tip the balance. I think she was grateful to have the hummus and veggies. Texas BBQ may not be her thing!
Priceless Moment #8: Evenly Matched
Every night after we got the girls in bed we would have some sort of low energy party. Depending on who was in town and how much energy we could muster we would play a game or watch a movie. But whatever activity we chose we always included Bluebell ice cream--vanilla for Dad, something nutty for Mom. Mornings come early in this house so we were good about sticking to our bed time. On our last night together, however, we played all four rounds of Hand and Foot, ate three flavors of ice cream, and had dark chocolate covered pomegranates for desert. We always play boys against girls in our Hand and Foot games and that night we ended with a 20 point difference between our scores! Everyone ended happy and well fed. That is the way to end an evening!
Priceless Moment #9: Cowgirl Boots
The last day my parents were in town, Jane chose to wear her cowgirl skirt. Before long she had a cowgirl shirt, a cowgirl hat, a stick horse and was deep in an imaginary cowgirl game. Then out of the blue she started asking if we could “go buy some cowgirl boots.” “I NEED some cowgirl boots,” she insisted. Over and over and over again she asked if we could go buy her some cowgirls boots. Well, she chose the day well. How could Grandma and Grandpa resist such a request. We had some errands to run. At every store Jane would remind us, “We need to find some cowgirl boots.” Before long we found ourselves at Target, the source of all fine footwear. They had some pink cowgirl boots, which were ghastly. Fortunately, I spotted them first and at my signal Grandpa hid them from view. Then we explored other options. She found some darling brown boots, decorated with tiny pink hearts that fit the bill. She was as pleased as a cowgirl could be! She spent all afternoon playing cowgirl, completely content now that her feet were properly shod.
We weren’t sure it was a good idea to put Grandma and Grandpa back on the plane to Utah. All this about Thanksgiving plans and other children and grandchildren and blah, blah, blah...! We had a wonderful visit and are so grateful that they would come play with us, and cook with us, and eat with us, and talk with us, and walk with us, and shop with us, and be with us. Oh, how we miss you dear ones!
I’m really looking forward to a week with Kate home from school! I can’t believe how much I miss having my little girl home with me. A week together will be the best birthday present ever.
Oh, yes, and just in case you forgot...Only two days until my birthday!!!!
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