Grandparenting is a wonderful job

I did not grow up knowing my grandparents well.  I have stories about them that were told to me but not a lot of stories that have me in them.  My children knew my mother well.  They were just 9, 11 and 14 when she died but they had a rich heritage with her.  Lots of the stories about my mother include them.  The same is with Carl's parents.  His father died way too young but they still have fun memories of him.  Carl's mother will join us at the beach this year.  My children have lots of Grandma stories!

Carl is a very active Gpapa.  He diapers, feeds, reads to, takes on errands, and visits with our three grands- Mr Wonderful, Miss Adorable and Mr Precious.  I'm thankful for the honor that we have to be a part of the lives of these wonderful people.

Miss Adorable thinks that he should hold her if they are in the room together. In the picture below, Carl is getting ready for work and he stopped to feed Miss A a banana because she asked for one.

One Sunday as their parents were hurrying around to get ready for church Carl calmly sat reading to these two.

Mr W has learned that Gpapa and Mama can draw just about anything he asks.

If we had sound on this picture you would hear Mr P screaming, no I take that back, he is Screaming.  I don't know of any children that enjoy tummy time in the beginning.  Sweet Gpapa and Fairest got down to visit with Mr Precious to make that eternity of 5 minutes seem doable.

It all started with James

When Marisa lived with us she did lots of babysitting.  One special fellow was James.  His parents sang to him and he loved to sing.  When James was two and Marisa was putting him to bed one night ,he asked Marisa to sing Holy, Holy, Holy.  She asked James to sing it first.  He, in his two year sweet voice, burst into song.  Marisa cried.  I cried with her when she got home that night and shared the story.

Fast forward about 6 years.  John and Marisa sing to Mr Wonderful.  He knows the Doxology, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and he hums Brahms lullaby.  It is so precious to hear.  He didn't think his Bubbles was crazy when I was reading him a book and I saw a kookaburra and I burst into The Kookaburra Song.  We sang the two verses that I knew.  He was hooked.  We told Gpapa about it when he got home and Gpapa googled the song and found another verse with a video!  Mr Wonderful' s adoration of his Gpapa was increased even more.

As I just googled them I found still another one!  Here you go...

Kookabura Song Lyrics

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!
What a life you lead

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry, merry little bird is he
Sing, Kookaburra! Sing, Kookabura!
Sing your song for me.

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gum drops he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
Leave some there for me

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Counting all the monkeys he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
That’s not a monkey that is me.

We take a few liberties with the last line and sing That's not a monkey that's Atticus!  Now when we say 'Let's sing the Kookaburra song', Mr Wonderful says Monkeys!!!!  

Here is Mr Wonderful watching the video with his Gpapa

going outside with Gpapa

In case you ever wondered how many people it takes to put a jacket on a cute little grandson!

Father's Day Fun

 We had a great Father's Day supper with family.  I cooked spaghetti, which is Carl's favorite meal.  As usual we gathered for pictures.  Robert delayed his trip back to UCA so that he could join us and I could get these pictures.

 three generations

 My boys!

 Atticus with Gpapa and Bubbles

 If this picture had sound you would hear lots of boy noises being made by these two boys.  I love how securely Gpapa is holding Atticus as they compare noises.  A motorcycle had just passed by and Atticus loved that sound.

 Uncle Rico!

 I do not have a picture of how high Uncle Rico was throwing Atticus up in the air and I am glad.  Atticus loved it!

Atticus and Aunt Fairest were playing and paused for this quick picture.

It was a great day!  I am thankful that we have family close by so that we can celebrate often those that mean so much.