Baby Jack

Our sweet boy, the youngest, the baby.

The last one to start First Grade. 

The last to still have his upper baby teeth, 

although wiggly, with clear signs of making room for bigger ones.

How I love his little personality!

Whatever you give him to do, he does with all of his heart!

The newness of life and all the things that can be done,

exude sheer joy in his sparkly brown eyes.

Just like his floral painting, 

uninhibited, wild and beautiful. 

Energy to spare, balls bouncing, flying high.

An age when nothing is impossible. 

I don't want to forget what it's like to see life through the eyes of a child. 

And for some reason, especially a boy. 

❤❤❤

 

Grandparents At School

I have to say that the biennial Grandparents' Day, 

was a big welcome back into the classroom this year.

With four students at this school, we didn't have a lot of time in each class,

but what we had was so special!

Our first stop was Teddy's Grade 5 class, where she promptly proceeded to show us some language and math skills they have been working on. 

I even learned something new. 

Who knew that different triangles had ways to remember them by? 

Oh, and we also went to check out the fish tank with 1 inch salmon fries swimming about. 

A very interesting thing that made me a bit emotional when I walked in

was to see that her teacher is the same one Kristal had some 31 years ago. 

He has been a wonderful influence on several grandchildren by now

and is quick to pull out a project done by their mom or aunt. 

I could see that his many years of experience make him pack in a lot of learning for the students.

Next we went to Evy's Grade 3 class. She was a bit shy about us joining her at her table.

Rightly so, this has never happened before!

She did a fun little questionnaire with us and showed us how to play a math game. 

Jade, in Grade 2, was next, eager to show us her collection of art in her workbook.

She also read us a story, "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie"

I think school is just a lot more fun today than it used to be! 

And last, but not least, we visited Jack's Kindergarten class. 

There was a display of beautiful valentines bags the students had decorated

and put up like mailboxes for cards. 

Such anticipation!

We went through a questionnaire with him as well

and he told us about different stations in the classroom. 

There is nothing he does not like about school! 

What an amazing start! 

 

One Who Stayed Behind

As I look out from my kitchen sink window, 

I see the most heart warming picture.

This boy, born eighteen years ago and whisked overseas as a newborn,

is part of our lives now.

Time has a way of sneaking up on us

when days are long, but years are short.

I think of first really getting to know him when he was already walking;

 a few years later, quickly reading one more book before heading  out to the airport,

and tears (his tears) because he woke up on the plane and 

realized he'd been sleeping when we hugged goodbye.

Those 2 am flights.

I think of the parcels sent, 

 exotic river trips to watch for orangutans

and delicious food wrapped in banana leaves.

I also think of missed family gatherings,

 time difference calculations,

long awaited furloughs

 and Christmas in July.

And now he's here,

"Papa, can I come and help you in the yard"

or "Grammy, I have some laundry ..."

And we enjoy a good meal,

and his dimpled smile is still the one

of that little boy that we've watched grow up from a distance.

How we love him! 

 

A Grand Weekend in August

One weekend we had Ben and Kari's kids here, 

with Makenna and Evy added in for parts. 

Friday night we joined thousands of other locals 

for the annual symphony in the park.

There's nothing like musical selections of our favorite classial movies,

such as Phantom of the Opera, Bring him home from Les Miserables, 

 or Nessun Dorma floating into the open air.

Members of the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra danced the tango while playing Libertango. 

Amazing talent all around. 

Saturday morning we enjoyed waffles with vanilla custard, strawberries,

and/or homemade raspberry syrup with whipped cream.

Teddy was especially full of smiles. 

Jade spent some time trying to figure out what to do 

with the rope she asked Papa to tie to the tree. 

We all played pickle ball. No pictures. 

Whatever paints I had, got hauled out to paint rocks. 

I found little notes (typed on my old manual typewriter) 

alongside some special rocks set aside as gifts. 

Makenna and Lacey tried out our bikes and blue tooth helmets.

It feels so crazy that they can just take off on their own now. 

My favorite memory of them is finding them looking through my fridge/freezer,

late in the afternoon, looking for Eggo waffles!!

When I asked if they wanted some blueberries to go with the whipped cream,

they replied with ,"No, nothing healthy."

I love this pre/early teen stage. 

Dinnertime included Papa entertaining them with stories. 

Sunday morning we all headed to church.

They get themselves ready on their own

and help each other where needed.

This reminds me of the salon they set up one afternoon.

After the younger ones had their hair and make up done at the "salon"

they rummaged through the dress-up bin and came up for a fashion show.

I have a feeling these days are fleeting.

Especially when I see those little princess dresses getting rather small. 

They all love games ...

whether they are outside games, or board games.

Notice that some winners know how to do the winner's dance quite well!

It was a weekend that came up spur of the moment,

so easy and fun! 

 

Like Father, Like Son

One day, last summer, Ben caught sight of Jack reaching up to pick a sweet pea flower for mom and he sent me the photo ...

knowing it would remind me of one when he risked his life to cut a rose for me. Among other things, it was one of the sweet surprises of having a boy! This one was captured because he came inside asking me for scissors. There must have been something about his smile that, dare I say, he practiced from early on, one hard to say no to. I cautiously handed him the kitchen shears and watched from the window. I wonder, was I not as careful a parent as I should have been? But the memory is there, a treasure in my heart. 

Today he is the dad, watching out, assessing when to let them be adventurous and when to say no and I love that smile that says, he is still having fun through their eyes. 

 

Hockey Season

Papa, who is left handed, has passed this gene on to several grandkids.

Although Jack is not one of them, when he showed Papa how he shoots,

he held it just like Papa did,

so they went shopping for a left handed stick to store at our place. 

We found out later that he had simply copied Papa's stance.

So he improvises, never missing a beat.

At home he plays right, and at Papa and Mimi's he plays left

or uses his left handed stick to shoot right.

and he scores! 

Precious times, when all is right in a five-year-old's world.

 

Better Late than Never

After almost all of the grands have had a fifth birthday date to Build-a-Bear

it came to our attention that the two who missed out still wanted their turn. 

Why not?

We picked up Tehya and Natalie on a Monday after school

and headed into the city to the store in Metrotown Mall. 

Their excitement was contagious! 

I really thought that our trip in with Jack was our last ...

so this was a bonus, 

observing these teen girls do the back and forth walk looking at options.

At this age, choosing a character, an outfit and accessories really is an event. 

Natalie had her sixteenth birthday last month.

She is a sweet teenager! 

Oh, the memories that come back of after school dates 

and how she always bubbled over with stories.

This was no exception. 

Frog and Bear were stuffed with love, dressed and given a birth certificate.

Meet Kevin and Macey! 

And the way out followed a certain tradition as well.

All eleven now have their special memory. 

We headed to a favorite restaurant

and enjoyed a very tasty meal together! 

Why did we wait so long? 

And yet, I wouldn't have it any other way now.

It was so good to listen to what's happening in their lives,

even good old fashioned dreams of young ladies with all of life ahead of them.

Our oldest two granddaughters, paving the way

and making us so proud and thankful!

We dream with them and pray. 

Sweet Sleepover

Last Friday we took advantage of the teachers' Pro D day for a sleepover.

Teddy, Evy and Jade came over on Thursday, dragging pillows,

favorite blankets and stuffies along with them.

We pulled mattresses together to make up a king size bed in front of the TV,

made a large bowl of popcorn and the girls quickly decided what movie to watch.

Finally I got to find out what the minion craze has been about!

The  movie began with describing Despicable Me (Gru) as a man who delights in wickedness.

So far, not so good. 

With his army of yellow minions and weapons, 

Gru set up a plan to steal the moon, not allowing anything or anyone to get in his way.

But a surprise came along in a package of three orphans who changed his life.

It was one of those "Awe" endings that make for a sweet movie. 

And talk about sweetness, there was not a question in any of their minds

as to what they wanted for breakfast. 

Jade kept saying, "This is my favorite breakfast ever!" 

After breakfast they continued with their dress up games,

and invited Papa and me to their restaurant. 

I was seated and served in short order,

but Papa was given a hard time and ended up having to get vaccinated 

right then and there at the till. 

 

Childhood is such a wonderful time!

And the impact they can have on you -

well, the movie says it all! 

From the Mouths of Babes

 

 

This weekend we celebrated my H's birthday - which I'll post pictures of yet  - but for now I want to remember sweet Jade's words of encouragement and affirmation that she wrote out of her own accord. She came to me in the kitchen with a tiny notebook and quietly asked me if she could read her note when Papa opens his presents. 

She got a little shy - or eager - not sure which it was -

and decided to read it to him before the rest of the family arrived.

However, once everyone shared their cards with him, she stood up and read it again!

Truly something that burned in her heart to share.

So just in case you need this today ...

God loves you!

No matter what, He cares about you.

He doesn't forget you.

He loves you!

❤ Jade ❤

Father/Son Puppy Edition

You wouldn't know it by this picture,

but Jack's smile, stroking his cousin's new puppy

is a victory, because he has been afraid of "doggies".

When he came over a few days later,

I showed him a photo of his daddy holding a puppy -

and you probably know why. 

Oh, how he loves seeing photos of his dad!

I realized that I should be handing the photo album over,

but just haven't been able to just yet. 

True to life glimpses of a past season give a grandparent

a second chance to enjoy. 

❤❤❤

 

What I Always Want to Remember

His sweet, happy smile when his pre-school teacher sees me in the pick up line and lets him leave the class. I observe his confident gait, proudly holding his latest artwork in one hand while the other takes my hand.

Oh, and the ride home, peeking in my rear-view mirror and listening to him chat about life from his four-year-old perspective. It would be a good idea to find a slow way home.

 "So what are we going to do when we get to your house?" he wants to know. I tell him that I have bun dough rising and that we can bake buns. I suggest that we can make chocolate muffins if he wants to and tell him that we can play games and maybe watch The Donut Man.

"Those are four plans." he says, processing just a tad ahead of me.

He talks for a while and suddenly I hear, "and that's the end of the story ... but now I want to tell you something that's not a story." Too late, I realize I missed it.

He wants to know what I do when Papa and he are not with me. Good question.

Is it possible that he enjoys entertaining me because he doesn't have to compete with three sisters on this ride? I hear him make mention of his job site. Although this is familiar language in our family, I am surprised how young they start these days! I ask, "you have a job site?" to which he responds that he has seven job sites! Obviously I have some questions about his involvement!

At home we work and play together, from pinching buns to reading a stack of books of his choice, which is most likely my favorite thing. His mind, like a sponge, taking it all in, every picture, every lesson, every detail. Would that time could stand still!

I treasure this time, knowing that in reality, one day, after many other days, I may barely remember it! So how will he? And yet, specifics remembered or not, life has a way of taking that invisible thread, gathering experiences and love shared, to play a part in who we become. No matter how far he goes, may this love go with him all his days.

❤❤❤

My Little Builder Man

Christmas break was a beautiful new experience for us to have Tehya stay with us,

observing on a day to day basis what a special young lady she has become. 

A couple of days after she moved back to her dorm,

I picked Jack up at pre-school and we had a few hours alone.

The feelings in the switch from oldest to youngest 

fill my heart yet again

with poignant awareness to seize the moments we have. 

Conversations are precious.

I love seeing how he organizes his thoughts and

how practical he is in his talk and play.

He seems to be okay with predictability.

Just as I am. ...

because that is how he will remember. 

We baked buns, read, made pancakes and played.

I see sweet glimpses of a mom whom he adores,

one who makes him feel special and free to make others laugh,

with obvious tendencies to want to be just like his dad.

I see both building into his life,

daily small things, time spent talking, playing and teaching -

qualities to define

the true measure of the man he will become.