A,B,C Friday Photo Share "G" is for Grandchildren

A big Thank You to Maple Leaf Mommy and Mom vs the Boys for hosting this really fun Photo Share.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am all about family! So it would only be logical for me to choose a family topic. So I have picked "G" is for grandchildren.  

We have seven of those proginators. Six of whom live near enough to gather together, once in awhile for a family photograph. We managed this at Christmas this past December. The other is our youngest grandchild, who lives on the other side of the country in Ft. MacMurray. 

Maybe on her next trip home, I'll be able to gather all the little chicks together in one spot  and get them all in one photo.

A, B, C Friday Photo Jan. 25, 2013 - "C" is for Children

This week my choice for the letter 'C' is Children. 

Children do many things to makes us smile, test our patience, push our limits, but they're always a challenge, and always interesting. But the thing, children do best is to, just have fun!!
Link up here, to join in on the fun! Thanks to 


This first picture is showing my children and some of thier cousins, who are now all grown up with children of their own. Children just love to have fun in even the simplest of ways.

Taken in 1982. My children having  fun with some of their cousins in a pile of Fall leaves.

The next pictures show some of 'their' children having fun together.

Tumbling and wrestling on the Spring green grass, just for fun.

"Having my big brother read a bedtime story to me" is very enjoyable. Now I can sleep.

Even Grampy gets in on the sandbox fun!

Running across the park, just for fun.

On Being A Grandma - Little Things Mean A Lot!

                       Little Things Mean A Lot

Some days the news is very large and good, some days the news is large and not so good, some days little thing aggravate and grate on our nerves.

But on some days 'little things mean a lot'. That's how it's been for the past several days.

Bella, on a mission!

Thanksgiving Dinner tables all set, at Kimberley's 

Barrett, with his Dad's hockey stick

Bob, Krista, Bella & 'moi'.

Logan, being calm and happy!

1. Brandon (19) won out over 200 people for a job that was only awarded to 2 people.

2. Brooke (6), his sister, won an award from her school principal for befriending a fellow student who was alone in the playground at recess.

3. Cole (3) told his parents he had to pee, then with his Dad, went into the bathroom and did just that, keeping his pull-ups dry.

4. Blake (16) and Logan (8) overcame their anxieties about loud noises, even though their little cousins were scampering around like little squirrels, laughing and squealing, therefore, all went well at our Thanksgiving dinner.

5. Bella (2) ran into my arms at the airport, when we recently went out to visit  with her parents and her.

6.  Barrett (3) was using his Dad’s hockey stick to play ball hockey in his basement with his cousin, who had a little plastic hockey stick, and no one was injured.

7. Kim and Danny, Kerry and Karen took over the preparation and hosting of  Thanksgiving dinner for me, when I was sick with a bad cold, allowing me to better enjoy the day.

8. Krista being generous, and flying us out, to visit with them in Ft MacMurray.

Wordless Wednesday - July 4, 2012

I was surprised to have my youngest granddaughter, Isabella (2nd from left) all the way from Fort MacMurray, Alberta, join in on my birthday celebrations this year. Five, of our seven grandchildren, were able to be with us.

A surprises for my birthday.

Wordless Wednesday - May 16, 2012

Tumbling...for the pure delight of it!!

Halloween - What Do You Do?

 When we were little and still lived in the country, our Mom and Dad would dress us in anything they found around the house, from old blankets, feed sacks from our grandfather's barn, old dresses from our grandmother's, to old coats and hat's of our grandfather's.  We'd pile in the car and go Trick or
Treating at the neighbors houses. They'd invite us in and even if they knew the car, would pretend to not know us, and guess until someone gave up and told them. There was always good treats to be had and lots of fun.

In those days there was usually a few  tricks pulled by the local folks, too. Things such as overturned lawn chairs, upended dog houses, toilet papered trees or even once there was a toilet papered covered bridge.

Then later when we moved to the city, we still used home made costumes. Brothers dressing like sisters, old clothes and our faces painted to be a hobo, complete with a handkerchief hanging from a broken branch over our shoulder. Sometimes we'd be the sheet ghost, or a doll with pigtails made from braided nylons.

Then we'd walk in groups around the neighborhood. But we always had to stay on our own street. And there was never any fear of strange or dangerous things being placed in our candy. We carried pillow cases and had to come home when they got too heavy to carry or we were tired, whichever came first.

My own children usually wore home made costumes put together from things collected over the years, old jewelery, wigs, faux furs from older coats, dresses saved that didn't fit anyone or things found at a local Frenchy's  store.

Since we were back in the country again, we had to drive the children around. Usually that was my job. I loved the little packages of  rockets and would take them from the children's bags to snack on as I waited for them to go door to door.The children would always come home tired and ready for bed. After such a busy evneing Mom and Dad were usually pretty tired, too.

Now days, Grammie and Grampy have to go to visit the little ones on Halloween or rely on their parents to take photographs for us to see later. The costumes are usually bought from a store, but are combined with make-up and home made item to make the costume unique.

What is your Halloween like?

Wordless Wednesday - Oct 26, 2011

 Brooke & little brother Barrett, planning their next move in a friendly family soccer game.

On Being a Grandma Oct 17, 2011

I’ve been a little negligent in my blogging lately. So here goes...back at it again. We had all the family out for Thanksgiving dinner. There were 14 of us in all. Getting a meal to the table and hot, all at the same time can be a challenge. But we all managed to get some, apple cider/wine, turkey, ham, potatoes, squash, vegetables, rolls, pickles, and a   slice of pie (lemon meringue, pumpkin with whipped cream, hot apple with ice cream) along with tea and coffee.

I was so busy trying to spend time with them all, that I only managed one picture of a few of the youngest family members there.

Cole, Barrett, Logan at their little table for Thanksgiving dinner. (Dads and brother at big table)

    

Then, I was asked by one daughter to take school type photos, of her two boys. (She thought I had more patience than the school photographer.) I don’t know, but that too, was a challenge with the youngest one. He’ll sit for only a few minutes, then, he’s done. So we ended up doing several sessions with him to even get him to look in the direction of the camera. Here’s a sample of the finished products.

Blake

Logan

 My other daughter had some meetings on Sunday, so I was able to spend some time with her two youngest that day. They are little tumble bunnies, too. The little guy wants to see himself in the camera, almost before I get in a second shot. So that is a challenge. But I did manage to get a couple of them in between their antics.

Barrett

Brooke

I love having a grandson I can call to our rescue! But being 18 years old, he, no doubt, had better things to do that day, but was kind enough to come out, when Grammie's call sounded so desperate. He was a great help for his grandfather to get the job done. I did not get any photographs of that. I was more than happy to have him help, so, I was not about to put a camera on him.

And, as a Grandma, some weeks are just like that.

Catherine

On Being a Grandma - A Series - Sept 4, 2011


"...there is no such thing as a charmed life, not for any of us, no matter where we live or how mindfully we attend to the tasks at hand. But there are charmed moments, all the time, in every life and in every day, if we are only awake enough to experience them when they come and wise enough to appreciate them."
— Katrina Kenison (The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir)


These are a few of my 'ordinary' days from behind the lens of my camera, as a Grandma.

Our oldest grandchild, Brandon, holding our youngest grandchild, and his goddaughter, Bella.

Blake, giving some loving to our old dog, Zazu.

Logan, 'striking a pose', while aunt Karen watches.

Brooke, snuggled in, while aunt Krista reads her a new story.

Cousins, Cole and Barrett, just 6 months apart in age, are becoming great playmates.

Zazu loves chocolate chip cookies. No children or animals were harmed in the taking of this photo.

Baby Bella, getting a hand to practice walking, from her Aunt Kimberley.

This is one of my 'memory' shots, of everyone lost in their own thoughts.

Aunt Kerry taking video of the little ones enjoying Bella's 'First Birthday' cupcakes.

Brother and sister, Barrett and Brooke, clowning around.

Doing a little shopping at 'The Freak Lunchbox', a local candy store.

Catching the daughters, Karen & Kerry, checking in, with the hubbies.

Zazu, being 'motherly', with baby Bella.

Catching all four daughters together without being posed...priceless!!

On Being a Grandma - A Series - July 25, 2011

When people think of a Grandma, they think of someone who is rather oldish, greying, slow moving, and doting on sweet little grandchildren. But, Grandmas are first and foremost women. Many of whom are still in the working field, have grown children, elderly parents as well as spouses, still living. Grandmas love their Grandma job, their mother job, their spouse job and their income job, but they too, need a break from all that, from time to time.

Cooling our feet in the ocean surf.

That’s just what my two sisters and I did recently!!


We took a few days of girl/sister time away from everything and did some cabin camping at a nearby ocean beach.

Toasting our first few hours at our rustic, camping cabin.

The following group of photographs are just a few to illustrate the fun 'Grandmas' can have when they get away for some peace and quiet time.

Walking on a fog shrouded, quiet beach, with nothing to do but listen to the distant, gentle surf and call of the gulls.

Standing on the ocean floor!!  At high tide the water will be at the level of the black, seaweed covered rocks, far above our heads.

Some of the spectacular and rugged scenery we encountered on our 5 km hike, over rough and wet terrain.

The full moon shining through the trees, as seen from our camping cabin.

A glimpse of the shadowed, wooded terrain in our campground.

Even doing the dishes, by hand, was a fun and peaceful thing for us.

Waiting for our campfire to burn and produce embers. Notice the full moon behind the fire and the lights of the passing truck illuminating the bushes nearby.

Enjoying yummy s'mores with our 'special' hot chocolate.