*Grandpa J has a big glass cookie jar {designed by Sid + Lily} in the middle of his kitchen table, and it's always full. Full of the kind of the cookies I would never offer the kids. But HE does, and I sort of secretly love that. With a two-cookie limit, of course.
*Grandpa J. has an old piano, or "pinano" as Buby would say. We aren't in the door two seconds before coats are thrown over chairs and my little darlings are in the other room playing their hearts out. Making music. Giggling. I love that Grandpa lets them go to town on that thing, and I'm sure they'll keep those memories forever.
*Grandpa J. has a box of rusty Matchbox cars that used to belong to Daddy and Uncle Mike. {We know whose were whose, because Uncle Mike liked his masking tape and pencil.} The kids look forward to dumping and sorting on the orange shag. There are no big plastic toys, no kid movies, no games or puzzles on the farm. Other relatives have those things and that's cool, but I like that Grandpa's is quiet and our time there always wonderfully spent catching up or exploring.
*Grandpa J. has our full attention. There are no stresses, no to-do list, nowhere else to be. When the big guy hears us coming he turns off the TV or down the radio and simply enjoys our company. Monday's visit was only meant to be a quick hello, but none of us wanted to leave.
*Grandpa J. has a big wooden rocking chair. When we're in the living room chatting, that's where he sits. Usually with Buby on his knee.
*Grandpa J. has a Ford tractor. My boys considers himself the #1 authority on Grandpa's tractor, and he hides well his terrible disappointment in the dead of winter when the tractor is a no-go.
*Grandpa J. has a scale on his bathroom floor. It's one of those old-fashioned clunkers. Buby and Bleu weigh themselves at least three times a visit. Maybe to see where all the cookies and milk have gone.
*Grandpa J. has a low-hung chandelier in his dining room with no dining room table under it. This is true for at least the last 15 years. To get from kitchen to living room we walk through the dining room. I hit my head a lot.
*Grandpa J. has an eye for deer. He points them out in the field and has binoculars at the ready.
*Grandpa J. has a diner near his house. A fabulous, small-town diner where everyone knows his name and our faces. I don't remember a visit where he didn't ask, "You guys hungry?" It's so sweet that he likes to feed us.
*Grandpa J. has reading glasses and patience to go with it. I remember once Buby walking up to him with a book, a pair of specs off the kitchen table, and a please-lift-me-onto-your-lap smirk. Grandpa read that story over and over because that's what Buby wanted.
*Grandpa J. has two sons, two {awesome} daughters-in-law, two grandsons, and three granddaugthers who adore everything that makes him HIM.
2.15.10
*Grandpa J. has an old piano, or "pinano" as Buby would say. We aren't in the door two seconds before coats are thrown over chairs and my little darlings are in the other room playing their hearts out. Making music. Giggling. I love that Grandpa lets them go to town on that thing, and I'm sure they'll keep those memories forever.
*Grandpa J. has a box of rusty Matchbox cars that used to belong to Daddy and Uncle Mike. {We know whose were whose, because Uncle Mike liked his masking tape and pencil.} The kids look forward to dumping and sorting on the orange shag. There are no big plastic toys, no kid movies, no games or puzzles on the farm. Other relatives have those things and that's cool, but I like that Grandpa's is quiet and our time there always wonderfully spent catching up or exploring.
*Grandpa J. has our full attention. There are no stresses, no to-do list, nowhere else to be. When the big guy hears us coming he turns off the TV or down the radio and simply enjoys our company. Monday's visit was only meant to be a quick hello, but none of us wanted to leave.
*Grandpa J. has a big wooden rocking chair. When we're in the living room chatting, that's where he sits. Usually with Buby on his knee.
*Grandpa J. has a Ford tractor. My boys considers himself the #1 authority on Grandpa's tractor, and he hides well his terrible disappointment in the dead of winter when the tractor is a no-go.
*Grandpa J. has a scale on his bathroom floor. It's one of those old-fashioned clunkers. Buby and Bleu weigh themselves at least three times a visit. Maybe to see where all the cookies and milk have gone.
*Grandpa J. has a low-hung chandelier in his dining room with no dining room table under it. This is true for at least the last 15 years. To get from kitchen to living room we walk through the dining room. I hit my head a lot.
*Grandpa J. has an eye for deer. He points them out in the field and has binoculars at the ready.
*Grandpa J. has a diner near his house. A fabulous, small-town diner where everyone knows his name and our faces. I don't remember a visit where he didn't ask, "You guys hungry?" It's so sweet that he likes to feed us.
*Grandpa J. has reading glasses and patience to go with it. I remember once Buby walking up to him with a book, a pair of specs off the kitchen table, and a please-lift-me-onto-your-lap smirk. Grandpa read that story over and over because that's what Buby wanted.
*Grandpa J. has two sons, two {awesome} daughters-in-law, two grandsons, and three granddaugthers who adore everything that makes him HIM.
2.15.10
2 comments:
What a nice post for Grandpa J! I can see them having a great time there with him. I think my 3 will remember football Sunday's with him. That's our thing.
the piano was a gift to the boys from their grandfather (great grandpa to the little ones) about 27 years ago .. buby&bleu's daddy used to like to play .. the rocker rocked the little ones' daddies when they were babes .. i can still see the way sid/lily/mason's daddy used to lay over the arm on his belly, head on his blanket on the seat and legs hanging over the side .. good kids, good memories
love you forever
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