Where Did My Toddler Go?

I have been neglectful and have memories that will be lost, because I have not written in a few months. I will try to play catch up and be better at logging my wonderful memories.

Hunter turned six, and Carissa turned five in February. Although I still think of my grandchildren as "my babies" somewhere along the way a couple of them are turning into wonderful little kids. I know it is a gradual process, but it is one moment or one picture where the realization reaches out and slaps me in the face that they really are going to grow up.

Rebecca sent me a picture of Hunter showing me where a front tooth fell out. I looked at this adorable little boy and wondered where toddler Hunter went. I looked back at the Christmas pictures and to me, he still had a little of that baby/toddler look. Here we are few weeks later, the toddler is gone and in his place is a little boy rushing to grow up.

The realization of my Carissa losing her baby/toddler look was a picture posted on Travis' picture website. He posted a picture of Carissa with a barrette in her hair. There was just a small sprinkling of freckles across her nose. I stared hard at the picture seeing a beautiful little girl in place of my baby girl. It seems that every time I have her, she does something in the way of proving she is growing up fast. I'm sure the feeling will be even stronger when she starts kindergarten in August!

My sister and I spent a fun filled Carissa Celebration Day in honor of her fifth birthday. We shopped, ate, and played games. Carissa's highlight of the day was beating Johnye and I at Super Trivia five out of six games. I had the pleasure of attending her birthday party Saturday.

I look forward to the precious time I get to spend with each grandchild!

LATER

Brothers

We had Hunter and Colton this weekend. We met Becca and Clint at Baybrook Mall for the hand off Friday afternoon. They spent some energy walking around the mall, after being cooped in their car for three hours. We picked up the movie Marmaduke at Walmart and stopped to pick up a pizza on the way home. After baths, we watched the movie and ate pizza.

Saturday morning I searched the computer to see what kind of fun stuff I could find for us to spend a Saturday doing. We had a choice of a dinosaur exhibit at the zoo, Imax theatre, or train museum in Galveston. I showed the boys each website and let them choose. We decided on the dinosaurs. I fixed drinks, crackers and peanut butter, oranges, and bananas. While I was dressing the boys, the bottom fell out of the sky and the rain came pouring out. Odie pulled the radar up and said it should pass shortly, so we waited...and waited...and waited. Finally after about an hour (Do you know how long an hour is to little boys?), we bundled the boys up and shuffled them through the rain to the truck. According to the radar, it wasn't raining in Houston.

The rain wasn't letting up, so we decided to stop in Pearland and eat lunch at Gringo's. After lunch it was still raining, so we headed to Bass Pro to wait until the weather cleared up some. All my grand babies love Bass Pro. We spent over an hour looking at the fish, shooting the guns, pretending 1 minute naps in the tents that were set up, driving the boats, riding the elevator, checked out all the different stuffed animals, and petted a stuffed deer snuggled up next to a fence on the second floor. We came out to face more rain. Odie and I realized the dinosaur exhibit wasn't happening today.

I got out the iPhone to check what movies were out that the boys might want to see. We checked out the movie Alpha and Omega. We went to the Brazos Mall to see the movie. I got both boys some popcorn, sprite, and candy. I just got Odie a coke figuring we could share with the boys. About the third time that Odie reached over to get some of Colton's popcorn, Colton moved his popcorn away from Pawpaw and informed him that this popcorn was his and Pawpaw could get his own popcorn. This was a great movie that I will be adding to my kid's movie collection when it comes out on dvd.

We finished the movie and headed out in (you guessed it) the rain. Hunter had been promised a trip to Tokyo, so we headed there for dinner. It was Colton's first time to get to eat there. There was another couple at the table, and I made sure they had no problem sharing their table with a couple of little boys. The other couple got a kick out of the boy's reactions and a good time was had by all. We all tried catching rice with our mouths, watched an onion volcano that turned into an onion train, watched eggs roll, and fingers on fire. The food was as wonderful as always and way more than we could possibly eat. Colton was falling asleep as we drove home. There were baths to be had. I cuddled up in bed with the boys to read as they watched the movie Robots. Colton made it through about 20 minutes before he was out. Hunter and I lay there talking and catching up on school.

He shyly told me he has a girl friend that is very pretty. Her name is Kara. I asked what his least favorite thing at school was. He said he hated when he got a sad face. Every day at the end of the day you either get a happy face or a sad face. He had shown me his folder, when we were changing vehicles. He actually only had a couple of sad faces. He loves school, his teacher, riding the bus, and learning. Hunter can be very head strong, but he really wants to please and learn.

Sunday morning we stopped for breakfast at IHOP before heading out to Mainland Mall to pass the boys back to their parents. It was such a short fast paced weekend, but this Grammy loved it very much.

I don't live close enough to any of my Grand Babies to see them on a daily basis. I hope that grandparents that are that fortunate realize how lucky they are. I consider myself lucky, though, because I don't live more than 4 hours away from any of them. I only get them a day or two a month, so I try to pack as much fun in the short time I get to share with them.

This is one blessed Grammy!

LATER

Towel Animals

Last week we went on a wonderful cruise to the Bahamas with Travis, Jonda, Carissa, Raymond, and Cassandra. This is the second cruise we have been on with Carissa. We were on one with her a little over a year and a half ago, and she wasn't too interested in Kid's Camp. She would go a little, but didn't stay long. Wow what a difference time makes. She loved Kid's Camp this time.

I will probably leave some of the fun stuff out, but she had a schedule every day just like the adults did of things going on. She came in one night growling with her face all painted up like a lion or a tiger. One night she was painted like a pirate. There was a scavenger hunt that was a family affair where her, Jonda, and Travis worked as a team. They won first place taking away a genuine gold plastic ship on a stick. Carissa was very proud of her trophy, as she should be beating out children older than her. There were tee shirts to paint, cookies to decorate, and a dog to build. I think she also painted a back pack, but Grammy missed seeing that. She had pajama parties, played hide and seek with flash lights, and ate pizza. We can't forget the wonderful 24 hour available ice cream machine that was only one floor up from our rooms that Carissa and I would have to visit in the afternoon.

The first night we ate dinner, Carissa finished her pasta early since that was her only course. The rest of us had many courses. A little too many courses. I didn't need or want to dessert, so her and I headed back to the room for a game of crazy eights while the rest of our group indulged in their wonderful desserts. On the first day, Carissa started calling our room the hotel room. When we got to the hotel room, there was a towel walrus waiting for us on the bed along with wonderful chocolates. Carissa is picky about some snacks, but she loved these chocolates. She had to be limited to how many chocolates she was allowed that late at night, so I think she brought enough extras home for another week.

Every day when mine and Carissa's path would cross, we would have a discussion as to what kind of towel animal we thought we would find in our bed that night. I am partial to the hanging monkey that I got on other cruises, but we didn't find him hanging out until the last day of the cruise. We had a towel dog, elephant, and crab that were also cute. I lined them along the back of the sofa.

Travis had to fly out to Kentucky Sunday afternoon on the day we got back from our cruise. As he was getting ready to leave, Carissa told him not to forget to send her a picture of his towel animal every night in his hotel room. Thursday night, I received four pictures of the towel animals that my son created in his hotel room every night. It is heart warming to know that as tired as my son was from being gone and working out of town that he loved his daughter enough to take the time to create an animal for her each night. It is also good to know in this ever decreasing economy that he seems to have a talent for another line of work...creating towel animals.

I am so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful, caring family and extended family.

LATER

First Day of School

Time passes way too quickly. Two of my "babies" started kindergarten this week. They were both to call Grammy and let her know how their first day went. Alex called and started talking so fast, I had to get him to slow down a little so I could try and understand all that he was telling me. He colored, played, ate lunch, and generally loved his first day of school. I asked him if he had made some new friends. He told me yes and that he already had a girl friend. I replied, "Wow you already have a girl friend on the first day of school. What is her name?" He replied, "I don't know her name, but she is pretty. She had on a pink shirt and blue pants." I asked him last weekend if his teacher was young and pretty or older like his Grammy. He said old like me but a little pretty.

Hunter got to work on a computer the first day. I asked if he liked being on the computer. His response was, "I liked it. I liked it a lot!" He has a beautiful young blonde teacher. This is her first year of teaching. I surely hope it will not be her last. The second day of school was Hunter's first day to get to ride the bus. Becca had it worked out with my father in-law. Hunter would ride the bus to Crit and Bobbie's house. Crit would meet the bus, and Hunter would spend an hour with him until Becca could pick him up. The bus driver pulled to the top of the hill and proceeded to stop. Hunter said, "No, no I am suppose to go home."

Bus Driver: "I thought this is where I was suppose to drop you off."
Hunter: "No, I am suppose to go home."

The bus driver proceeded on past Crit's house. Crit, wondering what was going on, jumped in the truck and followed the bus driver. They got to Hunter's house, and the bus driver noticed there was no one at home. Fortunately, Crit drove up and told her Hunter was to be dropped at their house. Hunter proceeded to tell them, no he wanted to go home after school was out. Crit took him back to his house and fixed him a couple of grilled cheese as they called Mom and discussed it. Hunter said the bus could stop there, but he was NOT getting off.

He finally apologized to his Pawpaw, agreed to get off the bus, and Pawpaw will pick him up on the four wheeler and fix him a snack.

I am still laughing!

LATER

Baby Cherry

I found out yesterday that my grand baby coming in January is going to be a boy. When I got in the car yesterday there was a missed call on my cell from Jonda. I returned the call, and Carissa was on the phone. She told me she had been to the doctor with Mommy and Daddy. She said she got to see a picture of the baby in Mommy's tummy. I asked her if she knew what the baby was. She said it was a boy. At that point, I got a little choked up. I know that every parent just asks that they have a healthy baby and that each child is special and unique whether a boy or a girl, but I am so happy that Jonda and Travis will have the experience of raising a boy and a girl.

Beth and Travis live thousands of miles apart, but still have a bond that only a brother and sister can have. Carissa is going to be a good (make that great) big sister, because she is independent, likes to help, and has that take charge personality.

I remember one night when she was spending the night at the house with Hunter and Colton. They were going upstairs to play. I told Carissa she was in charge and to let me know if the boys were getting into something they should not be getting into. I could picture Colton climbing the book shelves, or climbing the toy bin to look over the ledge, etc. Hunter wouldn't tell on his brother until after a deed was done or a limb was broken, but I knew I could rely on my Carissa. This was confirmed as I listened to them going up the stairs. Carissa took her responsibility seriously as I heard her say, "Now remember boys, I am in charge!"

There have been so many things over the past four years that Carissa has said or done that we have shared between us, that have made us laugh, and taught us the simplicity of seeing things through the innocence of a child's eye. We will be going into a new phase of life with Baby Cherry as we watch and listen to the interaction of a new brother through Carissa's eyes. These past four and a half years have been such a joy with my Carissa, and this Grammy is so excited to move into the next phase of Carissa with a baby brother!

LATER

School

It seemed only yesterday that my own children were in school. Travis did not miss a day of school until he was in third grade. One morning I woke him up, and when he came into the kitchen I notice his face looked really flushed. He had 102 fever. I told him to get back in bed. He was not going to school. It was at that point that the war was on. As sick as he was, he was refusing to stay home. He had perfect attendance and had no intention of missing school. I felt so bad for him, because he was so proud of having perfect attendance, but at the same time my little guy was so sick.

Now I have two of my little people starting school. Alex and Hunter both get to meet with their teachers this week. They have all their school supplies, new clothes, and shoes ready to go. I do not know when kindergarten became an all day class, but both boys go to school all day. When my kids went to school, you either went in the morning or the afternoon for kindergarten.

Crystal is not working at this time, since Aubrey is due in November. She has all of Alex's clothes ironed. (I could never be bored enough to iron!) Alex will not be riding the bus. He is excited, but really nervous about starting school.

Hunter will be riding the bus. He will ride to Papaw Campbell's house to wait for Mom to pick him up. He is not really looking forward to school but is excited about riding the bus. He received a post card from his new teacher telling him how excited she is to have him in her class. I think it is wonderful that the teacher took the time to send each of her new students a card.

Hunter, Alex, Carissa, and Colton are all so eager to learn, to do it by themselves, to create with their hands and their imagination, to be competitive, and each one so compassionate. I count my blessings that they have such wonderful parents who give them the love and opportunity to be themselves. I am a truly blessed grandparent!

LATER

Hair

As an adult, we all have good hair and bad hair days. I was thinking today, at what age does this obsession with hair begin. We cut, curl, straighten, color, and style our hair. This think process began, when I took Hunter for a hair cut today. He wanted to look through the books. HUH? He wanted a rock star hair cut. He is a five year old little boy. A rock star hair cut? We finally agreed on something we thought the hair dresser could work with. I had to blow dry his hair and put stuff on it to make it stand straight up after his shower tonight. He had to go show his Pawpaw how handsome he looked.

My beautiful Carissa refuses to wear anything in her hair. I heard that a pair of barrettes that one of her dog's wear was in her hair all of a few seconds. Last summer I managed to get her to put a band with bow on it, that matched a new gown, long enough to take a picture to send Mommy and Daddy. When we wash her hair, it must be blown dry as soon as she is out of the shower. Absolutely dry. She pats her head all over with her hand to be sure no spots are still damp. We were at my mother-in laws house once, and I had four kids I was bathing. I tried to slide by and told her I didn't think Mamaw had a blow drier. We would just let it dry naturally. Her response was, "Go ask." Needless to say, we got Mamaw's dryer and dried Carissa's hair. She keeps her hair in a beautiful bob around her face.

Alex has been picky about how his hair is styled since he was about three. He wants his hair standing straight up with gel in it like Hunter has now decided he wants his. He has his hair razor cut on the sides, but cut with scissors on top like his Dad.

I do not believe Colton cares much about his hair, but if we were talking shoes; I could fill a page on his obsession and love for shoes!

It is amazing how set it their ways these little people already are on how they want their hair.

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