Well, of course….

The March wind blew as hard as it is possible for a March wind in Kansas to blow. It rained, and it was cold. The weather reminded me of past spring breaks when my kids spent the week on their own inside our house due to bad weather. I spent those spring breaks inside, too, except at the office.

At the time, I felt my children were responsible enough to stay home alone. Looking back, I now suspect, though, they were too young. (Just how did they break the toilet bowl and flood the bathroom?)

During this past spring break, I was home with my four visiting out-of-state grandchildren.

“What are you doing?” I asked the almost five-year-old as he swung a stick horse in the air.

“Sweeping the ceiling,” he answered.

“Of course,” I said.

“May I have a third cookie?” the almost nine-year-old asked.

“Of course,” I answered.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” another child said running toward the bathroom.

Of course she was.

“The strep throat test came back positive,” the urgent care nurse said.

Of course it did, I thought.

Did Grandpa and I have a great spring break? Well, of course, we did.

It’s a Girl!

“I’m thirsty.”

“I’m hungry.”

“I need my monkey.”

“My brother needs his blanky.”

“I need to brush my teeth.”

“We forgot our prayers.”

There was no end to the excuses my three-year-old granddaughter had to keep from falling asleep. Her sixteen-month-old brother and she were in my care while their parents were at the hospital welcoming a baby sister to their family.

At last, though, sleep came to the child, and it came without a grand-parenting failure on my part. No one enjoys watching a temper tantrum thrown by a seventy-plus grandma.

I managed to get the little ones to the hospital to meet their baby sister, too. Of course, we arrived twenty minutes later than planned, and I did have oatmeal on my sleeve. However, the children were dressed and did not have oatmeal in their hair. Still, I was halfway to the hospital before I remembered I hadn’t brushed my teeth.

The little ones and I returned home to toys scattered throughout the house, unfolded laundry on the couch, and dishes in the sink. It looked just like it had when my own children were young.

Thank you, God, for my family’s newest, healthy blessing.

Go Royals!

Recently, I attended the Royals FanFest celebration in Kansas City with family members. John and the family are Royals fans. I know the rules to baseball, sort of, but mainly go because I enjoy time spent with family. The only Royals player I could positively identify is George Brett. He does not often attend this event.

Just a few short years ago, I dressed my children in like, bright colors if we were going to be in a crowd. They were easier to spot and count if all wore red. Knowing the predominant color at the Royals FanFest was blue, I dressed myself in the currently popular Red Buffalo plaid. At my age, it’s easy for me to stray away from the family. I didn’t want them to lose me. It worked, too. Twice, a couple of the grandchildren spotted me and guided me back to the group.

Unfortunately, too, at my age it is sometimes difficult to spot far-a-way signage in a large arena. I’ve learned, though, with careful observation, I can usually spot a line of senior citizens—a sure sign of a restroom.

Oh, yes I do so enjoy a day with the family. Go Royals!