Mud Mask

I went by to visit the boys one night and had the best time as usual.  We played in the yard, played in the toy room and ran around the house.
After I got home, I get a text from their mom.  "I wish you would have waited 10 more minutes before you left - the boys played in the mud".
I sent a text back that it was probably a good thing I didn't stay because after the water cannons and "come on team - shoot Nona in the bottom"  I figured I would have been the one covered in mud!
Hate I missed it though.

Come on Team - Get Nona

I recently spent some time at the Gulf with friends and the grandboys.  While playing in the water, I splashed one of my grandson's friends -Hank.  Hank who is 4 looked at me, raised one finger and said "I'll be right back".  He then climbed into the boat, went to his mother, said something to her.  She looked at me, apologized and then handed him not one but 5 water cannons.  Hank, then got back in the water and made his way over to me and let me have it!  There were 5 kids all 5 and under.  My grandson got them all together and I heard him say- "come on team, get Nona, shoot her in the bottom!" 
Well, Nona got shot in the bottom, the ear, the face and anywhere else they could get me. 

I have never had so much fun in my life!

Way too long

Wow!  it's been way too long since I have written about Nona's World.  I have so much to tell you.  The boys are growing so fast; my yard/garden is looking very nice and my dogs, well, they are hanging in there.  I'm not sure where I should start so I am going to break here, go back and look at where I left off and I'll get back with you this weekend.  It's good to be back.

made for speed

I visited with the grandboys today - such a beautiful day to be outside.  We watched Buzz Lightyear while moma went to Sam's and when she got back, Bitty took a nap and I played outside with the older grandson.  His favorite game is "Nona, get me when I run" and so I chase him all over the yard - he is super fast so I rarely catch him.  Today, just before I left, it was Dad, get me when I run and so dad had to chase him around the yard.  Next it was Moma, get me when I run and so moma chased him but of course couldn't catch him - as he made a pass, I heard him say..."these underwear are made for speed".  I thought I was going to loose it!  I asked him what kind of underwear he had on and so he had to show me his "Spiderman" underwear.  He wears them backward so the character is on the front.
Gotta love the way they think!

2yr old birthday - skating party and Advil

My youngest grandson turned 2 this past week.  He was in Disney so his party was this past Sunday.  If you can imagine, it was a skating party.  My daughter-in-law booked the entire place and they were allowed to bring big wheels, tricycles, scooters, all sorts of things for the little ones to ride on.  There were space walks and jumpers for the kids to play in.  And those who wanted could skate.  
Bitty is all about Toy Story.  He wears his Buzz Lightyear costume all the time and he sleeps with a Buzz character.  He carries Woody everywhere and gets a little upset when he misplaces Woody's hat.
The kids all had a wonderful time.
Well, I haven't skated in about 25 years and loved it at one time.  As a teenager, I spent several nights a week at the skating rink.  When my son was about 4yrs old I started taking him and we went at least a couple times a week.  He loved it as much as I did.
Well, let me tell you I was a little concerned when I got my skates on - I was shaky even on the carpet.  A friend offered to pick me up when I fell and  no he wouldn't laugh first.  I came close a couple times but I never fell.  I was an awful Nona; I ended up skating the entire 2 hours and it was like being a kid again.
At one time in my life I was very good on skates and I've still got it.  I even amazed myself - it was like riding a bike.  Once I got on that floor I didn't want to stop.
As we were sitting down to cake and ice cream, I skated over to my niece (no longer a spring chicken herself) and I groaned as I sat down.  Her remark was "All this is just like when you used to bring us skating and we had so much fun but I don't remember us doing all this groaning and moaning back then".  She was right!  This morning I had to have a couple Advil with my morning coffee.  I sure could have used  a good massage today.  And of course I posted pictures on facebook so I didn't want to call in sick.  Next time, I'll stay home and post pics a couple weeks later.

I'm off to take a hot bath now and a couple more advil.

close your eyes Nona and smell

my son and daughter-in-law have their house up for sale and the real estate agent was bringing someone by.  I was entertaining the boys while she cleaned and straightened the house.  She walked thru the play room and sprayed air freshener.  My oldest grandson sat for a minute, looked over at me and said close your eyes Nona and smell - it smells good.  And then he closed his eyes and breathed deep and smiled. 
I love those little moments.

New Year's Eve and the good list

Wow, the holidays are over and I'm exhausted.  Thanksgiving was spent with family and friends.  Christmas was a lot of shopping, baking, cooking, opening presents, and loving on those grandboys.  The entire day was spent at my son's house with visitors popping in and out all day long. 
New Years Eve found me playing "lets hold hands, spin in a circle, and fall down" for way too long and then we sat in the swing and watched the blimp fly by.  "You know Nona, there are are a lot of blimps at the blimp shop- about 10.  That blimp is really big - but not as big as our house; look at it, we have a really big house".  "Nona, you see that chimney up there?  that's where Santa brought our John Deere Gator.  See that flat spot in front of it?  That's were he landed his sleigh.  The reindeer just slid to a stop, Santa jumped out and went down the chimney.  Then he came back out and flew away to the next house, landed, took toys to good boys and girls, and went to the next house, landed, took toys to the good boys and girls and went to the next house.  You know he has a naughty list for kids who have been bad and a good list for kids like me and bitty."
We agreed we would eat our dinner, take a bath with bubbles and stuff that turns the water colors, then watch a movie and eat popcorn just like at the movies.  After dinner we watched "Bob the Builder", "Fireman Sam to the Rescue", and "Barney" which the youngest hated everytime it came on - and it played about 4 times that night.  After watching those roll over and over and over again, we agreed on "Diego" three or four times.  After our bath and popping popcorn it was "The Jungle Book" again.  Nona can probably recite it word for word - love those bear necessities.  My kids came home at 10pm; one of the boys was asleep and the other was wound up tight.  I was home by 11:00 and in my bed by midnight - heard all the neighbors fireworks and even watched some before I went to bed.
2010 is off to a good start!

From the mouths of babes.

My grandsons came over on the Sunday following Thanksgiving to decorate the tree.  I had other family members over for turkey gumbo and it was really fun.  I enjoyed watching the boys and my great niece place (or throw)  the ornaments on the tree.  I had to reposition several as they were just sitting on the branches. 
After all the other family members left, my son and daughter-in-law along with the two boys were sitting around talking.  My oldest grandson (3yrs old) was patting my old dog Henry and was getting a little rough; so I told him to be careful with Henry (14yrs old) because he was getting old.  My grandson looked up at me and asked "Nona, how come Henry got old like you?"  I looked up at my daughter-in-law, who wouldn't meet my eyes; my son was looking down and fighting a grin.  I walked into my daugher-in-laws arms - who gave me a big hug and patted me on my back as we both laughed until we cried.  I then had to explain that when you have been around a lot of years like Henry and I have that you just get old.  My grandson said he was a lot of years older since going to "The Little Gym" - (where he takes gymnastics in Daphne, AL.).

You never really know what they are thinking until they start talking and then who knows what little ones will say.

From the mouths of babes!

Christmas Traditions

The grandboys are old enough to really enjoy Christmas this year.  We went to visit Bellingrath Gardens and Home "Magic Christmas in Lights".  It is a tradition to visit every year the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  The decorations were amazing.  After walking the gardens and enjoying the sights, we saw Santa in the gift shop and my son took the oldest grandboy over to watch the kids talking to him.  My son asked him if he'd like to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas and my grandson replied "I'll tell him later".  While they are really excited about Christmas this year, Santa can be a little scary in person.
Sunday night I had family over for turkey gumbo and decorated the tree.  My youngest picked up the ornaments and threw them onto the tree.  My oldest thought it was funny that the dog knocked them off with his wagging tail. 

There was laughter, giggling, and lots of fun.  Bellingrath is an old tradition and decorating Nona's tree is a new one.

Adopt a US Soldier

I had 2 brothers in Viet Nam in the 70's and I wrote to them both every day. I know they didn't get every single letter but they got most of them.  They talked about receiving my letters and enjoying hearing the news and what was happening back home. 
I found a website where you can adopt a US soldier in Iraq.  I received a name and address the day after I registered and I started writing last week and plan on sending a package this week. 
I'm hoping to brighten the day of at least one soldier and hopefully he will enjoy receiving my letters as much as my brothers did.

Want to help?  http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/

Key West - Fantasy Fest 2009

Wow!  What can I say.  I visited my brother in Key West and Fantasy Fest was in full swing.  If you've ever gone to Mardi Gras in New Orleans you have a general idea of Fantasy Fest - constant partying!  Crowds all day and night - a constant parade of costumes, body paint, and the occassional very brave soul.  There were very elaborate costumes, some very colorful costumes and then some without costumes.  Dancing in the street, participants and spectators. Street vendors with food and drink.
The floats didn't compare to Mobile or New Orleans Mardi Gras but were still impressive.
Going back next year?  Probably not. I will visit Key West again but been there, done that - I'll stick to Mobile Mardi Gras.

Greater Gulf States Fair

The fair is taking place in Mobile, AL this week and we all went on Sunday.  The boys had a wonderful time riding the rides, feeding the animals, and sampling the "fair food"- corndogs and cotton candy. 
While other kids are turning the steering wheel back and forth on the cars and trucks, my oldest is turning into the curve - just as if he is driving (remember he has a "big green tractor").
Nona gets motion sick so she didn't ride rides but had just as much fun watching the excitement in their faces.

Anticipation

They listen with a keen ear; the excitement grows!  Dancing in place they exclaim in gleeful voices - "It's Mr. Gray"
My grandsons can hear the ice-cream truck long before the rest of us and they begin dancing in place and the oldest starts yelling "It's Mr. Gray!"  not the ice-cream man but Mr. Gray.  The youngest starts pointing at the door.
I took them both a Halloween Pop from my all staff retreat which was their treat for the day and then the youngest heard the music and started dancing in place.  They weren't happy to find out that the couldn't have an ice cream too.
Ice cream is a favorite treat!  - they get that from their Nona.