They're back!

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They're back!

For many years and through most seasons, we could count on seeing a small herd of seven or so deer in our neighborhood at various times throughout the day. Mostly in the evenings or when I walked the dogs (now just dog) in the mornings. Up until about three months ago.

We started noticing the absence of the neighborhood deer the beginning of summer and throughout, except for …

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Pool party!

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Pool party!

Pool parties have long been a favorite way for kids to celebrate their birthdays, whether it be in their own backyard swimming pool or a paid party option at the local public swimming spot.

My daughters never got to have a pool party for their birthdays when I was in charge of party planning. In part because I can't swim and the thought of being responsible for little ones bobbing about in a body of water, large or small, scared the bejeezus out of me.

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Grandma's love is SO big!

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From the time my first baby girl was born, I had a penchant for grabbing the arms of beloved little ones — especially teensy tiny ones — holding them above the babe's head and professing the sing-song sentiment of how big she or he is.

Brianna Lee is SO big! I'd trill.

Then, Megan Rae is SO big!

Andrea Lynn is SO big!

Followed by Bubby, then Mac, then Jak being oh SO big, too, as each tiny one grew into being not so tiny at all.

I haven't sing-songed the SO Big song in quite some time. Yet, when I saw on Facebook the photo Megan posted last week of Bubby and Mac's first day of school — Bubby entering third grade, Mac full-week morning prekindergarten* — my first thought was, "Bubby and Mac are SO big!"

brothers back to school 

Oh, how I would have loved to...

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Wacky weather

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Wacky weather

I was born in Minnesota, land of not only 10,000 lakes but lots of tornados, too. From what I've been told throughout the years, I was in a tornado when I was 18 months old. Houses were demolished, people died, and my mother was bathing me when the funnel clouds first swirled through our neighborhood.

My family survived with nothing more than scary tales of the tornado. Mine are just retellings because being only 18 months old at the time, I obviously have no recollection.

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Wherein Facebook eases Grandma's eyes

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I haven't seen my grandsons in two months and nine days, give or take an hour or two.

I miss the goofballs, to say the least.

With no visits currently on the calendar — neither them to my place nor me to theirs — a social media share such as this one that Megan posted yesterday on Facebook is a...

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Happy July Fourth

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Happy July Fourth

Jim is free from the hospital as of last Thursday! We're celebrating that as well as the Fourth of July today, despite the fact my hubby will be hobbling about — without bearing weight on his right foot or he will be in trouble of epic proportion from me and the doctors — for six weeks. Things could certainly be worse.

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