How toddlers think....

When the four "older" grandkids were playing together

this week, Andrew & Everleigh were playing with

Brigg's 4-story Fire House pictured below.

When they walked away I noticed that Andrew

had set up a scene in the Fire House bathroom

that he is familiar with....pictured below. 

Then I noticed that Ethan was giving his kitty a ride

in the dump truck,

Briggs had set up 

Darth Vader and R2D2  battling in the downstairs playhouse,

(look out, R2D2)

Lego man and the cast of Star Wars were battling

on the "stove",

and later in the week, Ethan had positioned himself

under the recliner and was "fixing it", much as you

would a car up on a hoist....

Overheard recently:

Andrew, talking mostly to himself in the backseat of the van,

"It's ok if you're sad, people will still love you."

Ethan (2), holding up 2 fingers said to me,

"Grandma, my number is 2.  What's your number?"

When I said, "64", he looked at his hands

and fingers, and was stumped on how to show "64".

:)

In the beginning....

Five years ago this month Grandma Bunny started

daycare for baby Everleigh.  Here she is

that first day, saying goodbye to her daddy.

And here we are later that day.....

Here's an early outing on a shopping trip.

Christmas with Andrew and me

 A daycare days with Andrew

An overnight at my house learning about smores

Another daycare day with Briggs and Ethan

A springtime project...a bird feeder

She and I get to know baby Foster.

 Everleigh loves projects.  Here's her drawing of Disney

princesses...top row, Rapunzel (long hair), Aurora (pink),

Cinderella (upswept hair, blue dress), bottom row, Ariel (red hair),

Belle (yellow dress), and Tiana (black hair)

Five years has flown by and she's as sweet and

beautiful today as the first day we were together.

Can't wait to see what your future holds, little girl.

Andrew's recipe for cookies

You might think that Andrew is

too busy thinking about tow trucks

and legos to pay attention to

how to make cookies.

Here's his recipe (told to me recently)

1)  Put in sugar

2)  Mix with a spoon

3)  Turn on Oven

4)  Wait

No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Now that Ami is back at work, the little ones are

spending more time together as I combine duties.

Ethan goes with me to Everleigh, Briggs and

Foster's house.

Here, Everleigh and Ethan share the rocker.

Then Briggs joins them.

Another afternoon, Briggs and Everleigh make

Indian headdresses (for Thanksgiving).

Is that politically correct?

Another day and the four older ones are caught

on the bed.  They really weren't jumping

on the bed...just playing hide and seek.

Looks like fun.

Now that we're indoors more, Andrew & Ethan

enjoy their baking skills.  Note that Andrew

is doing pretty well on his form.  I think

Ethan was mostly eating the dough.

And here's little Foster, not quite sitting alone, but

definitely making eye contact.

A new schedule and a new customer

I just completed my first week of daycare

that includes little Foster Gene Leroy.

Here he is on our first day together...

Meanwhile, the other 4 keep busy.  Andrew

and Ethan baked sugar cookies.

 very rewarding!

Everleigh got back to her projects.

 Briggs and Everleigh played "scarecrow".  I can't

make this stuff up...

 Everleigh and Foster share a moment.  She is so in

love with him and is very attentive.  Briggs is, too,

but it's harder to capture a picture of the 2 of them together.

My daily schedule varies but basically back and

forth between the 2 households with Everleigh

and Andrew in preschool on alternate days.

I'm home Monday and Friday afternoons, which

gives me time to regroup....and put together

more "projects"!

A Busy Month

So, what's been going on?

We've gone to an apple orchard, walked to the playground

and ice cream store, taken care of little ones,

enjoyed the fall leaves, baptized Foster, celebrated

birthdays, helped with yard clean up, had family

dinners, cooked and cleaned up, done lots of

laundry, eaten lots of pizza, had bonfires and eaten

smores, and watched little Foster change

before our very eyes.  In short, we've been busy!

 Nathaniel (Batman), Briggs(fireman) and Ethan(Darth Vader) square off.

 Matthew reads a story to Ethan.

 Jonathan gives Andrew a swing.

 Matthew and Ethan in the playhouse.

 A mild evening = outside fire...

 ...and sparklers

 Baby Foster is baptized.

 We celebrated birthdays for Everleigh (5) and Briggs (3)

 Foster meets Uncle Chad.

 Brighton and Nathaniel enjoy a morning outside with 

Andrew, Briggs and Ethan.

 Brighton gives Ethan a swing.

 Nathaniel, Briggs, Andrew & Brighton in the playhouse/swingset.

 We helped with beach cleanup at Sue's

(Everleigh, Brighton, Andrew, Jonathan)

 We celebrated an early birthday for Matthew's 16,

 Briggs, Jesse, Ethan and Matthew share a moment.

 a rare photo with Greg, me and all 9 grandkids

 a beautiful fall day with football in the front yard

 more sparklers

 Ethan and Andrew light a pumpkin.

 A family meal

more swinging...Ethan, Andrew, Nathaniel

Little Foster is growing....