It Takes Two!

            Last week, I had almost-five-year-old Harrison and just-turned-two-year-old Fisher in the back seat of the car, heading to our house after getting them from their other grandmother’s house. 

            I told the boys I had a little surprise for them at home.  Harrison quickly asked, “Is it one thing or two?”

            When I answered that there were two – one for him and one for Fisher -  Harrison said that was good, because when there’s only one thing, they fight. 

            So, I thought, this might be a great one of those “teachable moments.”  I explained how important it is to share, that sharing with others is good and that taking turns is what people need to learn to do. 

            That’s when Harrison spoke up again: “The thing about sharing is when me and Fisher share, Fisher doesn’t.”

            Yep, that could certainly be a problem – when two people share except that one of ‘em doesn’t. 

            We all know what that’s like, don’t we? 

Can You Pick the Unhappy One?

My daughter's friend, Sarah R. Sass, took this photo of my two grandsons, Harrison and Fisher.  Can you tell which one isn't happy?


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Boxes - and More Boxes

                        I’ve never seen so many boxes in my life!

                        It’s been six weeks since we moved, or at least since we started moving.  The whole moving process seems unending.  We’re still surrounded by boxes.

                        With everything else going on – like sleeping, eating, cooking, church, work, etc. – we can’t spend 24 hours a day unpacking boxes.  I wonder if we’ll be through by Christmas. 

                        Since Dupp and I are still relatively newly-wed, we have “his stuff,” “her stuff,” “our stuff” and stuff that has been stored in PODS for a few years. 

                        And among all of this stuff are some things we don’t recognize.  At all.  A visitor asked recently about a clock.  I told her to ask Dupp about it ‘cause I’d never seen it before.  Strange.  Dupp said it wasn’t his either. 

                        We found parts of three blenders but not all of the parts to any one blender. 

                        We’ve also found enough crockpots to open a crockpot museum.  I’ll admit that I enjoy using crockpots, even for boiled peanuts.  I’ve been known to use two or three at a time when we had folks coming over. 

                        It’s no telling what all we will discover or rediscover. 

                        Until today, going through boxes was a slow process.

                        That changed when the two grandsons came for a five-day visit.  Do you know how fast a four-year-old and a seventeen-month-old can open and go through boxes? 

                        It takes less than 24 hours for two little boys to unpack every box. 

                        Sure, it’s going to take a long time to put stuff away or donate it or sell it or whatever.  But, thanks to the grandsons, we don’t have as much unpacking to do.

                        Besides, boxes make wonderful toys for playing, imagining, creating and building.  The two boys love having empty boxes.

                        And so do we!

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Popcorn and Plans

            Ah, the best laid plans.

            Yep, you know the rest of that, don’t you?  It’s the saying that “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” 

            Taken from a Robert Burns poem and a John Steinbeck novel, the saying, of course, means that, sometimes no matter how hard one plans, things just don’t work out according to those plans.

            Here’s my newest “best laid plans” story:

            Iris, a really good friend, and I like to get together to play Buzztime Trivia on Wednesday afternoons.  This particular trivia game is played throughout the US and Canada in restaurants, pubs and other such establishments. 

            Iris and I usually go a neighborhood family pub (O'Lacy's) late on Wednesdays and then The Duppster joins us after work to play a round or two of trivia.  Typically, we’re out of there by 6 pm or 6:30.

            Last week, the two grandsons were staying with us.  They are just-turned-four (Harrison) and 17 months (Fisher.)  I didn’t want to tell them we were going to a pub or anything like that. 

            Since this particular pub has free popcorn, I told Harrison and Fisher we were going to the “popcorn place” where we could eat popcorn and have fun.  They were excited! 

            Iris was in on this temporary-name-for-the-business scheme.  She got to the pub a few minutes before I arrived with the two grandsons, so she told the owner what was going on.  When the boys and I walked in, the owner said, “Welcome to the Popcorn Place.”

            As is normal for late Wednesday afternoons, there weren’t many people there.  We all had popcorn while Iris and I played trivia.  Everything was working out just right.

            As we were leaving around 6 pm, several other people were coming in.

            That’s when Harrison exclaimed, “Boy, this bar sure is filling up fast!”

            This bar?

            So much for the Popcorn Place.

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Supper With the Boys

            The Duppster and I had the two grandsons over the weekend. 

            Harrison is almost four; Fisher is 14 months.  What this means is that we had our hands full. 

            Sunday meant Sunday School and church and we made it through much, much better than we feared.  Now THAT was something for which to give thanks!

            Fortunately, there are several neighborhood children, so both boys were able to play outside with others in the afternoon.  That was yet another reason for thanksgiving.

            Meal time was something else.  Fisher has learned to say “cracker” and continually asks for crackers, even while eating something else. 

            Sunday night, after a long but enjoyable day, it was time for supper and I wasn’t sure what to fix in a hurry that Harrison would eat and that Dupp liked.

            Well, as it turns out, both Harrison and Dupp love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Voila!  That would be the perfect quick supper, even though we had to use different kinds of jelly based on personal preferences.  Wouldn’t you know it?

            Harrison was at the table, gobbling down his peanut butter and (blackberry) jelly sandwich, when he turned to me and said, “This is just a fake supper.  Right?”

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Surprise! It's Photo Hunt on the Web

This week's word for Photo Hunt is SURPRISE.

Harrison was surprised the first time he bit into a lemon.  Can you tell?

To see other Photo Hunt surprises, click here.

Peanut Butter Sausage

So, here I am for a couple of days taking care of two grandsons, Harrison, 3 3/4, and Fisher, 11 months.  Yes, I put "3 3/4" 'cause there's a lot of difference in 3 and 4.  He'll be 4 in mid-March. 

This morning I asked Harrison what he wanted for breakfast.  Well, that was my first mistake; his mom has told me before not to ever ask Harrison what he wants to eat - just fix something and tell him that's what he's having. 

By the time I remembered her advice, the damage was already done. 

Harrison answered that he wanted "peanut butter sausage."  I was still half-asleep, so I thought perhaps I was hearing things; I asked again, and again got the same answer: "peanut butter sausage."

I had no idea what peanut butter sausage was.  I told Harrison I had no idea what he was talking about.  Actually, my exact words were: "What in tarnation is peanut butter sausage?" 

He said, "I'll show you."  He went to the refrigerator and opened the door.  Then, as he looked over the contents, he explained, "You get the sausage out of the drawer and put peanut butter all over it.  Then you mix it with milk.  And then with cheese.  And then with diet Coke.  You put grapes next to it."

By then, of course, I knew there was no such thing as peanut butter sausage. 

Harrison knows how to play tricks on his grandma.  And he does it with such a straight face.  And a sweet, innocent one at that. 

He had cereal for breakfast. 

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Future Band Member?

Grandson Harrison, age 3 1/2, is practicing to be a member of the Clemson Tigers Band.  Of course, he also says he'll play football for Clemson.  I guess he has plenty of time to hone his skills and make a decision.

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Sweet Potatoes and the Three-Year-Old

It's just as Art Linkletter thought: Kids say the darndest things.

The other night, I was helping son-in-law Adam with 3-year-old Harrison and 7-month-old Fisher.  Adam put food on Harrison's plate for dinner.  Harrison did a pretty good job with everything except the sweet potatoes. 

Finally, Adam asked, "Harrison, why aren't you eating the sweet potatoes."

Harrison replied, "I don't like them."

So Adam asked, "Why?  Is it the taste or the texture."

Harrison garbled out, "The tex-chur."

Adam smiled and said, "Harrison, do you even know what 'texture' means?"

He answered, "It means it's gross!"


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Another Steal - But Oh, So Cute!

Okay, it's another "steal." 
These photos are from daughter Mandy's blog. 
Her family stayed with my brother Shawn, Catherine, Kendall & Spencer this past weekend. 
Shawn is a ski wizard - or something.  He has won all kinds of championships.  (Catherine, his wife, is a golf champ.)
Their son, Spencer, has been on the water behind boats since he was 1; he is now 4. 
On Saturday, they taught Harrison how to ski.  Harrison turned 3 in March.

In the first photo, they're giving signals that they are ready to go.  Spencer is on the left; Harrison is on the right. 

The Sofa and the Old Woman

This is the story of the sofa and the old woman. 


It happened like this: I spent several days this past week with daughter Mandy; her husband, Adam; their three-year-old, Harrison; and the almost-four-month-old Fisher a/k/a The Fish.

Early in the week Mandy called to let me know that she and The Fish were sick and she had no energy.  As most reasonable folks know, a mother of an infant and an active three-year-old must have energy.  Mandy said she needed my help, so I drove to Murrells Inlet to help as I could.

And it was during these few days that I learned a new indicator of "old age." 

There's a sofa in the room with the TV, the official "hang-out" room at their house.  And there's one spot on the sofa that I occupy when I'm feeding The Fish, or reading, or checking e-mail - well, you get the picture.  It's just the point to which I gravitate. 

One night the family decided to play a joke on me.  They put a "whoopee cushion" under my usual spot -- the place on the sofa  that I seemed to claim as mine for giving The Fish his bottle or for whatever I'm doing. 

So, I - the innocent victim of the prank - plopped down on that spot on the sofa.  And, yes, there was one of those awful sounds as I crushed the whoopee cushion.

And that's when I learned what old age really is.  They all laughed.  I didn't know there was a whoopee cushion there.  It was just a typical sound for me, one that I seem to make all too often -- without the aid of a cushion.

And, my friend, if you don't understand what I'm saying, just wait.  You will.  When you're this age -- old -- you'll understand -- totally!


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Ugly & Funny Hats: Ready for THE Wedding

My hats are ready and waiting for THE wedding (you know which one; it's Prince William & Kate.)  I guess my hats are my ladies-in-waiting. 

Of course, I haven't yet received my invitation and it's getting awfully late, don't you think? 

Some of these hats are just as ugly as the ones the royals wear. 

Years ago, daughter Mandy and friends had fun trying on hats.

Last December, some friends from church also "played dress-up" with hats.

This past weekend, just-turned-three-year-old grandson Harrison had fun with the hats also.  He said this one had a cast net on it.  Of course, we women usually call the cast net a veil.

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Oops! Things I Had Forgotten

Last week, I quickly remembered some things I had forgotten.


I was in Murrells Inlet taking care of my two grandsons – almost three-year-old Harrison and 10-week-old Fisher. It took only a 24-hour period for me to realize why God created women in such a way as to end child-bearing years before women are my age!

One of the things I had forgotten was how important it is to go quickly when changing a boy baby’s diapers. I was sprayed twice in three minutes! Diaper-changing time is not a time to play “goo-goo-goo” with baby, at least not between diapers.

Nor is it a good time to play “goo-goo-goo” when baby is ready for his bottle. When he’s hungry, he is not in the mood to smile. Babies can be extremely goal-oriented.

I also quickly remembered that if the two children are ever sleeping at the same time, quickly do anything you need or want to do. That little block of time is when the adult showers, dresses, cooks, sleeps, returns phone calls, checks e-mail, reads Facebook, etc. Yes, everything in a short time frame.

I had also forgotten that days are spent wearing clothes infused with the aroma of “eau de spit-up.”

Through Harrison, I realized (again) that toddlers repeat what they hear. I’m still holding my breath on this one.

He also reminded me that little boys have an unending supply of energy, enthusiasm and inquisitiveness – and that grandmas don’t.

Harrison made me think about the various names grandparents are called. New grandparents often wonder what they will be called: Nana, Granny, Pops, Poppa or whatever. Harrison calls me “Puff,” but last week he often used “Puffy.”

No, neither name is very flattering, but it doesn’t matter. Every time Harrison says my name, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have two healthy and wonderful grandsons.

Smelling of “eau de spit-up” is an aroma of love. I’m happy to wear it any time.

 
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Well, Excu-u-u-u-s-e Me!!!!

How do you figure out when to start teaching children manners, etiquette and good behavior? I guess it’s right from the beginning, huh?


Of course, children certainly must get mixed signals, because sometimes we adults aren’t very good examples, are we?

My daughter Mandy and son-in-law, Adam, have done what I think is an excellent job with Harrison, who is not quite three years old.

They started with the usuals – “thank you,” “you’re welcome” and “please.”




Among the many others they taught him was the one they themselves learned at Chick-fil-A. That’s where Mandy and Adam met as fellow employees. (Both, by the way, continue with Chick-fil-A: he as operator of the Murrells Inlet store and she as a grand opening consultant.)

Anyway, if you’ve ever been a customer at Chick-fil-A, you probably know that if you say “Thank you,” the employee responds with “My pleasure.”

So, Harrison learned to say “My pleasure” as well as “You’re welcome.”

And they taught him other appropriate phrases, such as “I’m sorry” and “Excuse me.”

Like all children, Harrison occasionally had to be prompted. After all, it takes time to learn and to let new things become habit.

One day, Harrison, ahem, “passed gas” rather loudly. His parents asked, “What do you say, Harrison?”

He promptly replied, “My pleasure!”

I’m sure the relief he felt did indeed feel pleasurable.

And isn’t that a feeling that we all know?!?!


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It's All Relative -- See???

I'm sharing some family photos.    Do you see how much family members resemble each other?

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It's a Boy!!!!

By this time tomorrow, I'll probably have my second grandchild.  I am SO excited.  If this little one, Adam Fisher Brantley, is half as wonderful as his older brother, Harrison Cothran Brantley, then we are all blessed many times over.

There is one thing I know about Fisher already: he has fantastic parents.  He did a super job picking them!

I want to share what his mom (my daughter Mandy) posted a few days ago.  It made me cry.

"I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him over to the Lord. For his whole life will be given over to the Lord." 1 Samuel 1:27-28

As we closed out 2010 and are full-steam ahead into 2011, I can't help but reflecting on how absolutely crazy 2010 has been for us. I remember that I begged in my first post on this blog for 2010 that it would be a Year of Peace. Well, I can't say that it has. So, I'm not claiming anything this year.

This year has been marked by pregnancy...ones that have not been viable, and one that is about to become to fruition (see my post when I announced this for more info). Anyway, the other day, I was looking through the pictures on my phone when I came across this photo of a positive pregnancy test. The date on it was 5/4/2010. I wasn't sure as I had a few positive tests and against my husbands protest, I always sent them to Allison as she walked through this struggle every day with me.

But when I came across this test, I was flooded with the emotions that I felt that day. I remember sitting in my bathroom and saying aloud, "you have got to be (kidding) [getting] me. I cannot do this again." And by "this," I was referencing another failed pregnancy. I felt defeated the moment I saw the blue lines and just knew isn't possible for me to actually have this turn into something.

Well, almost eight months to the day after taking the test and quite a few pounds larger, I'd say it has turn(ed) into something. God is good. That collection of thoughts sent me into cries of adoration for my Father in Heaven that I could not seem to control. It was a tender moment, that I will never forget.


And we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of this little blessing. I called Adam on Dec 30th and said, "how badly do you want a tax deduction? I'm willing to stomach the Castor oil." In typical Adam form he replied, "Mandy, I can wait until Wednesday. I have a lot I need to do in the next few days before this baby comes." He apparently doesn't know what it feels like to be 100 months pregnant....
 
Welcome to this glorious world, Fisher. You are a blessing and you are blessed.   I love you already! 



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PH: It's Mom

This week's Photo Hunt theme is no surprise; it's Mom or Mother.

I found this photo of 4 generations: Mom, me, daughter Mandy and her son Harrison.

 

Scroll on down for a story about Mom posted earlier this week.  In fact, there are loads of posts about her antics and escapades throughout this blog. 
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Click HERE for other Photo Hunt participants.

WW: Who's That Behind Those Foster Grants?

Remember that ad for Foster Grant sunglasses? 
Well, today, it's not sunglasses but a handsome straw hat, and the question is: "Who's that under the handsome straw hat?"

Here's a little more of the subject; now can you tell?

Perhaps a glimpse of some of the face will help.

Ah, there he is.  It's two-year-old Harrison!

Harrison likes his hat, partly because it looks like his daddy's hat.

Isn't he adorable - and can't you tell that this grandma has no interest in him whatsoever? 

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Other Wordful Wednesday participants are here.

Other Wordless Wednesday participants are here.

PH: How SWEET It Is!

It's Saturday, and that means it's Photo Hunt day in blogland.  This week's topic is "sweet." 

Here are some sweet-smelling flowers.

Chef Jane and the cake she baked for Elizabeth's 90th birthday.

A different kind of cake: it looks sweet but it was made with diapers for a baby shower.

My sweet grandson, Harrison.

And here's something that turned into a sweet treat!

Happy Easter to all!

To see other entries in the Photo Hunt, click here.

WW: Monkey

If you've not met him before, please allow me to introduce  you to Monkey. 

That is Monkey to the left.

And here is a close-up shot of Monkey, just to show all of his wonderful features. 

And here is Monkey with his friend, Another Monkey.  Monkey is on the left; Another Monkey is on the right. 

Monkey and Another Monkey are the property and constant companions of Harrison, my grandson who will be 2 on Friday. 

       

Monkey has been with Harrison for a long time, starting at a young age, and continuing both day and night. 

Sometimes Monkey has come between us - literally. 

Harrison likes to wear clothes with monkey designs. 

And he likes to read monkey books, like this one about Curious George.  In fact, if you ask Harrison at bedtime what books he wants to read, he usually answers, "George and Jesus."  That's one book about Curious George and one book about Jesus. 

There have been times when we've been thankful for Monkey, like here when Harrison seemed to be posing as the "Naked Cowboy." 

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Other Wordful Wednesday participants are HERE.

Wordless Wednesday participants are.HERE