Grampa bonding

We had a family filled Sunday and spent it in Hettinger with my Dad. He was home alone for the last few days as my mom was in Fargo spending some time with her sisters. Dad called me this morning and asked if I wanted to come over and make everyone lunch. I laughed at him and asked who everyone was, and he said you guys and me. I took it as a sign he was really lonely so we headed over there. I get there and he has the kitchen super clean, so we ordered lunch in!

He and Paige did dirty the kitchen to make cupcakes--I wasn't allowed to help so I was sneaking pictures of them instead. I was allowed to help fill the muffin tins; since Grampa had no experience doing that. He let Paige run the hand mixer all by himself; a braver man than I. She did not lift it up and splatter batter everywhere and did a good job. They tasted good too!

The bad news of the day was a phone call from mom that a deer had decided to try and attack her car. The deer seemed to win as she has some damage--including deer hair stuck to her antenna which is on the back of her car. Odd isn't it? They had to stop and peel pieces of the car off so they could keep driving, but Mom and Aunt Connie were just fine.

Something about a gramma's house

There is something mystical and magical about getting to go to gramma's house. Paige loves to go to either of her gramma's houses and will be excited for days if she knows she gets to be there. My mother-in-law lives in the same town as us; so Paige sees her a lot, but its usually short trips. Whereas, my mom is usually overnight trips. You'd think the enthusiam would be different for each place. Its not.

After today, I know why. Grammas all have certain universal things you can do at their houses, such as:

• run around in nothing but your underwear
• make a huge mess all over the house and its not a big deal at all
• eat massive quantities of food, particularly chocolate
• buy you your favorite foods and let you consume them all when you are there. The ladies at the grocery store know when Rick's grandkids are at his house because he stops in the morning and buys chocolate milk!
• do nothing but have fun
• Mom and Dad may not be there

I am not complaing about any of these items, as we do some of them at our own home. However, the consistancy with these items at any gramma's house is pretty high. Thank goodness for gramma's (and grampas!) who can brighten our day!

"But you don't have a big tummy?"

I told Paige we were going to have a baby a day or two after our families found out and that was her first response! Here is a recap of the conversation.

Me: "So what would you think if we had a baby?"

Paige: "We aren't going to have one" with sort of a whatever look.

"Yes, we are going to have one."

"But you don't have a big tummy?"

I was sort of expecting that one, so replied, "It will take a while, but Mommy will get a big tummy." Her friends at daycare are going to be big sisters in a month; so they are all very aware of the big tummy situation.

She sort of ponders for a second. "I want a girl baby."

Me too. "That would be nice, wouldn't it?" Don't know if Daddy could handle it!

Another random look by Paige as she's absorbing things. "I don't want to do diapers. I saw Trey's diapers and they are icky."

"You won't have to do diapers but maybe you could help with bath time or bringing the baby some toys."

She sort of took that in that was an okay idea. Her eyes lit up and then, "I could give the baby one of the blankets that is in my closet."

I am thinking, hey this is good. "I think you'll be a good big sister."

"I don't want to be a BIG SISTER!"

Apparently that is the phrase that sets her off. I left it alone for a while, and then we were in the grocery store and she starts piping up with more questions.

"The doctor helps you get the baby out of your tummy."

"Yes, I'll go to the hospital and the doctor helps."

"Does it hurt?"

"No." Lies sometime have their purposes.

"There will be blood on the baby won't there."

"A little bit, but they give it a bath right away." How does she know that?

"How does the doctor fix the cut on your tummy?"

"They use some big bandaids and then its all better." What! Where is this coming from?

Then the conversation sort of dropped and we got distracted by some produce! That's all the questions she's had so far. I never could have imagined some of them!

The Largest Reese's

I got my husband something for Valentine's Day that got me a super great big smile and chuckle. I gave in and gave it to him on Friday after I got my roses--they were super pretty. I usually give him chocolate because its one of his favorite things; so I don't think he was expecting anything that deviated too much from that plan. But when I presented the one pound Reese's--his eyes did light up. Check it out here. The chocoholic in him ate it in two settings. I have some pictures but they don't do it justice. Its like a regular Reese on steriods!

Chocolate cures all

Paige and I stayed home today due to her fever at 2 am and cough. A doctor visit confirmed its not strep but its viral, so we are stuck waiting a day or two for her to feel better; or it turns bacterial and I get to fill her antibiotic prescription. She's been pretty good today; she's a trooper and eats and tried to play a little with her castle and princesses. Minimal whining which makes me wonder if she's really mine! That's a sick joke because I will admit I was ruined by my mother and love to be pampered and instantly turn into a whiner if I don't feel good and she's around. She ruined me but she knows it and still loves me :)
My daughter on the other hand, looked at me this afternoon and said, "Mom, can I have some chocolate bears? They'd make me feel better."
"Of course."
Chocolate cures all, didn't you know that? Especially chocolate teddy grahams. They have healing powers.

Tutus and leopard print

Each year since birth, I have taken a picture of Paige in her 'boppers' around Valentine's. Now that she's older and doesn't really tolerate Mom's weird ideas for pictures, she tends to run when she sees the camera. This morning, she was so pround of her heart decorations that I convinced her it'd be cool to wear her hearts and stand by her pretty decorations so I could take a picture. Note the snow and blinding white outside the window; so it made for a hard picture. I changed my camera's light settings and this is the best we got in that short time of three snaps. She's smiling so that's what counts. I'll aim for another 'bopper' picture later, but in case I fail I captured the glory of the tutu and leopard print pants underneath.

Hard Workers

Child labor laws. . .what are those? Here's your shovel and get our there! Ha ha says Mom from inside where its warm. Or in reality, it was nice out and Cowboy is obsessessed with shovelling--I think its a sickness he has that a few snowflakes on the cement bother him. As long as I have a trail through the drift I can wait for spring thaw. However, he bought himself a new shovel and they had the child size version, so he bought one for his daughter. I am glad they can bond :)