At a Loss for Words

My husband laughed when I said that I was at a loss for words. It’s true!

Lilly: Grandma, do you buy lottery tickets? How many people buy lottery tickets?
Me: No, I do not buy lottery tickets.
Lilly: My mommy and daddy don’t buy lottery tickets either.
Jackson: It sounds like you would win a lot but there is almost no chance that you would win. It would be like one in 5000.
Me: It would even be less chance than that.
Jackson: So what are the chances?
Me: Oh goodness, I don’t even know. I guess we would have to look that up. I know it is a lot. I have heard that it is more likely that you would get struck by lightning 500 times than win that big lottery.
Lilly: I don’t want to get hit by lightning.
Me: I doubt that you ever will get hit by lightning.
Me thinking: Great! Now I am going to have to deal with lightning nightmares!

Jackson: Think about how many people there are on earth. How can people even say there is this many people or that many people? How could anyone ever count them? There would be more people born before you got done and people could be at the store or something. It is impossible.
Me: You are right. I think they can only estimate the number of people but God knows how many people there are on earth.
Jackson: He knows how many hairs are on the head of everyone.
Lilly: God knows how many hairs on everyone’s arms and legs
Jackson: and beards and mustaches.
Lilly: Do women get hair on their faces?
Me: Sometimes they do when they get old like me.
Lilly: Women get hair on their faces?
Me: (being slightly untruthful) well not many but once and awhile they do get a stray hair
Lilly: I don’t want to get hair on my face
Me: No, you don’t have to worry about that.
Lilly: Do you have hairs on your face?
Me: Oh, Lilly, please do not look closely . . . I probably do.
Lilly: I don’t see any.
Me: Good!
Me thinking: Oh my goodness, I am thankful that I got waxed last week!

Lilly: Did you know that some men only have one eyebrow? Their eyebrows grow together into just one eyebrow? They have to shave that little part between their noses to make it look like two eyebrows instead of one.
Me: No. I did not know that. Thanks, Lilly.

Jackson: Some words that sound like swear words are not really swear words.
Following this we had a discussion about the word “dam” that water goes over. I am sorry that I cannot recall the whole conversation but at the time, I was chuckling inside an awful lot.
Jackson: Actually some words that are swear words don’t really sound like swear words.

Lilly: Hell is not a swear word.
Lilly: Grandma, Where do you think hell is? Do you think it is on this planet?
Me: I don’t know?
Lilly: But where do you think it is?
Me: Lilly, I just don’t know where it is?
Lilly: Well I don’t think it is on this planet.

Lilly: Do you know where I would most like to go? Well, I would take everyone I love. (Beginning with Mommy and Daddy, there was a very lengthy list.)
Lilly: Guess where I would like to go more than anyplace? Just guess.
Me: Disneyworld?
Lilly: I would go to China.
Me: Did you study about China?
Lilly: Yes. I would mostly go to Beijing because that is the only city that I can remember right now.

Lilly: Is Jessica my second cousin?
Me: Well, actually, she is your step cousin.
Lilly: Relatives are really complicated.
Me thinking: From the mouths of babes . . .
Wrong, wrong thing for me to say but the words were out before I realized it:
Jessica is not actually your cousin by blood but she is still a very special cousin and much like a first cousin.

Lilly: What does that mean, "a cousin by blood?"
Me: Well, it just means that Jessica was not born from one of my sons. Her daddy has a different mom. Uncle Kevin's mom was Grandma Dee.
Lilly: I have my Grammy’s blood in me because my Grammy had my mommy and my mommy had me.
Me: Yes, and on our side of the family, you have my blood in you because I had your daddy and you are the daughter of your daddy.
Lilly: Grandma! His blood is not even in me because he did not even have me! My mom had me.
Me thinking: I think I had better let that one go for now.

Lilly: At this place that we went in Denver, they have a mechanical bull.
Me: Have you ever tried to ride it?
Lilly: Oh yes, my record is like two or three minutes!
Jackson: My record is 6 seconds
Lilly: I wish they would use a real bull.
Me: Really? I would be afraid that a real bull would gore me with his horns.
Lilly: Well, they could cut off his horns
Me: What if a real bull kicked you?
Lilly: Well, they could cut off his legs
Jackson: And extract his teeth
Jackson: Then pretty much you would have a mechanical bull just like the one they are using.

Lilly: Grandma, are all of the girl bees in a hive princesses?
Me: Yes, I guess that is right because they all have a queen for a mother.
Lilly: And all the boy bees are princes?
Me: Yes, that makes sense
Jackson: That’s one huge royal family!

See what I mean? At a loss for words!

Just Too Good To Be True!

Arriving after their flight, the children look adorable! Dressed so cute and Lilly with a braid in her hair. It didn't take long to lose that polished look but oh my, did we have fun!


Before going home, we made a stop at Wrigley Field for a ballpark tour.


Jackson looked right at home sitting in the Press Box.


That evening we took a night bike ride to the school playground. We actually took a bike ride every day—going to a park or playground or the Dairy Queen or a local garden store. I love it that the kids like to ride bike!


It is great to live so close to the bike path!



Okay, I can see this is going to get way too long if I give a play-by-play of every day. Still I cannot resist reliving these precious moments!

A favorite spot to climb and explore is Cantigny.



When Jackson and Lilly come in the summer, they like to go to Rice Pool and Raging Waves. Since neither were open yet for the season, we were happy to find an indoor place for a little water therapy.



We tried to eat healthy some of the time but after all this was Spring Vacation and so a few treats were in order.


On Thursday, we decided to spend some time working. We found a place where we could help children that did not have enough food to eat. We helped pack a lot of meals at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora. Jackson said, "It was not actually exciting to do the work but it really does make you feel good to help others." He did a great job bagging and weighing and then traded jobs near the end of our shift and measured and poured rice. Lilly did a lot of measuring and pouring of rice and soy but she was the best one in our group to measure the chicken which was just a little trickier.



Jackson and Lilly are great jumpers and they have endless stamina! We spent some time at Monkey Joes and Xtreme Trampoline and then went and bounced some more on Uncle Kevin's trampoline!


We had a busy schedule but there was still plenty of time to relax around the house.It was great to snuggle as we watched a little TV or read a book. Lilly and I played our one piano duet many, many times per day.


Friday was a special day, Good Friday. We attended a Good Friday event for children at our Wheaton Bible Church. First we made a centerpiece for Easter.


Later we walked through Seven Stations of the Cross for children. Each station had something to touch and experience. Cousins Kent and Jessica were the drama team at the Synagog site. They did a great job and we were proud of them.


It was a sobering time for us as we remembered all that Jesus did because He loves us so much.


Cousins Kent, Steven, David and Jessica joined us for an egg coloring party and an egg hunt.


It's too bad that the eggs are not very visible in the photo as there was a lot of creativity in the eggs!


Later we visited the Popcorn store to spend the change that was found inside of the plastic eggs at our Easter egg hunt. Jackson noted that the address on the store is 111 1/4 Front Street, Wheaton. It is such a little store that it does not get a whole number. We have been going to the store for more than 40 years and I never noticed the address before.


On the morning before their flight back home, Grandpa took the kids on a beekeeping excursion. They make very cute beekeepers!


Grandpa showed Jackson that the bees were happy to just crawl around his hands and get aquainted. They were not interested in stinging. Both of the kids examined frames for brood, honey, capped honey, and drone cells. Jackson and Lilly also helped smoke the bees a little but for the most part the bees were calm and did not need much smoke. Lilly especially was fascinated watching the bees bring in different colored pollen.


After a Culver's lunch, it was about time to head to the airport but we had time for one more Popcorn store run and a quick visit to our old park that we still miss.


The goodbyes were quick because the flight attendant came for the children earlier than we expected. That was a blessing for all of us.

Our tired grandchildren arrived home safe and sound late Saturday evening. But early the next morning the kids were properly bathed, combed, dressed, and smiling. Perhaps some of the polish is from all of the hugs and kisses received from their mom and dad. We received this Easter morning photo.

Just too good to be true. Can't take my eyes off of you!

We Both Won!

Beautiful Morgan celebrated 14 years in February.


She has a full and busy life. Recently she had a part in her 8th grade musical, Oklahoma.

Our Grandma Date waited until Spring Break. We started it on Thursday by making dinner for Grandpa and a co-worker that was traveling through on business—on his motorcycle.

Grandpa suggested short motorcycle ride in our neighborhood might be a fun (and learning) adventure and Gary acquiesced.

After dinner, and a couple of TV shows (American Idol and Touch), Morgan beat me in a friendly but competitive game of Scrabble. A “Q” was the last tile left for me to draw and then Morgan played her last piece. I want a rematch soon, girl.

On Friday, we went on a Chocolate Segway tour.

It was perfect for Morgan because it included adventure and her favorite food group. For me, sharing the time together made it absolutely fabulous.

Later we dined with Grandpa and then saw Mirror, Mirror at a local movie theater. The movie did not do much for either of us but afterward we played games again and Morgan again won every game we played—Word on the Street, and Rumikub.

On Saturday, we planned to visit bee hives with Grandpa but Morgan and I did not get an early start. Instead we did a little shopping and ate lunch at one of her favorite places.


Being with Morgan makes me smile. I’m pretty sure that I was the real winner.

Turning Over the Reins

Today, Grif turned 16 years old.


Graciously, this week, on his Spring Break, he blessed me with a Grandma Day.

It was his request to just stay local and do things right around home.

First he accompanied me to Willowbrook Wildlife Haven.

Then we did a little slot car racing at Mid America Raceway.

After lunch, we went to one of our favorite places--Cantigny.


Before we left, I took a deep breath and invited Grif, who has a driver's permit, to take the wheel. And so, Grif became the chauffeur and I became the passenger.


He drove to a forest preserve and we walked a new bike path by a little creek.


Grif then drove to our house where we quenched our thirst and watched the birds from the deck.

I had a few errands and so Grif took me to buy bird seed and mail a card and then we headed back to Geneva.

I seldom pressed my imaginary brake. I did not hug my door. My fists did not clench up. There were no moments of panic. I did not hyperventilate and my pulse remained in the sixties. The only words of instruction were directions on what streets and roads to take. He passed my inspection with flying colors.

Perhaps this was a defining moment. I may have just lost my driving privileges any time that we travel in the same car together. I would gladly give up much more than that for time with Grif. He is so worth it!

Our Effective Efficient Sower

This Year

One long legged, young, uncomplaining sower
+ 1.5 hours = One big task completed

Last year
Two old, able-bodied, though a little arthritic seniors
+ 3 hours = One big task completed

Thanks, Steven, for graciously coming to our rescue!

Votes Taken . . . Motion Carried

I took up a campaign with hubby some time ago to take all of the grandkids into Chicago at the same time for a Christmas experience. I researched, put together my support team, budgeted, and strategized.

We introduced the kids to a Billy Goat Tavern and some stories about the original place.

Experienced a bit of Daley Plaza

and Christkindlmarket.

Took the Brown Line “L” to Southport

Enjoyed “The Christmas Schooner” at the Mercury Theater

Bought pizza from the Ogilvie food court and Garretts popcorn for the train ride home . . .

No one got hurt.
No one cried.
No one got lost.
At least grand, liked the food
At least grand, liked the play
At least grand, liked riding on the “L”

It is not official yet but I think there will be a 2012 Campaign.

Seize the Day!

I took this picture of a few of the grandkids on Labor Day weekend. All of the grandkids are delightful!


It is fun to talk with them, be with them, hear them talk, and watch them mature! They are growing up so fast!

David will be celebrating his 14th birthday on Thursday. This boy is going places. He is in band, jazz band, on tech crew and the football team.


He seldom has a few free hours and almost never a whole free day. Today he was available!

Someday, I will no longer be able to maintain balance on a bike and have the strength to pedal for six miles but today I feel great! I wanted to do something active and outside and was glad that David was willing to accompany me on a bike tour.





I tried to breathe in all of the beauty of the day and capture a few photos.





I love it that David is adventuresome in eating! After our bike ride, we stopped at Max’s on Adam’s Street for lunch. David ate an authentic Chicago hot dog—with all of the toppings-- yellow mustard, onions, relish, a dill pickle, tomatoes, hot peppers, and celery salt on a poppy seed bun. . .


And then he had a second! It made me glad! I don’t know why? It just did.

I love it that David can walk fast and thinks a mile or so is no big deal. It was great to skip the taxi rides!


For about 4-5 years, David has requested to go to the Willis Tower Skydeck when it was still called the Sears Tower.


I have to pause first and I still stumble over the new name every time. It just doesn’t sound right.

For David, Grandma Days have seemed to fall on days when the weather was inclement.


A couple of years ago we went to check out the Skydeck twice but there was “no visibility.”


Today was gorgeous!

We enjoyed our few moments on the Ledge and got the appropriate photos.



And even though David is not genetically related to me, I was glad to discover something else that we have in common.


We made a Garrett’s stop before boarding the train back to Winfield.


Unfortunately, I remember very little from my freshman year of Latin. The older I get though, the more I recognize the wisdom in this phrase—Carpe diem!