Gramma Heaven!

The Little House seems awfully quiet these days. For ten glorious, loud, busy, crazy days it played host to our grandson, Lucas! He arrived with his Mom, our daughter Diana, on big airplane that let his Thor action figure zoom up in the clouds...WhoOSH! His Daddy arrived three days later and together they graced our home during their spring break. Bless their little San Diego hearts...they froze! We had enjoyed several sunny warm days up in the high 60's up until they got here. The temperatures dropped dramatically and rain came in to remind them of their former Utah home.

In preparation for their arrival Auntie Britt bought a toddler bed so her sweet nephew would sleep in comfort. The old Pack-n-Play was way too small anymore. Uncle Richard deserves a medal of honor for trying to put that thing together! It was very tricky but he persevered with great patience.

Lucas was very impressed with the results.

"What is this strange sort of crib that I can get into and out of all by myself?"

 Tackle!!

Pretty soon Aunt Britt came over and we all visited while Diana unpacked.

Soon after, the young Jedi master snuck (sneaked?) up the stairs. Only one of the adults noticed.

 "This is not the toddler you want to keep an eye on. Move along..."

What he found next fascinated him for the rest of the visit.

The dog's bowls!

"Whatcha got there doggy? Can I try some?

Does he look innocent enough?

And thus went the rest of the week with this very active, very curious 18 month old! He goes from one thing to another to another to another to another! His parents joke that he's like a shark. 

If he stops moving he will die. I fear they are right!

The first few nights were rough. He had a bad cough. So bad, in fact, that the 2nd night his Momma and I took him to the ER. Her insurance likes out-of-state ER's better than Urgent Care places. The doctor worried about RSV, but gratefully that test came back negative. His lungs were clear too. Just a horrible virus that plagued him for the next week.

He was not happy after that x-ray and nose sucky-thing! It was midnight and he wanted to be in bed!

It didn't seem to bother him much during the day. I was tired trying to keep up with him! Diana welcomed the extra hands and hearts that loved and took care of her son so she could have some moments of freedom and we all had the BEST time!

 Roxie soon grew used to all of the attention and loved following Lucas around because he tended to drop Goldfish crackers and Cheerios!

 One morning Diana was resting after a rough night of coughing. Gramma found it difficult to put on makeup while trying to keep this boy out of the toilet, shower, bathtub, hall closet,... so I resorted to the old stand-by, "Jake and the Neverland Pirates". Awesome!!! (sheet washing day!)

 Louie was everywhere! The window seat was a favorite spot. Roxie stayed close! I am a bit annoyed that Lucas taught her how to get up there!

 Pa had fun showing Lucas all of the old toys we had saved for this very time in our lives. The wooden blocks were a hit, as was Uncle Richard's old car mountain.

He loved to play with our old play dishes and kitchen.

Some people get rid of all of their toys when the kids outgrow them. I never could. I am too sentimental.

I'm glad we kept them!

Aunt Britt came out almost every night to join us. She loves this boy so much!

Isn't she looking quite "Google-y" these days?!

 There was the fun night that Nick and Diana bought "Frozen".

 There were "Man Cave" moments too. Like the guys watching "Miracle" together.

 Pa cried again for the 40,000th time!

 More to share next time!

Camp Lucas

You never know how out of shape you are until you find yourself doing something day in and day out, that you did years ago without ever thinking twice. I am a mother and have been one for over 33 years. I have chased little babies around from sunup to sundown, changing diapers, making bottles, putting cupboards and drawers back together, replacing the books in the book shelves multiple times daily, swiping my fingers into little mouths to remover paper or lint or whatever else those tiny little hands put into them as they zoom around the house over and over and over... In the past three weeks I have visited that world again for the first time in 18 years. I have been down on the floor, crawling, rolling, bouncing, acting goofy to induce little smiles until I thought I couldn't move any more. Sore muscles, aching joints, tired body...yikes! I need to do something about this!

I have been in sunny California for nearly four weeks now spending each and every day with my little grandson. The reason? My daughter had a very unfortunate accident and broke her 26 year old hip, requiring surgery and 8 weeks of non-weight bearing convalescence. My time here is nearly at an end. Her wonderful mother-in-law arrives tomorrow evening and overlapping my stay by 5 days, she will learn the ropes and fitness regimen that Camp Lucas has to offer. I know that Nana Mowes is in much better shape than I am. She will probably have a breeze of a time. I am so happy for her too, that she will get to spend this precious time with Lucas. The Mowes family have lived in Germany for three years and only recently returned to the States in South Carolina where Lt. Col. "Pops" Mowes is now stationed with the US Army. They haven't seen their grandson in person since Christmas. It will be wonderful for her!

All of the crawling, singing, face-making, goofy acting, nursery rhyme recalling, peek-a-booing, up and down-ing, face wiping, diaper changing, drool in my face-ness has been worth every minute for moments like these:

It's "Plane", I Adore You!

 

A little while ago I ran across the cutest free pattern on www.amigurumipatterns.net 

by a cute gal named Marika.

It was a little airplane with the cutest face!

I decided that I knew a little boy who would love one. 

(Or perhaps it was that I knew a Gramma who really wanted to make one!)

I took it one step further and made the little airplane into a rattle by inserting a Kinder Egg with popcorn kernels inside, into the plane's body. I like Kinder Eggs because they snap shut so nicely.

The popcorn makes a wonderful sound too!

I put the airplane into a Valentine's Day box headed for San Diego and only four days later I got a text message with a darling photo of my little grandson and his new plane.

According to his mother he loves it!

So I thought, "Why not make a few more? Heck, Why not make a whole fleet?"

 

While I was at it I made a girly pink one because who says that airplanes are just for boys?

The more I thought of little girls, the more I wanted to branch out in my rattle production.

Here is what I came up with!

The same person had made a pattern for flowers, but I did not want to pay for a pattern. I like a challenge when it comes to my hobby so I looked at the picture and made up my own. Not bad huh?

Not to take anything away from the original pattern maker. Hers are very different from mine. Only the stem is similar. She sells a lot of them and she deserves credit!

 I just like to know I can do something on my own!

 If you crochet and you would like to try out these cute patterns click on this link.

These will make darling gifts at baby showers 

and they brighten my day whenever I look at their smiling faces! 

Speaking of smiling faces...

This is the photo that Diana sent to me. Look at the smile in those eyes.

It's enough to make me ship my whole little air force squadron to him! 

I am giving you a link to some very creative bloggers this week!

Click below!

Take a Little Trip, Take a Little Trip....

No, I am not bouncing down Main Street in a low rider! Tomorrow morning bright and early I am doing something that I have been dreading for months. I am piling my daughter and grandson into my minivan and heading for California. Forgive me if I have not written much lately. I have been soaking up every opportunity to snuggle little Lucas before I have to tell him goodbye. He has worked his way into my heart without any effort. I truly love this little guy! He is starting to smile now! He is a veritable prodigy or acrobat, whichever you prefer. He has already rolled over...twice. He is only 7 weeks old! Technically only three weeks if you subtract the four weeks he was born early. I don't know if Christmas can come any faster because that's when he will be here again!

In the meantime, it's a girl's road trip! Just me, Diana, and Britt; oh, and two parakeets and a baby!
Should be interesting. We have some fun in the southern California sun planned. I'll fill you in when I return. You can follow our fun on Instagram if you search my name on your smart phone.

Here are a few sweet photos of my Lucas, which I will cherish and pour over everyday. Love hurts, my friends.

Is it possible for a heart to melt and break at the same time?

Photo Booth

"Hey Lucas! Gramma's going to teach you an important social media skill.

 You have to know how to take a good self portrait so listen closely!"

"First you hold the cell phone at arm's length. Then...you give it you biggest smile!"

"Oops! Hey Buddy, you have to open your eyes like this."

"Oh rats! Now Gramma needs to open her eyes; but your smile is cute!"

"Oh! Good one, but it's blurry. Let's try again."

"Are you smiling Lucas?"

"Pssst, Gramma?"

"What Buddy?"

"You're funny!"

"That's what they keep telling me, son."