October fun . . .

The family gathered round this weekend to celebrate Lanny's birthday. We will be off for vacation on his actual birthday so we celebrated it up good this weekend.

This hour of fun in the driveway with a huge pile of dry leaves was a side benefit.

All five grandchildren joined in and there were no tears, no harsh words, no hesitation. They all jumped in and raked and pushed and worked hard. They threw leaves into the evening sky and had a fall romp. We lost shoes and socks and entire children in that leaf pile -- then had fun finding them all.

May we enjoy many more such hours. I was, again, entertained.

borrowed from: http://www.cafepress.com/zoooglebunny8

and I am entertained

I love children and their imaginations and I've heard or read that children sometimes can't tell the difference between reality and those other thoughts that swirl around in their dear little heads until they are 6 or 7 years old (depending on the child, of course). So I always tried to be gentle when one of my children or now, my grandchildren, told me a whopper.

First of all it can be highly entertaining for me and it is good for little ones to use and stretch their imaginations. They could grow up to be writers or artists or storytellers and then it is good practice for the teenage years too! So, I listen to their story and then remind them that it was a story -- and a good one! Sometimes you can tell the child must have dreamed the sequence of events and you can remind them that the wonderful story was a dream and happened in their sleep. Of course, if it a frightening dream, they need a hug and reassurance.

Morghan Grace, a few months back told me an especially charming story of how she kept a bunny rabbit in the house all one winter without her Mama knowing. The mama rabbit naturally had babies and Morghan got to witness that and then she had the chore of hiding a mama rabbit and a bunch of babies. We were both giggling by the time she got done; we both knew she was telling a story. And we both enjoyed every minute of it!

Jack Gibson, 5 years old

Jack, all boy

Jack Gibson turned 5 years old the other day. He had a party with his Mom, Dad, big sister, little sister and two sets of grandparents. He was the star of the party and enjoyed every minute of it.

Jack attends daycare and preschool. Jack likes dinosaurs, cars, trains and all things "boy". Jack also likes girls but that is another story for another day. Jack usually has a twinkle in his eye and loves to joke and tease. He is at that stage where he likes to pick on his big sister and even likes to tease his little sister but after scaring Maddie Mae one day by wearing a frightful monster mask, he patted her and tried to comfort her. "Its okay, Maddie. Its okay." Jack has a mind of his own and a bit of an ornery streak but is also kind and loving.

Jack can be very determined. If he makes up his mind to something, he does it. He learned to ride the 2-wheeler when he was only 3-1/2 years old. If he decides he doesn't like a food, forget trying to coax him into eating it. At the cabin this summer, he asked me if he could put the wooden truck in the swimming pool. I said, Jack, if you do, the wood will swell up and it might warp. (Try explaining "warped" to a 4-1/2 year old.) After several conversations, Jack did indeed put the truck in the pool. So later, after swimming at the beach, Jack was upset to find that the wheels wouldn't turn on the truck. "Well, Jack, you put the wooden truck in the water and the wood swelled." Jack was VERY unhappy and wanted it fixed right Now! I told him only time might fix it. That did not make him one bit happy but he put the truck in the air-conditioned cabin and was delighted the next morning when the wood had dried out and the wheels turned once again.

Jack is athletic and tall, kind and caring. Ornery boy. Jack Gibson, Nana loves you!