TERROR TWINS

Jessica First Noticed  

They looked really similar when they were little, they were like the same size.  Noelle's hair wasn't grown out yet, so she still had short hair like Jacob.  They just followed each other around; they acted like little twins.  So, Terror Twins is how their nickname evolved. 

I, GrammyPam, Watched

The first time I coupled the two autumn-born toddlers was watching them at the yard gate.  These diminutive imps each had their little square chubby hands clutching the wires of the gate.  It's painted orange and is part of a chain link fence.  It leads to the flag pole, the barn, and a big yard that's edged by the highway.  

They wanted out!

Where they thought they were gonna go, I sure didn't know!  Everyone else was behind them inside the fenced area.  In unison they shook and shook, and made it rattle and clink and clank!  They were sure their doggedness was going to release them.  They vigorously shook some more!  They just knew it was going to give way and set them free!  Thankfully, it never did.

Aug. 2022 - 3 years old

A few months have passed, it's summertime, the Terror Twins are almost 3.  And they're at it again.  This time Jacob has an enabler, an accomplice.  My first sight was of him pushing a yellow metal Tonka dump truck in the green grass hightailing it for the pond.  He has a load of rocks to unload.  And unload it he did.  RIGHT INTO THE POND!

As I was about to step out of the house to put a stop to filling the pond, he was already back to his starting point.  Noelle was handing him rocks!  That little minx was plucking rocks from my flower bed's border and giving them over to Jacob who was dropping them into his dump truck!

I can see where that's going!  And it's not! "STOP!"

Sept. 2022

It's September, when it's time for their birthdays, there's proof positive The Terror Twins had been busy.  I don't know the time or the when.  I do know it was on Sunday when everyone was here.  Because on Tuesday I clean and/or refill the birdbath.  This Tuesday I couldn't.  Though there was no water, it was full.

Before I could hose out the birdbath and refill with fresh water I had to undo what the Terror Twins had done.

Remove the pile of rocks!

John Saw

Oct. 2022 - 3 year olds

A Sunday, in  October, was an active, scurrying, kinetic day!  It started at Habanero Grill.  The Terror Twins were in high form - Jacob and Noelle.  Rising from their seats so many times, they finally got strapped into high chairs.   The reasons:  Crayons provided by the waitress had been bit and exchanged.  They had crawled on the floor under the tables to spy each other.  And final straw,  they had played hide and seat around the restaurants rock-made posts, with giggles and "I got you" squeals.   

Once here at the house, John saw "a site to behold".  Noelle and Jacob are not much taller than the birdbath.  The birdbath started out dry.  He noted Noelle had a toy plastic yellow dump truck in her hands, and that Jacob was sucking water from a straw from his sippy cup.  He then spit-spewed the water from his mouth into Noelle's dump truck.   She then dumped it into the birdbath.  It was done again and again until the sippy cup was emptied...all of it! 

John laughed, "The birdbath was no longer dry."  

Sweet birds can now bathe in toddler flavored water!

It's Me Again, Watching

Jan. 2023  - 3 years old

I turned the corner to follow Jacob, and spied Noelle at the other end of the hallway.  She was pushing not one but two babydoll strollers.  One stroller was smaller than the other.  Jacob is upset.  He has a Ty Baby donkey called Dakota and is marching down the hall!  When he gets to her he grabs the smaller stroller like he's an offended owner!  She doesn't understand and resists with her hands.  He puts Dakota in the seat and shoves off, LOL.  He looked so indignant.  And she looks so affronted.  By the time they reach the other end of the hall, they're friends again.

LOL, three year olds!

Wonder what's around the next corner?

Oh, ho!  Terror Twins!

Jayden, Ate (and Ate and Ate)

We had a blast!  We picked up Calvin on the way to pick out his Christmas present, a carpet remnant to go under his car in his garage to be a moisture barrier.  He picked the persimmon over the evening sky blue carpet.

But Calvin was hungry (he wakes up late being a 2nd shifter) and said, "White Castle serves breakfast and it's REAL eggs!"   He bought a pack!  We ate all except 2.

Then it was off to shopping for him and us and stocking candies. 

Wal-Mart was so packed the check out lines filed back into the clothes departments!  (I'd forgotten about the weather forecast.  When it's bad people rush the stores for eggs, bread, and toilet paper.  The ever needful bathroom tissue!)  

After delivering Calvin's rug, making room in his garage, and hanging a yellow tennis ball to touch his windshield, we picked up Jayden.  Jayden is now 7 and in the 2nd grade.

Those 2 leftover sandwiches were in the seat.  He ate a sandwich.

It's off to Cabela's to find Clinton a coat.  We thought Jayden would like all the stuffed animals and the huge fish tank.  He did.  When lost, (Calvin couldn't be found) Jayden told us that Calvin was under the flying geese.  There were 2 sets of flying geese, that's when I got lost!  DH got lost in the restroom, snort.  Back in the truck, Jayden ate another sandwich.

"Didn't you have breakfast?"

"Yes, cereal."  He holds up 2 fingers, "Two bowls."

After a stop at JCPenney's where Calvin got himself a coat, none in Clinton's size, we went to Dollar Tree for some candy bars.  "I want one."  Jayden wanted a drink, too, so from the cooler we got the only water bottle of sparkling water.  He ate a white cookies & cream candy bar.

Then he drank that sparkling water, "It feels funny in my mouth."

Jayden self-dresses, and clunks around in his favorite shoes, too big cowboy boots, so we always know where he is. Wearing his favorite oversized black leather jacket he looks like a w, a, i, f.  We spelled out the word.  

From the back seat, "What's w, a, i, f?" And he's extra adept at reading and sounding out words, especially for his age!  

He a polite little boy, very polite, with "Thank you", "Please" and "You're welcome."  Other customers laugh at him in a fond, gentle way.  Never mind that he's leaving bread crumbs, he's still eating.

Ainsley in Pictures

May 2021 - Newborn

Ainsley Rene 7 lbs. 5 oz.

with my first born, Rusty

From Friend Kim

How precious!!! Congrats!!

From Friend Theresa

Congrats! 🎈 

Love her name! 

From Friend Clarice

Congratulations, Granny Pam!  Is that number 6?

Yes, it is  [grandchild number 6], 2 boys and 4 girls, now.

This one seems to resemble her sister Noelle and just as pleasant a disposition.

From Friend Nova

sweet!  I love the picture.

congratulations to your whole growing family!!

do you remember when you were afraid you wouldn't live to

see your grandchildren??

April 2022

I made a huge pot of spaghetti, then I just had to take a photograph  of Ainsley who made a beard of her spaghetti. 

May 2022

"Whatcha doin'?"  is what I asked Ainsley as she was pushing the door aside.  I knew she wanted to be out with the rest of them but, in her crawlings she taste-tests everything, so inside she stayed. 

May 2022 - First Birthday

At Ainsley's first birthday party, Amanda, the momma,
parked herself in the only available spot on the trampoline.  Ainsley crawled over, climbed up, and backed herself up to her mother's back. 

She was having fun and so content with lots of smiles.
She knew it was her day.

Nov 2022

Ainsley climbed up in the chair all by herself.  She was ready to cut and staple and craft with the rest of her siblings and cousins.  If not, she'd climb down and push a baby doll stroller, sometimes two!

Generally, she doesn't speak, always with the babydoll face.  She just walks up to you and stands at your knees until you pick her up.  Most often it's John she wants. 

Dec 2022

Turns out Ainsley loves Peppa Pig, but she'll feed her babydoll anytime.  

"Wave, wave good bye, it's time to go!"

Lilly - Ol Blue Eyes and Friends

Miss Lilly is only 4 y.o. and quite inventive.

Nov.  2020

It was a lo-ong weekend.  Babysat Miss Lilly and Master Jacob all day Saturday.  It takes energy.  At one point I was trying to get her to concentrate on what I was saying so I told her "Look at me.  Look at my eyes."  

She replied, "I can see with my eyes they are blue." 

 

Feb. 2021 

The piano tuner left the lid up and it just fascinated Miss Lilly who is now tall enough to see over the edge to watch the piano strings.  Jaob was interested, too, but couldn't see so kept pumping his legs and grunting, "Uh, uh, uh."  That got dad involved who lifted him up.  They all got to finger-touch mute the strings and observe the hammer heads.  I asked Lilly, "slow song or fast".  Surprisingly, she replied, "Slow."

March 2021

It's so pleasant out there, very surprising.  We were in the backyard of my 86 y.o. cousin.  She's got two gardens, one on either side of the walk.  To the left with whirligigs and birdhouses and flower sprouts, and to the right with dwarf trees, swinging glider, and a wrought iron bridge.  That and the handle-less shovel were the kids' favorite.  Miss Lilly stepping across the slats of the bridge began singing "London Bridge Is Falling Down".  

Hummmmm, someone's been teaching her nursery rhymes.  All the while Master Jacob was digging with the shovel head.  And the birds!  Oh my, the birds.  They were everywhere!  And they didn't care one bit that we were in their space.  They were chirping away, and flitting low, and so happy.  It was quite fun.

Feb. 2022

We had another surprising sight the other day when Miss Lilly was here.  She took some of my kissing lips Valentine stickers and stuck them to her forehead, corners of her lips, and on her cheeks.  She was so sweetly smiling and innocently happy (I tried to take a pic but she was too fast) when she looked up at me and laughed, 

"I've been kissed all over!"

Feb. 2022

Well, Lilly wanted the lights off, and started singing "Going On A Bear Hunt".  I had an ah-ha moment, remembering the Panda hanging on the utility room door.  We hid it in different places starting obvious in the hall then not so obvious up on a bed, and then, in the words of Lilly, "it's a challenge" DH tucked him into the dryer with the door ajar.  

April 2022

Miss Lilly has aversions herself, but lately I've noticed she will initially display shyness, then she'll make you bug your eyes with her bravery.  Saturday we were in a crowd of about 30 or 40 people touring Clint's job site, and she hung back, under his hand, peeking out the side of his leg.  But when the tour guide said "To enter this Clean Area, where there's pure air 8 times a minute, you have to wear this bunny suit."  Gone.  She was gone.  She weaved herself between peoples until she got to the bunny suit!

June 2022

Lilly's home!  They'd all been on vacation.  I wasn't expecting them.  They popped in during the garage sale, I didn't realize who it was, thinking it was another customer.  Miss Lilly snuck around the tables and grabbed my legs from behind, "GrammyPAM!"  Then hugs and giggles and welcome back!  

She promptly got out all the paper and scissors and markers.  The impetus was a plesiosaurus she found in my garage sale.  She wanted more (which I provided), and used the coins for "gold in the water".  I was informed that  "The water dragon has all the power".  

They had to leave too soon so I promised her it could stay until next day when they returned.  This time Alayna was here and she joined Lilly using a diner's play set they named "Dino Kitchen."

And "GrammyPam, that's not a volcano, that's a mountain."  

Hummm........okay.  Can I play?

John "Misc." Quips with Fruits & Nuts

Something, can't remember what, triggered in my head the phrase

 "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown".

I do that.  I remember a phrase, I ask John, John then begins to tell me the song title and the original artist and any other fact he wants me to know to go along with it.

This time I looked up the song on my own on my phone.

It gave music video options.  Not knowing anything pertinent I tapped the first one.  "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"  by Frank Sinatra.  He started croning and, oh, boy, John started moaning!

"STOP!  No, no, no!  Not Sinatra.  Give me your phone!"

"Jim Croce was the original artist!" 

"Here."  He handed the phone back.  

And as Jim Croce's baritone entreated us to  "Enjoy The Music.  The magic's still here" * John told me how Jim said he was in the army and this other guy decided it wasn't for hm and he went AWOL.  But then he came back to get his monthly check and they handcuffed him.

I can still hear John's agony.

"Stop!  Not Sinatra!  That's gross!"

    *****

Pamela to John:  Knock Knock

John:  Who's there?

Pamela:  Banana

John:  Banana who?

Pamela to John:  Knock Knock

John:  Who's there?

Pamela:  Banana

John:  Banana who?

Pamela:  Knock Knock

John:  Who's there?

Pamela:  Orange

John:  Orange who?

Pamela:  Orange you glad I didn't say banana

Pamela:  Ha, ha, that's an old but a goody.

John:  Hum...that's an oldy but a dummy....

     *****

John came in from driving the bus, "It's a good day."

"I opened up the mailbox and there's only 4 bills!"

     *****

I asked, "How do you spell "miscellaneous"?
John quickly said, "Miscellaneous what?"
I said,  "Just the word "miscellaneous"!
He replied,  "m, i, s, c, period"

JOHN!

     *****

I divvied out some fruit, "Here John, have some blueberries.  They have antioxidants in 'em."

He said, "Good, I won't rust."

What a nut!  

Hummmmm, nuts rust....

 

*https://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p02616.htm

ALAYNA "BEAR!", I KNOW

Alayna

Jan. 2022 - 4 years old

Little Alayna sat with me during church on Sunday.  She was all bouncy and happy, I suspect it was enhanced by being back in familiar territory after being on the road for hours and hours.  She dug through my stack of books and settled on an open-flap book.  W

Then she pulled the big leaf away from the page.

"Peek a boo", said the baboon, next 

"Grrrr" said the tiger.  And, finally, when there was That Pause, when all things go silent, the preacher was done, the song was sung, Little Alayna, forgetting to whisper, in her best pretend "I'm afraid"-scared voice, folds back the covering flap, and loudly squeals, 

"BEAR!"

Feb. 2022 - 4 years old

As always Alayna and I played many things like give the baby dolls a bath. Throughout she wanted a popsicle which I kept putting off 'cause I wanted her to be hungry for lunch. Finally, she'd had enough. She said, "My belly is full, but my brain wants a popsicle."

I'm laughing my head off.  But she's still talking.

"Do you know how to make brains?  Dad do."

Sept. 2022 - Almost 5 years old

I went and got Alayna.  Promised her last week when I got Jayden that this week would be her turn. 

Once in the house she walked under one of those ghosts of which I had hung 5, 3 in the family room, and 2 in the kitchen.  She brushed against one.  

In a grown up voice she said, "Oh my goodness!"

"Did you hang this up?" 

She just made me smile all evening.

SHE'D HAD A BLAST!  First thing she wanted was watercolors and paper.  Then it was the Barbie doll car with Barbie pushed and zoomed around the room.  On to a set up of play bowling.  Man, that girl has a strong arm!  I do think half as much more than Jayden!  

She went outside for a time and gathered rubber snakes, dog boot scraper,  orange fox, and Barbie, onto the picnic table.  Seemed like a family of playmates.  They did a lot of traveling from there to here to other spots.

When it was time to go home, we were riding in the truck, the air was cooling off.  I looked around and she'd rolled down her window, her hair was flying and her eyes squinted shut against the wind.  Oh, no, it's too cold for that!  From my arm rest controls I rolled up her window.  Immediately, she bugged open her eyes and exclaimed in high-pitched girly voice, 

"You have remote control??!"

Oct, 2022 - 5 years old

Alayna: I love you GrammyPam 
Me:  I love you, too, Alayna 
Me:  You're special
Alayna:  I know 

Jacob Window Scrawl, Sniff Sniff

Jacob

Jan. 2023 - 3 1/2 years old

"Ping" went my cellphone.  It's a Marco Polo from daughter-in-law Jessica.  The screen shows her in the foreground and Jacob in the background, and you can hear Miss Lilly coughing off screen.  "Kids are sick, and I have a stuffy nose," Mom says, with a muffled voice, evidence of her own cold. 

But, her words, his grin, are so incongruous I have to laugh. 

Behind her to the right is Jacob happily licking a green sucker!  Lick, lick, lick, grin.  Tongue green, eyes happy to be on screen, he licks, licks, licks when mom says, "Jacob has the sniffles." and right on cue, while grinning he goes "sniff, sniff" then returns to licking the green!  

I wonder if she sees, ROFL. 

Jan. 2022 - 2 1/2 years old 

On a cool Sunday, I was seated between Miss Lilly and Master Jacob at suppertime.  The waiter gave the kids activity coloring sheets and 2 crayons each.  Master Jacob scribbled twice on the paper then turned to the window and began scrawling on it.  Mom was across from him and getting tense, so I gently exchanged the crayons for his napkin and told him to clean the window.  He put his knees in the seat, leaned over the black sill, and with wide arcs, roughly tried.  I was graced with a toddler,  "Tank u."

Jan. 2022 - 2 1/2 years old 

Jacob was trying to catch fish from the Let's Go Fishin' game but his fine motor skills were taxed.  He hollered from the living room and when I looked he was jabbing a pointed finger to the floor between himself and his sister Lilly.  I asked Mom what that meant, she said, "He wants you to sit on the floor and play with him."  LOL, so I held his little hand steady while he "fished" for the difficult fast gulping fishies.  In his words, I was sufficient,  I had answered his call of "make it do." LOL

Still in Jan. 

Daughter-in-law posted a video of my son Clint and his boots.  2 kids, his 5 year old daughter Lilly and his 2 year old son Jacob, each were clutching an ankle as dad tried to walk.  "We're yer boots, ha, ha." said Lilly. "I BOOT!" said Jacob.  Nancy Sinatra Clint is not, but these three were cuter than snot!  Clint sang, "These boots were made for dragging and that's just what we'll do, dragging the floor with you, it's true."  

More in Jan.

On this my sister's birthday, we played stink bug.  Do you get those bugs?  Last year we were inundated.  This year not so much.  Lilly has an aversion to all things buggy, not so with Jacob.  If you touch one of its antenna, it changes directions, Lilly squeals.  If you place a napkin down for it to crawl on, Lilly squeals.  If you let it run away or fly, Lilly squeals.  If you let it crawl up on your finger and let it transfer to the finger of the other hand, Lilly becomes unglued!  With jumping-up feet, flying arms, Lilly squeals, LOL.

Jacob blows on it, Lilly says, "Get the bug, Jacob!" Jacob starts to touch it, and it moves.  He's her underling to do her bidding.  He's boy.  He's brave.   Lilly says, "Jacob!  Bug!  Get it!" 

Last in Jan.

It's the sweetest thing when Jacob comes to me to be cuddled because he's a very independent little guy.  He plays hard, alone or with Lilly; he's adventuresome and goes exploring.  So, when he squeezes my hand, or says "up", it's special.  Today he bent his knees and pushed up like a jump, so up he's swung, and cuddled he's done -- I'd put him to sleep with Baby Shark.

I'm grandma, you know, sing it, 

"Grandma Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo
Grandma Shark"