Henry at Three

Diddle diddle dumpling my son John

went to bed with his trousers on.

One shoe off and one shoe on,
diddle diddle dumpling my son John.

Henry loves reciting nursery rhymes and knows most of them already.

While having a weekend of fun at Nanna & Bubba's Birthday fest, we dusted off Chet's old Jeep Power Wheels. Jocie and Chet spent hours in that Jeep and I don't think Chet drove once. Of course Henry loved it! Since he played stop and go with the gas pedal...Bubba and I told Henry he was a bad driver  He didn't care, he laughed and giggled around and around the yard. 

Intelligent and wise...he has been known to correct your English skills...at age three!

But he also has a silly side. Hopefully you are not sitting in a restaurant waiting for dinner when silly Henry emerges. Bubba gave Henry a new name while staying with us...Henry Dawg! And when Olivia heard about it days later she announced her new name was Olivia Kitty Kat.

Cass recently discovered a photo of Chet at Henry's age...they could be twins. People have been telling her all along how much he resembles his Uncle Chet. There is something sweet about a bond between nephew and uncle.

Henry's favorite thing to do at this age, is ride bikes. While vacationing in Southern Utah, Daddy Bob helps Henry navigate a steep hill on the mountain bike trail.

Focused and intense...the boy needs deep concentration.

I am certain he and his Daddy Bob will ride trail after trail together in the future.

Like a bolt of lightning...three years have flashed by and Henry is a little boy instead of a toddler.

He knows how to do a Force Choke (think Star Wars) as well as expertly wield a light saber.

Instantly after hearing a song, he can repeat it right back to you...again and again and again. Ask Henry to sing the bathtub song I taught him about a little bar of soap. Something like... "I'd slippee and I'd slidee over every-body's hidee." The little people don't always hear the lyrics correctly...apparently Henry has been singing "over every-body's hinee!" Oops Nanny Goat fail!

Henry Dawg my little grandson...Bubba and I adore you! You are the sun and the moon and the stars...and everything in between!

Olivia at Three

I turned around and my baby girl granddaughter got big. She talks a mile a minute, wears grown up clothes and knows all her letters and numbers. Olivia spent a weekend with us for Nana Bubba Birthday Fest and we loved every second of our time together. She is growing up so quickly, I'm afraid I'll forget all the adorable things about her at age three.

I want to remember that whenever she leaves a room and then returns, she announces loud and clear "I'm back!" Or when she saw the neighbor girls jumping on the tramp in our back yard she called out with all the confidence you've ever seen in a three year old "Hey girls, it's me Olivia...I'm here!"

Upon waking one morning, I scooped her up in my arms and declared it was time to use the potty before we had breakfast. She quickly placed both chubby hands on each of my cheeks and turned my head to face hers..."First kisses, then potty!" If you insist my sweet granddaughter!

Olivia has this delightful little growling grumbling giggle when she is super happy. Being extremely brave and adventurous...she prefers climbing up the slide instead of sliding down.

When it comes to negotiating this little girl has stellar skills. "Olivia I'll give you 2 gummy bears if you let me take a picture of you." Which she quickly responds..."How about 9 Nanny Goat!" Yes I use bribery/motivation efforts on the grandkids. And yes I even love her term of endearment "Nanny Goat!"

Twirling, spinning, giggling, prancing...life is one big Princess Party for this cherub. Often I'll ask her if she is my sweetheart to which she replies "No...I'm a girl Backson." It's a Winnie The Pooh thing...which incidentally, you should hear hear sing "Deep in The Hundred Acre Woods." Swoon...it will melt your heart!

One shoe off and one shoe on...I can't believe how blessed I am to call this little one my granddaughter and I still marvel at the miracle of her arrival in our family. 

Princess Olivia...Bubba and I love you to the end of forever and back!

Perfectly Spoiling Henry

You've heard it said that "no one is perfect." But whoever said that...obviously didn't have grandchildren.

Henry's Birthday Fest weekend is the best way to spend time with our perfect grandson.

Henry kisses the puppy's heart and then places it carefully inside his new "Dog Puppy" bringing it to life.

 A quick scrub in the washing station...

 and then it's time to choose an outfit for Dog Puppy to come home in.

 Henry chose Spider Man jammies.

There is nothing like spending time with two-year old Henry...

you remember how thrilling each and every day is.

Although small, Henry teaches us that there is nothing more important at this moment than to watch monkeys swing from their tails and scamper up trees.

or watch the magic of a peacock spread his feathers wide.

I can see that my grandchildren are my window into the future that is changing and developing at an alarming rate.

Someday Henry will teach me all the latest technology trying to keep his Nana hip and happening.

But today...it's enough for my grandson to play in the same black truck my teenage son played in just fourteen short years ago.

And have just as much fun!

Blue eyes full of wonder...

little legs full of springs...

bridges to cross...

and holes to crawl through...

your future looks bright and promising Henry. I'm so lucky to be part of it!

Nana Bubba Birthday Fest

Being a Nana has all the benefits and few of the responsibilities associated with kiddos.

Which is precisely why we invented Nana Bubba Birthday Fest!

An entire jam-packed weekend filled with playing, adventures,

eating treats, and all manner of spoiling of the birthday grand child. Olivia and I started at Build A Bear workshop on Friday afternoon.

Where two-year old Olivia chose a monkey she named Munk; put him in a box and drug him home from the mall.

The babies call our house Nana-Bubba-Chet's house. Only fitting that Uncle Chet gets to join in the Birthday Fest with an adventure to our favorite Farmer's Market.

Where we had a picnic (clearly Chet is having a blast here)

and munched on quesadillas!

Naturally I had to sneak in Olivia's two-year old photo shoot.

We bought the outfit from Peek.

I highly suggest if you are a Nana or a Bubba or a Mamma or a Daddy, that you shop there soon.

The outfits are to die for!

Sometimes I struggle shooting Olivia...capturing her beautiful smile and twinkling blue eyes before she gets annoyed at the camera.

One evening after dining out on Pasta (Olivia's favorite)...I happened upon this little park with the most enchanting crab apple trees.

Where we giggled,

and laughed until we could hardly breathe.

Folklore says that blowing the seeds off a dandelion is said to carry your thoughts and dreams to a loved one who is not with you.

Carefully pick one of the feathery heads from the grass;

charge each of the little fluffy feathers on the flower with a tender thought; turn towards the spot where the loved one dwells;

and blow! 

The little seed-ball will send your message faithfully! If you want to know if your dear one is thinking of you...blow again!

If there is one single stalk left on the puff, it is proof you are not forgotten. You know where I blew my little dandelion wish!

I'm absolutely positive that Olivia went down the slide about 500 times during Nana Bubba Birthday Fest.

As soon as her feet touched the bottom she squealed with delight "more slide, more slide?"

Up and down we rode the slide late and later into the evening setting sun. It's Birthday Fest, so bedtimes are not strictly adhered to...don't tell the Mamma!

I am hoping to instill in Olivia a love for some of my favorite things. I hope she learns to cook and bake and fill her home with scents of deliciousness!

Experience the joy as someone you love licks their lips and asks for seconds.

The warmth and love that bubbles from a happy kitchen!

At the end of the weekend I am happy to say that the first Nana Bubba Birthday Fest was an astounding success and fun was had by all. Now how is spoiled Olivia going to go back to normal every day life when she returns home to her Mom and Dad?