Day one.
What a difference six months makes!
We picked up Madeline and Oliver, our grandchildren, on Sunday for a three-night sleep-over. Part of me said, "Will it be too much for me to handle . . . just another responsibility I have to deal with."
But, guess what!
It's been the best thing that has happened in 2011.
Oh, we kept the grandchildren back in the summer; but they were different. Oliver is now five years old and Madeline is eight! Their conversational skills flat out amaze me.
Maddie told me she knew what the word confirm meant. She further explained that you look over your answers and confirm that they are correct. Do you think we let that fly? Not on your life!
"Maddie, I suppose you verified your answer!" Of course, Maddie said, "Nana, I don't know that word 'verify'. I think it's too big of a word for me."
But, it wasn't after we discussed how the two words are related while we drove home.
This is the very first time my grandchildren have not been "needy". They are exhibiting their "wild side."
They wanted to explore . . . so I let them. My twin sister, Sherry, told me to make Earth journals and have scavenger hunts; but quite frankly, my grandchildren had other plans.
Maddie and Oliver are "city kids", you know. Their typical words, in the past, when visiting us have been, "Eeew! A spider!"
But, not this time!
Day two:
I had to get a flat tire changed in Lake City, Florida today. We had lunch and then spent about an hour at Tire Mart. Oliver and Madeline were great; but I knew we needed to get these grandchildren home and back in the woods to burn off some pent-up energy.
Our grandchildren sat in the sandy driveway for almost two hours, digging in the sand.
"You are ruining your shoes," I told Maddie.
Her response, "Well, Nana. You should have told me to put on my sneakers!"
"Oliver! Look at YOUR feet! Now we have to take another bath tonight!"
At which point, Maddie said, "Nana, I think you have us confused with Granddaddy and Great Grandmother. You give them baths, but you give us showers!"
It's been a great two days with my grandchildren. . . wait! It's been fourteen hours, non-stop with my grandchildren, and I am exhausted!
What about Truett? What about Mom? What about the puppies and the cats?
I think they are fending for themselves!
The fact that my grandchildren feel comfortable out here in Fort White, Florida exhibiting a "wild side" is enough for me!
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