fair to middlin

this lovely lady is my gram. the expression on her face just captures her essence and it makes me happy that her sister and cousin thought so too. i asked her how she was doing and she said, "fair to middlin" - her patent answer. i know things are ok if that's her response. grandma has alzheimers and she is really quiet and to herself these days. but you can tell when she sees sweet pea and beans that she still has that special grandma spark. we spent many many weekends at her house having tea parties and lemonade stands. both sets of my grand parents lived in the same little town across the street from each other...aahhh...how sweet! it was fun to be able to skip back and forth between the houses and relish in their spoils. cousin judy remembers how i talked my gram into taking me out for a spin with my learner's permit, and how as i was parking i nearly hit the house (short by a foot). she said, "your grandma was very patient." but alas, as everyone ages so has she. i sat with her yesterday and just stared at her and tried to soak her in. we got together yesterday to celebrate gram's 80th birthday. uncle zach was glad sweet pea didn't spit on the cake this time (like he did on his birthday). when you're 80 you need a fresh set of lungs to blow out those candles.uncle richard offered to take us out on his tractor. sweet pea said, "it's not a tractor it's a lawn mower." boy nothing gets by that kid. sweet pea was just fascinated by the fact that uncle richard had planted "corn dogs" in his garden. i've included a picture just in case you weren't sure how that was possible.it's hard work being a kid, being all cute and full of chocolatey sweet goodness.
when i think of the fact that this is my last baby i want to just bottle him up and preserve him forever. he is such a sweet little love, that beans. he is BUSY, but so loving. i could just stare at him for hours.