Christmas Cousins!

Oh what fun it was to have all of the Dickens Christmas cousins together in one place at G's house!
From the youngest (2 weeks old ) to the oldest (15 years old but only 1 month in America), they are a special bunch to G--a mixture of grandchildren and great nieces and nephews.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all from the Christmas Cousins and G!

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.

  Psalm 127:3

The Racin' Game

G loves racing....everybody knows that. What you may not know is that she is a bonafide graduate of the Richard Petty driving experience. Surprised? G is surprised that she survived!  
Anyway, G also likes to make up games...so she made a racing game [Rubbinz Racin!]. 

These 2 love to play G's game. 

G hopes she is not promoting fast driving among her grandchildren. 

Maybe she'd better re-think this thing.

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.

  Psalm 127:3

Persimmon Season

This is the Season of Persimmons. Do you love them as much as G does?
She thinks they rival chocolate for the few short weeks they grow wild on the beautiful persimmon tree down by the pond. 

G found a number of articles online about the proper ways to eat a persimmon. She thinks their advice is funny, although it may be true.

• Be sure the fruit is ripe before eating....this is A Big YES!  As one advice giver put it, "If you’ve ever had an unripe persimmon, the experience is memorable."  [Understatement doesn't come close.]  

• Be sure to wash before eating...probably great advice but hard to do if you are eating persimmons G's way which is standing under the tree and smooshing them open, sucking out  and savoring the meat, spitting out the seeds, and repeating the process.

Don't try to take them home and save them, unless you are planning to make persimmon pudding immediately (which is no easy task!). They are sort of like the manna in the Old Testament...they go to mush right away in captivity.
Real persimmon pudding is better than good, but elusive now that Granny Cole is gone and her daughter can't remember the recipe. [G tried to follow in their footsteps once...and found she didn't have the Right Stuff to live up to their expertise. No surprise there.]
G loves a trip to the persimmon tree...either with Granddaddy on a "date," 

or with the whole safari. Either way, Persimmons Rule!

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.

  Psalm 127:3

G Has a New Oldest Grandchild

G is very pleased to announce the arrival of her "new" oldest grandson---delivered  to the US at 7:00 PM on Nov. 30 by way of Delta from his homeland of Ukraine. 

Meet Valik, with his new family (he's the second tallest).

G is very happy and thankful that you are finally here safe and sound! We are grateful for the family in Ukraine that sheltered and loved you until you could come.
Know that we love you, too!

ласкаво просимо

 Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.  Psalm 127:3

G's Lego Land Adventure

G does not consider putting tiny little pieces of things together her strong suit. That would include 1000 piece (or even 25 piece) puzzles,  jewelry making or Legos. Reading books, she can do. Making up board games, yes. Getting snacks and making butter toast....sure!  Putting together Lego cities?  Hmmmmm. Not today.
But then the Showdown...a trip to Walmart resulted in Lego packages requiring construction of elaborate scenery from little tiny pieces.  

First G had to find a tray to work on so that those little tiny pieces wouldn't end up all over the floor.
Then G had to find her glasses to read the instructions properly. Because without being able to read those very easy step by step instructions, there was No Way this was going to happen.
But then when those first items started to come together...G was hooked. She really could put little tiny pieces together to make things like a Lego cow or a Lego raft and not Lose. Her. Mind!!

OK, Dunc, you and G can do this...but just not every single day....and your mama will help you finish it!

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.         Psalm 127:3

Strategy Meeting in the Old Kitchen

So, Duncan, Gunner and G escaped from the Dinosaurs into the Old Kitchen!

And once safe, we lit the candles and had a meeting.

Duncan wanted to discuss how to make new coats to protect us from the dinosaurs.

The old cloaks we used to use were made with the wrong kind of dino teeth (i.e., they were T-Rex instead of Velociraptor), and  they faded and are no longer invisible.

[Don't you hate it when that happens?]

Gunner practiced using the spinning wheel on which the cloaks or coats could be made.

And then....
We blew out the candles...

And found another safe space where the dinosaurs could not see us.

Safe is good!

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.           Psalm 127:3

O Happy Day!

Valik John's Gotcha! Day!

No longer an orphan...the orphanage is no longer home.
Hallelujah!

Leaving with his possessions in an orange plastic bag and some difficult memories.

Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;

his name is the Lord; exult before him!

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

Psalm 68:4-5

Due to ever-present red tape, it may be some time before his new daddy can bring him home, but he is in good hands with folks who love him until then.

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.  

Psalm 127:3

Happy Hallo...Harvest..Fall

Happy Halloween from G's House!

Larry Culpetter and Ms. Gumball Machine

Burt Road's Finest and Legolas

And now he's superman

BRFD

Gunner the Hulk

Cricket Man

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.         Psalm 127:3

So Ready!

V, we are so ready for you to be here!

Maybe soon?!

We love you!
G & Granddaddy

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.           Psalm 127:3

Out to Eat with G

So, we decided to go out to eat at a favorite restaurant following a recent trip to Marbles.

We were careful to use our best manners.

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.
Psalm 127:3

Sleepover at G's House

Laurel was there. 

Duncan and Pooh were present, but Dunc never made it through the Bible story
and prayer. 

Not sure where Noni was, but he's too cool for school.*

And Gunner declined..."I have nightmares at your house, G."*

WHAT??  
Oh well, I see what you mean....

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.   Psalm 127:3
  

[*thank you Martha and Carroll for pics]

Front Porch Foto Op

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord. Psalm 127:3