Boys, Boys

 When I told my mom we were going to watch the boys play football, she said you wouldn't catch her out doing that.  Of course, where she was it was cloudy, chilly and windy.  When we went it was sunny and warm (with a jacket on) and windy.  

After some trouble finding the football field in a little town of 300 people (depending on GPS was a mistake, using our common sense and eyes would have been a lot better), we were greeted by running hugs from our grandchildren. And I thought, "That's why I watch the boys play football."

There is a mom that has a son on Barry's team and takes wonderful photos.  I wish there was one such on Zane's team.  Lorene's camera is okay for these actions photos, but mine is horrible.  

I really enjoy watching the boys play and noticing how they improve during the season.  Barry is a killer flag snatcher and watches so that he can run to be in the right place at the right time. I can see him sizing up the situation and running like mad to get there.  Zane threw two passes that were caught and run for touchdowns and was responsible for one 2-point conversion, which they were doing for the 5th and 6th graders instead of having them kick the extra point.  Younger than that, they just forget any extra points at all.  

They run on an 80 yard field, but that's still a long way for the little kids. 

Fourth of July 2012

You know, life goes on even after you have a cancer diagnosis.  So, I was glad to be well enough to host my family over the 4th of July holiday.  I didn't do much hosting.  I have a capable family, and they took care of everything and I just watched and visited.  

I also have pictures of Barry at 10 months here and he is progressing well, and just SO cute. 

He's figured out he can walk behind this toy easily.  There just wasn't quite enough room to go well.

He still crawls in his funny one knee up, one knee down hitch along fashion, but he is also standing alone, after letting go of things and holds things in his hands while standing.  His preferred method of learning at the moment, is shaking whatever he is standing next to, it is a good thing chairs are sturdy, but he's going to have one over on himself one of these days.

Supper on the Deck

This was supposed to be an "all cousins" photo, but Titus got missed.  You'll have to look for him on the eating photos.

My boys.

Big Blue Eyes.

Grampa and Gramma with Barry.

I don't have photos of everyone here.  I didn't take many as I was sitting and not following everyone around. Luckily, my sister in law, is a great one for getting photos of everyone, so we DO have some.

We had a great time with Tim's famous ribs, done in our fire pit, and a bunch of other good food that ends up in our get togethers, like my mom's enchiladas, and chocolate cake with homemade frosting.  The only thing we didn't get this time was mom's apple pie.  She only had enough apples for one pie off her tree and they ate it at home instead of bringing it along.  

Mom spent a good share of her time putting the apples that were falling off my tree into the freezer.  I'll be glad to have those this winter.  I couldn't do it and it was the best crop we've had so far. The only problem is no one has time to pick all the rest of the fallen apples off the ground so they will be full of bugs next year.  Oh, well, next year I can keep the ground clean and have better apples the NEXT year. 

(No rotten apples on the ground, no bugs next year.)

We have another tree, but we aren't going to deal with it, it's hard enough to keep up with the garden. 

I had a great time with everyone here, it was nice to be all together again.  The cousins are growing up, we already have the next generation started.  It will be harder and harder to get all of us together as the years go by.  It might not be so often, and it might take more planning, and it will be more fun as the years go by. 

Barry 9 months

This isn't going to be a cancer report, although I did go to the doctor is Omaha to make sure the inside of my sinuses are healing normally.  Which they are, thank goodness and that is all I'm going to say about that.

I still want to have these photos of my grandsons on this blog, too.  This right now is the only record we have  of Barry's milestones.

Plus, I love my railroad track building skills.

As he turned 9 months, he was pulling himself up on furniture and just starting his cute little hitch along crawl, one knee up, one knee down.  He still crawls like that some and is going around furniture now.  He likes to see what is going on, and travels all over gramma's house, down the hall, into the kitchen.  If we shut up the rooms off the hall he just glares.  

What is so lovely about Barry is that he isn't a real go-getter like Zane.  Zane spent his time wandering around the house getting into things and making messes.  By this time Zane was walking.  Barry crawls over and picks up a toy and plays with it, or goes to see what Zane is doing and tries to play with him.  

That doesn't always work, since Barry can't really play, he just grabs.  

But, he can push cars and tractors and pickups around.  He is easily entertained with toys, and I can actually watch him just now, because he will play close by and doesn't need run after. 

Zane is learning to cope with Barry's attention, he went into the bathroom with his Tonka crane the other day so he could shut the door.

These next few photos were taken earlier in the month when the boys really discovered my box of farm stuff, and they played side-by-side for a very long time.  I just loved it. 

Here's another glimpse of our life, Jim trying out our new couch.  This is his favorite position in any couch. 

Here is Barry tasting the new couch.  Good thing I bought that stain-guard policy.

Trying to get a crawling photo is very hard, and for some reason even now if he sees this piece of fence he puts it in his mouth and crawls off. 

And here is the latest member of the "play with the springy door-stop club".

I always know where he is when I hear the twanging. 

Simple Pleasures # 2

"I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string." L.M. Montgomery

I was looking for this quote online because I couldn't remember it in its entirety. It is nice that people put just what I am looking for on their blog. (To see the blog, click on the quote.)

I want to appreciate these days in which nothing very exciting happens.  This recorded day was one such day.

Gramma and two boys.

Grampa and two boys.

4 month old Barry can grab and chew.

And enjoy the fireplace.

We don't always have TIME for those special days when we are just enjoying ourselves and those around us, so I want to enjoy them when I do. 

He's My Brother

It's been pretty easy babysitting these boys at this stage of their lives.  Zane is an independent player for the most part, and doesn't make messes and get into things he shouldn't just for the fun of it.  

Barry is immobile.  

That's the important part. 

I'm not looking forward to the time when Barry starts to crawl.  The biggest reason is that the easy part of taking care of these boys will be over.  Barry will want to crawl on the tracks where Zane will want to be driving and grabbing the engines Zane will want to use.  

But, until then, I will enjoy this time.  Perhaps it won't be as hard as I think.  After all, it's so sweet to see Zane showing Barry his trains. They will be able to share and play together.

NOT.

At least for a long time yet. 

Barry-4 months

Four months ago we first met this adorable Barry as a brand new infant.  One, who at a couple hours old was lifting his head off his mother's shoulder.  Now at 4 months, he is reaching and grabbing and watching.  He is trying to sit up in his car seat.  He is laughing now, and loves, loves to be talked to.  He also likes to be held upright, facing out, and walked around.  I get tired of that, he's so heavy.  I put him to sleep in the little umbrella stroller part of the time.  

He weighs 15# 9 oz. and is 24" long, which means he's 50% height, 75% weight, just about opposite of big brother Zane. 

Now, Zane is three.  I am beginning to understand him when he talks on the phone.  He has some of the funniest words.  He eats with a "stork", plays with "balloonins", sleeps with his "kiki", and probably has any number of cute other words, that of course, I can't remember right now, because he isn't here.  And if he was here, I wouldn't be blogging anyway, because he would either wanting me to build a train track for him or play a computer game, neither of which are conducive to blogging.  Of course, if I have Zane I also have Barry, who sobs like I've been sticking pins into him after about 2 minutes of playing by himself, and blogging doesn't work well with that either, since I'm standing up.   

But, they sure are cute, aren't they.

Barry--3 months

It's surprising how much Barry has grown these 3 months, and how much he's learned.  He can smile and laugh, coo and talk.  He can lift his head and chest off the floor.  He likes to look around and watch people work and play.  He had found his tongue, both to chew and stick out.  He also likes to suck on his fists. He likes to stand up either on our laps or being held upright in our arms.  It's like he's tired already of this baby stuff, and "let's get on with life".   

Sometimes Zane likes Barry too much, but it is neat to see him talk to him, trying to get him to smile. 

"Hey, baby, " he says. 

Big Brother/Little Brother

Anytime a baby is born, there is a change of status.  New parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles are made.  This time Zane is a big brother and all the rest of us are now parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles of two darling little boys.  As usual.  I can't decided which I like better, the black and white or the color of the above photo.  I like the classic look of the black and white, but also the true to life color of my boys.

Here's the little brother at two weeks.

Now we have two boys to give attention and hugs to, it is a juggling act for sure. One of the things Zane loves to do at Gramma Maury and Papa's is build train tracks.  This one is a fairly simple one done by me. These battery powered Thomas the Tank Engine trains really make playing trains fun.  Of course, my creativity gene loves to see what I can make out of anything, even train tracks. 

Baby in a Basket

Once upon a time there was a mom who was going to get another baby.  (Not have, since number two was coming the same say number one came, but adoption.) She had friends that did cool things like pass a basket around for the many children born in that family to sleep their first few months in right next to Mommy and Daddy's bed.  

So, I had to have a basket, too.  And my second, a son, slept in the basket by day in the living room and in the crib in my bedroom at night. A basket, is a very nice thing to have.  It keeps the baby safe and visible, it's cute, and it's very easy to carry around.  So, now it is being used when grandkids come to visit.  Another heirloom in this picture is this little rocking chair that belonged to Jim's family, when they were little ones.  Zane loves to carry it around to sit in it. 

Barry

Zane

Zane

Barry