Family Update

1. The Most Adorable Granddaughter#4 was here on Saturday. I forgot about the "No Sugar" rule and gave her a choc chip oatmeal biscuit that Son#5 had made. She enjoyed it! Then, The Most Adorable Granddaughter#3 woke up and I gave her a biscuit too. Before she had a chance to eat it - and while still groggy from sleep - The Most Adorable Granddaughter#4 had taken it out of her hand (and you thought butter wouldn't melt in her mouth). I gave it back to The Most Adorable Granddaughter#3 but she didn't want it after her cousin had had it. So I gave The Most Adorable Granddaughter#3 another biscuit. Fast-forward half an hour or so and The Most Adorable Granddaughter#3 protested vehemently when I put The Most Adorable Granddaughter#4 into the highchair to have her dinner. After The Most Adorable Granddaughter#4 had finished, I got her out and picked up the scraps that had somehow ended up on the floor and put them in the bowl ready to give to our dog Kielsie. The next thing I knew, The Most Adorable Granddaughter#3 was in the highchair eating her cousin's leftovers. She wouldn't eat a biscuit that her cousin had touched but she'd eat vegetables and meat that had already undergone the taste test???

2. The Most Adorable Granddaughter#2 is not impressed with Grandpa. The other night he made her a hot chocolate at bedtime at her request. After taking what seemed like only a few sips, she complained that there was none left. DH thought he could see some in the straw and said that there was and took a sip to prove it - except there was none there. He said as much but The Most Adorable Granddaughter#2 was not having any of that. "Grandpa drank all my hot chocolate," she accused him - and continued to do so the next day. I doubt that he's forgiven yet!

3. The Most Adorable Granddaughter#1 helped DH build the cabinet for my laundry. It's still not done but I'm sure she helped speed the process up tremendously. She's taking piano lessons and doing well. Of course we all know where that talent comes from!

4. After spending three weeks at home, Son#5 decides on his last night - and on the weekend too - to show me a suspicious looking rash on his leg. Why couldn't he have done that when he first arrived? However I suspect it's eczema - or that's what I'm telling myself so that I don't worry.

5. Friends of Son#4 commented on how "comfortable" Son#4 appeared with his niece but expressed surprise when I went out and left her in his charge. "What if she cries?" they asked. "They don't cry," was his reply. (I was only doing the grocery shopping and not that far away and she was sound asleep in bed. Besides, he is more than capable.) Same friends also did not know how to use the bathroom when there was a "training seat" in there (no more details will be forthcoming)!

6. After traversing half the length of the country, Son#3 discovered that he'd left his keys behind and was locked out of his room. I suspect he had other things on his mind - such as saying goodbye to a beautiful fiance perhaps? He called in to see us en route which was a nice surprise - but he still has laryngitis after several weeks of having suffered with it and giving both his fiance and I some moments of concern. Hopefully it won't be a repeat performance of what he went through last year where he was hoarse for months and required strong antibiotics to beat it.

7. Son#2 informed me that the quilt I'd spent days and days and days sewing looked like a hodge podge. Well the border did. I didn't want to hear it. He was right and I knew he was right but I didn't want to admit it because then I would've had to undo it all (which I eventually did anyway) and all that pain wouldn't have been worth it. (It seemed that every time I sat down at the sewing machine my back started playing up but I was determined to go on anyway). Oh well, at least I got half a dozen placemats out of the fabric.


8. DIL#2 is looking absolutely blooming with the new life that is growing within. Only a few months now and we will get to meet this precious child. We can hardly wait! Her hair is so thick and gorgeous and DIL#1 and I were both green with envy when we saw her on the weekend. (Note to self: do not covet DIL#2's hair.)

9. Son#1 hasn't seen a deer on his way to work for a few days now. BUT they think there is one living just below the children's sandpit. I'm not sure if we're talking Red or Fallow here but either would fit fine in our freezer.

10. DIL#1 makes the most delicious lemon meringue pie ever. I haven't made such a pie since I was a new bride and am too scared to try it now. What if it isn't as good as hers (and I already know that it won't be)? So far two sons have married women who are better cooks than their mother (my daughter-in-laws need never fear hearing "That's not as good as Mum makes") - let's hope the rest do the same.

12. I'm back at work and cannot in all honesty say that I enjoyed my holiday. I put myself under so much pressure to finish that quilt and then it was all for nought. Oh well. I did get to see every beautiful member of my family and there'll be another holiday from work in the future. Just have to get through ten or eleven weeks first.

12. I suspect DH has gotten worse with age. "Grandpa's teasing," The Most Adorable Granddaughter#2 informed me the other day and she was right.