Continuing On...

Last night I read over the blog and realized what a nifty history it was.  Especially times with the grandkids.  My friend had her blog made into a book so I think I'll carry on.  I'll probably backtrack the highlights of last year...

Last year Canyon called to ask me if I knew any ways he could earn some money.  He wanted to buy a kindle.  I told him my walls needed some artwork and commissioned him to draw me a picture for $10.00.  A few minutes later the phone rang again.  It was Auggie.  "Grandma Niece, do you know how I can earn some money?"  So of course I then had to include Kenzie.  These are what they sent me.

Canyon's - Age 8 {Love the creativity of the bicycle mouth}

Auggie's - Age 5 {Love the goggles}

Kenzie's - Age 7 {Ever the astute negotiator she rummaged up 5 pictures she had already done & wanted to collect 50 bucks.  A long conversation later she had to cough up an original for the said amount.}

We are now going to make it a yearly tradition.  This is the letter that went out for this year.

Dear Kids,

It’s a brand new year and so I need new artwork from my favorite and talented artists.  I have a wall at my house that is just going to be about people. 

Some ideas are to draw yourself or your family.  Your best friend or anyone you’d like.  And your person or people can be doing anything you like.  They could be riding bikes, playing soccer, reading on their kindles or standing upside down on their head.  Use your imagination. 

You can color it with crayons or markers, colored pencils, glitter or anything else you want.  Or you can just leave it white. 

Your picture will hang up for the whole year so take your time and do your best.  Make it something you are proud of.  (You cannot send me something you have already done.)  Sign it with your name.

Use the paper I sent.  There are extra pieces in case you need them.

Send me your picture by the end of January and when I get it I will send you $10.00.  I can’t wait to see what you make.

Love, xo

Grandma Niece

Play Dough

So we’ve been deposited back on our desert island…. where something note worthy to post might happen in another 6 months or so. So I can either keep posting cute pictures and thoughts about the grandkids or post pictures of the flowers in the garden, my latest quilt (you’ll get those anyway) or nothing. So there you have it…. grandkids it is.

The kids loved playing with the homemade play dough. Mackenzie’s specialty was birthday cakes… Canyon liked to create bird nests…. Auggie made some fine looking eggs for the nest...and then they made the space ships with the straws that came down and smashed it all. That is how almost all of the activities ended….. in pieces and one or all of the kids fleeing in tears. Good times.

Play Dough Recipe
1 cup flour
½ cup Morton salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. oil
food coloring

Mix the ingredients together in a pan. Add food coloring (they loved that part) and cook until the mixture pulls away from the sides and forms into a ball. Keeps for a long time in a plastic bag in the fridge.

Cousin Camp

Mackenzie and Tyler left this morning to go back to Colorado. It’s hard to believe the time has gone by so fast. All of the grandkids had a fun time at “Cousin Camp” at Canyon’s house in California. Only seeing the grandkids once or twice a year is a little like being plucked from a deserted island where the only sound is the waves lapping on the shore and being thrown into Los Angeles rush hour traffic.

However, the week was full of fun…. finger and pudding painting….. sticker pictures…… bike riding….. a trip to the mission to feed the horses…. picnics in the park….. water races…. bubble baths…. and the best of all, chasing Uncle Marshall around the house and play fighting. I even got a little snuggle time.

It was interesting to watch the dynamics. August floated in and out of all the activities, always making his little presence known. He loved Uncle Tyler, who took him along on the bike ride, making him a lasting friend for the trip…. Poor Canyon fell prey to Mackenzies tears….. every time he didn’t want to do her bidding she folded her arms, started to cry and said, “Canyon, that makes me so sad.” Alright he would say, I’ll play house with you (or sub in whatever else she wanted)

We missed not seeing Ryan, Alissa and Lindsay who had to work. You’ll be happy to know that Kenzie missed you, Lindsay….. when they played house, she would make all the babies cry because they missed their moms. A big thanks to Tyler for making the effort to drive such a long way to make sure the kids all got to be together again. We can’t wait to do it all again next year.