You name it and the boys have it. A LONG list of who's who under the term GRANDPARENT. Partly my fault. Well if we really want to put the blame somehwere it goes back to who birthed me, who tried to raise me, and then who finished raising me, and then who came back into my life, and then who I was fortunate enough to meet along the way. What does this say about me? Am I really too much to handle that God decided I needed this many PARENTS in my life?? Geez, sorry guys! Or was it because He knew that I could draw strength from each of them at different times in my life and that I would seriously NEED all of them at this time in my life. Did He really think that my kids needed this many? Yes He did and I think Noah, Peter and I LOVE that we have them all!
Short explanation:
The birthing part-Cathy and Greg-well really we all know Cathy did the hard part! (Yeah for how I got here and THANKS!!!!)-AKA-Gma Cathy (the sucker bringer Gma) and Gpa Greg
The first part of raising -Bob and Daun-and my brother Al who is 5 years older (Way to go and THANKS for picking me, my Mom said we were meant to be!)-AKA-Popppie (not sure who gave him that name but someone did along the way and we like it!) and Gma Daun (sometimes pronounced Gamma and she is the cookie/canning etc. Gma-always a treat!)
The second part of raising and a continuation for the first part-I got Shirley (Married my Dad-Bob and brought along her 4 kids who are fantastic and Mike married my Mom-Daun and he brought along his 2 kids which I add to my pile of Luck!)-Luck-luck-lucky to have them!!!!!-AKA-Bampa (I think our little cousin Allen gave him that name) and Gma Shirley (she is the stuff Gma, always always always has something for you when she comes!)
We meet again-jump ahead 20 years and those birthers-well I decided what the hell, let's meet up again and how AMAZING that has been! They also brought along these two things called siblings-biological-the jury is still out on how we feel about them!! :) You know I am KIDDING!
1996 I meet who would some day be the in-laws-they are just as GREAT as all the rest. Gma Carol is lovingly known as the brownie Gma and makes the BEST ones out there and Gpa Tom well he is Gpa Tom and TOO much fun!!!! At 70 he went down rocket him with Noah this Winter!!!! Need we say more?!?!?
2004-2006ish we meet "the Jeffs" as we so lovingly call them. They belong to two of the Grandma's and are pretty darn GOOD people if you ask me (and my kids). One Jeff belongs to Gma Carol (he has stuffed animals at his house, brings apples, and makes good dinners!) and the other Jeff belongs to Gma Cathy (he helps nurutre the 25 year old brain trapped inside the 5 year old head)
There are two Grandma's of mine left-Grandma Sparks (my Mom's Mom) and Grandma Mary (Cathy's Mom)-AKA-Great Gma Doris (Noah refers to her as the Gma who lives in AZ and that place where cactus grows) and GG (stole that nickname from a friend and it stuck for our family).
So how does my whacked out family tree have anything to do with my kids? I am supposed to blog about my kids right?!?!? Well tonight we are aniticpating a visit from Poppie and Gma Shirley. The kids LOVE Gparent visits and it doesn't matter if they have seen you every day or once a year, they love you all just the same. I find that AMAZING! My kids have never shyed away from any of them. They get what a Gparent is and does and they LOVE LOVE LOVE them ALL!!!!!!!!! You don't have to bring said treats that are referenced, but it does help, but really, just show up, listen, hangout, and you are in in in! Now if only my job was that easy?!!?!? The lives of my boys are better because you all take the time to be with them in your own special way, whether it is teaching them to fish, plant, cook, build, play, going to parks, sports, going to the Zoo, camping, deer watching, sledding, overnights, playing the piano, having them feed the dog, special toys at your houses just for them, the list is ENDLESS. THANKS!!!!
So I told Noah that Gma Shirley and Poppie would be coming on Tuesday and his first words were "Don't they have a birthday present for me"? Spoken like a TRUE 5-year-old!!
I hear that being a Gparent is in some ways better/different/ amazing/more wonderful then when you had your own babies. I find that hard to believe but in 30 years when I am there I will get back to you. For now I just sit back and truly enjoy watching my boys love and be loved by all the Gparents in their lives, no matter who you are, how you got here, how often you see them, you are all loved, appreciated, needed, and just really great!
How Sweet It Is!!!
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