Got to love them - grandkids

The grandsons came to visit over their spring break and we babysat them a few days so mom and dad could get away by themselves. Now our grandsons aren't like most kids, ours are very adventuresome - if I do say so myself - and play like there was no tomorrow.

This trip was no exception, they built their own 'mouse trap' type game to roll grandpa's golf balls down some gutters that they laid out from the barn roof, through the rhododendron, over a ladder, and through the apple tree, then into a box or bucket. Quite clever, these chaps! After a few days of doing this, Osten, age 7, decided to try rolling some freshly laid chicken eggs down the shoot instead. I knew he liked to cook. Was he thinking of scrambling eggs for an omelet? Grandma thinks it was cute - as long as he doesn't do it every time he comes now.

Or perhaps it is just being the middle child syndrome, trying to outdo his brothers for attention. If scrambled eggs didn't generate enough attention, maybe climbing into the dryer and closing the door on himself would. It earner a scolding as to the seriousness of doing such a stunt!

He likes to experiment, this middle child. His brothers get to be his stooges sometimes, and the youngest doesn't seem to mind what is done to him - to badly. Like the time, after his mother got home, Osten scooped up mud puddle water and poured it over Alden's head - 20 minutes before I had to leave to catch a train to go see my mother who had just had a stroke. His mother (our daughter Britta), was very clever, making him give his brother a bath and change his diaper - not easy to do, but he soon found that out. Was fun hearing him say, "Will you hold still PLEASE!" Now he knows how hard it is for us to keep them all clean - I hope.

The 9 year old Kyle, helped grandma move bark mulch and helped grandpa plant bulbs (good job Kyle), then proceeded to fall off grandpas bike and refused to get back on - EVER! We'll see. And insisted that "Osten needs to share his bike now!" Oh, the unfairness of life when he mother didn't agree.

Also during this visit, the 3 year old, Alden, helped remove the ears off the giraffe statue in the solarium. Last time it was the head. That's why they make glue, right? Grandma, me, bought them some bubble wands - which they loved for the better part of a day - until Alden smashed Osten's against a tree - so Osten had to try and break Alden's to get even. La Sigh.

Great fun was had by all when I hired tree fallers to fell some cottonwoods while the grandsons were here to watch. That went over WAY BIG! They loved to yell TIMBER as each one fell. They also loved watching the tree climbers swing from tree to tree! Great fun.

While Britta and the boys babysat the puppies so I could go be with my mother, the boys helped grandpa clean up and stack wood, so grandpa took them bowling one afternoon because they had been so helpful.

Now this visit is over and can be chalked up as - We all Survived! Years from now this story will be great to share with their children! Can't wait!

---

Passing kindergarten is a whizz!

Is it possible to fail kindergarten? I was really worried. I have been taking my puppy Skye to puppy kindergarten the past 8 weeks and the last three weeks WE have worked extra hard by inviting friends over to practice greeting without jumping and such.

To pass an AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Test, the OWNER must maintain puppy's health, has to write out and follow a daily play and exercise plan, attend at least 6 classes, bring "little bags" to clean up accidents in class (1 pee and 3 poops Eww, Skye how could you - even when you went before leaving home! That's right she is still a puppy!) and make sure the puppy is ID'd with chip or tag in case it gets lost or runs off. (Now why would it do that? Hum?)

The PUPPY must be free of aggressive behavior towards people and other dogs in class, tolerate it's collar or harness, lets you hug or hold puppy, and allows you to take away a toy or treat! That part was easy!!

Plus to be a good canine good citizen, the PUPPY needs to allow a person other than the owner to pet them, lets owner groom and do brief exam, walks on leash, walks by other people without jumping on them, sits on command, down on command, comes to owner when name is called, does not react much to distractions, stays on leash with another person - allowing owner to step away and return. This part was harder, but Whew! She passed! Good job Skye! (She is just 5 months old- to boot.)

I wasn't asked so I didn't tell, but in my humble opinion - IMHO, eating disgusting things (like their own poop and vomit) makes me think they aren't being good puppy citizens , but that was not one of the criteria for being a STAR puppy. You'd think it should be!

Now it is Sassy's turn the next 8 weeks - but she will miss the 1st class as both dogs will be spayed next Tuesday! Lets pray for no complications, pulling out each others or their own stitches, etc. Oh my! And you thought I was just a stay at home (but HOT) grandma!