Snippets and Snapshots

It’s funny what happens when you become a grandparent. You start to act all goofy and do things you never thought you’d do. It’s terrific.

 ~ Mike Krzyzewski

Who would have ever thought I'd use a photo with my mouth gaping wide open as my Facebook profile? Not me. But when I was looking through the 193 photos I took when Kinley visited with her parents this past weekend, I decided it was the perfect shot. As my friend, Carrie, succinctly put it: "JOY!"

Yep. That's it all right.

Randy and I were both anxiously awaiting their arrival Friday night. Randy wanted to introduce our new crop of kittens to a girl with an outstanding repertoire of animal sounds, including a fine "Meow!"

Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation.

 ~Lois Wyse

During this trip, Kinley discovered her own personal race track. A two-doored bathroom makes for a perfect looping path through the bathroom, kitchen, dining room and living room.

She dashed around it on foot ...

... being pushed in Mommy's and Uncle Brent's old Little Tykes car (by four different "motors," I might add) ...

... and she used the same path for her grocery cart.

Kinley loved the swing in the backyard, whether it was flying solo or hitching a ride with Grandma, Grandpa or Mommy.

I was surprised she knew just what to do with a phone that is nothing like the phones her parents have.

But she did. (Yes, we still have that kind of phone - for real - here at our old farmhouse.)

I loved watching my little girl as a Mommy.

And it was fun to bring out bigger toys from Jill's past for Kinley to explore.

I didn't take time to find a photo of Jill playing with her kitchen. But I found one from the wedding slide show of Eric playing in his kitchen, once upon a time.

A grandchild fills a space in your heart that you never knew was empty.

Anonymous

At church, we discovered several of our friends were also entertaining grandchildren for the weekend. All our own children started coming to Stafford United Methodist Church when they were itty-bitty. And here were their kids ... our grandkids.

Steve & Tami Brensing had Reagan and Rylee; Boyd & Kim Volker had Bryson and Liam.

As you can see, it wasn't the easiest thing to get a photo. I don't think we were all looking in the same direction in any one frame, though Randy and Steve get the prize for being the most consistent. But it didn't matter a bit.

Children are born.

Traditions are passed.

The love continues.

Sharon Bibby

Daddle Saddle

Leave it to Brent to come up with a gift that had us all laughing. Eric and Jill are the proud owners of a Daddle Saddle.

Brent found it on Amazon, but I have no idea what he searched to come up with such an obscure product. He can't remember. But we will definitely remember Kinley going for her first ride on the Daddle Saddle. At this point, she needs a little help to climb aboard - and stay aboard, for that matter.

You have to give it to the manufacturer: The name is a winner. Kinley's "Daddle" strapped on the fabric saddle using the straps reminiscent of a backpack. It comes "complete with adjustable stirrups, soft saddle horn and a latigo strap designed with Dad's comfort in mind."

Like all good little girls, Kinley was willing to share her new toy with her cousin Hannah. Likewise, Eric was glad to share the opportunity to "daddle up" with his brother Brian, Hannah's Dad.

Photo by Jillian

So, during Kinley's birthday party, the two girls perched in the Daddle Saddle. Who needs a rodeo clown for western-style laughter?

Photo by Jillian

Hannah evidently thought she was on a bucking bronco.Yeehaw!

Photo by Jillian

As the packaging says, "Daddle up! It will bring hours of enjoyment to your home." We'll see if the "Daddle" thinks so as Kinley gets bigger.

It's good to use up leftovers from Christmas. Who says the leftovers have to be food? Here were a few other "funnies" from our holidays:

Brent bought Kinley a Wildcat hat. It was a little small, so that provided a little comic relief, too.

Grandpa continued his quest to make Kinley a cat lover. I wish I had a video of her reaction. When he would bring a cat into the house, she made this strange, high, keening sound. The calico cat tolerated the noise. Big Cat - who is a one-man cat anyway - was not a fan of Kinley's high-pitched song. He was shown the door.

I thought this one was funny. Kinley didn't really get a Crock Pot for Christmas. But it sure seemed like she was contemplating what she could make in it.

One of my other favorite moments was three kids in a tub at my parents' house. Braden, Neelly and Kinley all took a bath before getting in PJs for their journeys to their next Christmas celebrations. But I'll leave those photos for their baby books - not for public consumption. I wouldn't want some random person to find photos in their all-together and torture them some day when they are in junior high.

Laughter: It was one of the best gifts of Christmas.