Shhhhh . . . . . it's a secret

I had the most charming conversation recently with our oldest granddaughter who will be having her 4th birthday soon. I asked her what she would like for a birthday present. She told me she is asking Mom and Dad for a scooter like her friend, Will, has so they can scooter like this (as she shows me with an invisible scooter) all around the neighborhood.

"Ahh, that sounds like a great birthday present. What else would you like? What's something Grandpa and Grandma can give you?"

"I want a BIG playhouse for my dolls. A big, BIG one (with her arms making a very BIG motion for emphasis)", she said.

"One you can stand up tall in and have different rooms for your baby dolls?" I asked.

"Yes, a r-e-a-l-l-y big one", she confirmed.

"Hmm, that might be too big for Grandma to send in the mail. What's something you would like that I could send in the mail", I asked.

"Well, everything else is a secret", she whispered.

"Oh! Well, I'm very good at keeping secrets", I said while trying to look as convincing and trustworthy as possible. "Just tell me one secret so I'll know what you'd like for your birthday".

Hesitating, then, with a look of uncertainty at my ability to keep a secret, she told me her secret birthday gift wish. And then . . . she told me another.

"Wow, those are wonderful birthday gift secrets", I said. "I'll write that down so I won't forget."

She watched to make sure I did write them down. She was satisfied.

What were her secret wishes, you ask?

Oh no--I'll never tell.

Oh! What a Yarn

After learning about this darling pattern for knit hats with flowers and drawstring bags from my friend Julie, I decided to try my hand at making these projects of love for my granddaughters.

They were so delighted with these gifts. Big sister loved having a fun hat with a bag big enough to hold her toys.

And little sister loved having her own set of new hat and purse.

I was so happy to see their eyes light up when their gifts were opened because I did it out of love.

How Sweet It Is!

We grow a small little garden every year. Last summer our granddaughter came to visit us in August and September--harvest time. It was so fun to go get snacks in the backyard; baby carrots, sun sugar cherry tomatoes, and berries, berries, and berries. Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.

At Christmastime when Keilah was visiting she asked if we could go out and pick some berries. Ahh, the hope of children.

This past spring, Keilah and I planted green peas. She kept hunting for the berries but none were found.

A few weeks ago, Keilah went to a pick-your-own berry farm with her family. While they were picking the raspberries she turned to her mom and said, "this is just like at Grandma's house."

I love it. It warmed my heart to have "Grandma's" be a reference point for our sweetheart.