Saturday, October 10, 2020

And All Was Well


Very fuzzy picture of a very strong boy demonstrating his muscular strength. This was last night at supper and yes, the "dining room" here at Casa Luna has closets in it and I should probably be more faithful about closing them. Oh well. This is a very old house and we use it to suit our purposes. It is not a museum, it is a home where we live and store things and eat supper with little boys with great aspirations as pertains to strength. 


As you can see, August also has huge, strong muscles. Or, at least the face he needs to convince us that he does. The only way we could get them to eat last night was to fork food into their mouths saying, "Eat another bite of strong food!" And they would take it and try their muscles again. 
Turns out that chicken and dumplings are very good for muscles. 

After supper comes bath time. Of course. This is always a great deal of fun. Levon was getting tired but was still in a playful mood and August, who was also tired, got kinda crazy as children do. But he wasn't too crazy. Just a little bit crazy. 


They let me wash their hair and give them crazy hairdos. August wanted me to scratch his back with the loofah and so I did. What luxury! 

Of course I was a little worried about bedtime because Levon has never spent the night away from home without a parent but he never once asked for Mama or Daddy and he let me get him in his pajamas after a little naked running about which children seem to want to do after baths and I don't blame them. If I had those perfect little bodies I'd never want to wear clothes. Teeth brushing was a naked activity too. 


Would you look at the eyelashes on that kid? 
August wasn't quite as easy to get pajamas on. He was still in the wired state. But we managed. And then the three of us laid down on my bed and I read the books I'd picked out which were "Five Little Monkeys", "The Owl and the Pussycat", and of course- "The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza." I bet I've read that particular book more times than any other book and I still love it. 

After the last page, August got in his bed beside Boppy's side of the bed and I put Levon in his Pac'n'Play on my side of the bed and there were kisses and pats, and covers and stuffed animals and within ten minutes, they were out. Not one fuss. 


I consider this to be a sort of miracle. Zippy was happy to keep watch over the sleeping Levon. 

I don't think that Mr. Moon or I slept too well. Not that the boys woke up in the night although Levon did have a little shouted word in his sleep that woke us both wide awake. I believe we were on high alert, all night though, listening for every cough, every rustle. Mr. Moon finally got up and went to his chair so he could relax and by the time I really got to sleep, Levon was up and awake. It was a little after seven and still dark. 
"Come cuddle with me for a little while in my cozy bed," I begged the child.
"No," he said. "It's wake-up time for me. And Auga."
And indeed, Brother Auga was wide awake too and they scampered into the Glen Den to wake up their grandfather. I got up for a minute and got Levon a half a banana and asked August if he wanted the other half which he politely declined. I went back to bed and Mr. Moon snoozed in his chair with both boys while they watched TV. At one point, August came and got back in his bed and then stood up and said, "Mer!" and got in bed with me and we snuggled for a moment and had a nice chat about the colors of birds. Then he got up and ran back to his Boppy and I fell back asleep and am so ashamed to report that I slept until around 9:30. I was horrified! And I'd been having terrible dreams about all of my babies and grandbabies being in peril so it was not fun sleep at all. 

I jumped out of bed and ran to check on everyone and of course they were fine and wanted pancakes and so, pretty soon, there were pancakes. After breakfast there was outside time with the boys helping Boppy do tractor and car things and then it was time to read more books and we did. 

When Mama and Daddy came to get them, they were happy to see their parents but they still hadn't fussed any. Jessie brought us subs from Publix and we all ate lunch and Levon was so tired and August ran around like a rabbit and at one point he sat down and said, "I am so ridiculous," which cracked us all up. 

After they left, I took my time and tidied up the house and swept. Actually, Vergil stayed for awhile and he and Mr. Moon did some bow and arrow target practice and probably some other things which I am not aware of because it was all out at the garage and I just can't keep track of that nor should I. 

I can guarantee you that we will sleep very well tonight and I hope those boys do too. 

I am proud of Levon for being such a brave, big boy and I am proud of Jessie and Vergil for raising such sweet and polite and funny boys. I hear that they are not always that way at home but as long as they are for me and their grandfather, I'm happy. I guess grandchildren and their grandparents have a deal- we spoil them with cookies and TV and they use pretty good manners. 
Or something like that. Mostly, it was just so sweet and gratifying to know that they feel comfortable and happy here. I do understand that treats and TV have a lot to do with it but I know it goes much farther and deeper than that. When August came and snuggled with me of his own accord, I felt as if I had been given the keys to the kingdom, the crown and the glory. 

I have gone back and answered comments from two days ago and will strive to catch up entirely. 
Meanwhile, just know that I am grateful for each and every one of you who come here to read whether you comment or not but it does please my soul to see what you have to say. 

Time to make the supper! And then...bed. 

Mmmmmmm....

Sweet dreams for us all.

Love...Ms. Moon

24 comments:

  1. I’ve been reading your blog for a long time without comment. I don’t know who wouldn’t be comfortable and happy visiting you and if you happen to be passing through the
    Pacific Northwest I’d do what I could to make you comfortable and happy here. I have as much fun with my only grandchild as you do with your bunch and it’s just about the most satisfying thing
    In the whole wide world.

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    1. Thank you for those sweet words! And thanks for commenting. There are some wonderful people in the Pacific NW whose blogs I read and some who have become friends. I have a brother out there too. Who knows, maybe one day, if it's safe again, we'll travel that way.
      Enjoy that grandchild!

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  2. Those boys are past precious. I went through six grandchildren first night over. All wonderful. I remember Caroline getting up in the night to tell me her mother wasn't there. And on and on. Levon is such a trouper. Of course he slept all night. His job.

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    1. So far it's been five grands spending a first night for me! I can totally see a child getting up in the night to tell you that her mother wasn't there. Ha! I asked Levon if would like to come back and spend the night again some time or did he miss his mama too much. He said he wanted to come back and that no, he hadn't missed Mama too much. He's a sturdy little guy.

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  3. The eye lash muscle children are indeed mighty! How lovely to have them overnight after so f-ing long being isolated from all. I am about to go out and bring home a huge dog to snuggle- talk me out of it!
    Please tell me you use pancake mix, you do make tons of them it seems.
    OHHH Zippy, god I love Zippy as you know- yours is a fine one.

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    1. Eyelashes on children are so beautiful. Boys and girls.
      I'm not going to talk you out of a huge dog. I will tell you that I wouldn't do it for a million bucks but that's just me. A huge dog may be just the thing you need!
      I don't use pancake mix. I use self-rising flour and oatbran and buttermilk. Easy.
      Yes. Zippy is the most wonderful childhood friend we could have ever had. I am so glad to have this one.

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  4. Sweet dreams and I'm happy you all had a great time.

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  5. How special the grandchildren overnights are for us grandparents! I miss those days. Enjoy every minute you can squeeze out of such special times because you know you will turn around and they will be grown. But you know what - my 23 year old granddaughter still sometimes asks to spend the night with us!

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    1. I've flat out told Owen before that he's going to have to move here and take care of his old Mer and Bop. Not sure he thinks I was serious. I need to remind him. Then he could spend the night every night!

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  6. I have never had any of my 3 grandchildren stay the night. They live fairly close by so it hasn't ever been necessary. The youngest is 2 and 8 months and they were here yesterday. He cracked me up, as every time he was asked a question, he said " I don't know", with the " know" being emphasised! So funny. He wanted to come upstairs with me and questioned me closely about all the lights a switches and bulbs.

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    1. That's just a little younger than Levon. Such a great age. They can really express themselves and so much of what they have to say is either hysterical or just darn profound.

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  7. Mer & Grand-Paw Patrol night! Exhausting, even when great fun. I've never been able to sleep well when the grands have stayed over or when I've stay with them when parents were out of town. The 'mama-radar' is set for a pin drop. All good though. You can make up the sleep time later.

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    1. It IS exhausting. For one thing, I'm not used to having to worry about someone else's bathroom needs any more. And you are exactly correct about setting the mama-radar to pin drop level. Amen. GOTTA KEEP THEM ALIVE!

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  8. A good time was had by all it sounds like. The little guy stayed with us Thursday and Friday night and on Saturday morning woke up 4:30. I got him settled back down but I couldn't settle, so last night I went to bed before 8pm and I feel human again:)

    Stay safe my friend.

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    1. I've said it before, I'll say it again. You are a saint.

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  9. sounds like a typical overnighter at the Moons.

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    1. Absolutely. From Wii to Little Red Hen to pancakes.

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  10. You make me really look forward to such days in my own life. Beautiful darling boys. Of course they’re happy at Mer and Boppy’s! It’s a wonderland of delights. So glad Levons first sleepover went so well. I predict there will be many more.

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    1. It IS a wonderland of delights including a tractor that runs! What could be better?
      Yes. There will be more.
      And you just wait!

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  11. I'm so proud of Levon.....with his first night away from his parents. I recall we had goddaughter for a sleepover when she was about 2 1/2....also her first time away from her parents. She was a joy, not a peep..... tho we were exhausted! Now she has her own *peep*. ;-). Your family is so filled with love I can't see how anything can go wrong (mostly)! And I have to comment on the gorgous tap/faucets in your tub.......just heavenly to look at
    Susan M

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    1. Well, part of that faucet arrangement is broken but we make do. I can't tell you how many times the kids (and I by accident!) have had the shower tap turned on instead of the tub and the entire bathroom got soaked. It's a powerful spray nozzle.
      Isn't it wonderful that all these years later you can still remember the night your goddaughter stayed over for the first time? That's how much we love them.

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  12. That sleepover sounds like it was absolute bliss for all concerned. I never had a grandma like that so I think all of your grandchildren are so lucky!

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  13. It's so funny how little kids love to get up so early. I remember leaping out of bed as a little kid and my parents telling me to GO BACK TO BED. I could never figure out why they weren't as eager to get up as I was!

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.