Unconventional Summer Fun 2015

The Unconventionals live farther away from Four Sisters Farm than any of the other Four Sisters Farm families so we have to plot and plan to get one on one time with Lou Lou, Bub, Southern Gentleman (SG), and Ladybug.  Doctor's Wife (DW) was so good to be flexible as we invited the Unconventional kids out all at once and then one at a time.  We met up in various places to exchange kiddos and it did this momma's heart good to see and hug DW multiple times in one week.  And now, at the risk of being "that" Grammy, I'd like to share pictures from a few memorable days.

Every Pop and Grammy should be so fortunate to have a granddaughter whose personality is larger than life. Ladybug finds excitement in everyday life and has a contagious laugh and expressions that draw us into the way she sees things.

Digging for leftover money from the Fourth of July and making
a sand kingdom were fun for Ladybug and Grammy.

Ladybug made a special yogurt, strawberries,
and whipped cream dessert on her day!

We bounced...

we played bingo...

we upcycled plastic bottles into bracelets...

and of course, we swam!

Southern Gentleman is a walking commentary on life...there is never a dull moment when he is around.  He has an incredible imagination and weaves scenarios all day long.  He brought along a ziploc bag with everything he needed to make a delicious dessert for us...turtles!  He went to work after dinner and visited with Pop and me while he made the treats.  We played outside a lot and he collected an "evedince" bag full of feathers...now every time I see a feather at Four Sisters Farm I think of SG and his bag.

Of course we swam...

we ate SG's specially made turtles... 

SG and Pop hit the cards hard... 

we looked really hard for skipping rocks but didn't find enough... 

we played "Go Fish" after swimming and each won a game... 

SG contemplated his moves in Chinese Checkers against Grammy... 

and enjoyed building a Trio Block racing ramp and cars. 

We packaged up farm "evedince" and sent them home with him.

Bub is a tough but tender-hearted guy.  Pop might say Bub is a "complicated man" like him.  While Pop was at work, I enjoyed my time with Bub. We talked about important things like the upcoming school year and playing Cougar football.  He is a joy to have around and when we played an improvised ring toss game in the the pool (credit to Ladybug for making up the game), I laughed harder than I've laughed in a long time.

Bub worked on his marksmanship...

swam (of course)... 

modified SG's Trio Block racing ramp and cars... 

and I haven't put away the BB gun in the mud room yet...
when I see it I think about how much fun we had.

Then there is Lou Lou.  Sigh.  Our oldest grandchild.  She is a beauty inside and out.  She loves fashion, animals, and music.  She is a delight to spend time with.  Pop and I especially love that her guitar comes with her to the farm and our porch is transformed into a stage and filled with music.  Pop and I both feel so blessed to spend time with her.  She brings a presence when she comes that reminds Pop and me that she is a lovely young woman now and we can't believe it has happened so fast.

Lou spend a tremendous amount of time trimming
clumps of hair off Snowball who decided she really
did appreciate it. 

She tried out a fat tire bike when we went for groceries...

took selfies so I wouldn't wreck the van trying to take a
picture of her with the sunset out her window...

made delicious blueberry mufffins... 

and ate them with me... 

then she got a facetime from her mom who gave her good
news that her application was accepted and she will
attend the high school she was hoping to attend. 

You can see DW on Lou's phone.   

We went to the mall and did some quick looking and a little buying... 

this shirt is on her "wanted" list...
it really is "her".  It says, "First of all, no. Second of all, no."
I love her independent spirit and I love her.

If you are still reading, thanks for humoring me as I've shared our Unconventional Summer Fun!

Time with Three Cowboys and Ruthie

The Cowboys' and Ruthie's Shoes - lined up and ready for the next morning.

Pop and I are privileged to spend a lot of time with our grandchildren.  In a day and age when so many families are scattered across the country, the Four Sisters have stayed fairly close for most of their adult lives so far.  Right now, DW and her family are several states away temporarily and the whole Four Sisters Farm family pines for their return.  In the meantime...

Shortly after the Unconventionals latest visit, the Farm Hands (Three Cowboys and a Cowgirl Princess) returned to the farm for a visit while EJ and Farm Chick at Heart went out of town for a few days on a business trip.

We opened up the swimming pool. The fellas were prepared with their goggles.  The water was a little cool but the picnic table was nice and warm to lay on.

The Cowboys are good help - especially with the swimming pool setup!
Goggles and squirt guns add to the fun!
When you get too cold in the water, warming up on the sun-heated picnic table is so nice. 

We hunted turtles for our Family Fourth of July Turtle Race and were very successful!  We created a turtle habitat to keep them in (Pop actually had to create a better one as two escaped from our habitat.).

We helped Pop, ate "alotsa" snacks, had waffles and pancakes for breakfast, played with our superhero cousins, and generally had a great time just running and playing at the farm.

Bubba made a "C" out of his waffle - homeschooling is fun!
Lil Ruthie eating a less messy version of a s'more.

The cowboys' Lego creations and proud Ruthie
Wubba driving Miss Ruthie
Ruthie checking out another "ride"

B: This grasshopper pooped on me!
Grammy: No, it's just chewed tobacco.
B: What's tobacco, Grammy? 

That opened up quite a discussion...I explained that when I was a kid we called it that because it looks like tobacco spit...that will teach me!  It is actually just a chemical produced as a defense mechanism for grasshoppers that was called chewed tobacco because grasshoppers were pests in tobacco plantations. (Put that in your pipe and smoke it! Hee hee!  We seem to use so many crazy non-concrete sayings!)

B and W:  Cool mushrooms (toadstools)!!  Can we touch 'em?
Grammy: Sure!  But you can NOT eat these things!

Whatcha doin', Pop?  Cool! A spider web in the pole barn!
Cactus flowers that Pop brought us to see and a poison ivy lesson.We don't want to touch it or the cactus!!

We heard from their momma that the following Monday back at The Growing Table, the kiddos were a bit bored.  That is good news for a tired but happy Pop and Grammy!

Slumber Party at Four Sisters Farm

Maybe it's the heat? or playing with cousins? or the swimming? or lack of a nap? or our 8pm movie??? Whatever caused this scene, it sure is sweet. They stayed asleep while I carried them off to bed...well...except for Pop...I think I accidentally pulled his leg hairs moving little Ladybug. Hee hee.