THE AFTERMATH

I've been describing the wild rumpus which lasted for about six weeks, and now, we're experiencing the downward curve of the winding down scene. Two grandchildren are still here, but there is mostly quiet....well....sort of. We've inherited our grandchildren's dog, Astro. Astro is a "boonie" dog which the kids bought in Guam. He's called a "boonie" dog because, when his masters found out the cost to ship him back to the states, they merely took off his collar and abandoned him to roam in the boondocks of Guam. Fortunately for him, he was captured and placed in an animal shelter then adopted by our kids. He's been a delight for the most part. The retriever in him is thriving on the "beasts" who call our yard home--deer, squirrels, quail, birds, raccoons, and neighborhood dogs and cats. He managed to kill a squirrel or two, but now the managerie is wise to him and he spends fruitless hours sniffing, running, scaling the rock wall. The birds even mock him by swooping down constantly to steal his dog food.

Tom found respite from the noise and happy tumult by continuing to work outside on the siding and air conditioning installation. I managed finished Connor's quilt, which turned out huge due to my inability to measure properly. I also managed to write my autobiography for my upcoming 50th class reunion:

"What have I done in the fifty years since we walked down the aisle on that warm June day in 1960? The first thing I did as line leader at graduation was lead my line into the wrong row! Not a very auspicious beginning for the rest of my life. The first few months were dark indeed; I was without my soul mate--my twin sister. I managed to perk up, float my own boat, and: graduate with a bachelor's degree from BYU; teach for almost 40 years at nearly every grade level from fifth to law school and on aircraft carriers, in jails, mental institutions, Quonset huts, a five million dollar mansion, and regular classrooms; marry the man of my dreams in the Mormon temple in Idaho Falls and remain married to 39 years and counting; give birth to six children and see them into their early thirties through their schooling, marriages, births of their children, divorces, careers, etc; rear a fine young stepson; bury a six week old baby daughter; mourn the loss of both parents, two fathers-in-law, one brother-in-law, and a brother; earn a master's degree from the University of Portland, graduating with honors; serve voluntarily in every auxilliary, as a president or teacher, in our church; write, edit, distribute 10 or so newsletters of one kind or other; write an unpublished novel and many journals, essays, talks, and letters; maintain and decorate a beautiful home; crochet, cross-stitch, quilt, or sew hundreds of items for gifts to friends, family, or charitable organizations; accumulate a 5,000 name genealogical file of Kennedy/Whitby lines, and remain rather sane. I've never again been a line leader though."

This is a cute little scene I found one day after I'd gone exploring to find out why my car alarm had gone off and the locks kept clicking on and off. The setting is under our kitchen table which is three year old Wyatt's hideout!! The book is his favorite--Star Wars, the white stuff is salt from the full salt shaker, the wrappers are gum--which had been chewed and swallowed, bag of chips, string cheese, and my car keys.
The aftermath.

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES

It has certainly been a fun month--filled with eating, video games, rain, sewing lessons, eating, rain, Lego building, running, rain, eating....and more. 11 bodies have been crammed into a house that normally seems large and accommodating and suddenly became almost too small for all the wild energy that sparkled and snapped and rolled through it for a month.

HARMONY (10) was the only girl in our group. Here's her agenda for one day: "Make ipod case for Emily. Make purses for Jessica, Mellisa, and Kiara. Make Nana and Jessica a book cover for their books. A few pillow cases for fun. Some book covers for me." Since it was only her second venture into the world of sewing, we managed to make the ipod case for Emily. Later we completed another purse. Harmony found my sewing/computer room to be her sanctuary from all the boys.

Ethan (9) was our go-to-guy. He helped all of us with electronic devices large and small. At one point, he said to me, "I like your Kennedy name, Grandma." I responded with, "Do you know that our name means "Ugly Head?" His rejoinder was, "But it isn't ugly for YOU."

CONNOR (8) is our Bob the Builder. Quiet and shy, with eyelashes any woman would kill for, Connor's favorite spot was the Lego table in the family room or any clear spot where something could be built. When they first arrived, I showed Connor the top for his quilt and explained that I wasn't finished yet. That evening, with a rainy evening and 47 degree weather, Connor inquired, "Did you finish my quilt today? I'm sure it's going to snow tonight!!"

KAHLIL (5) is reading a book about Knights and Castles, his passion. He explained that he needed to read the book in time for school (Kindergarten). One evening, he headed downstairs and when asked where he was going said, "I'm going to our bedroom to tell myself something that no one else can hear."

IVAN (5) and WYATT (3) are our stand-up comedians. My journal for this month has been filled with quips from these two little guys. One day I was patiently trying to explain to Ivan that we were going to have a planned power outage, and he needed to plug in his Nintendo DS so it would be charged up during the outage. "But, Grandma," he said, "It's green!!" No amount of reasoning would change his mind.
WYATT (3) has pestered me constantly to make him a knight suit. He works the suit into every conversation. I can make a knight suit, and Grandpa can make a "sord." Also, when I've finished a knight suit for him and one for Kahlil, he would like me to make a princess dress for his friend, Olive, who just had a birthday.

Although Mason was thought by the "experts" in Guam to be developmentally delayed, someone should tell Mason. He's been a busy little boy--emptying out cupboards, clearing the fridge of food, crawling into, through, and on top of everything, and imitating every sound he hears.

Alas, the rumpus has died down. Marie and family are in California, and Tom and his boys are in Portland for the weekend. Dad and I aren't sure what to do with all this quiet except to celebrate our 39th anniversary with a porterhouse steak and a long nap......ZZZZZZZZZ. Love to All. Mom

If you stop long enough, you can hear your own music. W.H. Auden