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