Early Morning Ambushes

Since we have granddaughters in residence, I have to be hyperalert first thing in the morning. Today is a very good example of this. The FBR and BRS were obviously awake around 6am but they are old enough to respect the rule that they are to amuse themselves in their room until 7. I even donated my beside clock to their room so they could tell what time it was. How did I know the clock had reached 7? That would be the thundering footsteps and delighted screams as they made a bee line for our bedroom. I had enough time to get into protective posture before they both landed on top of me proclaiming that it was time for me to arise and amuse them. If they want to improve the surprise, they’ll have to work on their noise discipline during the approach. I will not be coaching them.

Great Saturday Afternoon

We had a great weekend when my son finally showed up Saturday with both the BRS and BR3. (The FBR had been asking me every five minutes when they would arrive.) He was recovering from a little too much of a good time at a Portland concert with his buddies on Friday night. The granddaughters immediately took to rushing around the house in their usual pell-mell manner. I couldn’t help but smile as the pristine house maintained by my Favorite Panamanian underwent the usual granddaughter assault. BR3 separated herself from the older two and established herself as the prime dishwasher out on Deckzilla. For some reason she revels in washing dishes. I can state without hesitation that I am sure this is something she will outgrow. I was appointed the “monster” for a late day game which involved the three granddaughters escaping from me by closing the bathroom door only to emerge while I hid and then broke cover to chase them mercilessly. I could not stop laughing at the ear-splitting screams. The neighbors must have thought some sort of mass murder was underway.

BR3 Deckzilla Dish Washing

Abuela Creates a Patio Waterpark

Best Friends/Cousins

Saturday night had all three granddaughters in the designated granddaughter room. Strangely they all fell asleep fairly quickly. It didn’t last. There arose a veritable cacophony shortly after 5am emanating from the granddaughter room. I was chosen to address the issue. I found the lights fully on and all three granddaughters involved in some sort of arcane game. They all looked a little guilty when I sleepy-eyed opened the door. I told them they had to tone down the noise and mentioned the 7am release time. It was at this point when BR3, in all innocence, asked me, “Grandpa, is okay if we wake up now?”. I couldn’t help but break out laughing which kind of confused her. I told her she was as awake she needed to be already.

Monitoring Chipmunk Activities

FBR Patting the Puppy

FBR and BRS on the Large Swing

Ice Cream Time with Abuela

My son and BR3 headed home Sunday morning while we escorted the other two to church, where they comported themselves so well, they earned a later ice cream date. We took them to Elm Park for the large playground there. I was mildly amazed at the upper body strength exhibited by both. We set off to look for turtles in the pond when we came across a group of kids surrounding a tiny puppy chasing them around with more energy than sense. The FBR and BRS quickly joined the group and spent fifteen minutes getting chased. Returning to the playground the two joined another group of kids on a large swing. I was dragooned into being the designated pusher and the FBR started a chant picked up by the other kids exhorting me to push it higher. Soon all the kids joined in the chant which echoed across the large playground. I therefore became the bad guy when I felt the dead eyed stares from the concerned parents meant more than the elevation achieved.

Makes me Smile Every Time I Walk By

Trampoline Time

Race Car Track

Today was a very fun day as we journeyed south to Rhode Island to the house of our former neighbor (during our early 90s assignment to Rhode Island). We pulled into the house and the FBR gawked and said, “Are these people rich?”. I don’t know the answer to that question but this amazing house was in a neighborhood of pretty high cotton. We came down to use their pool and associated playground which were a perfect summer getaway, with the added benefit of meeting up with old friends. They had a well-equipped pool house which became our base of operations.

Friend's Backyard

Grandpa in the Pool

Two Pool Aficionados

FBR Upper Body Strength

Tandem Swing

The kids reveled in the pool as well as the nearby trampoline and playground, which included a ramp for plastic race cars. Pretty cool. I had to overcome my Panama induced aversion to New England pools as I was drafted to be in the in-pool playmate while my Favorite Panamanian caught up with her good friend. We took a call from the FBR’s parents who had landed in Copenhagen and spent the day touring the city. They were calling just before going to bed which led to a prolonged explanation to the granddaughters about time zones. I don’t think they understand them any better despite my best efforts. It was a perfect day or as close to one of those that can happen. Old friends, extended pool time on a hot day, ice cream cake, and the needed rest period for certain grandparents while the kids patronized the playground and trampoline. We’re off to the zoo tomorrow.

Two Happy Granddaughters

Wait, What!, Abuela in a Pool North of Central America???!!!

Our Intrepid Hosts

FBR and her Abuela

Two movies fell in my A-Z watch, both keepers, Few Good Men, so well-acted and Field of Dreams, one of my favorite movies of all time, “Dad, wanna have a catch?”

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course