Barbie Horde

As always, having the FBR in residence means the modification of certain grandparent standard operating procedures. No date night this week, not that we’d have the energy for it after a day of FBR operations. This is in no way a complaint because she has been nothing short of an absolute delight. Each day she reminds of more and more of the time we had with her mother at that age. It is completely appropriate therefore that last night we brought her mother’s collection of Barbie dolls up from long term storage in the basement.

A Mounted FBR

The FBR was genuinely excited when she saw the contents. She was even more fascinated when we told her that her mother had played with these as a child. The FBR and her abuela spent a good deal of the evening sorting the cache out. The very inquisitive FBR also tried to read her mother’s teenaged years’ diary which I successfully hid from her.  Earlier in the day the dangerous shopping team of my Favorite Panamanian and the FBR were once again unleashed on a local, unsuspecting mall. The mall even had a playground and a merry go round.

Seeing her Mother's Cache

Sorting with Abuela

Back at it This Morning

Dedication

My daughter surprised the FBR this morning with an early morning FaceTime call which had the FBR running to and then giving the IPad a huge hug. She came down a while later sniffling saying how much she missed her mommy, heart strings severely tugged at. She recovered a few minutes later and was once again deeply immersed in sorting out the veritable horde of Barbies. Her morale grew even more when she learned her abuela was making hojaldras for breakfast.

Stealing Abuela's Glasses at Mall

Mall Playground

She Said she Made Some New Friends There

Working on Secret Christmas Craft Project Last Night

We’re back on the road tomorrow journeying up to New Hampshire to visit my Favorite Son and his crew for what will hopefully be a very revealing get together. We were going to continue up to the Maine Musquetera’s house for a Saturday night barn party but the threat of freezing rain on Sunday negated that. This will free us up on Sunday to go see Frozen 2. I am finding it hard to contain my excitement at that prospect. Well at least there’s First Friday this afternoon.

Lollipop Colored Tongue After Doctor's Appointment Earlier this Week

Hojaldras this Morning!!

Then Back to the Craft Table

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman – my son in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt = my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrival of the BRS; 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; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Deckzilla Dude – senior citizen carpenter/contractor; Voices of Inappropriate Worth - members of public who come to every Worcester public meeting to complain, all are on public assistance along with demeanor issues