Owen

 Owen is going to pre-school at Rossville Elementary.  This is his third year, actually the second at Rossville with the first being at Clinton Prairie.

He started with attending classes two mornings a week, then increased to three mornings.   Last year he attended five mornings a week and was transported home by a bus which backed into the drive at his house.  

Last year after we returned home from our trip to Disney World to celebrate his adoption his mommy was hired as an instructional assistant so arrangements were needed for his care in the afternoons.  Sometimes he went to a day care in Rossville. Two days each week we picked him up at the school so we could take him later in the afternoon to therapy at WeeCare in Lafayette.

This year things were a little different. He is still attending classes five mornings each week, but there is no day care in Rossville and no therapy appointments in Lafayette.

Instead there is time with Daddy.  However, on the days when Daddy is working, a different plan occurs!

When the bus backs into the drive, either Papaw or Mamaw is there to pick up Owen and take him to The Farm.  He is always excited to see Papaw, not as much with Mamaw, but he knows Papaw will be at the house eventually so it's ok.  

Over the last few weeks of school we have developed a routine of sorts.

First thing - remove the shoes and braces, then strip down.  Bubble bath and shampoo for the first 15-20 minutes.  Fresh clothes (often the clothes Owen wore the previous day when he was here), fresh underwear, and clothes worn to school that day plus the towel and washcloth tossed in the washer.

Next thing - lunch  Blueberries.  Today it was red raspberries that were the favorite. Chicken nuggets.  French fries.  Mini-muffins.  Sweet gherkins. Chocolate milk or OJ in the cup.  Whatever he wants, he can have!

Afternoon fun?  It varies.

Sometimes he and Papaw watch The Croods or something on Netflix with dinosaurs.

Sometimes, especially if Lynnlee is here too, they watch Mickey Mouse or something on the Disney channel.

Sometimes we play downstairs and pull things out of the toy closet.

Sometimes we go outside and he jumps on the trampoline. And convinces Papaw to get him a Popsicle from the fridge in the Party Barn.

Yesterday he helped me unpack the box from Bath and Body Works, sort through the contents, then carry items to the Futon Room for safekeeping until Christmas.  He was enchanted with the Futon Room.  It was fun to play with my exercise ball.  To roll under the futon.  To be shocked because he discovered that the futon could be flattened to be a bed! And he wants to sleep in there the next time he spends the night.

Today he was pummeling me with a toy microphone, head-butting me in the family room, then nearly toppled the iron and ironing board while I was working on a quilt and he head-butted me again.  

But you know...we are SO lucky. 

Lucky to have a grandson so sweet and lovable.  One whose smile just melts your heart.  One who likes to cuddle with you.  One who gets excited each day because he gets to take a nice warm bubble bath.

Lucky to have a grandson who is best buddies with his Papaw.  The bus driver asked me the other day when I picked him up by myself if we were just to have him move in with us since he loved us so much.  He is always SO excited when Papaw is going to pick him up and he can spend the afternoon with us.

Lucky to have so many opportunities to see the wonder in his eyes.  Today when I washed off the red raspberries and showed him the colander and asked him if he wanted any...his eyes lit up and he literally gasped and he nodded his head.  It was so cute!  And he ate nearly an entire container of those red berries.

Lucky that Hilary and Blaine asked us if we would be willing to do this ---pick him up on the days that Blaine was working so he could spend the afternoon with us. 

Today when Blaine picked him up after work he said we wouldn't be seeing him for a while.  Well, on Saturday he is staying here while everyone else goes to Landon's cross country meet at Northfield.  Then the next Saturday is his birthday party here in the Party Barn.  And probably on the day after Labor Day because Daddy will be working days and Mommy will be back at school.    And you know what....I was ready to cry.

Next year he will be in kindergarten. We all know what happens when the kids start going to school each and every day, all day long.  There is homework, and dinner, and after school activities of siblings,  and early bedtimes, and soon there is no time to see Mamaw and Papaw anymore.  

I was ready to cry.  And I still am close to tears.  I love that little boy so much.  His smile.  His hugs.  His chuckles.  His antics.  When he looks at me and says, "I love you, Mamaw" and smiles. The way he knows he isn't supposed to go upstairs by himself, but he does, and when we go to get him, he runs in circles through the bedroom and bathroom.  The way he is so protective of Lynnlee when she is here.  The way he snuggles into the recliner with Papaw.  The way he runs into the bathroom, shuts the door, and flushes, then washes his hands and turns out the light, then shuts the door again. And if the main floor bathroom is occupied, he will run upstairs to use that bathroom, closing BOTH doors. 

He is special.  He is sweet. And he is our grandson...forever and ever.