Adventures with Grandma Robbie and Grandpa Ron

The kidlets were very excited that Grandma Robbie was able to take the day off to spend with them.  Grandma Robbie helped them construct bows and arrows out of lilac branches and string.  This was something they did a few years ago and were really hoping to do again.  They even made an extra one for YaYa, since she was at music camp.  

In addition to being able to ride bicycles all over the farm, frequent breaks were taken to explore farm machinery and tractor cabs.  In particular, Mr. TOF climbed in every single tractor cab multiple times throughout the day.  He was so happy to ride his bicycle up and down the driveway with me riding my own bike right next to him, and he loved stopping to take a break and climb up in a tractor cab, or two, or four.  We had many discussions about which tractors he thought were the best.  The Banana also liked the tractors, and convinced Grandpa Ron to take her for a ride around the farm in her favorite green machine.  Mr. TOF was too scared to take a ride in a moving tractor.  

There are always food making adventures at Grandma Robbie’s house, and this time she was making bread, so she gave each kidlet a hunk of dough to shape however they wanted.  There were all sorts of creative shapes baked, and to spoil them further, she let them put frosting on the bread later that night.  They were thrilled, of course.  

Both nights the middle kidlets and I rode our bikes to Pettibone to play at the park.  The second night Mr. TOF convinced his Papa to drive him to town behind us so that he could join in at the park too, and of course Papa said yes.  They had quite the ride to and from town, with many discussions along the way.  

The park has one of my favorite swing sets ever.  The secret to a good swing set is a super tall frame.  These seats also are sticky and comfortable, so you don’t slide around, and with an under duck to get you started, which my kids were thrilled to accept, you can sail through the air to great heights.  I love those swings.  They were put in the park when I was finishing the fifth grade, and they’ve been loved by park goers ever since.  I still like swinging on them, and they have so many memories of mine tucked up in them.  

Not pictured, but greatly appreciated was a trip to the Cozy Kitchen Cafe in Pettibone for breakfast, some running through the sprinkler, a trip to the hunting house, the crafting of some excellent mud stew,  and Mr. SP spent a large portion of the afternoon shooting gophers with Grandpa Ron, which he loved.