Developing Youngsters

We so enjoyed talking and playing and eating with and reading to our grandchildren. And yes, we enjoyed talking with our son and his wife. All smiles just before lunchtime makes you just want to pinch some cheeks. 

He doesn't always smile but it is rare for him not to. He was so much more talkative and more understandable on this visit. They change so fast.

Lots of family resemblance in this crew. The newest one is also changing fast.

She was happy about her tartan dress. She is the social butterfly of the family, never met a stranger.

Big brother is often tired these days, working to help his dad load and unload trucks. You can see him growing in consideration of others and what is socially acceptable.

This boy just about galloped across Kansas by the time we ate lunch.

Big sister helps out with the cooking, seriously. She can make a full meal.

This one is all boy. I asked him how he got the scars. He replied with downturned eyes that he was being too rowdy.

The advantages of a large family are being thoroughly socialized, learning to share and help out, and loving to do things together.

The second-born is very detail oriented, as you will see momentarily.

6 out of 8 smiling and only one truly scowling, not bad.

Mamaw is all about those grandbabies.

He is showing it to me but with a bit of reticence. 

My son and I took the six oldest children for a walk across the street into the local cemetery. The lighting is not great, but you can definitely pick out the death as August 1810. That makes for a very old cemetery by East Tennessee standards, considering that James White's Fort was only built in 1786.

There were veterans of at least 3 wars (Civil, WWI, WWII (1)) in the cemetery and veterans from both sides of the War Between the States, from the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR),...

...and Confederate States of America (CSA).

A pretty dress doesn't mean that you can't play. She did get some tire rubber on her white tights, but mom and dad were too busy to notice when they all had to leave soon afterwards.

My wife and I gave the second-born son a woodburning set for his birthday. So, he made a little panel. I assume, though forgot to ask him, if he drew or traced the picture before he inscribed it.

The family all went off to prayer meeting, so my wife and I went to visit my older brother and his wife for few hours before heading home. It was a different kind of enjoyment, quieter and contemplative. We had a blessed day and good sleep afterwards.

1. I feel confident that there were probably others like the Revolution, War of 1812, and more modern wars, since the latest stone was August of 2024.