Mar. 24, 2007 - 22:38 MDT

COUNTING COUP

When we were a bit younger, it seemed to us that our grandkids were appearing at a break neck pace, and perhaps they did. We ended up with seven of them, plus a couple of in-law grandkids.

I'm trying to remember which radio program it was long ago that the phrase was common, "And that's only the beginning." It was for us, anyway.

The best I can come up with now is that the great grands are in the teens, and we have a teen great-grand now 13 going on 31 who might or might not be the first to have children. Who knows ?

She is sweet and smart and is a gem with the smaller greats, so I expect she will be a good mother, she has had good lessons from all around the family.

A few days ago one of our greats had a birthday and it amazed me when counting on my fingers the total amounted to eight years. Her Daddy has the same birthday as Heather, and I remember when we used to have him with us to visit for a week or weekend. What a rambunctious little rascal he was, a spring loaded jumping jack no less.

I coddled and cosseted him when he was a babe in arms, but he didn't stay that way for long.

Our darling eight year old by name of Sierra has an older brother and a sister older than that. The brother is pretty much a dead ringer for his dad, same mindset and same rambunctious way of living life. The older sister is smart and studious and very gentle. And Sierra is the unfortunate baby of the family. Seems like she is always on the run trying to catch up. Eight years and too young to cuss and too old to cry, and all that.

Today we spent from early afternoon until almost dark at her birthday party. In a big clubhouse owned by the employees where grandson works there was plenty of room for the kids to work off steam and yet room for us biggies to visit and talk. Slobgloptious burritos and guacamole with greens and tomatoes with Vanilla coke to ease the way down.

Celebrating his birthday also was the son of an employee friend of grandson's, so there was a grand opening of presents by the two.

Then while that was settling the candles on the cakes were lit (the kind that can't be blown out) and the birthday kids made a try at it. I think the boy won, really as he kept blowing until the candles burned clear down to nothing.

Then the kids were racing around the room, while the birthday mother built the main event. There were three pans for each kid, about the size that chicken-pot-pies come in which she filled with Cool-Whip. The kids were lined up sitting on one side of a long-long table and the Cool-Whip placed in front of them. They were instructed to put their hands behind themselves and on the signal they were to eat the gooshy-glop. It was hilarious to the max to watch them go at it. There was no winner declared, but they all had fun and poked fun at each other over their messed up faces.

Sierra had a face full and she gave her brother a face full on top of the mess he already had. Ensued much chasing and hollering from that.

Little by little folks began to tell the hosts goodbye and slope off into the sunset. Heather and I hung on and left in time to get home before full dark. And you know, we notice already that the light lasts longer come evening, a few minutes to notice things coming into bloom too.

So this year Heather and I are having a blast, she is feeling better, days are warmer and longer, and there will be ice cream and cake on the next weekend for a premature birthday weekend celebration for me. Life don't get any better'n that, now does it ?

Sunday night, sitting here, drinking "Cool, cool water" and COUNTING COUP . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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