January 31, 2008 | Offspring: ecstasy and agony
Over the Christmas break we had planned for our little family to spend a few days with my parents before heading home again. As it turned out, Otto and I ended up going to see my folks without the kids, which was sorely disappointing all around.
(It turns out that I am just not very interesting now that there are a couple of pint-sized versions of me who are a lot funnier than I am.)
After a bit of cajoling, my dad and stepmom planned a trip down here to visit us. They did so at no small inconvenience, too—yesterday afternoon my father called from a Chili’s in the Detroit airport to let me know that their connecting flight had been canceled. I felt tremendously sorry for them, being stuck in Detroit, of all places, and suggested medicinal margaritas while they waited for their rescheduled flight.
When the kids got home from school, they came flying in, asking when Grandma and Grandpa would be here. I had to break the news to them that the schedule had been changed somewhat, and they were Not Pleased. “I think they’ll still be here before you go to bed,” I offered. “Don’t worry.”
They then proceeded to run around in circles until I kicked them outside to go play.
I continued working, listening by the door occasionally to verify that they were still around, and after a long while they came running back into the garage, dirty-kneed and glowing, insisting that I come outside with them.
“Look what we did!” commanded Chickadee.
“We are having a party on the driveway!” giggled Monkey.
What better way to welcome your grandparents than to break out the balloons? They’d worn the chalk down to mere nubs, and were delighted with their handiwork.
Happy Love Thursday, everyone! May you know the love that gets your hands dirty, your knees scratched up, and your face all smudgy.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:51 am
Wow! That’s dedication. Mine would have started the border and then decided one ginormous (uncolored-in) balloon would be just as good. Then one would have begun licking the chalk, another would have told its sibs they were “so immachewer” and gone on to finish the border By Itself (and taken loud credit for the rest of the day) while the third would crawl back into its book. But that’s okay, we still know the dirty-handed, scratched kneed, smudgy faced kind of love - one of the best kinds out there.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:52 am
awwww… I love it!
Happy Love Thursday, everyone! =)
January 31st, 2008 at 9:01 am
The American airlines hub in Detroit is actually really, really nice. If I had to be stuck in an airport (and who doesn’t want to be stuck at an airport!) I would choose Detroit. I hope they made it before the kids went to bed. Love the balloons.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:06 am
What a sweet sight for your parents; art from the heart!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:18 am
Oh, that makes me weepy. BigBrother loves his grandparents. I hope LittleBrother shares his enthusiasm. :)
Happy Love Thursday!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:27 am
A wonderful Love Thursday thought!
What a sweet pair!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:30 am
Love the homemade banners - my kids greet visitors in similar fashion - hope it doesn’t rain!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:32 am
Awww! That is so sweet! I hope you guys have a great visit!!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:44 am
Now that’s some dedication (and LOVE) right there! Enjoy the visit!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:51 am
Detroit sucks but the airport is actually pretty nice. They have a Starbucks.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:00 am
That! Is! Precious!!
Enjoy your visit!
January 31st, 2008 at 10:04 am
As long as they are in the Northwest terminal, they should be fine. It’s new and pretty. If not, ew. :(
January 31st, 2008 at 10:17 am
Happy Love Thursday. :)
January 31st, 2008 at 10:22 am
Perfect. Just — perfect.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:22 am
I think the balloons look like lollipops — yummy, lollipops…yum.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:48 am
That’s a great welcome! Hope it’s still there when the GP’s arrive, they’ll love it. Happy Love Thursday.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:49 am
So sweet!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 10:50 am
Well, I haven’t been in the Northwest terminal, but I’m with Stephanie on the rest of the Detroit airport. Ew. I second the recommendation for margaritas. Many, many margaritas!
Love the balloons, though! Who wouldn’t feel honored by such a welcome?
January 31st, 2008 at 11:36 am
I love the Detroit airport! It’s got the coolest glass art tunnel and a day spa and all sort of cool and clean and bright things. Not at all the monstrosity that I used to have to deal with as a kid. But I fly primarily American and Northwest, so that may be the newer area ;-)
YAY! for Grandparents and YAY! for welcoming your grandparents!
January 31st, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Wow, your kids have more focus than mine. Mind would’ve stopped after about 4 balloons. That takes serious commitment to do the whole sidewalk.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
That is about the sweetest thing I have ever seen. Wait is that feeling? I think it is my heart melting.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
That’s fantabulous. :) Can we trade kids?
I have something for you at my blog.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Silly me. I was going to say, you don’t have to play the game, but I just wanted you to have it.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Wow, I can imagine how pleased the grandparents were to see that. What a treat! Makes me look forward to mine growing up and making me a grandma. Though I can definitely wait. For a loooooong time.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Nice work. I’ve long forgotten about the day when my parents actually acknowledged me……its all about the babies:)
January 31st, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Ok, too cute! You have really wonderful kids!
January 31st, 2008 at 3:42 pm
No wonder Grandma and Grandpa look forward to seeing Monkey and Chickadee more than you. Have you ever drawn them that many balloons? I thought not!
January 31st, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I love the dead grass! That is hot! Wait, I’m sure my grass is that way too, I just haven’t seen it since late November and its under 2-3 feet of snow. I hope they enjoy the visit!
January 31st, 2008 at 6:27 pm
OMG your kids are sooooo sweet!!
I hope you all enjoy your visit =)
January 31st, 2008 at 7:31 pm
As an almost, soon-to-be, first time grandma, I just can’t imagine a more fabulous greeting!
January 31st, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Cuuuute! Lets hear it for kids being awesome.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:40 pm
How sweet! If I were a grandparent (and I’m NOT!)I would be thrilled.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I wanna be a grandma and get pretty chalk balloons!
Yes, I know. I’m here AGAIN. I’m bored, okay?
January 31st, 2008 at 9:18 pm
That is so great! Very awesome.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Now that takes dedication! Too cute :) I hope that one day MANY MANY years from now when I have grandkids they are that excited to see me ;)
January 31st, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Those photos are painfully cute. I can only imagine how incredible your folks felt at seeing the lovely welcome.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Loved it!!! That was priceless and that my friend is why I come back everyday to read!
January 31st, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I’m a grandma and I can tell you that is an awesome welcome sign - I would be delighted to see it when I came to visit. Your kids are sweet!
February 1st, 2008 at 11:18 am
What sweet little Mini-Mir’s you have there! I bet Grandma and Grandpa loved it.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:41 pm
OMFG. CRYING! That is really sweet!
February 1st, 2008 at 6:10 pm
So SO sweet.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:41 pm
For some reason, the balloon picture makes me want to play Candyland… I think I’ll call it Lollipop Lane
Lucky for me, I have three kids (son: 3, daughter: 1, and wife: 25) ready to play at the drop of a hat, 24 hours a day.
I bet the welcome made spending all those hours in an airport worth it. At least they weren’t stuck in Logan!
February 1st, 2008 at 8:08 pm
So, so beautiful.
February 3rd, 2008 at 12:25 am
i love it! as always, you have the best Love Thursdays!