It's Turkey Day

Hello my sweet babies.  It's Thanksgiving in the United States - and Grandma is making a small turkey, dressing, and cherry pie!  It's just not Thanksgiving without a turkey - even if it's only really delicious the first day out of the oven.  When Taylor was very little, you would come to Grandma's house and have turkey......and when you were a little older and lived in Grandma's house your mommy and daddy would cook part of the big meal, and Grandma would cook the rest.  We would all eat at one big table, usually with a couple of friends who would come because they didn't have any other family. 

Next year I shall have to adopt some more of those family-less folks - or have them adopt me so there is another big table to sit around.

Taylor - you were an adorable pirate and you did so very well in your school show.  I was proud of you!

I love you both - and miss you very much.

Grandma Nici

Halloween is almost here!!

Halloween is coming in just a few days.  I know it is very warm where you are, and Halloween isn't a very popular holiday, but I'm glad you got to dress up in costumes at school.  Lots of little kiddies will come to Grandma's house for candy and I'm all ready for them.

I found mommy's blog today and was able to catch up on all your adventures since you went away from Grandma.  I'm so glad you are both doing so well, making new friends, and learning the language at school.

My goodness, Taylor!!!  Losing your teeth so early.  Well, at least you will be ready for the new ones when they pop right in.  Most kids have to wait until they fall out.  You got your dollars early and probably already spent them.  Don't fall again....you must be very careful.

I will enjoy reading your adventures and will always keep you close in my heart until we see each other again.  I love you both and miss you very much.

Grandma Nici

Almost Halloween!

There are pumpkins in the stores, and scary masks all lined up in the Target aisles.  I think about Taylor's first Halloween - he was a little doll.  And the ones after that when he would get so excited.  I think I liked the mouse costume the best - but i think HE liked Spiderman.  That was our last Halloween together - Spiderman.  But i still have the pictures.

There's no Halloween in France.  I wonder if Emmerson will have the joy of dressing up and collecting candy and ooohs and aaaahs aren't you cute from strangers.  There is really nothing like it in the world.

I love you both my darlings.  And send my hugs and kisses across the ocean.

Grandma

Beach Time Baby

Hello my sweet ones.  Grandma just got back from the beach at Point Pleasant and I thought of you the whole time.  I have pictures from when Taylor went with Mommy and Daddy to Miami and he played on the beach with a bucket and shovel making sand castles.  The first year you were afraid to go into the water, but the second year Daddy took you in the pool.  You weren't afraid after that.  I hope you get to go to the ocean in France and Emmerson will learn to like the water too.  Grandma loves to go swimming and play in the sand.  It would be so nice to play in the sand and water with you both.  Someday we will do that.

I watched the videos of Taylor learning to play tennis today.  I transferred them to my phone so I could show them to other people - I'm so proud of you!!  You didn't give up and kept trying to hit the ball over the net until you did it THREE times in a row - and you were only four years old!!   Good Boy!!!

I love you both very much and miss you terribly.  The new Toy Story 3 and Kung Fu Panda movies came out this year and I pretended like we were all watching them together.  I think you would have liked Captain America too.  You are fighters and good at heart just like him.  I really hope you are both well and happy and learning French so you can have lots of friends.  I worry about your being able to talk to other boys and girls in your school and neighborhood.  And that you will come back to American schools so you can really use your intelligence and get into a wonderful college when you are a big boy and girl.

I miss you so much.  Remember I would talk to you all the time if Mommy and Daddy would allow me to call you on the videophone.  Good night sweet babies.

Grandma Nici

Happy Birthday Taylor

Yesterday was your birthday honey.  I thought about you all day.  I'm sorry I missed it again, but I knew it wouldn't matter if I tried to call or email - you wouldn't get it.  But know I thought about you, that I wrote a little birthday letter to you and I will do it every year.  I love you so much and miss you every day.  I do so hope you are happy, safe and well.

Grandma

"On this, the occasion of the most important birthday of all, I wish you love and happiness.  You are five which is a very grand year indeed.  Be a good boy and blow out all your candles, then share your cake and your laughter with everyone around you.  I love you."

Fourth of July

It's almost Fourth of July!!  Taylor, you loved the fireworks when you were very little, then suddenly two years ago you were afraid of the booms.  The first year Grandma and you sat and watched them on television.  We turned the lights off and the sound down.  Then little fireworks started outside the window and you liked them because there were almost no booms.  We watched the same fireworks show on television lots and lots of times over the next week, because Grandma recorded it on her TiVo. 

The next year you lived in the apartment building by the water and you climbed up Grandma's leg into her arms.  It was raining just a little anyway, so we went into the house and watched from inside the glass door so you couldn't hear the booms while Emmerson dozed in her stroller with mommy.

You and Emmerson won't have any fireworks this year because France doesn't celebrate July 4th - a holiday for American independence from England.  But maybe there will be fireworks for a nice French holiday.

Or maybe your little ears won't have to suffer any booms at all!!

I love you Taylor and Emmerson.  I love you both.  I won't ever forget you.

Happy almost Summer

It was a warm day last week, and it rained late in the afternoon.  It reminded me of the day Taylor and I went outside the play in the rain.  It was so warm we didn't mind getting wet.  Mommy and I did that one summer, but she was older!!  It was a year or so before she met Daddy.  She came to visit me in Virginia and just after an afternoon thunderstorm we went outside barefoot and played in the gutters in from of the house.  The water was as warm as the day we played and splashed.  Wasn't that fun?