Teasing A Pop Pop with OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is not fun for me; however, my own kids find humor in a few of my strange quirks, organizing things that are not important, saying things that seem outrageously funny, knowing exactly what DVD’s or CD’s are missing from my collection with only a quick glance.

There are, however, some things that were not funny—checking every window and outside door in the house before leaving on a trip, and then after traveling 45 minutes, returning to check everything again.

I find it interesting to see how those tendencies manifest themselves in my own children and grandchildren. Tommy organizes his toys according to certain criteria. He separates his Star Wars figures into groups of Jedi and Sith. Each dinosaur and prehistoric mammal has a certain place on the wall ledge in his room.

Jack says funny things that catch people off guard at times, like when a woman asked the primary children to identify the man in the picture, showing Lehi and his family sailing to the Promised Land. “It’s the Jesus pirates,” Jack said after she called on him when he alone put his hand in the air.

I just hope that my kids and grandkids find a partner like I did, one that not only tolerates my quirks but also helps me overcome them.

Pretty In Pink

Ann and I found snowsuits for Tommy and Anna to prepare for the “fun” weather in Minnesota.

We sent them in a large package, and Lydia e-mailed this picture with Anna showing us how she intended to accessorize: pink blouse and princess purse.

If I had been there, she would have said, “It’s my favorite!” And she would have pointed to each princess on the small plastic purse with her little index finger, touching the face of each one and identifying them by name.

Pink is "her signature color."

While in Minnesota in early June, Lydia made these incredible vanilla cookies, some with thick pink frosting.
"It's my favorite," Anna told grandma on mornings when she would come down to see us in the early morning. Anna would ask grandma to get her a cookie, which was funny considering the fact that she could slide a chair and get one for herself easily.

Anna would come "peeking" at us each morning, when she didn't stay up late the night like when we watched a movie or after we went to a museum or shopped at the Mall of America.

On those days when she was really tired, she would climb in bed next to her mom, her face hidden from everyone as she nuzzled closely next to Lydia. When I would try to talk to Anna, she would pull her hair over her ears, and if I tried to look at her, she would adjust her hair so that it completely covered her face. Like my own kids, she didn't like anyone looking at her when she was sleepy in the morning.

Tommy and Jack Discover Why Fall Is Fun

While Lydia visited us during Jeff’s residency, the boys were able to have a lot of fun together, and Tommy and Jack became life-long friends. This particular day in October was a great time—the day was still warm enough to be outside without a coat, and the grass was still green.

Grandma always played this game with the boys when they were small enough to balance on her feet. They loved the “motorboat” game and would ask to play again as long as Grandma was willing to entertain them. They would giggle while they bounced.