And Gingerbread Houses To Boot

Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete. ~Marcy DeMaree

It is such a blessing when Jackson and Lilly get to spend time with their grandparents.

We live over 1,000 miles in different directions from both sets of grandparents, which is heart-breaking most of the time, but extra-sweet when we are together.

Without prompting or coaching, the kids innately sense the unbridled love and unabashed feelings of being cherished simply for who they are. It probably comes on more strongly since we only see them a few times each year. Also, they are known to carry large amounts of sugar and gifts with them at all times.

Grandma and Grandpa Mac are so great and always prepared with lots of fun that keep the kids just giggling and going crazy with excitement. Grandma brought her world-renowned gingerbread houses (that might be a bit of an exaggeration--I think they are only known all over the entire U.S.) and the kids loved decorating them. I'll be honest...they haven't really caught on to the idea of making them cute or symmetrical or even neat, which their Home Stager mother would aspire for them, even at the tender ages of 4 and 5, but that is okay. It was fun and they ate a LOT of candy.

Really, who's to complain?











Oh, the candy. (And that cheek...I'll eat some of that.)











From what I can tell, Lilly did not eat any frosting.
















My own gingerbread house was not up to the rigorous standards of decor I pretend to hold my own home to, but I blame that on the fact that People's Style Watch and Southern Living have not had recent Gingerbread House Special Editions from which I could steal and implement ideas.

Grandma and Grandpa also opened the Unending Flood of Portable Entertainment known as Nintendo DS. As a sign of his great joy, Jackson used the entire 19 hour battery in the first 24 hours. Lilly, holding her adorable pink model (she is already learning to accessorize), fell asleep with the power on.

I should probably denounce video games and cry about how my kids' brains are going to shrink, but I was actually thrilled at the gift. Mostly, because it's something special from Grandma and Grandpa that we wouldn't have bought.

Secondly, it's because I sure do love video games. Leave me with Super Mario & Co. for a few hours and I will be far more intrigued than I could ever pretend to be in any corner of academia.

Also, this is an area where I can openly and frequently destroy Brad. (Not that we are competitive or that I enjoy winning and by "destroy" I just mean "winning so decisively that he is forced to blame his loss on an animated vehicle instead of lacking actual driving ability.")

Even Brad can openly admit that I handily trash him at all driving games, both at the arcade and in the privacy of our home. I will take him down to Chinatown on Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, or Centipede. That said, he beats me at Skee-Ball, which is not really an even comparison, but somehow in the same category.

Just so it's clear, THE KIDS have been using up the batteries.

NOT THE ADULTS.

The kids are currently in serious Grandma and Grandpa withdrawl, constantly asking to go to their house like it is just up the road.

But we will remember them each time we switch on the Nintendo. Which is to say, we remember them A WHOLE STINKIN' LOT.