The Kids Come to Stay at Grandma's House

With Jason and Kathryn attending a conference together in California, we, the family and I, had four additional "little Kempsons" living in "Grandma and Grandpa's house" for five days, as we readily agreed to "adopted" our nephew Jaron and his three little sisters, Kirra, Kylin, and Kelci, all four of whom are expressive, active, and curious. Mom, the two Aunts, Lydia and Emily, and Uncle Jesse did most of the "nanny-ing," the playing with, instructing, feeding, entertaining, dressing, cleaning, explaining, etc, and whatever else was needed. I was here and there, having to work, but I was able to join in and enjoy the experience of caring and having some fun.

"Hats off" to Grandma (my mom), Emily, and Lydia! Because of them, who were the key initiators of most activities, the kids were able to be a part of and do some fun things....

Jaron, being "one of the guys," had fun goofing-around and "roughhousing" with Uncle Jesse and the two Abbott boys, Daniel and Jeremiah.

What a group! Are they to be trusted?

"Jaron just tackled Daniel" - Mom (watching the boys play foot ball in the backyard)


"Hut-hut-hike!"


Jaron, although the little guy of the group, can "pull his own weight" for sure.


Kelci hung-out with Aunt Emily up at the lake.


Throwing and "collecting" rocks.

The young archaeologist inspecting the pebbles,

and collecting rare specimen in her...bird feeder?

"Hmmmmm...interesting."

"Ummmmm...what did you say?" (I love the eyebrows!)

With additional help from Meredith, a good friend of Emily and Lydia's, they put on some creative skits.

In this photo we have Wendy Darling (Kylin), Peter Pan (Jaron), Captain Hook (Meredith), and Tinker Bell (Lydia).

(Other members in the cast of Peter Pan not present in this photo were Hook's trusted side-kick Smee (Lillianna), the lost boy (Kelci), and (Kirra).


The Big Hungry Bear would have been a hug success, but Aunt Emily couldn't convince Kirra to play the part of the Red Ripe Strawberry...so unfortunately, that showing was concealed.

"Snug as a bug in a rug," as the old saying goes.

Aunt Lydia knows how to make someone feel "right at home;" no more tears.

Baking "blue-baby" muffins with Aunt Lydia. What Fun!

Meet the bakers! Or, are these the butchers and the candle stick makers?

This is a funny photo,

I believe that Lillianna is still in character as Smee the goofy little pirate.

Always follow the recipe.

Here we have Kelci the little Monk with her lamp, or,...

...Kelci the little Hobbit, the priest, or the little Ewok.

Now she looks more like Dopey from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

It's not easy to get up on a bench, being so little in stature....but...

...don't let your size determine your altitude....

....With perseverance and a little muscle, "elbow grease,"...

...you can do it in the end!


On Thursday, we went to a Corn Maze up north.

But you'll have to read about that adventure in my next post.