Notes about the GreatGrands

Grandpa Harper: he would swing me. For hours. And every time I asked. I don’t remember him ever telling me no.

He would also say “hey, you know what?”

And my response would always be “what?”

And he’d say “I love you”

He frequently told me he wouldn’t trade me for a ranch in Texas.

And my heart hurts Bc I miss him so much. Tears are streaming down my cheeks. He was my person.

Grandma Harper: she was afraid of the water. Bath time at her house was like 2 inches of water. Lolol.

She vacuumed every morning, at like 6 am.

She always had food waiting for us when we arrived. Chicken patties.

She always told a story about when I stayed with them when I was a baby. Apparently, I had a fever, and when my parents called to check on me, she let me talk to my mom, and I said, “momma, hoooooooot baby!”

Grandpa Round: he would drive to Missouri to pick us up to take us to stay a week with him at his home in Peoria, Illinois. ANd then in Kentucky.

He drove a station wagon with the wood looking side panels.

He played softball. He always smelled slightly of cigarette smoke (his wife smoked), but not in an unpleasant way.

Grandma Round: she had these great books about “the thingamajigs.” they were my favorite! They have since come into my possession and we have added to the collection.

Great grandma Harper: she liked to knit and crochet and taught me when I was young.

Great grandma Stufflebean: she collected salt and pepper shakers.

She just lived a few houses from my grandparents in Brookfield.

And she grew the most beautiful roses and loved them.

And there was a huge apple tree in her backyard that we would eat the apples right off of.

Great grandma Lajoie: she always had those peanut butter filled chewy candies at her apartment and gave them to us.

Great grandma (Round) Long: she always seemed very delicate. Not frail, just small. Her apartment was decorated in lots of butterflies. And delicate glass things.

Middle School and 3rd Grade

Another summer flew by, and I am just astounded that school has already started again! Each year the adjustment to the boys being gone during the day gets a little easier. I had bunches of time off to spend with them this summer, and it was our best summer yet. Back to real life for all of us now.


This year, Jax is in 7th Grade! I know I say this a lot, but how is that humanly possible? How is this small person that I grew in my tummy, what feels like just days ago, a middle schooler? Yet, here we are.
Back to school night was a great success. We met all of his teachers, and he seemed to like them. He has had no trouble navigating the halls of a new school. And he is making new friends.
He is just so Chill about the whole process that it really sets my mind at ease. He has a locker, and takes his phone to school, and is just turning into this young adult.


Jackson (and Cole-all of us, really) had a summer packed with fun things to do! On Jackson's birthday, we flew to Mexico, and an entire 747 sang him "Happy Birthday!" Then, he had basketball camp, church camp, a week of volunteering with local animal shelters, and some time spent in Tennessee visiting Brett McGuffin and family. not to mention a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks with Nana and Papa Patterson.
Whew! A busy boy, indeed!


Cole is a big 3rd Grader, and so far he is liking it. He has stories to tell me about friends when he gets home, and he is elated that he got the "no homework" teacher. Haha. The only downfall is that he was put in a class with none of his friends. A few acquaintances, so we will see how that goes. He is walking to and from school on his own, and thinks he is big stuff.
Since Cole's teacher will not be sending homework home, we have instituted a few of our own weekly requirements. Flashcards, a reading comprehension page, and 20 minutes daily of reading aloud to a parent.

This summer, we got Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun season passes (thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Harper). The boys preferred Oceans of Fun, and we made it there probably 4 times this summer. They love the slides, the wave pool, and the lazy river. We will try to make one last trip to Worlds of Fun during Winterfest in December.