Yesterday

I didn't even  open up the computer. My great grand-baby twins were here for  a visit. They were two years old  in March. In the middle of the terrible year.

The first part of the day was taken up with going around the house and putting things up high before they got here.  Really high because two means  climbing  up to get at everything they see.  Or just to see what they might not be seeing. Some stuff  had to be dumped into a box and hidden under the bed.

But they were  hardly  in the house. The pool captivated them. Their home is  in Tacoma, Washington. On the Pugeot Sound. Ocean is  a word in  Reid's vocabulary. They just came from a month at the family cottage with lakefront on Georgian Bay. They are already familiar with  the fun water  provides.

Reid is a noisy boy . He shouts  and raises his arms in exultation with everything he accomplishes. Every time he does it. He throws the ball, he shouts. He catches the ball. he shouts. He kicks the ball. he shouts.

On the far side of the pool  are field stones. Quick as a flash, he picked one up and threw it into the pool. He did not shout. He was intent on doing what he intended  before anybody might stop him. He managed it once more before the day was done.

Claire also shouts. But she  concentrates  on making sure she is ahead of Reid in all things. 

At one point, great-aunt Theresa and  mother Vanessa  were both in the pool arms waiting  for each twin to  jump. Much as she enjoyed jumping she had to stop.  She had to get in front of Reid  to stop him from jumping into anybody's  arms while also protecting her own space.It was fascinating to watch her determination and the speed of movement.

Reid doesn't appear to pay a lot of attention to what Claire is doing but never at any time is Claire not conscious of Reid. 

She is  smaller than her brother. He looks like a normal two year old. But he weighs like a tank.I had to lift him to join her on my knee when I was singing the  jingle about head and shoulders knees and toes.

It was tricky for both to be  part of the action but a thumb on each nose  at the end brought gales of giggles  and a demand to do it again. Which I did. Despite my youngest son's broad hint that Granny should stop now.

There's nothing tedious about listening to the uninhibited laughter of a two year old  and  I had two on my lap.

It was a great day. They had cheesies and chips galore.Mum tempted them with strawberries and banana. They nibbled on  that too. But  chips and cheesies were best. Little fists took handfuls . Cheeks bulged.. Well......it was  better than candy or cookies.

They are not going home until mid September.  They are coming back to stay for a few days at Heather's house.  They will be here at the pool every day.

They are only two and a half.

But there's a chance a memory will  stick .