Live and Learn: Thanksgiving with Grandma Maxfield

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Thanksgiving with Grandma Maxfield

This weekend our little family journeyed to Richland, Washington to visit Great Grandma Maxfield to celebrate Thanksgiving with her. Fred Meyer's provided a great Thanksgiving feast and Grandma provided the excellent entertainment.

Grandma has a basement full of fun games, trains, and various other antiquities for kids to enjoy. Along with the classic wooden marble track, I remember them all from my childhood.

We didn't actually play the hockey game, but it's still there and brings back the warm fuzzies of yesteryear. The funnest game we played was on a Carrom Board that my dad got for his 10th birthday. Dad talks about it like he still owns it; though he mysteriously has never reclaimed it since leaving Richland over 50 years ago. All but Everett and Abram played. Much trash was talked (wah, wah, waaaah...) and fun was had by all.

On Friday, we took Grandma out (actually she insisted on paying) to Zip's Drive In (where my Dad used to "Kick Tires" back in the 1950's) and enjoyed a "Big Zipper" Burger (Three Hamburger Patties on an elongated bun, admittedly a little too much for Natalee) and slurped down a 1950's style Hot Fudge Shake...mmm...

Grandma happily rode around with us as we got some pictures of historical sites in Richland. We snapped some photos of the "Bombers" at Richland High School (formerly Columbia High), the school logo (the mushroom cloud), and visited the Hanford Site where the atomic bomb (Manhattan Project) was made that ended World War II (hence the H.S. mascot) and where Grandpa Maxfield worked throughout his career. It was great getting a history lesson from Grandma and I think she appreciated the company. It's been almost 19 years since Grandpa passed away so things get pretty lonely, I'm sure.

Grandma's favorite, a visit to Columbia River Park in Richland, topped the trip off. Thanks for the fun weekend Grandma!

(Hudson chatting with Great Grandma)

(Sadie on the Zip Line)

We love you, Grandma!

3 comments:

Unknown said...: It looks like you had a great Thanksgiving! So glad you could be with your grandma. We miss you guys!; November 30, 2009 at 5:13 AM
Unknown said...: Grandma is the best. Thanks for visiting her!; December 7, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Unknown said...: I started to comment down further but you may never back track! I love to see your cute little family and miss your ma. I have some great memories. You are looking good lady. Love ya. Em; December 10, 2009 at 8:42 PM

From the Mouths of Babes

Sadie asked me why I get mad sometimes. I told her because I am not perfect and that I am working on not getting mad. The following week, someone spilled something all over the kitchen floor and I said, "It's alright, get the paper towells and let's clean it up." Sadie then said, "good job mom for not getting mad! You did a really good job." Thank you Sadie. (May '11)
In Primary the kids were asked what Jesus did on Sunday. Sadie raised her hand and when called on she said, "he taked a little nap".(Apr '11)
H: "Mom, paleese don't have another baby." Me: "That was out of the blue. Why don't you want me to have another baby?" H: Lazertag is perfect right now. 2 on 2. If you have another one it will throw it all off." If only life's decisions could be so simple :) . (Feb '11)
As we were walking to the bus-stop I felt like I had some play-dough on my face that I had just cleaned up. I asked Hudson if I had anything on my face. He looked intently at my face..."just wrinkles". He says. Fantastic. (Feb '11)
H: "Daddy, why do you get two ice cream sandwiches? That is not fair. That is not good for you. Oh, yeah, I forgot you had your tonsills out." We had a conversation earlier in the week and Hudson said to me , "when you get your tonsills out you can have as much icecream as you want." I told him this was true. Funny he thought it meant for the rest of your life. (Jan '10)
H: "I can hold my breath for longer than anyone." Me: "Oh really?" H: "Yep, I just breathe through my nose." (Nov 09)
Everett runs into my room with t-shirt and shorts in hand and says, "mom, I get Thomas shirt and shorts." I say, "oh, good job, but you need to get pants because it is too cold for shorts." E replies, "no, mom it's sunday."
Sadie looking at herself in the mirror, "Wow, I look so beautiful."
E: After coming out of the bathroom, naked, all on his own..."Mom, I potty train myself."
H: Mom, that is so cool that you swallow eggs and they turn into babies."
H: Mom, how does the baby get out of you? Me: I push it out. H: Out of your mouth?!! 6/09
Hudson telling my sister Nichole about our neighbors baby...H: "Tyse is the cutest baby. He is so cute. He is in our ward family."
Hudson talking to our upstairs neighbor who is also pregnant..."Lisa, you are going to have a girl." L: "How do you know that?" H: "I have insection eyes."
H: "I had a dream I was a transformer and I was wearing a big yellow suit and I could shoot fire out of my arms and legs." Me: "was that cool?" H: "yes." then he demonstrated by shooting with his arms and legs. 5/09
E: "otay."
H: I want to fly to Colorado so we can have lunch at Grandma Judy's. She makes really good lunches. Me: What does she make? H: Hot Dogs, I love Hot Dogs. And she puts chips all over the table. (For Grandma Judy's credit, she makes much more and better than a hot dog. I guess five year olds are pretty easy to please.)
We are eating at a restaurant, Hudson picks up a package of Splenda, "Oh, mom this stuff is so great. It tastes like sugar, but it is not really sugar. But you can use it like sugar, it's great. I saw it on the TV. Hand me some." If you only could have seen his wide eyes as he explained this too us. He was so convincing. 2/09
S: "Mom, when you are not smiling you don't look like a mom." When asking what I look like she couldn't quit figure it out. 2/09
H: "Mom, I think you should pray for three thousand dollars so we can buy a jumpy castle."
H: "Everett is so cute when he is asleep." (5 ys)
After driving 15 hours to Arizona after spending Christmas in CO, we pull into our driveway and I say, "Sadie, do you recognize where we are?" She looked at our house, started bawling and said, "I thought we were going to Grandma's!" (we had left Grandmas 15 hours ago, did she think we drove 15 hours to start where we came from?) Steve and I looked at eachother and laughed.
S: "I love going on dates with Daddy."
H: "I'm five now! My new shoes will fit!"
S & H come in from outside with their hands behind their back, "Mom, we have a surprise for you." M: "What?" They show me flowers "Thanks you guys! I love them! Don't pick anymore though because they are from Shera-dee's garden." Sorry Shera-Dee and thanks for the flowers!
H: "Mom, I don't like that Mom kissing Santa Claus song. It's wierd"
In the airport. Stressed mother (me) with three kids just checked in 3 carseats and bags and trying to make it to and through security. H decides at this moment to play Hide and Seek. The mother (me) tries to make it clear by kneeling next to H, grabbing him by the shirt and states firmly, "this is NOT the time to play games. If you get lost I might NEVER find you. Hold onto the stroller NOW." H holding stroller. Five min later, "Mom, I wouldn't be lost. I would find a police officer and tell him my phone number is xxx.xxx.xxxx (he said our real number)." I was happy he remembered and had to laugh that he was thinking this whole time, "just don't get lost...and good job remembering our phone number."
When getting undressed S: "My underwear is not listening to me."
Everytime we pray at night Sadie says, "Let's kneel."
H: "Mom, where's my fireman shirt?" Me: "Probably in your drawer." H: "It's not there, can you find it?" Me: "Sure." Fireman shirt found, H dressing. H: "Did you buy this shirt?" M: "No, Grandma bought it at Kohls." H: "Could you get her on the phone for me?" All of the sudden I am his secretary. Me: "Sure". Make the call, hand off phone. H: "Grandma, it's Hudson. Thanks for the fireman shirt you bought me at Aunt Nichole's."
H: (just me and him in the car) "So when Everett was born he drank milk from your tummy?" Me: "um, not exactly." H: "From where then?" Me: "more like from up here." I pointed indirectly to the area H: What are those called?" Me: "Breasts. Hudson, you did a great job in primary." H: "So mom, tell me about it." Me: "About what?" H: "Him drinking" Me: "Well, that's it. He drank milk from me." H: "yea, I already said that." Me: "well, what do you want to know?" H: "Tell me about your body." Me: "Um. Okay. What do you want to know?" H: "What's in your head and in your brain? Me: sigh of relief and we went on to talk about the brain.
M: "Rett, do you have the toots?" E: "toots." That was the first time he had ever said that word, it gave me a good laugh.
S: "I love my big bed. I don't like the crib, Everett can have my crib. Thank you for my bed."
H: "If you are a really good Mom today I will give you a sticker." Me: "Oh, really...what makes me a good Mom?" H: "No time-out's." Me: "I guess you will have to be a really good kid and I won't have to put you in time-out and we both win."
Everett: "Oh meh". Translation "Oh, man!" this is from Swiper on Dora. 10/08
Me: Hudson, what is the name of your friend in swim class?" H: "Joseph. . . I am not sure if his last name is Smith. I don't know."
H: "Jesus loves everyone." Me: "yep." H: "Even you Mom".
Whenever I am trying to open a jar or anything that is stuck S says (with her fists clinched): "Mom, really hard". It always makes me laugh and therefore never get it open.
We discussed a scripture about how prayer gives us power and several nights later H quickly volunteered for the prayer and afterward said, "I am going to say all the prayers because I get Super Power."
H: "Mom, why do birds fly?" M: "Because Heavenly Father created them with wings" H: "Why didn't Heavenly Father give me wings?" 07.08
During the firewrks show H: "Magical." 07.08
New word for Rett: "Hot". He says this every time we get in the car. 07.08
Dad: "Sadie those are your jammies" Sadie: "No they're not, see it says, 'not jammies'" (as she pointed to the tag on the jammies) 07.08
H: "Mom, when you are 100 you won't be our mom anymore." Me: "Why not?" H: "Because you'll be dead." Me: "Where will I be when I am dead?" H: "Colorado."
H: "I don't like Arizona anymore." Me: "Why not?" H: "Because it doesn't snow here."
H: "Mom are you pregnant?" Me: "Nope, and remember we don't ask other women that." H: "Do little girls get pregnant" Me: "um, we should wait until we are married." H: "Uncle Ben (he was present) are you married?" Uncle Ben: "Nope." At that point I asked Hudson how his dinner tasted.
As we were taking off in the airplaine S: "Hold on Natalee!" I didn't even know she knew my name. Too funny.
H: "Daddy makes really good water with flavor in it." (4)
Rett's first word...it is a toss up between "yes" and "hi". "Uh oh" came in close second, but I guess that is two words. (11 mo.)
H: "Hey, there is an Old Mcdonalds (also known as McDonalds) with a ding bell" (also known as Taco Bell)
H: "My mouth just tooted and now I am hungry again!" (4)
H: "Mom, when I get big I will marry you."
Sadie says "Amen" when you finish reading a book to her. (2)
Hudson, what do you want for Christmas? "A candy cane." (3.9)
H: I think he (Everett) is freakin' out" (3.5)
S: "Wee one" translation: other one (1.5)
H: "I want some of daddy's gel in my hair" Me: "Okay" H: "Nevermind, that will be church head"(3.5)
H: "get me a granola bar or your fired" (3.5)
H: "daddy gave you those flowers for marrying you" (3 1/2 ys)