Life in Paradise

I am the first to admit that I did not appreciate the idyllic way that I grew up until recently. It's not something that a child can appreciate or even notice. It just is. But now that I have kids and live in a totally different world, I look back with amazement and longing. My children don't have what I had, and it makes me a bit sad. I realize just how special it was every time I spend time at my childhood home and enjoy the life as an adult. My kids play all day, sometimes for hours at a time without me ever seeing them. And no, that isn't why I enjoy it! I enjoy the feeling of not worrying that I don't see them for hours at a time. I know they're out in the yard somewhere, exploring, riding bikes, swinging, getting dirty. They come in every once in a while to say they're riding their bikes down to find Grandpa and to visit Great-Grandma Edie. I might see them for lunch, if they get hungry or if Grammy calls them in. They are thrilled when cousins come and then I see them even less because they entertain themselves even better with more kids around. Even the little ones are free to roam with the big kids with no real worries. It is, in a word, wonderful.Here we see Anson on his way to find Grandpa Ron. We were all with him this time, but the next day he followed Claire and Coleman (they "told him" to go inside) and I didn't know he'd gone. Luckily he only made it a ways farther than in this picture and to the top of the next very long hill until Uncle Dennis saw him coming from his window and stopped him. I found him there a while later when I saw his bike parked out front. So there are a few worries after all!
The kids and I spent the whole Spring Break (sorry Dad, Easter Vacation) in Newcastle with my parents. Sadly, Garrett had to work so he couldn't come, but he was glad that we went without him because he ended up having to work long hours while we were gone. I made an effort to document life in paradise , so hopefully these pictures represent the good times we have while at the home of Grammy Ann and Grandpa Ron.Dad called this "Grandpa Heaven"--the kids were equally pleased with their situation. This was the beginning of movie night with most of the cousins.My kids don't know that they are missing out on the childhood that I enjoyed. They just know that they love to go to Grammy and Grandpa's! I'm grateful they get these opportunities to experience a little of what it meant to grow up in Paradise. Thanks Mom and Dad!!