Grandkids Week Day 5…developing

Sleet at Grandkids Week, originally uploaded by Shirley Buxton.

The thermometer showed 38 degrees at 5:30 am and the temperature has been falling. Chloe just reported it now to be 34 degrees. About an hour ago it began sleeting. We thought early this morning we saw snow on Rebecca’s car, then for sure we knew, when Jerry saw passing on the street behind us a school bus sparsely covered with snow.

We’re definitely into Plan B.

The children are ecstatic…and quizzing me closely.

“It can snow at this degree, can’t it, Granny?”

“Yes, but it won’t stick.”

“Do you know where the snowsuits are, Granny?”

“Yes, and I know where are the boots and the mittens.”

They’re also praying…yelping, to be more precise. “God, hear us, please. We want snow!”

The older ones dashed out in near freezing weather and did a snow dance!

Then the little ones became brave and dashed onto the front deck–everyone barefoot–yelping and dancing, then coming in and having us feel their cold feet.

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“Feel, Granny,” Brady said. And when I felt and exclaimed at the iciness of one foot, he insisted I also gauge the second.

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2:00 It’s snowing! I know you won’t believe it, and I hardly can myself as I look at the wintry mix coming down–rain, sleet, hail and snow. We’re now bringing out the snowclothes. Unbelievable.

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Finally we had them outfitted…and we turned them loose.

The wind was howling. My pictures are poor; guess I’m wimpy, for when I went to the deck to get good shots, it was so cold and wet…I sheepishly retreated.

In the meantime, Brady was preparing for me.

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Rebecca and I agreed that the children would not stay outside long at all, for it was very cold, but they surprised us, and endured the frigid weather for quite some time. Cole and Brady were the first ones to come inside. I stripped off their clothes and plunged their icy bodies into a tub filled with warm bubbly water. Aunt Becky had hot cocoa waiting when they finally got out of the tub, had been dried, and were wearing flannel pajamas.

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The older ones stayed outside longer, then finally Chloe came in bearing instructions from the boys. “They want you to take their picture, Granny. They’re sitting in the puddle.”

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Sure enough, I watched as they ran and jumped slap into the middle of the water that had accumulated at the foot of our driveway, and that was covered with a sheet of ice and snow. Then Nathaniel sat completely flat in the icy water. I have no idea why. 🙂

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I love this picture I took of him as he raced in for the last time. To my mind it epitomizes the fleeting moments of childhood, and catches for a minute its sheer joy.