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HB 3G

Today marks my Grandma Elvrum’s 82nd birthday and we stopped by her house after a splash park playdate with the Merks for a surprise visit. Maggie had painted a few murals the other day and it only seemed fitting to give one to 3G (Great Grandma Georgia) for her birthday. Mags also picked out a special Elmo birthday card that makes noise to also gift, every 82 year olds dream.

Just as every visit to 3G and Great Grandpa’s, we were practically met with cheers, pom-poms waving and a full-on party. I know that I too got that welcome as a child, so I’m not offended when they give Maggie the same treatment. I got to talk with my grandma for a bit while my grandpa took Maggie to ring all the bells, bang on the wind chimes and swing on the bench seat – there is a definite routine of things to do when we’re there.

My grandma, after opening her painted mural, instantly cleared space on her bulletin board to display Maggie’s artwork. I’ve talked in depth with my brothers and cousins about trying to imagine Grandma before she was a grandma – and it’s nearly impossible to do. She was born to be a grandma, of that I’m sure.

By the time we left their house, a bouquet of fresh cut roses, canned peaches (which are like gold because my grandma is master canner), onions we pulled from their garden, and banana bread had made it into our car. Of course my grandma would send with us much more than we arrived with – it’s what she does and fighting it, doesn’t ever work.

So, we’re celebrating my grandma’s 82nd birthday by eating peaches and banana bread on our back stoop, smelling roses and contemplating how to use the onions in tonight’s dinner.

Happy Birthday, 3G!

We love you.

Thanks for being you.

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A Tea Party With 3G & Great Grandpa E.

Weeks ago we packed up our car with some of the ridiculously large stuffed animals we’ve been gifted and the unopened tea set we got at Christmas time and headed over to have a tea party with 3G and Great Grandpa Elvrum. They live only about a 15 minute drive away and we try to make it over to visit with frequency. Since we go there so often, Maggie has become accustomed to the routine of visiting and knows exactly where the toys and cookies are.

When we arrive, Maggie is given the most loving, happy, and enthusiastic welcome a little girl could ask for. My grandparents dote on her like she hung the moon and she showers them with her newest tricks and phrases. It seems to work out just fine. When we showed up to have our tea party, the sun-gods opened up the skies and we were able to set up shop outside. We opted just to have water and snacks, as Maggie tends to “over serve” the cups from time to time.

Aside from eating all of the bananas, Maggie was a perfect host and made sure that we all had cups that were full and plates that matched. When Grandpa came up from working in his greenhouse, she instantly gave him his tea cup and treats. We’d been practicing having tea parties at home, so I felt pretty proud that Maggie pulled it off and was very into sharing with everybody. The stuffed animals, however didn’t get any treats or cups…I think they were fine with that.

Yesterday we headed over to their house again to celebrate Chaya’s birthday and we had told Maggie who would be there (3G, Great Grandpa, Chaya, John, Izak, Cora (maybe), and Steve (maybe)) but when we showed up we discovered that my parents also had stopped by after deciding to take the ferry over from Whidbey Island. Almost all of Maggie’s favorite people were in one place – practically like her birthday party.

We had a very delicious dinner (Yum, Grandma!!) and an even more delicious cake (Double Yum, Grandma!), but it wasn’t until we had all migrated to the living room that Maggie really started to show off her party-girl-everybody-that-i-know-and-love-is-here moves. She was jumping, jiving, singing, yelling, screaming, dancing, hopping, and bouncing off the walls. Sometimes when we go some place new, Maggie adopts a very serious persona and observes everything – taking it all in and trying to figure out where she fits, but at my grandparents’ house she in no way questioned how she fit in….she places herself in the center of attention. Without a doubt, that is exactly where 3G and Great Grandpa would say she belongs, especially at their house.