I'm too excited to work

The grandbabies are coming!

It's that time of year when the two oldest of our grandchildren, now six and eight, come to visit all by themselves. This is the second year they've done this. Last year the youngest was only five and wasn't good at being away from home -- let alone this far away from home.

I just talked to her on the phone though this year and she sounds so much older. Last year I taught her older sister to knit. It's the youngest's turn this year.

Along with knitting, there will be boating, fishing, swimming and visiting their Hutterite friends.

But I also have some other fun things planned. I have sock puppets started that we will decorate for a puppet show. And I have plans for us to make tie-dyed t-shirts before they have to leave.

The girls want to cook and have made a list of things they want to learn to cook -- as well as a list of things they like to eat.

It will be crazy and chaotic and so much fun that the house will seem too empty when they leave. We will make messes -- lots of messes. We will have tea parties and drink way too much juice in tiny tea cups. We'll go to the county fair and hit the carnival rides, eat cotton candy, and later maybe get pulled behind the boat on the tube.

Hopefully there won't be any tears, but that is always a possibility. :)

I thought I would get some work done this morning before they arrive, but I've given up on that. This time spent with the grandbabies is too special not to savor and it won't be that long before they have to leave again.

But there will be next year and there are two more babies who will someday be old enough to make the trip to our part of Montana to spend a little of summer far from home. Who knew this grandparent thing would be so fun?