Grand Parenting is Grand!

This has been a good week! I am one of the most fortunate people on the continent!  Why? you may ask.

• Early on Tuesday morning our little grand daughter arrived 
• On Thursday afternoon I participated in a job interview for a position at a local pool
• On Friday morning I was offered a job (more about that next time!)
• On Friday afternoon we met our grand daughter and then spent all day Saturday with our grandson while his parents attended a wedding
• Today was my husband's birthday and we heard from both of our children
• Tomorrow is the first day of school and I don't have to teach

Any one of these events would normally be a cause for celebration; but to have them all fall in the same week is amazing.

Here are a few pictures of the highlights from our visit with the grandchildren:

Two years old and already a bro

Tickle time with Grandpa

A pile of Dodges

I am absolutely head over heels in love

Sleeping tight despite the family busy-ness

We are trying for the first family portrait

But someone had other ideas!

Totally un-posed!

Until next time,


Bee Rich

Waiting- a pause, interval, or delay

Note to self!

It is an August afternoon.  I am waiting...

For what am I waiting?

A new baby is due on August 25 and we are counting the days. The mother (our daughter-in-law) is anxious for the arrival, as the summer is hot and soon coming to an end and her husband (our son) will be heading back to school 's on the 3 of September.

When will the baby arrive?  Hopefully any day between now and the beginning of school.

In the meantime, I am thinking about the miracle of life. Rewind to just over 31 years ago when we were expecting our second child. We had a little boy who was a mere 18 months old.  We had no idea (nor had the opportunity to know) what the gender of the baby would be. How I longed for a little girl! In fact we were only planning to have two children and the chances were fifty-fifty!

Happily our little one arrived on her due date (after a little inducement from our kind doctor) and she was a she!  We had what people called a million dollar family.

wiki.answers.com has an interesting explanation of a "million dollar family":

We think it derives from the similar terms, "rich man's family" or "choix du roi".
One son--to inherit and rule the estate...no brothers are needed to work the fields or run the business (because you are rich) so best deal is not to have second and third sons who will not receive a birthright and will skulk around, envious, making trouble.
One daughter--to marry a powerful ally's son and spread your power and influence.

According to theurbandictionary.com  a "million dollar family" means when a married couple have one boy and one girl; the supposedly happy perfect family.

I am thinking that the expression is an old fashioned one, not suited to our society as it exists today. However, deep down in my heart I do wish my son and his wife and their son and soon-to-arrive daughter the happiest and most perfect family possible!

Until next time,


Bee Rich

Babies Grow Up!

Today I am thinking about all of the babies I know. This probably is because my hubby and I spent the evening looking after a four- month-old son of our colleagues yesterday.  From the time he arrived at our flat until the time he left he never stopped smiling!  Even in his sleep there was a little grin on his face.  Such happiness...probably because almost everything is done for him at this point in his life.

Four months and almost crawling!

So adorable when sleeping!

I recently spent four days in Kuwait visiting friends who recently were blessed with a baby girl.  Another shining example of cuteness- blonde hair, blue eyes, beautiful smile and, at three months, dependent on her loving mom and dad.

Four  months and almost sitting- little Nory born in Kuwait!

Then, there is our grandson...it seems like yesterday that he arrived, and yet the calendar says that he will be two years old in July!  Already he recognizes his grandparents on Skype and ably plants high fives onto the computer screen.  Oh, and he is expecting a new little sister in August. This picture is his May calendar picture.

Number 1 Grandson- Calendar pose! Too cute for words...

Facebook is full of young friends of our family who have in the past few years given birth to little babies who have grown to toddlers and then young children.  As time continues to fly by, I know that they will develop into speaking, singing, walking, running, thinking individuals with desires and dreams of their own, just like the children I work with on a daily basis.

Such is the circle of life.  I am so thankful to be a part of this grand scheme.

Until next time,


Bee Rich