On Thursday, my eight year old granddaughter came over to spend the day and enjoy her very first “sleepover” at Grandmom’s apartment. We had such fun! First of all, she learned to bake a chocolate chess pie – with her doing most of it! (We enjoyed a couple of slices of it and took the remainder of it home the next day for her to share with everyone).
She came bearing all sorts of toys for us to enjoy – especially her little Polly dolls. We used my decorator boxes for their homes and let our imaginations create a story for them.
It was Valentine’s Day, so she wanted to surprise my neighbors (even a few I don’t know ;-)) with special Valentines we created! She brings joy to her world that’s for sure and the Valentines were a hit.
We popped popcorn and watched the movie Sarah, Plain and Tall (which is actually based on a children’s book) starring Glenn Close. When it was her bedtime, she was so tired I think she was asleep a minute after her head hit the pillow in the big guestroom bed!
The next morning, we watched part of Anne of Green Gables and then we got ready to return her home for her morning school work!
On Saturday, my daughter, my thirteen-year-old granddaughter and my two grandsons came over. (My eight-year-old granddaughter and her dad had driven to Iowa City for the long day of a USA swim meet in her age group). While my oldest grandson stayed at my apartment to study, the rest of us headed out for a couple hours of “shopping”. First, it was to Michael’s for a few art supplies and soft, wonderful yarn for a new baby blanket.
Then my granddaughter and I headed to the pet store a few stores down the walkway. After enjoying a visit with the pets in the Animal Rescue League section of the store (my granddaughter wants to be a vet when she grows up), we joined my daughter and little grandson in the department store next to Michael’s.
After lunch, my daughter and two grandsons returned home while my granddaughter stayed to spend the day with me and enjoy her cooking lesson! With very little help from me, she made a cherry latticed pie. We snacked on a couple of slices that afternoon then took the rest home with her to share. It was delicious!
She is very artistic and we enjoyed drawing together. We used her new watercolor pencils and turned our drawings into a watercolor with just a few strokes of water…that was fun! All too soon, it was time to return her home and I stayed for a delicious dinner of lasagna, french bread and cherry pie!
I will look forward to more cooking lessons in the future. Maybe next time, we will try some Southern homemade fried apple and peach pies…
18 Comments
Ione Neal
Oh, what memories you are making in addition to a new cook. My granddaughter is now 11 and has a passion for cooking. My kitchen is her kitchen. She started wanting to cook with her play stove so we were served a lot of plastic foods before the real food. She is Type 1 diabetic, but still adjusts for her situation and loves to feed everyone else. At one time she wanted to be an animal doctor. She is so creative, like your granddaughter, I can barely keep up with all the things she would like to learn. My home is a “make a mess, have fun place” so she brings her ideas here to accomplish. There is nothing like the joy of grandchildren when you have that special connection with them….which just takes love and patience.
Dianne
I love the fact that we are, indeed, making memories. They don’t realize that now, of course, but they will in time when they’re all grown up and look back. I love that they love coming here and always want them to enjoy it.
Karen
What a sweet Grandmom you are, Dianne, and so much fun! Your granddaughter’s are absolutely adorable with their long strawberry blonde braids and freckled noses! Like Anne of Green Gables! They did a great job with their pies, too! I love that movie, Sarah, Plain and Tall and remember watching it with my own children when it first aired as a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie.
How sweet your guest bedroom is – a perfect little retreat for your sweet girls. I love hearing all your stories about your precious grandchildren. I hope I am blessed with grandchildren soon. Enjoy your week! Hugs, xoxo
Dianne
Thank you, Karen! I wanted the guest room to look especially like something that my granddaughters would enjoy – rather sweet chabby chic. 😉 I wish I had another guest room to decorate for the boys but they say they want to sleep on “blow-ups” when they come. I do love the movies that we chose to watch too. YOU will be a wonderful grandmother and will enjoy it so much!
tanna
Sweet times and memories in the making!!! Enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy!! blessings ~ tanna
Dianne
Absolutely! Sweet times and memories! I know they will remember this when they look back some day… Thank you, Tanna!
farmlady
What a joy filled visit. As a small child (with braids too) these special times have a lasting effect on us. I have such wonderful memories of spending time with my grandmother. We would bake pies together too.
Those pies look so delicious. I must find a recipe for a Chocolate Chess Pie. That’s a new one for me.
And I loved Great movie.
Sweet post…
Dianne
Thank you, Farmlady! Here’s the identical recipe for the one we used: http://www.food.com/recipe/chocolate-chess-pie-22421 . It is delicious – especially if you are a chocolate lover!
Cathy Hoff
Came upon your site via Jenna Woginrich’s blog. I look forward to the day when (if) I have a granddaughter I can do these kinds of things with.
Take care,
Cathy
Dianne
Granddaughters (and Grandsons!) are delightful! They love coming over and having fun with art projects or cooking or just “hanging out with Grandmom”. I’m thankful for it and love every minute of it!
Shannon @ A Cozy Place Called Home
I am so happy that I found your blog today. I have read several of your posts and have enjoyed every one of them. Another reason I am happy to find you is that my post up now is about how my Grandmother shared her recipe? for chicken and dumplings with me and influenced my love of cooking. So, when I saw your grandaughter cooking with you it made me feel good. You are making wonderful memories that she will always treasure. Good for you!!
Dianne
Oh, thank you so much, Shannon! I just popped over to your delightful blog and left you a comment. Your chicken and dumplings recipe looks delicious and I will have to make it one Sunday when I’m having my daughter and her family over for dinner. I agree about the memories! 😉
acorn hollow
So wonderful to spend time with the grandchildren. they are so cute.
thanks for the visit I got a chance to catch up with you the books on your night stand I love Karen White. Her writing is wonderful.
Cathy
Dianne
Thank you, Cathy…I think so too! You’re right – Karen White is a wonderful author and I have enjoyed her books very much.
Kathleen
Your granddaughter looks so sweet. I love her plaits, so thick and shiny. They remind me of my younger daughter when she was about the same age. I used to love seeing her dark hair in plaits.
My grandsons love to bake with me. Girls or boys – baking is always fun.
Dianne
I love the braids too, Kathleen. On Sundays, they wear their hair down with just a small fancy braid at the top coming from each side. I don’t know how my daughter finds the time – especially on Sunday morning. When my older grandson was about 9, I taught him to bake a chocolate pie. He wanted to taste each ingredient! Now, he’s so busy with swimming, piano, school, his new guitar. Maybe one of these days, I will get him back in the kitchen! 😉
Anna
Sarah Plain and Tall and Anne of Green Gables…what classics! And what fun to bake pies with your grands! I sent your blog to my mother-in-law because she always loves doing things with our children (she has 7 total grands). Happy February to you!
Dianne
Thank you, Anna! You M-I-L sounds like she and I think alike. 😉 No greater joy than spending time with grandchildren. Now, if my other four grandchildren lived close by also, I would have nothing else to ask for! 😉 At least there are airplanes!