4th of July with Gram and Paw-Paw

Independence day here in Grand Rapids was celebrated with the arrival of my parents from St. Louis. This was the first time they were going to see our new house since the move and also the first time they were seeing Megan since our trip to Louisiana for Easter, so I know there was some trepidation on their part on how Megan would react to them.

Their fears were unfounded because within a few minutes of being here Megan was shoveling the Ginger Snap cookies that Gram so shamelessly brought with her to win her granddaughter over. In any event, it worked. Megan jammed cookie after cookie in her mouth with a devilish grin. No worries. Gram was firmly in her good graces from the start. Meanwhile, Paw-Paw acted so interested in her latest batch of toys that were scattered across our living room carpet, so as far as she was concerned, life was good.

We spent the weekend just hanging out and being an extended family. Saturday morning we popped over to the local farmers market for some fresh veggies and some local peddler almost convinced my mom to buy a bat house. Random. But during the course of shopping Megan wandered through the stalls, became a human traffic jam, and pointed out every dog to us in a five-mile radius.

On the way home we realized we were in time to make the "big" East Grand Rapids Independence Day parade. While waiting for it to start we saw all the kids lining the parade route had paper bags and purses at the ready. We inquired why that was and we were informed that candy is thrown to the crowd. Sweet! I had an uber-cute toddler ready to go. I was going to clean up ... uh, wrong. The "floats" HURLED candy at the kids in the front row. The barrage though, didn't make it back to the third row where we were. A few times some random pieces of Double Bubble or butterscotch would make it to us, but c'mon. Jillian almost snagged a tootsie roll but the precocious 8-year-old in front of her swooped in and snatched it, literally, from just under her fingers. These were not lessons in behavior Megan needed to see any longer so we quickly ducked in to a nearby eatery for lunch.

The afternoon was spent lazily hanging in our backyard. Mom and I tried to hasten the pool's transformation from pond to clear water, while Steve and Jillian made sure Megan didn't fall in. We grilled out and sat out on the patio just enjoying the beautiful afternoon. The only thing that ruined it was Megan receiving her first major boo-boo.

Megan was being a big girl and climbed up the step leading to the backdoor. Unfortunately she wasn't sure how to get down. We sat four feet away and told her she could get down by herself, because she's a big girl. So trusting us, she got off the step the only way she thought possible; by diving face first into the concrete patio. She landed with a thud and within milliseconds she had eight arms reaching out for her to help comfort her pain. Of course, the only one who could calm her was her daddy (the pictures with Gram were only AFTER I had consoled her). So despite the big knot on her forehead she was soon just fine. The bruise only help to accentuate just how beautiful of a little girl she is in my eyes.

But time doesn't stand still and the following day came and soon the grandparents had to head back to St. Louis. We have been so grateful to have so many people coming to visit us that the goodbyes get harder and harder. I know Gram didn't want to stop holding her granddaughter and I'm sure if Megan could say so, she didn't want to let go either. She and Paw-Paw provided us with a great weekend and I'm so glad that Megan warmed up so well to both of them. This stage is tough for that.