Gram & Ray

(my grandparents and I, U of A graduation, May 2003)
The boys and I decided to visit Gram and Ray (my grandparents) today and since it was such a beautiful day outside, we decided to walk over. We got there just as Ethan and Sarah (cousins of the boys) were getting home, so they had a few playmates to burn some energy with. Sarah adores all "babies" and just can't help but mother (sometimes smother) Mason. Ethan is nine now but still has fun playing with Brandon, too bad they aren't closer in age.
My grandparents are the best, words can barely describe how wonderful and giving they are. Some of the best memories I have are from my days spent with them over the summer, which gave me a chance to have "sisters" for a couple months each year until we were in our teen years. My grandmother would come and get us (Ruth, Kim, and I) from our parents the day school let out and return us the day or two before school resumed. I can only imagine how it was bittersweet for my parents, a few months without me but a few months without me....
Those summers in Phoenix were spent swimming, riding our bikes, laughing, and eating (boy could Grams cook a good meal, stuffed cabbage rolls were one of my favorite). It was where Emily Post was often mentioned and where frequent trips to the ranch left us with a work ethic unrivaled by few. This was also the place that would later contribute to my need to "hoard" food (as Kevin calls it). Have I ever mentioned the stock-pile of food my Grams kept? I am pretty sure the first thing we would do upon arrival to her house was run into the air-conditioned house, throw open the back door and head for the outside freezer, which was usually stocked to the brim with all things delicious (especially my frozen strawberries).
These days my grandparents have a large pantry (actually a secondary pantry, which is dedicated to the great-grand kids)...I am a bit jealous! We couldn't have been there ten minutes today before the snacks were being brought out by the armful. Nobody goes hungry in Grams presence! Looking back, I am pretty sure it was her mission to never let us go hungry, which fortunately left none of us overweight!