A Quartet

     When the girls come over to Grandma's its like having a quartet in my tiny living room.  Karsyn, Madison, Anna and Allie.  All they need are a few instruments and then I'd have a String Quartet.  For the most part, they usually don't come over all at once - mainly just Karsyn or Karsyn and Anna.  Or, just Anna.  Sometimes Anna and Allie.  Sometimes Anna and Karsyn.  Sometimes Anna and Madison.  Or just Madison.  Sometimes Madison and Karsyn.  Sometimes just Allie.  But, however they arrive or however long they stay it's music to our ears because when they start singing it's like hearing little angels sing.  Barry always says, "Grandma, I think I hear an angel singing, do you?"  I answer, "Yes Grandpa, I hear it, but it's Karsyn (or Maddy, or Anna).  She sounds just like an angel."  Their sweet little voices sing songs they've heard on the radio or from words and melodies they've made up themselves.  They sing while they play, they sing in the car, they sing while they help me work, sing while they're rocking their dollies and sing while holding little Allie.  

     Having the girls over is more than them coming to visit and play and sing.  For me, having them over is making memories.  Those cherished memories I had when visiting my grandma.  When I went to visit my Grandma I remember her house being neat and tidy and there was a smell that comforted me.  I don't know if it was food or from the way she cleaned, but it made me feel warm inside.  When I went to visit my other grandma in Yucaipa - who we called Nona - I remember the quiet nights and listening to the crickets.  I remember the hot summer days and the freedom of playing outside because, to me, as a little girl, at Nona's there was lots of outside - a vast, expansive backyard with rows and rows of fruit trees - and cousins my age who'd come over and we'd roll down the hill together to see who made it to the bottom first.  Those were the days.

     When the girls come over I want them to have experiences that will stay in their memories a lifetime like I had.  Right outside our apartment is a nice large grassy area that rolls down and up again just enough for the kids to play.  On occasion we pack a lunch in my wicker basket and picnic outside under the large shade trees on this grassy area.  After we've eaten, Grandpa and I end up playing Mother May I or Red Light-Green Light, even Simon Says.  Its really fun to watch Grandpa play Simon Says when one of the girls are Simon.

     Inside our apartment when the girls visit, I usually put them to work, though.  I let them grind wheat, help make bread, cookies or pies.  I even have showed them how to reconstitute dry milk (which I LOVE more than regular milk and now they LOVE it too!).   What is so beautiful about these little girls is that they LOVE to help Grandma anyway they can.  They are always eager to wash the dishes, sweep a floor, run a vacuum, clean the sliding glass door, or whatever I need them to do.  They love to say the pray over our meal, play Boggle with Grandpa, write letters to my mother (their great-grandma) and watch Pollyanna for the umteenth times.  And, they love to sing.

     When Barry's little granddaughter Addison comes to visit we will have five little girls singing like little angels.  Would we call them Quintets?

Nancy