This Christmas, my newlywed daughter came to Virginia for a visit, and as a lovely bonus, she brought along her new husband (Levi) and her four-year-old stepson, “Ollie.”
Ollie is a darling little boy and while they were here, our house saw more activity and busy-ness than I think it’s ever seen before.
And I loved every minute of it.
When they pulled into our driveway at 2:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, Levi opened the back door of the Family Truxter and there was little Ollie, sitting patiently in his car seat. He caught a glimpse of me standing in the driveway and in the sweetest little voice, he exclaimed, “There’s Gwandma Wose!”
It brought tears to my eyes.
Cleaning up the house today has been tough, and I’ve felt myself tear up a few times. Under the couch, I found a handful of sea shells that we gathered during our walk by the seashore, and on a desk in the living room, I found the little stuffed dog that Auntie Crystal gave him. I put away the books “Pop” read to him and I discovered a toy left behind in the bathtub.
I can’t face the spare bedroom yet, where I tucked him into bed Monday night and read him several books.
There in the semi-dark room, between stories, he reached out and held my hand and said, “I love you, Grandma Rose.” I told him, “I love you more,” and he replied, “I love you more, too.”
I was falling asleep by the fifth book when he said (in a very serious voice), “I think you should go get into your own bed.”
The little family packed up their little car and returned to St. Louis Thursday and the house is so quiet that it is unnerving.
As my wise friend Janet LaMonica told me last month when my daughter got married, “Rosemary, years ago I learned, there is no such thing as ‘step-grandchildren.”
Janet was right.
It may take a few days before I’m ready to write about old houses again. Somehow, they just don’t seem as important right now.
And now it’s time to check out those airfares to St. Louis…
🙂
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Christmas this year was extra special, because it was to be Ollie's first Christmas with us.
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And Ollie loved his little electric car!
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The little car has a little horn which works well in these situations. Father is trying to protect Pop's big truck from an accident caused by a little driver. BTW, those little headlights light up.
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Corey and Auntie Crystal watch from a safe distance. The family Truxter sits in the driveway. When Ollie rode past us, we all paid special attention to our toes! That little car is heavy!
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There were also dogs involved. Ollie loves dogs even more than he loves cars! He ran up on the front porch trying to catch "Roxey" (our neighbor's labradoodle). Roxey saw him coming and made a run for it.
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The Family Truxter all packed up and headed back to the Alton area.
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To read one of my favorite blogs, click here.
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Rose,
Thanks for sharing the sweet story and the pictures. It was wonderful to get to know you even better. With you, what’s not to like! Lucky family to have you two (hubby and you) in it.
We used the holiday season to volunteer to give the indigent, elderly, and lonely, a brighter holiday season (Thanksgiving and Christmas) and in return we received more than our recipients.
Your blog and you are terrific. I am learning and enjoying in abundance.
Happy New Year.
Just keep the architecture toys aware from Ollie and I’m sure he will grow up to be a fine young man.
ROSE – FREE SEARS KIT HOME- You move it.
I found this Dec 31st, 2013 on a housing blog, and thought you would want to see it.
2013-12-31 03:54:09
FREE FREE FREE house in Arlington Virginia
The catch is, the new owner has to move it off the lot it was built on.
On behalf of their client, Arlington-based architects Paola Lugli and Paola Amodeo, of the firm Paolasquare international, are offering a free Sears house at 3010 7th St. N. (near Pershing Drive in Lyon Park). The house, built in 1926, is a Wellington model Sears home. Originally priced at $1,998, this lot recently sold in September 2013 for over $750,000.
The 1926 Sears bungalow is in excellent condition.
However, the needs of the homeowner do not meet the constrictions of the current home. Rather than bulldoze this historic property, the homeowner is interested in giving it away for only the cost of moving the home.
Rose,
I found this Dec 31st, 2013 on a housing blog, and thought you would want to see it.
Hi
Can I ask for more information on the home if it is still available? I live in Illinois and am
searching for a home .
Thank you
Joann
@Laura (So Ca)
I would like to learn more about the Sears home what a nice story !
J