Stop The Car! Stop The Car!

Going To See Grandma & Grandpa

Simon is off at Grandma & Grandpa camp this week.

Chris and I drove him to Portland to drop him off with my parents on Monday. He's been looking forward to this for weeks and was so excited he could hardly stand it.

On the drive up he shared with us the three chapters from something called Old Bear Stories. And when I say "he shared" I mean he word-for-word repeated the entire video that includes three stories about Old Bear. He first watched this video years ago when one of my parents neighbors brought the VHS tape over for him. It's actually probably the first thing he likes to do when he visits my parents at the beach. It's probably a close tie between watching that video and going out along the tall grass trail.

When we pulled into the parking lot off I-205 and he saw my parents he really started getting excited. He was jumping up and down in his seat and yelling "Stop the car! Stop the car!" Chris could barely put it in park before he was out the door running over to hug them both. Big hugs. Big smiles.

We chatted for a few minutes and then he was ready for us to go. He started pushing us toward our car and then pretending that he was a pied piper and we were supposed to follow him over to our car and then get in and go so he could get on with his vacation.

Simon's relationship with my parents continues to be so, so special. I feel thankful all the time that he is able to have such a strong bond with them.



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35 thoughts

  1. dawn says…
    08/04/2011

    He is so lucky to have them as they are to have them. What a great memory he will always have of this time with them. I've always wanted a grandma/grandpa camp for my kids but we see ours almost everyday already so it wouldn't be quite the same as if they were far away.

    By the way Ali, is this the house you grew up in? I love the photos from there and what a great place to grow up.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Dori says…
    08/04/2011

    Thank you for sharing such a sweet story, Ali.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. TaraMcK says…
    08/04/2011

    what a great story! So nice that he has that relationship with your parents.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. kelly barton says…
    08/04/2011

    have a blast simon. bigSMILE here.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. BevS97 says…
    08/04/2011

    We have an old 'Old Bear' cassette tape that lived in our car for many years. We have listened to it on many a long car journey.

    We've just replaced the car and no longer have anyway to play cassettes but I can't bring myself to throw it out.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Leora Henkin says…
    08/04/2011

    Great story! I hope Simon has a fabulous week!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Lisa W. says…
    08/04/2011

    What a wonderful story. Simon is so very lucky, lots of Grandparents just don't put in the effort. How wonderful. Can't wait to see some pictures:) And Anna? Is she good with all of this. I betcha she is going to have some awesome Mommy and Katie time!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Pam S. says…
    08/04/2011

    Priceless! I don't know who is more fortunate, your son or your parents! It's probably a tie! thanks for sharing this great story!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Heather H. says…
    08/04/2011

    Love this. I spent many, many weeks with my grandparents in northern MN when I was a child. It was always the highlight of my summers and those times are some of my fondest childhood memories.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Nicole says…
    08/04/2011

    What a wonderful story! When we were little, my sister and I had similar week-long adventures with our Grandma and Grandpa and those 'vacations' with them are some of my most cherished childhood memories. Have a great time Simon!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Christine says…
    08/04/2011

    Love the photo of Simon. Your parents are loving and generous people and Simon is blessed to have them in his life. I'm not a grandma yet but I look forward to making memories with grandchildren some day.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Jan from Canada says…
    08/04/2011

    Both my parents are gone, and I feel sad that my kids didn't get to have that time with them, as they were so special. They do have my husband's mom who is a fantastic grandma and they love her to bits! They too, get all excited when the car takes us to grandma's house :) Even our dog Max smiles! Have a great time Simon :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Elizabeth*S* says…
    08/04/2011

    There is nothing more special than the relationship between a child and his/her grandparents. We are blessed that my children have close bonds with their 3 grandmas and I'm sure they will carry that for the rest of their lives. Both of their grandpas are in heaven now, but while they were here with us their bonds were equally special. Simon is a very blessed boy. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Deb J says…
    08/04/2011

    I think it is so great that Simon has such a wonderful relationship with his grandparents and that he has no problem going there and staying with them.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. TracyBzz says…
    08/04/2011

    I love that my girls are growing up with both sets of grandparents (and one great grandma) within 20 minutes of us. That's the way I grew up and it is awesome. My sister and sister in law both live here also with their kids so the cousins are close too. We go to my parent's house each Saturday, where my girls still ditch me for Grandma and Grandpa.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Sharon Dryjanski says…
    08/04/2011

    Hi Ali,
    Simon surely has progressed so well. He really is growing in leaps and bounds. Thanks for sharing

    blessings and hugs,
    sharon

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Catie says…
    08/04/2011

    This reminds me of when my sister and I were little and our family would drive about two hours south to visit my grandparents on their farm in rural Illinois. Their farmhouse is off a LONG, flat stretch of country highway, and every time we would visit, our parents would pretend that they forgot what the farm looked like, and which house it was. So for about the last 30 minutes of our drive, my sister and I would vigilantly stare out the window, knowing that if we didn't look for the farm, Mom and Dad might miss it :) And when it finally came into view and our recognition clicked into place, we would get so excited and yell "That's it! That's it! Turn here!"

    What a fond memory that has become.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      08/04/2011

      I love that story - you should print that out if you haven't already.

  18. Tona says…
    08/04/2011

    That is truly wonderful that he has this special relationship with your parents.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Shawna says…
    08/04/2011

    Love this story! Thank you so much for sharing. The bond between grandparents and their grandchildren can be so amazing. I have a 3 year old son who is blessed to have amazing relationships with both sets of grandparents. But, his most special relationship was with my grandfather, his O'PaPa. Both amazed yet hesitant with each other; excitedly asking for one another, yet sometimes when they got together would just gaze at each other . My 84 year old grandpa would get down on the floor and play ball with my sweet baby, even though it would take him such effort to get back up. They would do anything with or for each other. Sadly, my grandpa passed away this past Thursday night...he will be missed dearly by us all. I cherish EVERY MOMENT that I witnessed them interacting.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Christine H says…
    08/04/2011

    My now 15 year old son still looks forward to those weeks at GrandmaGrandpa's (their names have always been run together as one). When he was little, he would tell my husband and I "you go to you house now. I no go to you house." No tears and barely a look back. As it should be. Love it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Leilani says…
    08/04/2011

    I absolutely adore this story! Thank you for sharing this precious memory with us. I can literally see this entire interaction in my mind. Have fun, Simon!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. terri says…
    08/04/2011

    I never knew my grandfathers but ohhhh how I miss my grandmas. I love your stories!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Debbie S. says…
    08/04/2011

    Totally awesome! :) My niece used to do that...little sponges!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Ellie A. says…
    08/04/2011

    OH Super Love :) That is my kids w/both my mom & MIL once they see them its as if we are invisible Ha.. They are putty in their hands that's for sure! (grandparents) I love it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Nancy G. says…
    08/04/2011

    How fabulous that your son has such a magical connection with his grandparents. That doesn't always happen these days. I hope they take photos to share with you when vacation is finished.

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