When I was a kid, my dad's parents (Grandma and Granddad Gieringer) would let me and my cousins come stay with them for about a week at a time. There are lots of cousins on that side of the family, so Grandma would group us by age group and gender. I was almost always grouped with Katy, Jessica, Cara and sometimes Shannon (she lived a little further away). Grandma and Granddad were so much fun to stay with, even if I did usually get homesick. What can I say, I am a momma's girl! Anyway, Granddad was still working full time while I was a kid, so we got Grandma all to ourselves. We did all sorts of things over that week with them. One of the most memorable summers included a cousins Olympics. The categories included drawing, diving, and swimming. I wish I could remember all of the categories, but I do remember that Granddad was the judge and Grandma had come up with prizes. I think I won a jar of homemade praline pecans.
Usually by the time the week was over, I would have a new outfit made by Grandma, learned how to play a new card game or two, baked something delicious, prayed the rosary, and maybe gotten in trouble once or twice. Like when Katy and I were jumping on the bed upstairs and she fell and busted her knee open. Grandma picked Katy up and loaded her in the truck for a trip to the ER. Nothing fazes Grandma!
I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family!
My little sister Noel (4), me (11) and my cousin Katy (10) on a day trip with Grandma and Granddad. This was my first two-piece bathing suit.
Usually by the time the week was over, I would have a new outfit made by Grandma, learned how to play a new card game or two, baked something delicious, prayed the rosary, and maybe gotten in trouble once or twice. Like when Katy and I were jumping on the bed upstairs and she fell and busted her knee open. Grandma picked Katy up and loaded her in the truck for a trip to the ER. Nothing fazes Grandma!
I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family!
My little sister Noel (4), me (11) and my cousin Katy (10) on a day trip with Grandma and Granddad. This was my first two-piece bathing suit.
Me feeding Grandma something tasty! I was about 3 and a half here.
1989: Jill, me, Granddad, Larkin. How cute are we? I guess I was about 4, Larkin would have been 8 and Jill would have been 10. Look at the fashion!
Katy, Jessica, me, Cara at the pool. Could this have been the Olympic weekend?? 
Christmas...what year? Joey, Larkin, Katy, Cara, Jill, Shannon, John, me (with curly hair!) 
A special thanks to Grandma and Granddad for all of the great times and all of the copies of these pictures. They are priceless!
7 comments:
That last pic was from the old house.......so I'm guessing it was when I was in 6th grade. Seventh grade was when I started to "style" my bangs a bit more. ha! Wow...long time ago! Great pics :0)
love you! jill
I'll never forget that week either!! We had gold, silver, bronze, and plastic metals!! I remember one category was art, with sidewalk chalk on the driveway!!! Aside from the Olympics, one of my favorite moments was your narration of Dr. Seuss's "Fox in Sox".
I love this! I'm so glad that Sadie has so many cousins to grow up with. It's like you had a TON of sisters (in case three wasn't enough!).
Wonderful. Made me a little homesick. Way back Wednesdays are a great addition to your blog. xo - LG
Very fun Eve. I do remember you winning the pecans and I called them walnuts, and you laughed at me, or with me rather. I do believe you guys had decided you liked me by this point. ;)
I also remember one of the contests was diving off the high dive, and I did a belly flop and it really hurt. Oh, and another prize was syrup I think. Oh that Grandma! :)
I was right on the cusp of our age group (being the youngest), but still it was good times! Somewhere is a picture of me hurling myself off the diving board into the pool - I think somehow I won that category. At the end I remember I was jealous of your pecan prize, but I seem to recall Grandma hooking me up with some anyway. (: Fun memories! -shannon
way back wednesday is THE best. i loved that hot pink swimsuit with cutouts on the side. yowza! grandma's olympics were the best. in my generation, i always won the lame contests like "drawing a picture of G&GG's house" or "decorating a square of the driveway" while kimber and darby took turns winning races in swimming and diving tricks. so awesome.
i recall awards ceremonies at east winds chinese restaurant. oh yes. the best.
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