More is More

Posted on May 28, 2012 by melissa.scholes.young

We’re on vacation this week. Piper spent an awesome day binging on pizza, splashing in the pool, playing board games with cousins, being doted on by grandparents, and playing at a park. Three minutes after we’d returned to our room, she began complaining, “I’m so bored! We never have any fun! No one plays with me!”

Poor thing.

Cousin Tay saved the day and jumped in to read Piper stories. But it’s never as simple as reading a book out loud with a Piper. There are questions. Many questions. Each plot twist must be dissected. What ifs abound. Characters have to renamed. You can hardly get through a sentence without commentary. Cousin Tay was patient. She met each of Piper’s demands. As I was putting Piper to bed later she said, “Tay is the best reader in the world. She gets me.”

Just a Little Off the Top, Please

Posted on March 31, 2012 by melissa.scholes.young

I took Piper to get a haircut today. She’s been growing out her locks ever since she saw Tangled, but Piper isn’t as willing to sit still for Mother Gothel’s brushing.

Mother Gothel became young again when Rapunzel sang and she..

You might remember her adventures in self styling in Drunk Dialing or Something Like It where “childrens get mad at their daddies” who suggest the necessity of hair brushes. Crazy ideas, I know. I don’t make a big fuss about clothes or hair. I’m more of the pick your battles variety. If you want to wear a hot pink tutu over every outfit for a year, go for it. But the morning routine has become a battle of hair brushing wills. Luckily, Cousin Olivia was visiting last week with her adorable new haircut. Piper took one look and said, “I want to look like Livi!” It seemed too easy. So, I took Piper and Sissy in today for trims. Piper got a little stage fright once she was in the chair, but I reminded her of the “Livi look.”

“Okay, Mom. But just a little cut, okay?”

“Absolutely,” I agreed. “Just a few inches.” I held up my fingers behind Piper’s back to indicate about six inches to the stylist.

“Just a little. Just like Livi’s, right?” I nodded yes.

“Wait. Show me,” she said. The stylist showed Piper where she was going to cut. The hair would still be down the middle of her back. Entirely pigtail worthy.

“Okay,” Piper said. “But let’s just cut one side.”

On the Road Part 5: Grandpa Guest Blogger (Again!)

Posted on March 21, 2012 by melissa.scholes.young

Back by popular demand…Gpa’s guest blogging again:

Piper loves everything. She especially loves the beach.

She loves her cousins. It doesn’t matter which cousins, her Florida or her Missouri, she enjoys being with them all.

The combination of three of her Missouri cousins and the beach was too much to pass up.

It’s about an hour ride from our house on the river to the beach. A long ride for a Piper but she had cousin Jilly to read to her the entire trip. Having someone read to her is another love of Piper’s. A quick, flawless trip.

Cousins, beach, reading, sun….what more could a Piper need?

Just let her go. Keep her in sight at all times, but let her go.

Piper has spirit. Piper cannot be tamed, barely restrained.

Every older person, especially a Gpa, needs to sit, watch, appreciate, and laugh at Piper. I did. The ocean was not my favorite place to be, until today.

Sand castles were built, little cousin P.J. stepped on them all. They ran. They waded. The weather was great, the water was cool, and cousins were there. What a day. What a memory.

I was brave on the trip home; I took the one year old, P.J., Piper, and Jilly for the long trip back.

But, Piper has a unique ability to fall asleep in a truck riding for an hour. It must be contagious, so did her cousins.

As I drove, they rested and recharged. I reflected on the day. Perfect weather, sand, ocean and grandchildren. God has blessed me again.

Arriving home, Piper’s keeper was amazed I had survived and suggested I might be running for Grandpa of the year. It doesn’t matter. I already have my reward.