Kings and Queens of the Mountain

At our old house, we had a stream with

waterfalls, and a tree house.  At the new house,

we have a whole mountain!

Since it's the only "mountain" in Manly (North

Southern Pines), let's call it Manly Mountain.

Here's Bri and Hunter's first introduction

to the mountain. Love at first sight!

It's a long way down.  OR up.

We could call it Lookout Mountain, but

that's already taken.

The plateau at the top provides ample

play space for imaginative play.

But for sheer challenges, there's nothing

like the climb.

I'm on top of the world!

Bri and the others have energy to climb

the steep slopes over and over again.

It's a great workout.

Don't back up, Hunter!

Is that where I was a minute ago?

This is the low side of the mountain.

Evan can strike a super hero pose on

a moment's notice.

Claire keeps her balance as she follows

this ravine.

You don't climb to get to the top or bottom.

You climb to start all over again.

And sometimes, just to be different,

you try sliding.

Just look at that expression of determination.

As we were playing Roy Rogers, Claire 

took the usual role of Bullet, Roy's dog.

Lo, and behold-- I found this ancient artifact

among the rubble on the mountain.  Obviously

a German Shepherd.

Claire and the others have also supplemented

their personal rock collections from their

amazing finds.  When they find Indian Paint

Rock, they may share it with Grandma so

she can write messages on stone.

Proof that the world is not flat.

Now Claire has a sliding disciple.

Check those pants for holes, Mom.

Claire has even set up a nice office on the

mountainside, including a computer, cell

phone, and a series of gates that open by

remote control.  One gate is for spaceships.

Evan engages in a little target practice.

Sometimes with dirt clods, sometimes with

stones.  He is closely supervised by Grandpa

when he has projectiles in his hand, don't worry.

For my readers with plenty of time on your

hands, I have a series of short videos of some

of the action at Manly Mountain.

Bri scales the mountain (31 sec.)

Claire and Evan , movin' on up

Evan bounces from peak to peak (7 sec.)

Mountain goats? (36 sec.)

Mountain climbing has its ups and downs.

(12 sec.)

Claire agrees about the ups and downs.

(23 sec.)

So, we have our own almost-private mountain.

It's not The Lonely Mountain.

It's not Mount Doom.

It's not Witch Mountain.

Whatever you call it, it's FUN!

Old House, New House and New Adventure for the Grandkids

When the grandkids found out we were moving,

they were a little skeptical as to whether there could

be as much fun at the new house as there always was

at the old house.  The first 15 pictures show some of

our last good times at the old place.  Then we'll compare

with what happened at the new place.

Bri demonstrates how to walk on coffee cans.

Not so easy, but she made it look like child's play.

So to speak.

Hunter was determined to do it next,

and was most successful.

Hunter plays a few rounds of children's

Mastermind, a logic game which comes 

easily to the kids.  They'll move up to the

adult version before you know it.

Hunter worked like a Trojan to cultivate

the area where we had the last big bonfire.

Bri shows one of the first camellias of 2016.

Hunter takes freeze tag seriously.  So seriously

that he wouldn't permit himself to bring his

tongue back in his mouth until unfrozen.

Now Evan and Claire have arrived to join

the fun.  Bri chases Evan in a game of

Zombie Tag.  Chilling!

Grandma Judy shows the kids how our

transplanted daffodils are thriving in their

temporary home.

The boys get the first turn at helping make

homemade lemonade.

It looks like the boys are playing checkers,

but they're actually playing Carroms, an

old family favorite of ours.

Claire demonstrates another game you can

play with the coffee cans: Balls and Cans.

This was a popular game on Atlanta's

Popeye Club with Officer Don in the late

50's and early 60's.

The kids love sampling the fruit of their

labors in the kitchen.  The lemonade is

dee-licious!

All of the kids have enjoyed marble raceways,

but this day, Claire sets out to build the raceway

to end all raceways.  She is an awesome designer,

and that's no surprise.  She also exhibits notable

patience and perseverance.

Bri is delighted with her coloring effort.

That's something we ALL love, including

Grandma and Grandpa.

Claire is showing a spark of interest in the

piano.  In fact, all the children will occasionally

fiddle with it.  Or is that possible?

Well, that's a pretty good sampler.  At least 

one of the children feared that the toys would

all be left at the old house.

NEVER FEAR!!

Let's see just what the kids got into on their

first visits to the new (rental) house.

For one thing, they pulled out a box of 

Micro Pets and some mini stuffed pets

for a grand session of imaginative play.

And how's this for imaginative.  This puppy 

dog "teacher" arrived at pet school in the

Bat Copter. Wish I'd thought of that.

Hallelujah!  The kids are now big enough

to offer each other rides in the wagon!

However, Grandpa is still on call when 

little arms get tired.

Hunter and the others are sure glad to learn

that our special tire swings have a new home

at the new house.  Two sturdy dogwoods

willingly offer their limbs.

All four kids have tree climbing in their

genes.  And in three generations, no broken

arms or legs.  Keep your eyes crossed.  : )

Hunter knows if we're going to play Rock

School at the new place somebody, namely

him, had better do some sprucing up.

Yeah, maybe I need me a "yard man."

They like being just a short stroll from

horse country.

How about these for some striking poses?

Claire and this tree will get along just fine.

Evan is Mr. Tough Guy and ready for 

a humongous SPIN!

Can I stay up here?  I LOVE this tree!

And this tree loves ME!

These two like pet school, too.

The best toys are the ones that DON'T

do everything on their own.

Of course, Easter egg hunts are an instant

hit at the old house and the new house.

The search is fun, plus Grandma stuffs 

them with either candy or money. Oh, yeah!

I'm not sure I'm ready for this, but Hunter

is showing me his skate-boarding moves.

My junior farmers just love to suck on

broom straw, which happens to grow all

over this neighborhood.

The swinging has just begun.  The sky's 

the limit for adventure for our four

wonderful grandkids.  Because when they're

around . . .

ADVENTURE.

JUST.

HAPPENS!!!