Do you think this Burning Man fish showing up at your house would be scary?
Then imagine five grandsons, aged two to ten, with water guns showing up— and you are the target. Cody demonstrates his form, here. Each boy was normally outfitted with two pistols.
Hello my friends. Welcome back to Wandering through Time and Place.
I’ve been hesitant to write these words. Why? Because they mean I have to go back to work. I have been out playing and having adventures for the past couple of months, or so. Don’t get me wrong; I love to write and I’ve missed checking in on your blogs. But I haven’t missed the discipline of knocking out two to three blogs a week and working on my next book. (“I’m supposed to be retired,” he whined.)
But enough on that: What have I been doing? First up, Peggy and I had a major home invasion in Oregon. Our house, our time, and our lives were totally taken over. There were enough weapons around to turn back Attila the Hun. So what if they were all water guns. Can you imagine the devastating impact such weaponry can have in the hands of five, two-to-ten-year-old boys? And these were not the small, wimpy, colored plastic pistols of our youth, no way— they were full-scale WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction): water cannons, pump-action rifles, and macho pistols with large, pressurized air chambers to assure a steady stream of water.
Each evening Grandpa was invited out to the patio for his nightly drowning. And each night he would return inside, soaked to the bone. But I want to report, somewhat proudly, that I gave as good as I got. Grandpa is a crafty dude. (I’ve been learning to speak in the third person from The Donald.) I made sure that my weapon shot further and held more water than any of the grandkids. This advantage didn’t help much, however, when our son Tony, former marine captain that he is, entered the fray with three massive water cannons tied together with duct tape. Water is still draining out of my ears.
Shooting water guns accurately was practiced nightly before the big water gun fight. Four of the boys go after bubbles that Tony is creating. Giraffe does his best to stay out of the way.
Tasha joins Tony in the bubble making business while the two you old Cooper clutches his pistol and stares at the camera.
Bubbles escape from the fray.
Connor leads the attack with a frontal assault.
Chris proves to me that his water pistols are functioning and ready for action.
The view I normally had of Ethan as he dashed by me with both guns blazing.
Peggy started pushing for a family get-together months ago. “Wouldn’t it be great if we could get our kids and their children here all at once for three weeks this summer?” I could only whimper in agreement. Any concerns I raised about the wisdom of having five grandsons and six adults in our 1500 square foot house for three weeks were met with a steely eyed gaze. It was the look. Every husband in the world would recognize it for what it was. And know to keep his mouth shut.
It was a long three weeks, Peggy. (Grin) But, I confess, it was good to see the kids— and I had fun. It was the little things like when five-year-old Chris whispered in my ear, “Grandpa, can I share a secret?” “Sure, Chris, what is it?” “You and I are going to steal a handful of Knox-blocks from the refrigerator.” That is one clever kid. Of course we made the raid and quickly scarfed down the evidence. And then there was seven-year-old Cody and the water fights. “I am on your side, Grandpa Curt,” he declared stoutly at the beginning and stuck with me through thick and thin. Toward the end I told him, “Cody, you have been so loyal, you get a free shot at me.” I lowered my super-duper-pump-action water rifle so he would see I was serious. “Oh, I couldn’t do that Grandpa,” he declared.
Cody is something of a hero of mine. When he was two, he saved me from the bear that lives under our bed. I was down on the floor demonstrating how far one had to stay away from the bed to avoid the bear when I got too close and it grabbed my leg. Did Cody run away screaming? No. As my leg started disappearing under the bed, he grabbed me by my arm and began pulling in the opposite direction with all of his considerable two-year-old might.
“For that little trick,” my son-in-law Clay told me, “I am going to get you out of bed tonight to sit with Cody if he can’t go to sleep.” Apparently, Cody slept well.
Next Post: Home Invasion Part II— A rattlesnake comes to visit.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Welcome back, Curt! We’ve missed you. Sounds like you had a home invasion of the very best kind! Who doesn’t love a good water gun fight?!
Thanks Kathi. It was a home invasion of the best kind. Water gun fights are guaranteed to lead to lots of laughing. I suspect the action will become a life-long memory for the boys.–Curt
Welcome back! Sounds like you’ve had some great times. But three weeks? Three weeks? You deserve something special for that!
All kidding aside, how nice to spend the time with your family. And what a beautiful background for those boys to have water fights in. I might even allow myself a ‘nightly drowning’ if I had that view. Well, maybe…
Thanks Carrie. I suspect you would be right out there in the middle of things. I did notice that Peggy kept out of the middle of the water fights, as did the two moms. (Grin) Peggy did take on the responsibility of helping the boys fill their water guns, however. –Curt
Yeeaaaah, I’m not so thrilled with getting my hair wet. So I’d probably be on the sidelines helping refuel too. 😉
How nice it is to have you back, Curt! Your time away sounds delightful, I must say — although by the time I read all the way through your post, I was feeling a bit tired. That’s a lot of energy, running around your place.
It was especially fun to see the bubbles. That always was one of my favorite toys, and I’m glad to see that they haven’t gone away. The photo of them against the sky is nice.
Thanks so much Linda. I was a bit tired myself. It reminded me of the incredible energy parents put into raising young families. I’m still in recovery.
Kids love bubbles. Combining them with water pistols added tremendously to the fun. Even I got caught up in using them as targets. And weren’t the bubbles beautiful against the sky and that thunderhead. After the kids went to bed, the sky turned into the most beautiful reds. I’ll have to include a photo on my next blog. –Curt
I’ve missed your posts. Thanks for popping back in to see us!!
My pleasure, GP. Thank you! –Curt
Way to go Peggy, what a wonderful idea! Curt, you’re a real sport:)
“The family that plays together, stays together!”
Nice to have you back!
We certainly played a lot together, and of equal importance, laughed a lot.And thanks. It is good to be back. –Curt
I am so glad you are back, Curt. I have missed your sweet, silly, adorable, thoughtful, inspirational words and beautiful pictures. Thank you for getting my day started off with a smile. Love this.
Thanks Alice. Sweet, silly and adorable? Hmmm. Ha. —Curt
Welcome back Curt. I think you secretly loved being around all the kids 🙂
But I know what you mean – when we go to Sweden and there’s 5 kids aged 2 to 15 we have a blast but after 2 weeks it’s enough.
Alison
Thanks, Alison. Kid are so honest, open and excited about everything, Alison. It would be really hard not to enjoy their enthusiasm. And we are fortunate that our kids have turned out to be excellent parents. –Curt
Enjoy having you back in (blogging) action although this has to be a respite after your grandchildren summer!
Grin… no one knows grandchildren summers— plus fall, winter and spring, than you Jane. But it is so quiet! 🙂
Welcome back Curt. What a summer and a marvelous home invasion! Smiled all through as I read. This is precious. 🙂
Thanks… and glad to be back. The boys were entertaining, to say the least. (grin) –Curt
Love the picture of the Burning Man fish, the fact that Peggy has mastered the look (something I’m still working on), and your endurance under duress. I’d say you’re excused from any ice water challenges for charitable purposes since you’ve earned Grandpa of the Year status. And who cares if you only have 1500 square feet for a crew the size of a small army — it’s fun to have family come to visit. (And to say good-bye in due time.)
Yeah, Peggy has that look. And being ‘Grandpa’ definitely keeps one young… and wet, when the kids have a water gun. –Curt
I see you had survived and back at the blog with a vengeance! I am so far behind… but I am beginning to dislike very much the WordPress app for my Android tablet. For instance, when I touch your name on a comment, it takes me to your blog, yes, but EVERY time I just touch “LIKE”, it takes me to a blank screen… and even if it gets me to a screen to login, it is an endless loop. Anyways, I am here on my desktop… Will get to your wild travels soon!
Hi Koji… Yep I am back and playing catch up myself. Thanks for trying to hit the like button. One never knows what the strange world of computers and the Net will do next. –Curt