Sometimes it's hard being a Grandpa

First off, our kids seem to enjoy giving people a complex. The most notorious offense is Norah's general habit of Grandpa avoidance. She is initially shy around almost all people, but has held on to a special stubbornness in regards to both her adoring grandpa's. Thankfully it seems she may be considering truce negotiations, provided they show their complete and total obedience to her will (as if that were ever in question).

Jeff's family was in town for a visit this weekend and Norah actually told her grandpa a story in several sentences. Nobody but her understood it, but she actually looked at him and told him a story. This is progress considering her normal tendency to avert her eyes at all times, unless in the act of a snatch and grab maneuver to acquire copious amounts of snack food items.

We were looking for things Norah and Grandpa could do together, and suggested that he push her in her car. She loves going for rides, but for one reason or another, we rarely have time or opportunity. Norah was really excited when we put her in the car. Her eyes lit up and she giggled with glee as Grandpa pushed her back and forth on the sidewalk, but Grandpa's moment of victory was cut painfully short. In an act of unintentional "Grandpa sabotage", Jeff forgot to put Norah's shoes on and she scraped her big toe on the concrete, bringing a small amount of blood, and a large amount of tears and cries. Norah went back in hiding and Grandpa got back behind his camera in an attempt to save a few more smiles for his office door.

Since Justin has no inhibitions when it comes to Grandpas, they get along fine. We hope Justin will be the key to Norah warming up to Grandpa. When Norah sees Justin having fun with Grandpa, maybe she will realize that she could have fun too.

After successfully avoiding her Grandpa for the majority of the weekend, it was time for everyone to go home and back to work. As the door was pulled shut and everyone was waving goodbye, she turned her head to Jeff and asked "Where's Papa going?" Oh the irony.