Snuggles

While I was staying with my parents, I got to witness many special moments in Grandma and Grandpa's relationship. They are such amazing examples of true love. One night when I was up in the middle of the night with my baby, I went down to get a bottle from the kitchen. I have to pass Grandma and Grandpas bed to get there. On my way down the steps, I paused b/c they were talking and I didn't want to add confusion to Grandma if Grandpa was trying to put her back to sleep. Grandma will often wake up in the night and just sit up looking around wondering what is going on. Grandpa has basically built her a gate on her side of the bed to keep her in b/c she will try to stand on her own forgetting that she can't. Grandpa will usually talk her back into laying down and going to sleep. On this specific night, I witnessed how he does it. He said "Hey little lady, come put your arm around me right here." So she laid down and put her arm around him and snuggled to his back. Grandpa said to Grandma "Oh I like that! I like that." It was so cute.

worth the wait

Hi, Charise here. What I hope this blog can become is just some fun "journal entries" about Grandma and Grandpa Bodell, and possibly even our cousins. I want my boys to know the day to day wonderfulness of being with them. Not just the big stories, but the regular everyday stuff also. This past month I have thought so many times... Oh I want to blog that!!! So here it goes. These are from the past hour.

Bragging about Grandma...
I am learning that if I ask and then wait, Grandma will answer my questions about 50% of the time. And usually the answers are WORTH THE WAIT!!!

I had just finished helping grandma with the bathroom...
To take her mind off the standing up (she moans and gripes during this part.) I had her sing every other line to working on the railroad. I sing a line, and then she sings a line. She did perfect, by the way. So we had spent a few minutes singing, and apparently she was sick of singing with me. I took her into the dining room and said:
Me: Grandma, I just made chocolate chip cookies. Do you want a cookie or do you want to sing a song.

She just gave me a dirty look.

So I asked again, slower and louder.... Grandma, I just made chocolate chip cookies. Do you want a cookie or do you want to sing a song.

I waited about 30 seconds, and then I asked a third time. Clearly, and enunciating as much as I could... "Grandma, I just made chocolate chip cookies. Do you want a cookie or do you want to sing a song."

She proceeded to stick out her tongue. I figured she just needed to spit, but I thought I'd tease her about it. "Grandma... are you trying to stick your tongue out at me?" (Certain the answer was no.) She slanted her eyebrows at me and said very LOUDLY and CLEARLY (mocking me I am now certain!) I'M NOT TRYING, I AM DOING IT! And then she totally did it again!!!!

Hilarious!!!

I gave her and Cole lollipops to eat and I sang Good Ship Lollipop and asked grandma if she wanted to join in. Grandma said, "Well I don't remember all of it, but... On the good ship, lollipop. It's a sweet trip to the candy shop. Where bon-bons play..." then she smiled at us like she was the princess of the stage. Oh she is so cute and I love her so much!!!

She feel asleep in her wheelchair while eating her lollipop, and after about 10 minutes I said, "Grandma you are going to drop your lollipop!" She woke up just like she used to and it was as if she was in the middle of a conversation, and she picked right up where she left off. She looked right at Cole, engaging him in the conversation and said loudly, "Do you like coming to my house to sleep? Next time you come we will play together and you can sleep over all night. Would you like to come again?" Cole said, YES!!! When she is alert, she is so alert! She can put thoughts and sentences together so well.

Blue!

In playing the train game, Grandpa just asked, "What color do you add to yellow to make green?" He was trying to be funny because he was needing a green card. Grandma piped in and said "Blue?" Yea Grandma!

You Witch!

As I am creating this blog, Grandpa is playing Ticket to ride with Tiff, Mom and Bill. Tiff just blocked Grandpa and he turned and said "You Witch! You Wicked Witch!"

Grandpa loves a good American Train Game but those of you who have played with him probably know that this brings out the "Air Force Vocabulary." Last week when Char blocked him he exclaimed "Oh crap!"

This Blog is for the Decendents of Jim & Maydene Bodell

Charise had the brilliant idea of starting this blog so that the decedents of Jim and Maydene Bodell can write and share any stories or photos of them. If you have a favorite story of Grandpa and Grandma, share it with us. If they come to visit you, take a photo and share it here.

Over the past few weeks, we have had lots of cute conversations with Grandma. She seems alert and able to enjoy a good joke or silly face. She recognizes all of us and every once and a while she surprises us by adding a word in on a conversation. Kriss and Ed were trying to remember Pam's phone # and they said 801-224...and grandma finished it off correctly! Then Kriss tested her with Jimae's and she knew that one too! We wanted to share these moments with you all since I know you all love her and care and worry for her like we do.

We asked Grandpa for any words of advice to put on here and Grandpa says two things:

1. Stay out of debt and
2. The Gospel is true!
   

Happy New Year Everyone!