96 years is something to celebrate!

We spent our first unplugged Sunday, with my grandpa who turned 96 years old this weekend.

96 years old.

He is my last living grandparent and I feel so blessed that he lives here in West Des Moines. He lives in a town home with Iris, his wife of over 20 years. I lost my grandma when I was in third grade and feel fortunate to have wonderful memories of her, but having also known Grandma Iris.

I take the kids and lunch over every Wednesday to see Grandpa. Every week he takes my hands into his, pats them and says, "My my your hands are cold." I sit down beside Grandpa, he continues to rub my hands and I sit there and want time to stand still for a bit.

We have been taking lunch over every week for quite awhile and Lucy and Max pretty much know the routine of our visits in this land of breakable figurines. Lucy always runs in, hands grandpa his chocolate milkshake and gives him a hug. She then prattles off some preschool story at top notch speed while grandpa smiles, nods along and says, "Oh!!" at appropriate times.

Max is the one that I can't get over. Little Mr. stranger-anxiety-ridden-Max, blows kisses repeatedly at grandpa and will stand still long enough to show all of his "tricks" (Where's your nose, where's your tummy? What's a lion say?). Max doesn't do that with just anyone and it heart warming how Max and Grandpa will sit there and grin at each other. Grandpa always wants to know the update of Max's teeth count and wonders, "how many does he have in there now?"

My husband always thinks Grandpa is jealous of Max's tooth development, :-), but I know that Grandpa has more thoughtfulness, caring and generosity in his 96 year old bones then many of us have in ours.