FS, me & G...

It's not all that unusual for him to call. He's never been obsessed with the phone, but since getting an iPad, he does FaceTime me now and then. So I was excited when my 6 year old grandson Graham called. He asked for my address. "I need it for a school project we're working on grandma. Something I will mail to you," was all he would say. Hmmm. Wonder what that's all about? Not my birthday and Mother's Day was still weeks away.

My son Adam and grandson, Graham. This picture-there are no words...

Several days later a letter arrived. Seems Graham's 1st grade class was reading a book titled, Flat Stanley. (And you think some of my blog post titles are strange). Poor Stanley got smashed by a bulletin board. Yes Flat Stanley, life is tough. He wanted to go on a trip, so his family folded him up (ouch) and mailed him to California. (As if being smashed, folded and mailed wasn't harsh enough. Sorry, California Carol)

 

Graham and his winning catch. Supper...

 

Well Graham mailed me his Flat Stanley. My instructions were to do some interesting things with Flat Stanley, then write Graham about our week long adventure. Sigh. Accompanying pictures were welcomed, (not more than 5, however) along with postcards and brochures. Oh boy.

 

Making a snake out of rice crispy treats, 2015...

 

 

Along with the letter and pictures, I was to fold up poor Flat Stanley and mail him back to Graham at school. Naturally, Graham would share Flat Stanley's week stay at grandma's house with the rest of his class. I was reluctant to give Flat Stanley the grim news. There wasn't a lot going on during my week while he was visiting. And the stuff I had planned hardly resembled a vacation. But I was stuck with him through thick and thin.

 

-

Sarah, Graham & Adam, 2015...

 

Flat Stanley and I had some close calls during his week stay here. A couple of the incidents did not make Graham's letter. Grandpa took him outside to watch a friend of ours take down a big tree. I reminded grandpa to be careful with Flat Stanley and keep a close eye on him. Flat Stanley managed to have a huge branch land on him, pinning him in mud and a couple inches of snow. When grandpa brought him back in the house, I swear he was even flatter, and his backside was muddy. I gently washed him, got out my seldom used blow dryer, clothes pinned FS and Great Scott, now he was wrinkly and not at all flat. So I plopped him on the ironing board which brought on some whining. He promptly stopped when he noticed me plugging in the iron.

 

Graham making Annual Christmas slush, 2015...

 

I take full responsibility for losing (almost permanently) Flat Stanley the very next day. We were having great fun baking cookies. Still mysterious how he managed to fly off the counter and land in the oven! Luckily he screamed so loud as I was closing the door which saved his hiney from being scorched. His hair was a couple shades darker, but I don't think Graham ever noticed. I was a wreck trying to keep Flat Stanley in one piece for a week. We made it and here were the experiences I could share with Graham.

 

 

 

Dear Graham,

This is your friend, Flat Stanley reporting on my week at your grandma's house. It was an unusual week. Your grandma called it a working vacation. I didn't know what that meant. I do now. I would have liked it better if she would have left off the working part. But I did learn lots of new things. And I liked helping your grandparents. They're kinda old and need help.

 

It took grandma a couple minutes to spot me here...

 

Some of our plans had to be changed because of the weather. Grandpa wanted me to help put up a new front yard light and plant grass seed where they had taken down a big tree. But it rained or snowed everyday. Grandma said that always used to happen to her too when your daddy was in school and had spring break. Not such great weather for playing or doing outdoor projects. Your grandma was writing something called a blog and let me type some words. That was fun. She was writing a story about your cousin Peyton.

 

You should have seen how fast I could type, Graham...

 

When I got up in the morning, after we had breakfast we drove to a restaurant in Mexicantown. That's in Detroit. There were lots of different restaurants, but grandpa knew exactly where the best one was. It sure smelled good. And I got my own glass of pop with a straw. Please don't tell your mom. I didn't know if I would like tacos, tostadas, or burritos so grandma shared her lunch with me. I loved the food, Graham. We'll have to ask mom and dad to take us to a Mexican restaurant in town. But I don't think the food will taste as good as Mexicantown.

 

Ha, I'm standing right in the middle of 2 flags, United States and Canada...

 

Not very far away from the restaurant was a business your grandparents wanted to visit. It was called Disenos Ornamental Iron. Isn't that a big word? I thought so too. Grandpa and grandma want to buy new railings for their front porch. Like the ones at your house. So this pretty lady brought out a big book with lots of different designs to choose from. I was bored, so I climbed up and down all the different railings in the hallway. That was fun, but grandma thought I might fall and get hurt. All week she said, "be careful Flat Stanley. I don't want to send you back to Graham if you're hurt." Does she say that to you too? She was worried about me. That made me feel safe and good. But it bugged me too. She worries a lot.

 

This was the fence I liked the best...

 

 

The next day grandma took me to work with her. Since you haven't been there yet, I'll tell you about it. It's a daycare, pre-school and regular school all together. Grandma works in the baby room (she called them infants) but they're really just babies. I got to try out all their toys and play equipment. A funny tilted seat which she strapped me in so I wouldn't fall out.

 

Yawn, a little flat guy could fall asleep in here...

 

A 3 legged wooden toy which had little toys hanging from it. Grandma said it helps babies when they grab the toys. But my arms were too short. A little slide that's a foam cushion. That was fun. There were gates and doors to keep the babies safe in their room, but since I'm small and flat, I slid under the door and snuck into the hallway. I climbed up a great big display that said, Welcome Spring and found some pretty pussy willows to climb. That's where grandma spotted me and carried me back to the baby room. It was very noisy in there sometimes. Babies cry a lot. They want to be held all the time. Your grandma likes the babies very much. Even when they cry.

 

I tried so hard to wiggle the toys, but I'm just too flat...

 

 

On my last night, we went to a birthday party at Peyton's house. She turned 12 today. She got lots of presents. We sang Happy Birthday and had cake. It was the most fun this week. I love cake. I thanked grandma and grandpa for taking good care of me. And I liked doing new things with them. But I am awfully glad to come back home to you.

 

Boy was this cake good...

 

 

Your friend,

Flat Stanley...