Life is an Adventure

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Sometimes leaving is a part of growing up - change definitely is...

All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, "Oh, why can't you remain like this for ever!" This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.

Peter Pan wanted none of that. He just wanted to have fun - and stories.

"Do you know," Peter asked "why swallows build in the eaves of houses? It is to listen to the stories."

Marjorie Torrey illustration. From the Random House book, Peter Pan, (1957)
edited by Josette Frank from Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie. [source]

Like Peter Pan, my toddler grandson, Peter, loves stories. I thoroughly enjoy reading them to him everyday (I am "Wendy" after all) - and like Mrs. Darling, I'd love things to remain like this forever.

Beginnings...
J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy has long been a favorite around our house (and on my blog, here). That is why, about 6 weeks after my grandson was born, I couldn't help but choose a Peter Pan theme for a "Sip and See" party I hosted for him at my sister's house when we traveled "back home" for Thanksgiving.

 

Baby Peter's maternal great-aunties and great-grandmas, cousins, and a handful of close family friends, came to sip tea and meet the newest family member.

New Adventures...

That was over a year and a half ago.  We had no idea then that Peter's Daddy would be joining the Navy Reserves.

After a three month separation from "Dada" during Bootcamp, my daughter and grandson were recently happily reunited with him during a quick trip to the PIR (graduation) in Illinois (I blogged about it over Father's Day weekend.)

Today we're starting a road trip across the mid-west with Peter and his Mama in order to deliver them safely to my son-in-law in Great Lakes, IL, where he is anxiously awaiting their return as he starts his nine-month training.

It's been a joy having them temporarily live with us, and I know everyday I will miss them dearly! Especially when I think of the stories we've shared and the memories we've created.

Visits...
We're all growing up, and life's adventures will continue, but we don't want any forgetting!

We may not have a Pinch of Pixie Dust, but the modern magic of Facetime and Skype will take us to them over and over while they're gone - almost as good as a quick flight to Neverland!

"Second star to the right, and straight on until morning"...

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In the meantime, off we go...stay tuned for some road trip fun as we tootle on across the states to Chicago!