I can't believe how much I've missed them!
By spalladino
@spalladino (17891)
United States
June 26, 2009 11:34am CST
Three of my grandchildren live nextdoor to me with my daughter and her fiance. I'm used to seeing them several times a day...especially my 3 year old grandson who escapes from his house and comes over as soon as he sees one of our trucks pull into the driveway. Last Saturday they left for Daytona where the younger two met their other grandparents for the first time. They live in Maryland and we live in Florida.
As soon as these kids left the entire neighborhood became quiet! There are other kids in the neighborhood but they haven't been coming around because my older grandson isn't home and there's no need for them to cut through my yard for some reason. Today they're coming home and I can't wait to see them! 
Isn't it funny how the lack of children can change an entire environment?
Isn't it funny how the lack of children can change an entire environment?4 people like this
8 responses
@kawalnarang (1095)
• Trinidad And Tobago
27 Jun 09
I keep all the children near to my heart,, and the others too
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 Jun 09
All of mine are always near my heart...even the ones who are far away.
@sjvenden27 (1840)
• United States
27 Jun 09
Yes it is funny.. When my son goes up to see his dad for a week, I miss my son coming up to me every couple of minutes asking for something or another.. Also a neighbor has 5 kids that are usually running around but they are on vacation right now.. Man it feels like a ghost town.. But my little one is still buzzing around.. Its like they say you don't know what your missing until its gone.. I am so happy for you that they are coming back tomorrow. I hope you have a wonderful time with your grand kids..
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 Jun 09
Thanks sj! Things are back to normal around here but apparently I'm slacking in the cookie department. I let Pop Pop eat all of the chocolate chip cookies while they were gone and now I'm in trouble because all I have in the house are the peanut butter ones that they don't like too much.
1 person likes this
@sjvenden27 (1840)
• United States
28 Jun 09
Opps.. Well your grand kids will have fresh ones! You can say that Grandpa didn't want the cookies to spoil while they were gone
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 Jun 09
Close to it. They got home around 7:00 and I had food so they all came over here. They didn't go home until around 10:00 but the two little ones were starting to look tired by 9:00. They had so much to tell me...and my older grandson learned some pretty cool card tricks so we had to do them a couple of times. We looked at the pictures that were on the digital camera and they told me the story behind each and every one of them.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 Jun 09
Oh yes, my older grandson is feeling particularly clever with his new skill...that none of the other kids in the neighborhood have. He offered to show me how he does his card tricks but I told him that a magician never gives away his secrets so I hope he takes my advice.
1 person likes this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
27 Jun 09
Hmmm....Well the next time they leave make sure you tell us because I can mail my 5 year old to you and he can keep you company 
He doesn't really have a grandmother so I'm sure he would love hanging out with you.
I hope life is back in swing now
He doesn't really have a grandmother so I'm sure he would love hanging out with you.
I hope life is back in swing now @spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 Jun 09
You would be SOOOOO mad at me when you got him back because he would be spoiled rotten! Yes, life is back to normal today. The 3 year old has been over here at least 10 times telling on his big brother because they've been riding their scooters through the puddle in the driveway and he's apparently hogging it up.
Yes, life is back to normal today. The 3 year old has been over here at least 10 times telling on his big brother because they've been riding their scooters through the puddle in the driveway and he's apparently hogging it up.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
26 Jun 09
Hey spalladino! I know you can't wait until those beautiful
little ones come back home! I think that is so cute that
you miss all the kaos of the kids running around since your
Grands haven't been around! Well, by the time I respond to
this discussion I'm sure you will have the kaos back and those
adorable little ones will be back raising hell! I hope that
you will have the time of your life with kids! Give them all
the hugs and kisses you can and some for me too cause I think
they are adorable!
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 Jun 09
Hi there Opal! You're right, this place was a madhouse for a couple of hours...and boy did it feel great! 
I'll have to give them the hugs and kisses from you tomorrow because they're sound asleep by now I'm sure. I'll tell you who isn't sound asleep though, Auntie Opal, and that's Dyna the very healthy and getting bigger every day, dog. She's working on a rawhide bone right now and she says to tell you "Hi".
I'll have to give them the hugs and kisses from you tomorrow because they're sound asleep by now I'm sure. I'll tell you who isn't sound asleep though, Auntie Opal, and that's Dyna the very healthy and getting bigger every day, dog. She's working on a rawhide bone right now and she says to tell you "Hi". @Opal26 (17679)
• United States
28 Jun 09
Oh! You must have read my mind! I was going to ask about
my very special "neice", but I was so busy asking about
the grands! I am so happy to hear about my Dyna! How about
a picture for her Auntie Opal? I wish I could come there
when I come down to Florida to give her the biggest hug
and kisses ever! I am going to be coming down soon, but will
be in Ft. Launderdale at my Mom's! Can you come over and bring
Dyna? My Mother loves doggies!
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
27 Jun 09
It is amazing how quiet it is when there are no kids! We only have one child and she is not a particularly rowdy one but whenever she is away at school or sleeping at my sister’s place our house is deadly quiet and almost tomb like! It’s really depressing.
I can imagine how much you’ve missed your grandchildren; you will love seeing them, what a great thing to look forward to!
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 Jun 09
The 3 year old is full of I love you's...guess he missed us, too. He still does not believe that I know Mom Mom and Granddad so I'm going to have to call them tonight to say hello.
1 person likes this
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
26 Jun 09
I still have my kids at home, my oldest is 13 my youngest is 5. Last weekend my husband and I went to a wedding and you kids spent the night at a friend of our's house. When I woke up in the morning and they were not there, I really missed them. I couldn't wait to go pick them up.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 Jun 09
There definitely is a void when they're gone...no matter how old they are. When I go on vacation I call them every night to tell them goodnight (because they aske me to) but I didn't want to horn in on their time with their other grandparents so I didn't call while they were gone. They called me a couple of times though, which made it a little easier.
@countrysun2sea (161)
• United States
26 Jun 09
Thats sweet of you to post about them....I miss my niece and nephew when they leave as well....
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 Jun 09
They got back a little before 7:00 and, like a giant magnet, the kids from down the street immediately showed up to play with my older grandson. The 3 year old thought that Pop Pop and I had been on vacation, too, and he told me he was sad for me because I had to stay home. He's such a sweetie. He also told me that they brought us back "a little something" but he couldn't tell or Daddy would kill him.
