Currently, there are seven of them. They come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. Some of them are tall, or at least “tall” from our perspective which is somewhat skewed. Some of them are very small and one of them is still ‘cooking’ but, all of them are ours and we love each and every one.

I am, of course, talking about our grandchildren. One girl, five boys and one, at the moment, to be determined. They are all unique and each has had their own special way of communicating. One ate ‘buzzert’ after dinner. Another did not like ‘waspspsps’, while his brother still eats, ‘gleen glapes’ and wears ‘glubs’ when he gets cold. One of the most creative ate ‘peetspa’ and ‘skrimps’, thought some people needed to go to the ‘psychopeetreeish,’  and considered himself to be an ‘Asiant’. He also coined the phrase, “crotch roach”, but that’s another post.

Of the six that are walking among us, there are two that are in a category all their own, the oldest and next-to-youngest boys. This post is about the next-to-youngest. His name is Gavin. He’s the one making the “Popeye” face in the picture, front and slightly off center, which suits him perfectly.

As fate, if you believe in that, or God, which is much more likely, would have it, Gavin is Rachel’s youngest child. You remember Rachel. If you don’t remember her, you can read about her ‘Rachel Story’ adventures here and here. Now, before you start thinking that I bestowed every mother’s ‘blessing’ on Rachel and told her, “I hope you get a kid just like you,” I didn’t. She and Thomas, her husband, came up with this guy all on their own.

Gavin just turned 7, looks like he’s 5 and is not afraid to say anything to anyone. Like most little kids, he has no filter. He also likes to talk. Incessantly. He talks from the time he opens his eyes in the morning, until he passes out at night. He talks to his toys if nobody else will listen and makes up dialogue – legos, stuffed animals, blocks, trains – he’s not particular. He talks while movies are on and while you’re driving in the car. He talks while he’s watching things on his mother’s phone and while he’s playing video games with his brother. He talks.

During a recent family walk he told his mother that a bush he saw looked like it had ‘diabetes’. He is completely serious about his observations.

On his first day of school, the teacher gave the kids a bunch of different household items that they could put together to make anything they wanted. Most made little houses, sleds, bunnies, kittens, and puppies. But, not Gavin. Gavin brought a playing card, the Joker, up to his teacher and a styrofoam cup with a million toothpicks jammed into it.

“This is my death dungeon. I need you to cut this guy out so I can put him in the dungeon.” His teacher, startled but immensely entertained, obliged.

His most recent declaration is one of my favorites. While enjoying early morning cuddles with his Mom and older sister, Madyson, he started to tickle his sister.

Madyson asked, “Gavin, why are you tickling me?”

The response, “I’m tickling you because I’m constipated.”

“Gavin, do you know what constipated means?”

“No.”

“Gavin, constipated means you can’t poop!”

“Oh. I thought it meant you were scared.”

We have no idea what he was scared of, why tickling would be his response to fear, nor how he would remember a word like ‘constipated’ but, if it made you smile or brightens your day, the rest is really not that big a deal!