A Walk in the Park:)

This story began early this morning. I spent some time with the boys, Cole and Toby. Steph had errands so it was just them and me. I don't get to hang with the Tobster much. (My nicname for Toby)
We had a great time. We played dress up, Toby makes a cute batman. I have pics if I can get them off my phone, we ate and then we decided to go for a walk.

"Come on Grandma, I will show you around," said Cole.

"We need to be careful though cause the cows could attack us so we will go the other direction."
Well okay. I mean this is an eight year old. And eight year olds love to run the show especially if he is giving a tour of the 60 acres he lives on, and with grandma and brother in tow. I decided right then and there that I would follow along and give him control.

Cole gathered the necessary tools for a succesful walk his two knives and an air soft gun, and the three of us set off. Strolling to the bottom of the hill enjoying the warm weather,the blue sky, and the slight breeze we stopped for Cole to show me how easy it would be to climb the tree if I was so inclined.

Not wanting to falloff, show off I chose to help Toby climb instead. We started back up the hill only to see the cows had decided to move and they were blocking our way out.

" Cole are you sure about the cows attacking us?"I said. Cows don't attack people do they?"

"Well yes, especially the male one, he is big, but don't worry we will just climb up the tree if he comes after us."

Visions of climbing the tree with Toby danced through my head.

"There must be another way out of here." I questioned.

"Oh look, a snake hole. That is a big one." Cole pointed." Must be an anaconda snake hole."

"Cole, show me the other way out," I said calmly.

" That way," he pointed out across the field. I looked across the field and saw no clear way out.

Just about that time my phone rang....
It was Art...when I answered the phone died....
It rang 4 more times and died each....
Must be important I thought he seemed awfully determined... Where is my "network" when I need it after all I have Verizon. Only place Verizon doesn't work is Kiowa.

Right then,In the middle of our trek, Toby decided that he had had enough. He began to cry loudly as he tried climbing up my leg,
and the phone rang...again...
"Guess what happened to me?" Art asked.
"Huh?"
"Well, I got a ticket for catching 1 to many fish this morning. $94."
"Can't talk to you right now," I said agitated calmly.
Did he say $94?

"Cole, where is the way out of here. I cannot carry Toby."
"Well, I'm not sure," he looked all around.

At least the cows hadn't moved, they still stood calmly at the top of the hill watching us.
No way was Toby going to walk,so I gathered him up and limped walked across about 10 steps through the field.This wasn't going to work.

Okay it was time for me to take control. I was the adult, and we were in trouble so I did the only thing I could do, I sat down on the ground, Toby on my lap, and made a call. Thank goodness the phone worked.

"Steph, where are you?" I asked.
"Almost, home," she said.
"We are in a dilema here, We need the 4 wheeler."

"Mom's on her way.I think we walked 20 miles," I said to Cole as we waited.

"Oh no, Grandma, it's only been about 1/2mile. I think you are just older than me so it seems longer to you," he replied all serious.
"Hmm, you think?"

Pretty soon we saw Steph in the distance coming on the 4 wheeler. When Toby saw her coming he found his legs and started running to her.

Steph offered to let me drive back.
No way, I have been working hard to be able to climb those hills in Vanuatu. Without Toby, I would and could walk up the hill to the house.

"That was a fun walk," Cole said when we finally got to the house. I found this old saw, a shot gun bullet, and that dead skunk that didn't stink. I wonder how he died?"
Amazing how an 8 year old gauges success.

"It was a fun walk," I said "and I made it all the way back."
That's how a old grandma measures success.