Grami-n-Me - Caryl McAdoo, Author

To my own fourteen grandsugars, and thousands of Texas students, and many, many adults, too (nationwide) I’m simply Grami. Just ask me to talk about my grandsugars! My oldest is twenty-five, and the youngest, almost two; a total of eight boys and six girls. I always say there is no greater blessing God gives than a new baby. I’m so very proud of all my blessings from the Lord. AND… I’m looking forward to #1 more grandsugars from my youngest son who may be marrying pretty soon 🙂 #2 being a GREAT GRAMI!! (in more ways than one 🙂

When I still lived in Irving, a regular fun outing on school holidays was a ride with Grami on the DART bus (Dallas Area Transit System) to the train station in downtown Irving. From there, we’d board the double-decker train herding all my grandsugars on, and we’d ride into Dallas.

At Grami and O'Pa's River Bottom Ranch in Grand Prairie where all the sugars loved to visit and ride horses. — At Grami and O’Pa’s River Bottom Ranch in Grand Prairie where all the sugars loved to visit and ride horses.

Gregory leading the parade with Grami letting Christian ride Strawberry Bliss at the ranch.

Seth, Naomi, Michael, Grami, Mercedes with twins Caryn and Anna in front. Grami made those big green bows for her baby girls!

Sometimes we’d go to the mall for shopping, sometimes just to lunch in downtown where we sometimes also rode the street cars and visited landmarks like the West End or Kennedy Museum at the Book Depository. Always a favorite destination was the Dallas Zoo, too.

A bus and train ride to downtown Dallas. Sitting: Christian, Naomi, Grami, & Gregory. Standing: Matthew, Seth, and Mercedes

Grami's little dark haired lady — Grami’s little dark haired lady

Grami getting sugars from Benjamen #12. He’s been with her and O’Pa since his birth. He came home from the hospital with Grami and O’Pa.

Shortly after each grandsugar was born, God would give Grami a special song for that baby. They’d all come out different, some country and western sounding, some soft like a lullaby, and some jumpy and jivey, actually quite lively.

All the sugars would holler, “Sing my song, Grami! Sing my song next!”

Here’s all my grandsugars names:

Michael Lawrence (2-10-89)
Naomi Elizabeth (6-16-90)
Mercedes Michelle (6-17-90)
Seth Ebeling (8-14-91)
Caryn Elise (2-23-94)
Anna Lavonne (2-23-94)
Joi Lynn (8-23-95)
Matthew
Wesley Coleman (12-7-97)
Gregory Brahm (8-13-98)
Christian Cain (9-1-99)
Benjamen Cash (12-11-02)
Keldan Joy (8-26-92)
Atticus William Russell (11-4-12)!

Oldest granddaughter Naomi Elizabeth, named after Grami's mother Naomi Ruth Cloyd and Grami's daughter Cathryn Elizabeth — Oldest granddaughter Naomi Elizabeth, named after Grami’s mother Naomi Ruth Cloyd and Grami’s daughter Cathryn Elizabeth

Seth is Naomi's brother and Grami's #4. This was at a Thanksgiving Dinner and it started snowing! A rarity in Texas! — Seth is Naomi’s brother and Grami’s #4. This was at a Thanksgiving Dinner and it started snowing! A rarity in Texas!

Twins Caryn Elise and Anna Lavonne. Caryl spells her name with Grami's 'Y' (Caryl) and Anna has Grami's middle name. — Twins Caryn Elise and Anna Lavonne. Caryn spells her name with Grami’s ‘Y’ (Caryl) and Anna has Grami’s middle name.

A train ride and trip to the — Here’s Grami with some sugars at the Dallas Zoo. Tall ones: Seth, Naomi, Grami. Short ones: Christian, Benjamen, and Gregory

Here’s Grami with some sugars at the Dallas Zoo. Tall ones: Seth, Naomi, Grami. Short ones: Christian, Benjamen, and Gregory

A much earlier zoo trip - this time to the Ft. Worth Zoo. Across back: Son Russell, son Greg with his Mercedes on his shoulders, and Grami. In 1st stroller, Michael and Naomi, and twins Caryn and Anna in 2nd stroller. — A much earlier zoo trip – this time to the Ft. Worth Zoo. Across back: Son Russell, son Greg with his Mercedes on his shoulders, and Grami. In 1st stroller, Michael and Naomi, and twins Caryn and Anna in 2nd stroller.

Matthew came to live with Grami and O'Pa when he was six years old. He's a senior in high school this year, and next summer will be off to college! — Matthew came to live with Grami and O’Pa when he was six years old. He’s a senior in high school this year, and next summer will be off to college!

Yahoo! Wesley’s here, he’s the Baileys first baby boy! That’s how his song starts out : )

Here's 10 grandsugars all together. Across back: Caryn, Joi, Naomi and Anna. Layin' down: Wesley, Gregory, Seth, Benjamen, Christian, Matthew. — Here’s 10 grandsugars all together. Across back: Caryn, Joi, Naomi and Anna. Layin’ down: Wesley, Gregory, Seth, Benjamen, Christian, Matthew.

At another Thanksgiving Dinner with Matthew and Christian.

And when there wasn’t time to take the bus and train, Grami would go pick up all the sugars and take them to a city park for a picnic lunch.

There was another special song God gave Grami for such outings. They’d all sing together,♫♥ “We’re going to the park today,♪*•.♪♫ and we’ll have lots of fun! We’ll eat our lunch at the park♪♫¨♪ underneath the sun!♪♫•♪♫ We’ll run and jump and swing and slide and play ♪*♥¨♪*.♪♫ and play all day! Hip, hip, hooray! We’re going to the park today!”♪♫•*♥¨♪*•.♪♫

Grami loves her Joi Lynn! Joi Lynn Bailey baby! And she’s such a cutie pie, I just have to kiss her all the time! (her song starts like that)

Christian diggin’ flower holes for Grami to plant daffodil bulbs. He’s an awesome helper!

At the River Bottom Ranch: 3 on left: Anna, Caryn, Wesley. Middle 3: Gregory, Grami, Christian. Top 2: Joi and Matthew. — AT the River Bottom Ranch: 3 on left: Anna, Caryn, Wesley. Middle 3: Gregory, Grami, Christian. Top 2: Joi and Matthew.

On rainy days when Grami couldn’t take them to the park, we’d all head to Braum’s Ice Cream shop for a double dip cone and a little play in the jungle gym room there. The sugars also liked going for pizza at Crystal’s, to Luby’s Buffet, and to Grami’s favorite Taco Bueno! After there were so many, Grami and O’Pa would take each one out–just them– to their favorite restaurant.

At a birthday party with Michael and Mercedes, and Roscoe the rat terrier, too : )

Benjamen with O'Pa and Grami — Benjamen with O’Pa and Grami

#14 newest grandsugar Atticus William Russell Chronister at a wedding this past summer. So glad I got to hold him and hug him and cuddle him up!

Now that all the grandsugars are getting older, as well as Grami, AND I moved to the country – – -we don’t go as many places together anymore, but I love Love LOVE it when they come to Red River County for a visit.

And I’m expecting more grandbabies and LOTS of great grandsugars, too! :)!

Gregory, Benjamen, Naomi, Seth, Matthew and Christian at the huntin' cabin — Gregory, Benjamen, Naomi, Seth, Matthew and Christian at the huntin’ cabin

Gergory, O’Pa, Mercedes, Benjamen, Grami, Naomi, and Christian at a birthday party.