Among all the kids out trick-or-treating last weekend were a little boy dressed as Buzz Lightyear, accompanied by a little girl dressed as a cowgirl. They are our own two personal munchkins, our grandchildren.

For those of you without children or grandchildren, I'll fill you in on Buzz Lightyear (I figure you already know about cowgirls!). Buzz Lightyear is a toy astronaut and a major character from the Disney Company's wonderful Toy Story cartoon movies. Buzz arrives on the scene as a new toy belonging to a young boy named Andy. Andy's other toys have an active life of their own, when humans aren't around, and Buzz threatens the happy status quo of the group, especially head toy, Woody. Buzz turns out to be a good guy, though, and a good addition to the toy mix.

Well, our almost four-year old grandson, Augie, is a big Buzz Lightyear fan, and, when we spotted a Buzz costume while we were all out shopping last month. . .well, that was it for him. He wanted to wear it all the time, and it was a bit of a fuss getting it off of him after we bought it!

Similarly, Kate, our 21-month old granddaughter, looked as cute as the sweetheart of the rodeo for trick-or-treating in her pink suede fringed cowgirl skirt and vest. There was just something different about her as soon as she put on that skirt. She wasn't as crazy about the matching vest, but she liked strutting around in that fringy little skirt!

These grandkids - Augie and Kate - continually fascinate and delight us. We are both a bit in awe of them - and of the fact that, no matter how much we see them, we just can't get enough of them!

Augie is my play buddy. We use his toy hoop in the basement and play basketball together (He's pretty good!). We also play trains and soldiers and cars and more. I'm teaching him to play Slapjack. I've read him lots of bedtime stories and sung lots of songs to get him to drop off to sleep at night. His favorites are Amazing Grace and Twinkle Twinkle. Sometimes, he'll even request the 'beautiful morning' song I sing for him when he gets up (Oh What a Beautiful Morning from the musical Oklahoma). He likes to crawl into bed with us early in the morning and watch cartoons. He likes the old Tom and Jerry ones best, just like me.

Augie is my movie buddy and my popcorn buddy too. Once when he woke very early and clearly was not going back to sleep, he asked to see The Polar Express movie. I got up with him and put the cd in so we could watch it together and not disturb everyone else. Then, he wanted popcorn, so the two of us watched the movie and ate popcorn for breakfast at 4 a.m.! Sometimes I think I can actually 'see the wheels turning' inside his head as he thinks things through and processes information. I am his Ma-Na, a word he came up with all by himself.

Augie is my bright, sweet, sensitive boy.

Kate is my loveable and loving girl. She'll put her hands out to come to me right away each time I see her. She remembered me from an early age and always feels safe with me, I think. Kate has a ready smile and is such a happy person. We play kitchen, mix up pretend cookies and have pretend tea together. We also play make-up with her toy purse and cosmetics. The lipstick is her favorite part. She idolizes her big brother, Augie, and, in fact, his name was one of her first words. Still, she is her own person and is pretty clear about what she wants. She is the most social of kids, wants to be with people and has one of the most engaging giggles and belly laugh I've ever heard.

Kate wants to be included, if I happen to be playing with her brother. She will climb right onto my lap and sit down to make sure she's in the mix with us. I get that and love her for it. Once, when she had a cold and I was trying not to catch it, I made a concentrated effort not to hold her or snuggle with her, which is not our norm. I could see her solemnly observing me and giving me looks of askance. About a half hour into our visit, she finally came over to me, looked me right in the eye and put up her hands. At that point, I didn't care if she had typhoid fever. She was telling me I was not holding her and loving on her, and she didn't like that. I didn't either, so I cuddled her and took my chances!

Kate is my loving, sweet, beautiful girl.

I'm sure it has something to do with not being the omnipresent caregivers and primary disciplinarians, but grandparenting is one of the very best things that's ever happened to us. These grandkids are the most amazing blessings.

Indeed, with them, life is good!