They live just down the little dirt road, and whenever he wants to, my little boy can hop on his bike or wet his boots in the mud puddles on the way to see his grandparents.

We chose to move here and build our family home here just so they could be an everyday part of his life and memory, and we have no regrets. They have so much knowledge and love to give him (and us) and their close proximity has been a wonderful blessing.

He won’t be one of those kids, like I was, who only saw their grandparents a handful of times and didn’t really know them. He will have a real relationship with them — close enough to truly benefit from their wisdom.

He recently spent a whole day with his grandmother when his school was closed but both mom and dad had to work. So lucky for me she was available to take him for the whole day, and he was thrilled to go. He knows that days with grandma will be full of adventure, and she did not disappoint.

She took him to one of her favorite fishing spots with his cute little pole, and with her guidance he reeled in his first fish — a little rainbow trout just big enough for dinner. She sent me a picture of his precious face beaming with his very first catch on the end of his line.

“That’s my boy!” my husband exclaimed, and we all marveled at his angling skills at such a tender young age.

I’m proud to say he’s surpassed me already, having never caught a fish myself.

I’m sure this day will be among his first and fondest memories — the day he caught his first fish — as I’m sure so many of his earliest memories will be of them and their home as the setting for holidays and birthdays and quiet rainy days.

Grandma often makes granola for their breakfasts, and the smell of it fresh out of the oven will probably always remind him of her. I didn’t ask her for her recipe, although I should have, but this version made my home smell like hers while I was home alone, and my boys were off on another memory-making outdoor adventure with her.

This apple cinnamon quinoa granola is only mildly sweet, perfect as a topping for honeyed yogurt or for eating plain with milk.

Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Granola

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats (I used protein enriched oats for the added nutritional benefit)

½ cup pumpkin seeds

½ cup dry quinoa

1 cup apple juice

½ cup slivered almonds

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup applesauce

¼ cup maple syrup

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions:

Bring the apple juice to a boil and stir in the quinoa.

Turn the heat the low and cook for 10-15 minutes, until all the liquid has been absorbed and the quinoa is soft.

Spread the cooked quinoa out on a sheet and allow it to cool completely before continuing.

Combine the oats, nuts, cinnamon and cooked quinoa in a large bowl.

Whisk together the applesauce and maple syrup, then pour over the granola.

Stir to coat and thoroughly mix.

Spread out onto a parchment-lined baking tray and bake at 350 degrees for between 30 and 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to keep from burning.

When the granola is finished, it should be dry and crunchy.

Allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the pantry for up to two weeks.