Category Archives: Day to Day

I was up too late last night babysitting.  Ronin woke up.  Didn’t cry but he was awake.  This was from 1:30 till about 2:30 when his mom got home.  I find no joy in being up at those hours but she was dancing and having fun.  I guess she needs a night of fun every now and then. 

This was after the birthday party for Kieran.  The rain prompted a sudden change in venue to my house so about 20 or so, maybe more or friends and family feted with hotdogs, chips and pop, and of course cake and ice cream.  He got more gifts than any kid needs.  Today was quite fun watching him try to catch bugs and identify them with the insect book Leo picked up for him.  A real insect book – no kid stuff.

Today Leo did something that a year ago I never thought he would ever be able to do or have the energy to do – he took both Zaka and Kieran for a walk to the park, looking for bugs on the way.  The three entomologists!  What a huge and wonderful change the lap band surgery has helped him achieve.  As I tell this story, I actually feel full of good and overcoming emotions.  It is so good to see Leo enjoying life so much.

Between kids and grandkids I also had to fit in some studying.  There is more to do and only one week left. 

that seem longer than others.  This was one of those days.

Strange how on these days the time does not seem to be terribly productive, or an extraordinary amount of work get done.  This day had its good moments but it has gone on.  maybe I should just get to bed!

There were some good things we did get done around our house today.  The pergola is up – yeah!  It was good that several of our kids were home today to help.  It wasn’t terribly hard but rather unwieldy and it required one brave soul who was unafraid to climb up to the top to put it together – only 7 feet, but for those who tremble a couple of feet off the ground, 7 feet is HIGH.  Just as we got to the point of attaching the canvas that will allow us to shade our very sunny and hot deck, we were hit by a downpour.  At that moment I was also off the ground a couple of feet.  In minutes, I was soaked.  The rain was not cold.  I had nowhere to go that I had to look presentable so it really was kind of fun getting caught out in the rain like that.  Its been a while since I have played in the rain!

Meanwhile, Rachelle and Grace were inside trying to get several of the Biology sections done for the summer school class Grace is doing.  They were working hard so my next job was to look after the little ones while they continued to work.  Lunch was made, the kids watched over and then the students moved down to the quiet of the basement.  Then around 2 it was nap time and everyone left so the Zaka could nap in his own place while more studying was done. 

This evening after his gold game, Leo called and wanted me to join him and some golfing friends for supper.  Leo and his boss, Linda both have wicked senses of humor.  Linda’s husband is a "farmer" who also makes crossbows for hunting and had just returned from a visit with some of his customers to South Africa.  While there he was attacked by a dog.  I guess he sat on it and held it down so it could not injure him more and then had to have someone come and kill it to get free.  Then he got back here and had to go through a series of rabies vaccinations.  Still has some numbness in his hands but is recovering well.  He and I were the non-joke tellers at the table.  Our job was to listen and laugh and that we did a decent job at, I think, even if some of Leo’s jokes I have heard a billion times. 

Ok, maybe not a billion.  But more times than I can count.

Then my aunt has not been feeling real well so we stopped up at her place for a short visit on our way home.  I think she’s doing pretty good.  She is always cheerful so sometimes I think she forgets that she just had pain half an hour ago. 

Then home to a quiet house.  Some of the kids are at a friend’s wedding tonight – Patrick’s best friend from elementary and high school.  Then Patrick and Amanda leave Monday for their visit to the Congo. 

So it has been a good long day.

It is always interesting to watch little kids take the first taste of new foods.  Their faces are so honest.  Tonight Zaka had his first fresh cherry.  He ate the pit and spit out the fruit.  It was funny to watch.  He has decided against cherries. 

Only two years and already he has very definite likes and dislikes.  Most green foods are not fit to be eaten – "no want" is his pronouncement.  And even without the words, one look at the turned up nose and the face full of disgust tells the true opinion.

The day began early – that’s how it goes when a garage sale is going on. Also Leo left at 6 for a meeting in Davidson so I was up for that. He did bring me coffee in bed this morning though.

My contribution to this humongous garage sale is childcare. For the most part it went fine. This morning we played in the livingroom. I have one end barricaded off with the sofa and the other with a baby gate so Ronin can’t escape. We have too many stairs and they are hard to block off. Then we all went for a walk in the park – interrupted towards the end by a call from the security company that monitors the office. So I went running off to check on that – all was fine as I suspected. No idea what set it off.

Made lunch and fed the shopkeepers, then played some more.

Later I decided that it would be fun to take Zaka to a little fun house for kids. It was the first time we’d been. Got to the door – carrying Ronin and dragging Zaka by the hand to read on the door “all persons must wear socks” Back we went to the car. Strapped both kids(now crying) back into the car seats and drove to the closest store. Grabbed a shopping cart, unbuckled the kids and loaded them into the cart. In we went and out we came with Zaka’s pick – some Spiderman socks. Pretty cool. And the ride in the shopping cart was a hit for both kids.

Buckled up again for the two block ride back to the fun house. Unbuckled and went in, Zaka proudly wearing his new socks. I was wearing sandals – I ended up purchasing a pair of socks which I discovered they sell at the door for unprepared people like me. Also paid for Zaka and myself. Ronin was free.

I had no idea that Zaka would be so hesitant to interact with strange kids. He refused to try any of the climbing and sliding equipment so he spent his time in the area for really little kids with me and Ronin. He seemed to have a good time but it was an expensive treat considering it consisted of crawling around on foam toys and he might have had just as much fun at home for free. I think he needs to go with someone who is a bit braver and more agressive socially.

It was a good day of just being a grandmother. But entertaining and hauling around a couple of kids is tiring work.