I have stuck around in order to be Grand-nanny to my grandchildren while Megan and Denis work. In future years, now that they are closer to the children (30 minutes as I gauged it), there will be no need for an all-summer visitation for Meg. Grandma probably couldn't handle it! I'm not getting things taken care of at home, and it works on me. Still, my life is with my grandchildren while they need me. I'm just getting older, ya know?
Saturday was Robin's 9th birthday. We met her father and stepmother and friends at the Winthrop Harbor Marina for Harbor Day activities and a little girl's birthday party. The biggest part of the day was a cardboard boat regatta. Teams were given two big pieces of cardboard, a roll of duct tape, and big sheets of plastic. Boat design was up to the team. Daddy Nathan and friend Louis made the boat. Robin and her friend Nicole were to do the paddling. (Another set of partiers had a boat, too.) When the regatta took place, Robin and Nicole paddled like crazy and came in second (out of four) in spite of their inexperience at this sort of thing. The boat didn't sink and they didn't capsize. They got a little trophy for their experience. I think they had fun! After cake and gifts, I left for "home" while the rest of the family went to Nathan and Kendra's in Zion with friends. They had pizza, then went to a Lake Michigan beach nearby for a fun ending to a busy day. They got home somewhat late (8/9:00-something) and hungry. I fed them mac and cheese, and we all went to bed.
The next day (Sunday...yesterday), the plan was to go to Six Flags (Great America) just a couple of miles from here, to take advantage of free passes that the children had earned from school. The passes were to expire that day, so it was a "use it or lose it" situation. Originally, Megan and Denis were going to take the kids, but Meg had had no opportunity to unpack their bedroom, etc., since we had spent the previous weekend in Indiana cleaning out my fridge. Denis VOLUNTEERED to take the children by himself! They left around noon. I seriously expected them to be back by 5:00 or 6:00--especially since there had been a short thunderstorm in there--but they had a blast. Denis kept in touch via text messages and eventually asked permission for them to shut the place down at 10:00!
Meanwhile, Megan and I worked. I did laundry. She unpacked and sorted. At one point, we went shopping to take advantage of a Kohl's coupon for pants for Denis...and groceries at Walmart...then back to work. I did 10 loads of laundry. Meg unpacked and cleaned. By the end of the day, the difference was quite noticeable. When Denis and the children got home (10:45-ish) they were hungry and very, very tired. (I think it's the first time I ever witnessed Robin excuse herself from our company in order to go to bed!!)
Today--Monday--Megan and Denis went to work. The children and I kept a low profile. They seemed as tired as I felt! No one fussed with each other. Ryan never even got out of his pajamas all day. It rained during the fun part of the evening, so Robin couldn't even play with her new scooter. (Remind me to post the translated Chinese assembly instructions. What a hoot!)
I am really ready to go home. It is pleasant here and I have a place to be...but there are things that aren't getting done at home. I am here until the end of the week when my medicine runs out. After that, we have to decide if I am taking the grandchildren home with me for a week until they go back home to Zion, or if I can find a way to come up with meds for another week. Stay tuned!!
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