Eclectic Parent

Last week while B went to northern California with mommy and daddy, the boys chose to stay with grandma and papa. I just got the update from grandma and the concise version is ice cream, cartoons, popcorn, movies, ice cream, stomp rockets, popcorn, camping. What a week . . . grandma’s tale below:

Wed. was our first day of our sleepover extravaganza and after C’s gymnastics class (which we arrived for very early since I did not want to be late) we went off to IKEA.  As soon as we arrived they were starved even though we had a big lunch at home.  So of course we started with ice cream cones.  Then we started shopping, looking mostly, and they could not wait to eat, faint with hunger again.  After Swedish meatballs and french fries which they devoured we shopped a bit more and after check out they were starving again.  So it was cinnamon roll for D and another ice cream cone for C.  Shopping requires a lot of nourishment.  We went home and had popcorn, of course, for a snack and a Avatar cartoon and off to bed.

Thurs. after breakfast we headed off to AZ Mills and Costco.  Big breakfast but weak with hunger by the time we got to the mall at 1100.  Shopped for a while, gotta love the Disney Store.  They found Narnia bows, arrows, swords etc. but Grandma wasn’t up for that so we moved on without complaint.  Raced off to D’s gymnastics class only to find that we were an hour early so we went home and unpacked the Costco food and then went back.  After gymnastics we collected the things that we would take to Strawberry so that we could get up, pack the car and get an early start in the morning.

Fri.  Preplanning was a great idea but I underestimated the amount of supplies needed for a 5 day stay.  D and C carried everything out as I tried to cram it into the car.  I don’t care how spacious they say the trunk is, a sedan is a sedan.  After numerous packing, unpacking and repacking of things we finally left Mesa looking like we were fleeing the Oklahoma dust bowl.  One bicycle in the trunk with things packed all around it and another in the front seat with the case of toilet paper jammed beside it - we did go to Costco remember.  After a stop at Target leaving town and a stop at Home Depot in Payson we arrived in Strawberry with the boys feet propped up on packages and things in their laps.  They were uncomplaining and thought it was great fun.  The first order of the day after unpacking the car and running through the house was to load the Indiana Jones Lego game.  Barely had time to play that and we had to run back to Payson for Kung Foo Panda and dinner with Peter.  I had thought we might stop at the Cancer walk-a-thon but by then everyone (mostly Grandma) was getting pretty tired so it was back home for more Indiana Jones, ice cream and bed.

Sat.  This was a work day for my gardeners and we trimmed plants, pulled weeds, raked and got our flower bed ready for planting.  We then set up the tent with C in charge of putting the sleeping bags and pillows inside.  In between Indiana Jones, finger rockets and legos we made banana bread and regular bread.  They were amazed by the bread machine and the loaf was eaten the first day.  The idea of sleeping in the tent was very exciting but we had to wait until it was dark so they could use their new finger flashlights. D wanted to sleep on the ground but C said he would be afraid.  I agreed with C that the deck was wild enough for me especially with all of the javelina that come into the yard, not to mention skunks, snakes, coyotes, bugs etc.  We had placed a tarp and a packing blanket underneath the tent but the floor of the tent still got very cold.  It was a real challenge to try to keep those wigglers inside their sleeping bags.  I could just grab C’s and shake him down inside when he would wriggle his way out but D was too heavy so I finally gave up and unzipped mine and spread it over him.  Even so he woke up in the morning saying that he was frozen.  But it was fun anyway.

Sun.  Off to the nursery in Star Valley for plants.  A very eclectic mix since we pick them out by favorite color.  Came home and planted them all.  Then of course they must be watered and the gardeners must be watered as well.  Somehow in the melee I ended up soaked to the skin.  Back into the house and warm showers for everyone.  After dinner (C ate 1.5 large hamburgers with buns) we took the sleeping bags out and put three quilts on the floor of the tent, which really helped keep it warm and helped the comfort a bit too.  We got into our pajamas and played the card game war in the tent by electric lantern light.  With the lantern and the crickets chirping and coyotes howling it really was like camping.

Mon.  Everyone stayed warmer but I had to say that I couldn’t sleep on the hard wooden deck, even with quilts, for 3 nights in a row so we dismantled the tent for this visit.  Time to open the stomp rocket and we spent hours competing to see who could shoot it the farthest.  Papa won this contest hands down.  Didn’t do anything special on this day.  Indiana Jones, art, watering the flowers and each other, lots of eating, bread making, Tom and Jerry with Papa.  Just an enjoyable day.  Given the choice of sleeping in the bed in the guest room, sleeping in their sleeping bags in the guest room or in our room, they opted to sleep in the guest room if I stayed in there too.  I awoke about 1 when C got in bed with me.  About 3 I awoke and couldn’t go back to sleep so came down to read. When I came back upstairs D was now in bed with C so guess who ended up sleeping on the floor?  I could have moved one of them but they looked so peaceful I couldn’t do it.  Also, didn’t want to go to our room and have them wake up in the dark and be afraid.

Tues.  A leisurely morning and then a trip to the Pine library.  Borrowed a book, Weslandia, which they enjoyed and 2 videos which we never found time to watch.  We had thought that they might need the entertainment since I was going back to work on Wed. and they would be with Papa.  We also had to go to the market since we were out of ice cream cones, which was a true hardship, probably more for Papa than them.  Had a picnic lunch in the living room with Papa, grilled cheese and Tom and Jerry.  More stomp rockets, Indiana Jones, War, art etc.  Still having fun but wondering when Mommy, Daddy and B will come.  Put them to bed in their sleeping bags on our floor so after I left at 530 they would be with Papa when they woke up. Felt very wistful that our week was nearly gone.  Having them here lets us know how much we miss them when they’re away.

Wed.  Wonderful to have you all here and to see the photos and hear B’s tales of the Charlie cars.  You thanked us for keeping the boys but we are grateful to you for allowing us to have them.  It was  gratifying to hear them tell you they were having ”so much fun”.   Can’t wait for the next time.