Me and Big Jake

My little guy Jake called me all Saturday afternoon to come over to my house. I have Sophie every week, Luke when school is out on Fridays and in the summer, and we take Nate alot after his games, but Jake never gets to come alone. (Max still wants his mom.) When I finally got home from visiting with Judy and Robyn, he headed over with his toothbrush and his puppy. We watched Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, played an UNO tournament, petted Tigger, snacked, visited with both Uncle Zach and Aunty Hannah, and many other things before we crawled into bed at midnight. Other than his clock whirling shenanigans -you know, where he ends up with his feet on my pillow and his head under the covers- we had a good night. We awoke bright and too early and he started the day by hand feeding Tigger for me. He then settled in to watch Violet, Klaus and Sunny from Lemony Snicket again with Tigger on his lap. He loves the part with Sunny and the snake, and was quoting things from the movie all day."Soda, soda, ba-na-na" and "Watch out for the refrigerator, if it falls it'll crush you flat." He spend time with Hannah, and chatted with Aunty Emily on the computer (calling her Emmy Booty Butt!) before we left for an outing. We walked through Unique Thrift where he talked me into buying him a pair of Spiderman disk shooters, and a couple books for Nathan (including A Series of Unfortunate Events). He wanted McDonald's for lunch, so McDonald's it was. We had planned to go to Como Zoo but it was too crowded with Winter carnival Events, so he picked out The Karate Kid DVD to watch. He was only half way through it when Molly and Jeff came to get him. I had a good time and he did too. I like one-on-one time with the grand kids the best. They get to be spoiled a little and the center of attention, and I get to really enjoy them and their fun little personalities.

Another One Bites The Dust

Jake invited himself over for an overnight of fun and games. Read 'em and weep!

Just Another Friday

Sophie and Luke showed up bright and early Friday morning. Sophie got her new kitty shoes (which BTW are a tad small) and Luke got 4 new chapter books. He gave me the look that he knew he got gypped. Sophie loved the new shoes and even wore them to bed.



Bob,Hannah, Sophie, Luke and I met Molly and Max for lunch at the Olive Garden. While we were waiting to order Luke went through the kids menu and finished the sudoku, maze, find a word, and tic tac toe. While we waited for our food we gave him math problems to solve like - "What is half of 12? What is 17 plus 14? Count to 50 by 3's" - all of which he sailed through with the right answers. I thought I'd mix things up.
Me: "Luke, how much is cuatro plus tres?"
Luke: thinking
Sophie: "siete"
Everyone: "How did you know that, Sophie?"
Sophie: "Well, it's Spanish and siete is my favorite number!"
The jury is still out on whether or not it was a lucky guess or she would've given the same answer to "how much is uno plus uno?"

When we got home it was nap time for the girls. Bob and Luke headed up to Blaine for the TwinsFest. They stood in line outside for an hour and a half to get Joe Mauer's autograph but were turned away. As a consolation prize, they got hot chocolate and left. They arrived back home the same time as Sarah. She threw in a pizza for the kids and they stayed for supper so Luke could spend some more time with us.



After supper Luke and I played UNO. He was full of confidence and taunts. He won our tourney on Monday and I was out for revenge. He holds nothing back when he plays. "Sorry, Grandma" he says as he lays down a Wild -Pick up 4, followed by a Pick up 2, and a Skip and a Reverse, all the while laying down his cards while I'm picking up mine. Pretty soon it's UNO and out! So I grant no mercy either. First he was beating me three games to one. Then I won 2 more to make it 3 up. Then he won. Then I won. Tied at 4-4 we knew the next game would determine the winner. Low and Behold I won! He was devastated. He said he would never play with me again. Do I care? Nope. I'm the champion!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Three Little Monkeys

We had a very busy Saturday. Bob, Hannah and I were in the car traveling to Nate's basketball tourney by 9:50 a.m. He played with his usual fervor and it was really fun to watch. He makes these fierce faces when he's running down the court. I would be afraid if I were an opponent. (I think if I teach him to growl when another kid approaches he'll be unstoppable!) These kids play "big boy" basketball so convincingly it's easy to forget they are only 9-10 years old. It was a heartbreaking 1 point loss in overtime! We had a very short break before the next game, so we headed up to a table in the cafeteria. I brought string cheese, clementines, and 100% juice boxes, but still got called out for bringing pixie sticks as a treat! Max spent the final 5 minutes crawling between us on the tabletop like a puppy. We headed back down for the 2nd game, and I stood in line to secure 9 seats for us. Grandpa Tim and Monica had joined our party. Sadly, he lost again! After the game when the coach was talking about how well they played and how much better they have gotten, I mentioned that I didn't get to see the last tournament's First Place Finish. He decided that I am THE JINX. I think that may be true.
After the game, we dropped off Hannah and took Nate to lunch at BWW. We headed right to the Audette's to babysit after lunch. Of course Bob got them all riled up again. You see, Bob has a few circus tricks that he entertains them with. This is something he's done with all the kids and grand kids. Trick One: He stands with the kid facing him. They hold hands, and the kid walks up the front of him like a monkey. When he gets to the top, he sits on his shoulders. Now here is the important part: the kid gives him a kiss "MUAH", and says good-bye "BYE-BYE" after which Bob spins him in a backward somersault back to the ground. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat! He can only do this with kids up to about Jake's size. The 2nd circus trick can be done to almost anyone who is crazy enough to try it. Trick Two: In this trick, Bob lays flat on his back on the floor. He bends his elbows and puts his hands, palms up, flat on the floor nest to his head. At this point the victim, partner stands on his hands. Bob lifts them into the air until his arms are straight up. You have to have crazy balance to try this. This is an old trick from his repertoire. (In fact my sister's earliest memory of Bob is as a high school kid inviting her to "stand on his hands". This isn't quite as creepy as it sounds- she was 12.) Anyway, after riling them up, they decided to break the rules and play basketball in the family room. I pleaded, yelled, and finally took away the basketball. By then Jake was falling asleep. He wouldn't go to bed, but set up a nest in the beanbag and drifted off. Max tried to fight it, but fell asleep sitting up on the couch and was carried up to bed. Nate wouldn't give in to sleep and was still awake when Molly and Jeff got home at 10:30. We finally arrived home 13 hours after we started out in the morning, worn out but loving it.

Leisure Time

8:45 a.m. Sarah drops off Sophie.
9:15 a.m. Ate breakfast.Got a New Doll. Turned on "Sleeping Beauty." Brushed teeth. Styled hair into bunny ears. Explained the difference between pony tail and bunny ears. Used lotion (Grandma's) and lipgloss (Hannah's). Painted fingernails- Blue!
9:45a.m. Petted Tigger. Tried to do a craft project with crayons and wax paper, but gave up when I had to grate the crayons instead because we couldn't find a pencil sharpener.
10:15 a.m. Turned on "The Little Mermaid". Explained why we had snow on the inside of our windows. Ate banana. Read book to Tigger. Undressed and untied all ribbons on new doll.
11:00 a.m. Discussed soup for lunch. Ascertain that chicken-rice is her favorite. Dig out all the toys from the closet. Sophie explains to Grandma what a MobiGo is. Retie all doll ribbons. Again.
12:00 noon Eat lunch. Have a candy necklace treat. Wash pink off face and hands from aforementioned candy necklace.
1:30 p.m. Naptime for Sophie and Grandma. Even the New Doll was tired!

Gwamma, Gwamma

Yesterday Nate was sick with Strep throat and missed school. Jake had never taken the bus home by himself, so Grandpa and I went to pick him up after school. We had a few things for them so we hung around for a while. At one point I had all 3 boys on my lap. Heaven. When we were getting ready to go, Max kept on saying "bye". I know what he really meant was 'I want to go with you'. I pretended I didn't understand, and opened the door to leave. He yelled "Gwamma, Gwamma." It was the first time he called me by name except when he was 'parroting'. Yippee. I went back in, kissed him and opened the door a second time. This time he slammed the door behind me! I left laughing out loud.

Mid-Winter Blahs

Sophie came over on Wednesday in her pajamas. I could not convince her to leave the house with me. She was very content to get her hair done and her nails polished, and play in her P.J.s. On Friday she came over again, this time dressed. And as soon as her mom left, she took off her shoes and socks. And pants! Little Miss Lazybones wanted to stay inside in pajamas again. I don't have any here so she settled for being in a tee and unders. I kept on asking her if she was cold and told her to put on pants. She said she wasn't. I told her I was cold. She told me to "wear pants then!" Alrighty then...

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Little Miss Fashionista

.........................THE PURRFECT SHOES........................................

......................"WHAT?! YOU AREN'T BUYING THEM FOR ME?".................

Sophie came over today full of sugar and spice and dressed to the nines. I tried to sneak out without her, but she wasn't having it. "Don't you want to stay with Aunty Hannah and Grandpa?" I asked. "It's cold out!" "Nope", said the princess. She wanted to go out for pizza. But first we ran an errand at Rosedale and I made the mistake of popping into GapKids. She spotted THE SHOES. Pink ballet flats with a black patent leather kitty on the toe. "I need these shoes!" She breathlessly rushed on,"I want to try them on. They're my size." I explained I can't buy them for her today.I told her maybe for Easter and then eased her toward the door. "NOOOoo," she wailed. "I need them!" Oh lord. I placated her with a ride on the escalators, twice, and going to the pizza restaurant. But I really need to stay out of the stores with her now that she knows her own mind. The guilt is killing me.

Happy New Year

I have had the flu since Christmas Eve, but it's all over now but the coughing. I stayed in for a week straight before I finally got out of the house to babysit the Audette's on New Year's Eve. (I'm not sure that counts as going out if I was in my pajamas, does it?) The boys were good except when Grandpa got 'em riled up and Max bit Jake and Nate! The other two fell asleep, but Nate stayed up until 12:30 when I told him I'd lie down with him in his room. We had non-alcoholic champagne at midnight and assorted food on a stick. Sophie and Luke came a callin' on New Years Day. Luke helped Hannah cook dinner and then they played UNO. He needs to learn how to hold his cards in his hand, but he is good with the revenge cards like "Pick up 4" or "Lose a Turn." Luke also let me try out my new lens I got for Christmas on him and his missing tooth while Sophie napped. On New Years Day evening we again went to the Audette's, this time with Zach, Alex, Hannah, Diane, Uncle Rich, Luke and Sophie. We had our traditional meal of Pronto Pups.( Don't ask.... ) Happy New Year 2011.