Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Let’s get started….
Last Thursday, granddaughter One found the fabric she had picked from my horde on a visit two weeks before. The purpose was new nightgowns. All hers are outgrown. It was interesting to note that she doesn’t remember that she every owned them. She found the flannel I had used to make some of them and noted that it was the same as her sister’s (handed down) nightgowns. On Saturday night, when I still hadn’t found the time to cut out a single piece, she said, “Now let's get started on those nightgowns”. I didn’t have time, it was 10 p.m., so I said I’d make them and mail them next week.
Our granddaughters were here for 4 nights last week; we took them to their new home on Sunday. On night three, granddaughter One had a hard time. She is especially sensitive and she missed her daddy and mommy. She cried for quite a while, no matter that it was only one more night, and so on. Finally I did what I’ve always done when faced with a crying child. I just held her, rocked her, and told her I would keep her safe. After a while, she climbed off my lap, arranged her bed and went to sleep.
This new home is an apartment, very different from the single family rural home of her first four years. We arrived and both girls were happy to see their brother and mom, and surprised to find their aunt and two cousins there. Daughter One and her sons were part of the labor force which made the move possible for two working parents with three small children. We installed the curtains I had made for the windows. Apparently there is a “beige” rule in effect—but we had Strawberry Shortcake and Spiderman. Oh well.
Two and her husband are closing the sale of their old home this week, and they have the luxury of a year in the apartment to get to know their community and select a new neighborhood and home. The garage they rented with their apartment is packed, but everything they elected to keep fits somewhere.
Son-in-law is coming tomorrow to bring granddaughter Two to spend the afternoon with me while he takes grandson One and granddaughter One to a Tiger’s game. That means that granddaughter One will be looking for her nightgowns when they arrive. Now, let's get started on those nightgowns!
Our granddaughters were here for 4 nights last week; we took them to their new home on Sunday. On night three, granddaughter One had a hard time. She is especially sensitive and she missed her daddy and mommy. She cried for quite a while, no matter that it was only one more night, and so on. Finally I did what I’ve always done when faced with a crying child. I just held her, rocked her, and told her I would keep her safe. After a while, she climbed off my lap, arranged her bed and went to sleep.
This new home is an apartment, very different from the single family rural home of her first four years. We arrived and both girls were happy to see their brother and mom, and surprised to find their aunt and two cousins there. Daughter One and her sons were part of the labor force which made the move possible for two working parents with three small children. We installed the curtains I had made for the windows. Apparently there is a “beige” rule in effect—but we had Strawberry Shortcake and Spiderman. Oh well.
Two and her husband are closing the sale of their old home this week, and they have the luxury of a year in the apartment to get to know their community and select a new neighborhood and home. The garage they rented with their apartment is packed, but everything they elected to keep fits somewhere.
Son-in-law is coming tomorrow to bring granddaughter Two to spend the afternoon with me while he takes grandson One and granddaughter One to a Tiger’s game. That means that granddaughter One will be looking for her nightgowns when they arrive. Now, let's get started on those nightgowns!
Friday, September 01, 2006
Labor Day
The big weekend is upon us. We are doing something pretty different this year, staying home. For most years since we have lived here near the big city, we have fought the traffic, headed north and spend the holiday with Mother-in-law. We are staying close to home because our granddaughters are here and waiting patiently to go to their new home.
Son-in-law and grandsons One and Three actually did move all the household goods yesterday. I understand that there were a few glitches, but word last night was that the truck was almost all unloaded. Daughter Two, grandson One and S-in-l will have today to start organizing. S-in-l must go to work tonight, leaving Two and the boys to continue, with the help of daughter One and grandson Two, who will drive over tonight.
Papa and I are planning a trip to the Detroit Zoo with granddaughters on Saturday, then we will take them to their new home Sunday. This has been especially hard for granddaughter One, who understands something is happening, but really doesn’t understand at all. She has been nervous and upset during most of the visits she has had here this summer.
Two and S-in-l have elected to rent for a year or so until they get to know the new community better. That means the new home is an apartment, quite different from the stand-alone rural country house the family formerly occupied. Two talked up the features of the new home: swimming pool, playground, etc and granddaughter One seems to understand the differences. She knows the new home is smaller, and she knows she needs her father or mother with her to swim. Perhaps most important, she knows her Dora curtains and her own bed will be in the new room she will share with her sister.
So we are having a great visit, and keeping happy thoughts to help her until she sees her parents again Sunday.
Oh, ya. Our new floor arrives today, between 3 and 5, on a semi-truck. Since we don’t have a fork lift in the garage-funny we have everything else- we will be snapping the bands and unloading 2 pallets of laminate flooring onto the drive and carting it up to the house this afternoon. Fun, fun.
Son-in-law and grandsons One and Three actually did move all the household goods yesterday. I understand that there were a few glitches, but word last night was that the truck was almost all unloaded. Daughter Two, grandson One and S-in-l will have today to start organizing. S-in-l must go to work tonight, leaving Two and the boys to continue, with the help of daughter One and grandson Two, who will drive over tonight.
Papa and I are planning a trip to the Detroit Zoo with granddaughters on Saturday, then we will take them to their new home Sunday. This has been especially hard for granddaughter One, who understands something is happening, but really doesn’t understand at all. She has been nervous and upset during most of the visits she has had here this summer.
Two and S-in-l have elected to rent for a year or so until they get to know the new community better. That means the new home is an apartment, quite different from the stand-alone rural country house the family formerly occupied. Two talked up the features of the new home: swimming pool, playground, etc and granddaughter One seems to understand the differences. She knows the new home is smaller, and she knows she needs her father or mother with her to swim. Perhaps most important, she knows her Dora curtains and her own bed will be in the new room she will share with her sister.
So we are having a great visit, and keeping happy thoughts to help her until she sees her parents again Sunday.
Oh, ya. Our new floor arrives today, between 3 and 5, on a semi-truck. Since we don’t have a fork lift in the garage-funny we have everything else- we will be snapping the bands and unloading 2 pallets of laminate flooring onto the drive and carting it up to the house this afternoon. Fun, fun.
