...an invasion of sorts #4...

Sigh!  It's my last day here at the palace!  Of course by now I've realized that I'M the one invading THEIR space.  They know where everything is and how things are normally done. Suddenly a person who usually simply plays with them is left in charge!  This rubs some little people the wrong way at times.  I do notice the little smirks when I let them know that "Mommy told me..." and then we get along just great!  

The multi-talented Cinderella by the way, is also a poet.  She loves to add a line or two to everything that's said and the last words of the lines always rhyme.  Today she made up a little song as she was playing outside. She called it "Jesus Is With Us".......  "Jesus is with us, He is always here.  Even when we pollinate, Jesus is  with me every time!"  It's so good it doesn't need to rhyme!  We can conclude she knows about the bees.  I doubt very much she knows about the birds too!!  It was a coincidence I'm sure but it almost left me blushing and wondering if the neighbour next door heard her!!

Taking them out of town on an outing today confirmed to me once again that mother's really do need eyes in the back of their heads (growing up, my daughters were almost convinced I did have them!) as well as six arms and hands!  I never realized how much entertainment a public bathroom can be!  For instance did you know that:   standing under the hand dryer will set it off every time? a five year old can get 5 paper towels from an automatic paper towel dispenser before you can stop him?  and while you're setting him straight the three year old can repeat the offense?  and just as you've washed and dried all the hands, but before you can make it out the door the three year old goes and touches the toilet seat AGAIN?!  and while you're washing her hands the five year old escapes and runs down the hallway into the mall?!  Are you getting a visual of this?  My visuals always come in cartoon form.  Oh how I wish I could sketch!!

One thing I know.  The days are never long when you share them with a three year old and a five year old and the tired is a good kind of tired!

I have had an awesome week with my royal charges!  

...an invasion of sorts #3 ....

Some days I just don't think!  An example would be:  You do not take a 5 and 3 year old for a quick trip to the grocery store so you can hurry home to get lunch on the table so the 5 year old can quickly eat before catching the bus to K!  I KNOW that but somehow it does not sink in until it is too late.  I remembered it the minute I let them both have a "little shopper's cart" at Sobey's today!  One of the check out clerks gave us a strange look as we picked them up and headed toward the entrance, back into the store.  We set off some sort of alarm as I headed through the doors with my eager shoppers.  By the time I had saved several fellow shoppers from a severe case of "little shopper's cart welts" I was so wrecked I thought I'ld hurl my breakfast in the produce department!  When I muttered something to the effect that "I will NEVER do this again!"  I had to look into four big innocent eyes to explain why!  "Because Nana has no time to look at the food....I am too busy watching where you two are going!"

After dinner it seemed important to do it all again.  This time at the mall!  By now I was completely calm and confident in my ability to stay in control!  One thing these two understand is rules.  So we agreed on a few rules.  1.  The minute anyone cries because they do not get their way we LEAVE the store (both are nodding enthusiastically).  2.  If something is too expensive we have to agree on a different thing (yes, but we WILL get SOMETHING.  Yes, I agree, they will get something.)  3. We will be respectful and kind (lots of nodding and "yes's" in unison).

UNBELIEVABLE!  These two model shoppers could not have been better behaved or more well mannered.  They made me SO PROUD!  

Had to take Cinderella with me to the bank where she was fed candy by the staff.  Before we left she made sure I understood that we would not tell her brother that she got candy.  Oddly enough she had forgotten her vow by the time he came home from K as I heard her apologetically  confess "the lady had a little jar (it was HUGE!) and she offered me two candies!"  We play a lot while her brother is at K.  I ALWAYS have to be sick.  I'm told when to cough, when to cry, whether I'm in pain, and if I have a fever.  Today she finally told me "Your faith has healed you.  Don't tell anyone I did it!"  Then she left to walk "on the river".  You guessed it!  She was Jesus and apparently I was an "Inciple" and needed to follow her wherever she went!

What an interesting pair!  So loveable!  So passionate about EVERYTHING!  So free to express themselves!  The spontaneous "I love you, Nana" expression is the one I hear long after they are tucked in for the night.  Sleep well you little rascals!!

  

  

....an intrusion of sorts #2....

As I sat down to review the last three days I've realized that they have brought about some very noticeable changes in me.  I talk different (Cinderella taught me a new word today "squimbled" which she explained means "twisted", feel different (I would call it "combinational exhaustion"... meaning both physically and mentally!) and I look different (my eyes have never been this red before!). 

I've been sitting at my computer for the past 30 minutes and keep waking up with my chin on my chest!  And it's ONLY 9 PM!  The dishes are still waiting for me in the kitchen but my little charges are dreaming sweet dreams by now.  I loved Cinderella's prayer tonight.  I read them a story about David and Saul - a lesson on being kind.  Her prayer was "Dear Jesus, please help me to be kind like David.  Thank you for being here.  I LOVE your words!"

I feel a little squimbled tonight so I am cleaning the kitchen so I can get in a few more hours of rest tonight!

I'll be BACK!

...an invasion of sorts #1 ....

I kept checking the kitchen window to see when they would arrive and was surprised to see Prince Riker running towards the house with Cinderella (by the way, my  new name is "Snow White" ... well, it's better than "The Wicked Stepmother, isn't it?!!) on his heels.  I felt so prepped, prepared and ready for them so you can well imagine how I  felt when the first thing he said to me was "Nana, you left the keys in door!"  Sure enough!  The keys had been in the dead bolt lock ALL NIGHT ... an open invitation to the neighbourhood!  GREAT start!  I'M supposed to be the responsible one protecting my little charges!  My confidence in my capabilities sank even lower later when the BACK DOOR blew open.  Seems I forgot to secure the dead bolt on that door as well!  Let's recap.  Since I've taken charge of this house I have broken a bathroom water tap, the kitchen sink stopper and left both doors open for intruders during the night!  Things can only improve from here on!

In the bath last night Cinderella assured me she would not squirt water from her new "fishy" on the floor because "I want to impwess my mommy and daddy so they will be happy with me!" I take it her brother was not "impwessed" with her at all today when I heard him warn her "Don't taunt me!"

It is busy and noisy during the day to the point of exhaustion (MINE not theirs) but now as I sit here in the dark with my scented candles burning up the remaining smell of our delicious pasta dinner I rather miss those two little bodies and all the chit chat of the day.  Sleep well sweet babes!  I'll see you in the morning!

...an invasion of sorts....

For the past week I have had the pleasure of occupying a home in Winnipeg and having it all to myself.  That all changes today, very shortly in fact, when a very special five year old and an equally special and lively three year old come to join me for the next week while their parents swim in the Rio Grande, through caves, and just generally relax and "enjoy" the hot, humid environment of Belize!  Personally, I'ld rather be in a desert somewhere, but then it's not MY vacation is it?!

Yes, this sanctuary of quiet solitude will soon turn into a jungle gym of lego, dolls, balloons, books, movies, princesses, and robots!  To tell you the truth, I can hardly wait.  Enough of this deafening peace and quiet already!  Life is not supposed to be quiet all the time, is it?   Besides, I am SO READY for them.  The place is spotless, refrigerator is packed,  laundry baskets are empty, and I'm all rested up (I think!).

Please stay tuned this week!  There will be regular up-dates on all the goings on of our shared space for the next week!