Life At Grammie's

Interesting things seem to always happen at Grammie and Papa's house. Before we had arrived my nephews were fed pancakes with syrup and 1000 ants for sprinkles. Apparently mom left the syrup out in the kitchen and ants crawled in the bottle and died. Dad cooked the pancakes, handed them and the syrup to the kids, they poured it on good and then the boys just sat there. So when my mom walked out and noticed the kids just sitting there, food untouched, she came closer and there they were- antcakes. Disgusting you might say but if you know my mom you would know she is notorious for things like that. Once she served cheesecake that fell on the floor and called it Cheesecake LaFluer. Her guests thought it was fancy and gobbled it down. Another time she had put the fish food flakes in a salt shaker so my brother and I wouldn't over pour the food in the tank. She happened to forget doing so and that night for dinner my brother salted his salad with fish food. She's made cakes and put the frosting on the inside and the pudding on the outside, pumpkin pies without sugar, you name it- we have suffered through it.

Typically before Dave and I arrive my mom's house she removes all the breakables and the glass coffee table. I guess since the boys are older she figured she didn't need to. After the boys were there for 2 hours they had already shattered a beer bottle all over the floor when they hit the ottoman into the coffee table. The next day one of my nephews attempted to set his refilled glass on the dining room table and whamo, it hit the ground, water and glass everywhere. The next night my brother knocked his glass over while trying to grab the salt shaker from his oldest son's hand so he didn't put too much salt on his food. Maybe there is just a strong gravitational pull at Grammies. Who knows.

So we finally arrived late Thursday night and the boys all slept in one room, my mom and dad in the room next to them, and Dave and I slept in my parent's room with Ava on a toddler bed and Liv in a sleeping bag on the floor. Needless to say the 3 and a half hour nap the girls took early that day allowed the girls to stay awake for our entire drive and then until about midnight. Here we are all packed in one room and Dave and I are ready to sleep but the girls are awake. And then at 5:30 AM when Ava decided to wake up I decided we were going swimming. 5 minutes later Dave and Livy jumped in the pool. Mom came out around 7AM and by 8AM the whole family was outside and swimming. For the most part the days were all the same. We woke up early and got in the pool before breakfast, and then again after breakfast, then the girls had lunch and took their naps, and when they woke up we swam again, had dinner and a shower, watched a movie and went to sleep. It was great. The girls got their exercise, were totally worn out for naps and bedtime, and they had a fantastic time playing with their cousins.

Friday the girls got to meet my Godmother Roz and her husband Louie who were in town visiting her family. They stayed for an hour and interacted with the girls and got some cute photos with them.
Saturday morning we went to have professional portraits taken which went smoothly, then we headed to the museum. It was at this time my nephew J discovers his RASH. He then began to rub it raw so it spread all down his leg. Wonderful. It was a very hot afternoon so we didn't stay all day at the museum. We went out for lunch and headed back to the house to save our sanity and our body temperature in the pool.






Sunday my mom and I went to the store and bought some chicken for barbecuing. My dad had taken the boys fishing that morning so Dave put the girls down for their nap and he hung out with my mom. It was 109 degrees outside while I roasted by the grill. When the boys got back from not catching any fish we all went swimming again. My dad couldn't get over the fact that Lady could see her reflection in the outdoor stainless steel grill island kitchen he has and she would not stop barking at herself so he got out to make her move when he open the door under the grill and found a trapped cat. So I got out and Dave and the girls got out and Dave and I looked inside again and found 2 kittens. Well after feeding a can of tuna to the mommy cat I pulled out 5 kittens about 4 weeks old. Dave put the kittens in a box, the mom in a cage, and then we discovered that the cat family had been inside the bottom of the island kitchen the entire time I was barbecuing. Weird. Interesting. Whatever. Like I said, THINGS happen at Grammie's. The kids all played with the kittens, we brought them inside for the night and fed the mom. The next day they went to the animal shelter for examination, shots, spaying, neutering, and to be adopted hopefully.



Monday night we drove home from our vacation, feeling good, relaxed, tanned, and believe it or not- well rested. The next day my parents drove the boys to the coast to camp in the RV and after being there for 3 hours, my nephew J got bit by a wasp, my nephew M fell in a mud puddled and was covered from head to toe, and God only knows what was in store for the other one. I guess strange things follow my parents everywhere. So to anyone who might cross their path while driving, camping, or just generally breathing- LOOK OUT, things don't always stay at Grammie's.

The Outting

Today we visited the CA Academy Of Science in Golden Gate Park. We took the BART and the Muni to get there so it took us probably an hour and a half. During the BART ride Ava wanted to get out of the stroller so we took her out but then she needed to get back in so we could transfer to the Muni. Ava didn't feel the same way about the transfer that we did and she had a major blowout. It was lovely. Although Dave and I were both mortified by the outburst, the doors opened and we were free to escape the embarrassment. Thankfully.

After the chaos was finished we arrived at the CAOS and ate lunch. That put everyone in a good mood and we were off to see the aquarium. The girls loved looking at all the big fish and being able to touch the starfish. Dave got to see an old buddy of his who's a volunteer there so it was nice that he could talk to the girls about the starfish and their habitat.

After the aquarium we went into the rain forest exhibit and felt the humidity and the butterflies on our shirts. Olivia loved loved loved the butterflies.

After the elevator ride down we went to see the penguins and the rest of the African exhibit and then we headed home. Ava fell asleep on the Muni and didn't wake up until we got in the car at our BART stop.

Olivia was nervous about Ava and I sitting in front of the Muni while she sat with Dave and Grandma in the back. She was worried we wouldn't get off at the same stop as she did. Grandma said she never stopped talking about it. Ever since we went to Denver for the funeral Olivia has been very worried about me leaving and not coming back. She asks me at least once a day if I'm staying home. She tells me she loves me repeatedly and has become very clingy. I know in a while she'll understand but I feel sad for her that she even feels she needs to worry about it.

Once we were off the Muni and together again Olivia felt better. She started in on her usual chatting away which went on and on until we got home. Thankfully Grandma had to take the brunt of this one and listen to all of her stories. Sometimes I'm just done hearing it. I know that sounds bad but the girl just doesn't stop talking-ever. I'm thinking ear plugs... is that wrong?

So that was our journey for the day. We ate dinner and went to bed-literally. We were all exhausted.

Potty talk & the museum

I realize I may not need to jot down every little thing about Ava' s potty training but it helps me remember what worked and what didn't from day to day and to track her progress so far. Today she woke up with a wet diaper but it was far less filled than usual. Maybe it was due to her cold but yesterday after her nap she woke up with a completely dry diaper so I'm thinking that she may have made a connection with liking the feeling of dryness and of panties. I hope so. I really really really hate the hot smell of pee in the morning accompanied or unaccompanied by the waft of crap she usually has. Somehow I don't see my life working out that easily since it hasn't yet but we shall see.

Today Dave went to the doctor to get his x-ray. Yes this month 3 of the 4 of us have been x-rayed! Yeah we filled the quota!!! For those of you who don't know me that was total and complete sarcasm. How many other freakin' families have to be x-rayed, on weekends of course when the hospital is half staffed and at their VERY slowest? Apparently just us. Because we are that cool. Ugg. No more visits to the ER, the x-ray room, the pharmacy, or the doctor. We are taking September off...a vacation let's say. Ok I'm done. I'll stop.

While Dave was off doing his thing, Ava made her first potty, then ate breakfast, made a few more potties, and then Dave was back and ready to go on our outing. Ava had been completely dry all morning, minus the monster dump she took in the panties (sucks big time to clean). Dave sat her on the potty one last time before we left for the wildlife museum. She peed, we clapped, and away we went. We were gone for about two hours and when we returned her diaper was completely dry. We sat her on the potty and she made a huge pee and off to lunch she went. What a great first half of the day Ava had potty training! Yeaa Ava!!!

On a side note: The wildlife museum we went to was very interesting. It serves as a rehabilitation place for wildlife as well as an educational facility. Olivia loved the hawks, owls, and falcons. She and Dave are always bird hunting so that was wonderful that they got to see them together and up close. Ava enjoyed the bunny, the opossum, and the fox. We happened to be there during a feeding time for the coyote so we watched it devour a small rodent and a few vegetables.

The place wasn't very big so Olivia was able to run around without holding my hand and I think she felt like a big girl. Ava wanted to be free too so most of her time was spent struggling to free herself from her father. After we looked at all the animals and played in the exploration room we went outside and found a huge playground filled with kids. Liv took off running for the slide and Ava played on the train tunnel. Usually at our park there are very few kids if any when we go so it was nice to let the girls mingle with other kids their own age that they don't know. Livy really soaks up what she learns from other kids quickly.

Now we are back home and the girls are napping. Dave's cleaning the turtle tank, and I'm paying the bills...yeah that's it- paying the bills online.