August 2010, A Week in Texas
Playing Wii
Papa and Mimi were off to Texas on August 13. The teachers there were called back to work on August 16, so Sam and Sara needed someone to stay with Ty and Claire Ann for the week before school started for the kids. Unbelievable, but Ty started Kindergarten on the 23rd. I can't wait to see his first report card. He is a good boy, but much like his father and grandfather, is impatient with things that don't suit him. He will do fine I'm sure.
Papa was only able to stay for the weekend so I got to babysit by myself for the whole week. Whew! What a week! I learned how to microwave chicken nuggets without turning them into hockey pucks. How to understand the baby speak of an 18-month old who knows sign language. How to change diapers again. I found the MacDonalds and Sonic in Arlington. I blew up a swimming pool by mouth and then found out later that they had a pump that would do it for me. I played soccer and basketball in the living room - something I would never have let Sam do when he was little. Watched Phineas and Ferb or Tom and Jerry - over and over again. Looked forward to nap time so I could get the laundry done. Had supper at 5 PM so we could get to Ty's T-ball games. Did laundry - and more laundry, and more laundry. Figured out how to drive a huge tank on the freeway, while drinking a Route 44 diet cherry limeade and getting two kids to share one chocolate milkshake in the back seat. That was a mistake, big time. Just imagine - It is 108 in the shade (not an exaggeration) and there's this white haired woman driving a Dodge Ram pickup (side note - this truck is so tall my Camry could drive under it) on a busy freeway, with a 44 ounce drink in one hand, glancing over her should begging Ty to give a screaming Claire Ann a sip of the milk shake - she wanted the whole thing by herself, Ty is whining that there is only a little bit left and he really, really, really wants it for himself, all the while I'm reading Sara's handwritten directions on how to get home. But we made it with no problems and no arrests! Might add that every night I went to bed before 10:00!
I would not give up that week for anything in the world. It was wonderful being with my grandchildren and watching their different personalities. Watching them both learn things, and enjoy playing with Mimi. My heart swelled each time Claire Ann said "Mimi" or wanted in my lap to read a book, and when Ty took my hand to show me something. Here are some pictures and movies of the week.
Papa was only able to stay for the weekend so I got to babysit by myself for the whole week. Whew! What a week! I learned how to microwave chicken nuggets without turning them into hockey pucks. How to understand the baby speak of an 18-month old who knows sign language. How to change diapers again. I found the MacDonalds and Sonic in Arlington. I blew up a swimming pool by mouth and then found out later that they had a pump that would do it for me. I played soccer and basketball in the living room - something I would never have let Sam do when he was little. Watched Phineas and Ferb or Tom and Jerry - over and over again. Looked forward to nap time so I could get the laundry done. Had supper at 5 PM so we could get to Ty's T-ball games. Did laundry - and more laundry, and more laundry. Figured out how to drive a huge tank on the freeway, while drinking a Route 44 diet cherry limeade and getting two kids to share one chocolate milkshake in the back seat. That was a mistake, big time. Just imagine - It is 108 in the shade (not an exaggeration) and there's this white haired woman driving a Dodge Ram pickup (side note - this truck is so tall my Camry could drive under it) on a busy freeway, with a 44 ounce drink in one hand, glancing over her should begging Ty to give a screaming Claire Ann a sip of the milk shake - she wanted the whole thing by herself, Ty is whining that there is only a little bit left and he really, really, really wants it for himself, all the while I'm reading Sara's handwritten directions on how to get home. But we made it with no problems and no arrests! Might add that every night I went to bed before 10:00!
I would not give up that week for anything in the world. It was wonderful being with my grandchildren and watching their different personalities. Watching them both learn things, and enjoy playing with Mimi. My heart swelled each time Claire Ann said "Mimi" or wanted in my lap to read a book, and when Ty took my hand to show me something. Here are some pictures and movies of the week.
Sara and Sam Blocklyn December 13, 1998
