Where did my summer go?

I have just finished up my last two mini-vacations for the summer.  I spent a weekend in Charleston with Caitlin.  We saw the final Harry Potter movie and then did some shopping, one of those things we do so well together.  We don't really have to do anything spectacular, I just like hanging out with Cait and Charleston is always nice.  Caitlin made chocolate chip cookies for dinner one night.  My kind of meal!

Last week I went to Atlanta to help out with Hannah when Katherine went back to work.  I had good intentions with helping out around the house but it was impossible to do anything but watch Hannah, rock Hannah, feed Hannah, play with Hannah.  I kept telling myself that she would only be tiny for so long and that I needed to make the most of every minute.  Sounds good, huh?  I do love that baby!

Hannah starts "school" on Monday.  I was able to visit her school and meet her teachers.  It seems to be a bright and happy place and in my head I know that Hannah will do well there.  My heart though wants her home with the people who love her best.  That would include her Nonny of course.   Actually this will be hardest on her mommy.  I vividly remember leaving Caitlin on her first day and crying (really boohooing!) all the way to work.  Both she and Matt went to daycare when they were just about Hannah's age and look how marvelously they have grown up.  Hannah will be fine!

Nonny and Hannah watching Ellen on tv

Happy Girl!

Fourth of July

The fourth of July was, as always, fun.  My sister always does this big thing with lots of people and great food and several hundred dollars worth of fireworks.  We had hamburgers and hot dogs this year with a million or so desserts.  Lord knows I need to get back on my diet after all that I ate.  It was delicious!  Nothing better than a grilled hot dog with Mom's homemade chili and Vidalia onions.  Had a twist this year as the power went off due to an electrical storm so we spent the evening by candle light and fireworks.  Just added to the charm of it all.

Followed up the 4th with an overnight trip to Folly Beach to babysit Hannah and her cousins, Addyson and Delaney.  I had forgotten how much I love the beach, not that I actually was on the beach.  Just sat on the front porch in the ocean breeze and smelled that great ocean smell.  I tried out my new book, Pete the Cat, on Addyson and Delaney and it was a hit.  They are such amazingly smart girls, so sweet and well-behaved.  Caitlin came to visit and help me out and it was a good thing she did because Harley, my favorite granddog, decided to sneak downstairs and poop all over the hallway.  I, of course, did not realize this and when I went downstairs in the dark, I stepped in it.  Guess I should be thankful I was wearing shoes!  While I cleaned carpets, floor, and shoes, Cait got the big girls ready for bed.  This is very untypical Harley.  He is usually the best boy!  Anyway, the girls had one last story and went to bed and Cait headed home.  Sweet little Hannah had her bottle and then settled down in the bouncy chair to play while I ate my lemon pie (Mom's lemon pie = YUMMY!).  Except Hannah had a surprise for her Nonny, too.  She had a very stinky diaper that interrupted my pie savoring.  She looked so pleased with herself.  "Look at me, Nonny!  See what a clever girl I am!  I can poop just like big brother, Harley!"  Freshly changed she did snuggle up against me and sleep in my arms while I finished savoring my pie and watched a little tv.  I do like this grandma thing, even when the grandkids are little stinkers!

In My Next Life

I often find  myself saying "in my next life" and finishing the thought with some improvement or change I would like.  I decided maybe I should record some of these: 
In my next life...........

• I will be tall and thin (hey, I am halfway there already, but I do find myself shrinking with age.  in height, not weight)
• I will be able to sing and play a musical instrument or two (not the way I sing now but in tune and a real musical instrument not the guitar in Rock Band)
• I will be coordinated enough to play a sport (no, Wii bowling does not count)
• I will be able to cook (at least as well as my kids, how embarrassing is it when your kids cook better than you do? although perhaps that means I did something well as a parent.)
• I will be crafty (not in the sneaky sense but I will be able to make things that someone might actually want to own and display and not hide in closet)
• I will be able to sew (just hemming a garment does not count)
• I will be able water ski slalom (maybe this goes up there with the coordinated thing but it always irked me that my brother and sister could do that and I couldn't)
• I will be able to draw and/or paint (just another talent I seem to have missed out on.  where the heck was I when the talents were being passed out?)
• I want cute feet (I have had a thing about my ugly feet ever since my Aunt Wilma commented on their lack of prettiness when I was in high school.  long time to be feeling inadequate.)
• And while we are on feet, I want "good" feet that can where any kind of shoe and be comfortable ( I intend to keep the shoe fetish in my next life!)
• I am going to be married to a very rich man who can afford to hire someone to fix things or a very handy man who can fix things himself (sorry Phil)
• If I do have the rich man as opposed to the handy one, I would like to have a maid every week so I wouldn't have to clean anymore.
• I am going to live somewhere where it is cool and pleasant year round and there is no humidity (I was thinking the mountains but since I am going to be thin and gorgeous and could probably wear a bathing suit maybe the beach)

Well, I am sure there more but the cat boxes are calling.  So back to the real world.