When our children travel...

Many of my blog buddies have family who live, or travel, far away. My son, in Vancouver, is wonderful about doing a Hangout in Google+ with our new granddaughter, baby Cluny. She is a petite little girl, growing well.

My daughter, Caitlin and hubby JL, traveled to Europe and we did Facetime with them and our granddaughters. The time difference of 6 hours was tricky. We had the girls here a week. We created an iCloud of photos of the girls' antics, and it really meant a lot to all of us.

When I would take kids shopping in the malls, older women would say, "Enjoy them while they're young, dear!' Yet, grandkids grow up even more quickly. I can't believe how the time has flown. Those in long-term care speak of this situation. They get older, and sports events, lessons, other interests take precedence, as they should. I will look back on this short week with great joy. Freedom just be have fun.

I've framed my embroidery and
given it to our girls!

Izzy did a reprise of Foam Girls, the movie we created last summer. They played games on their iPods. We made crazy photos on our iPad. Daisy was a big fan. Annabelle helped with plasticene play. Looking at fungus, watching DVDs, checking the trailcam videos, playing in the tree house and on the swings. Painting, breakfast on the back deck, or dress-ups! Canoeing and blowing bubbles!
We studied a video (Wild Kratts), which explained the differences between alligators and crocodiles. Then there was the segment on monarchs, after which we went out and looked for gramma's milkweed plants!

Here is a sampling of photos for hubby.

Diagnosis and Playtime – we made snow!

A tough couple of weeks. We won't see the Urologist until July to determine next steps. With cancer in his lymph nodes, we now know where it is after two MRIs, two bone scans, three CT Scans,  PSA tests every 3 months, 3-month check-ins with the urologist, one colonoscopy (negative), two cystoscopies, a flushing, and two biopsies. It's all a been a waiting game to see where the cancer cells migrate. They go on about cancer survivors, but treatment survivors need medals.

Yesterday hubby wasn't feeling well at all. Headache all day, feeling like he had flu. He thinks he has a fever, but isn't 37C. normal? sigh. The biopsy procedure took a great deal out of him. I wonder at all these tests. The prep alone is stressful (an enema, then the drive into town). We'll see how he is today. They give you a sheet of paper in case of infection from the biopsy. You hand it to the ER staff to let them know about the biopsy. It must be common to have an infection.

In the meantime, I look back at last week.

I saw this on TV. Some dippy actress was showing us how to do this. It wasn't a bad activity, except my older granddaughter was reluctant at first. They grow up so quickly!!! We sort of sucked her into the fun!




Isabelle explained how to create this snow!


Snow play from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
It feels like snow: hair conditioner and baking soda. Good clean fun!