Weekend Grandkid Sitting!

Friday

What fun to have the kids sleepover. They picked the girls up after school, popped into the grocery store (rotisserie chicken, veggies, etc.) and drove on over.

That night, both girls wanted 'Gramma Stories', which was kinda fun. They involved Nebuchadnezzar whisking them off to Gramma and Grampa's house! I change it every time. They aren't too old, yet!

Saturday

We woke to 8 cm of snow, hubby did the front walk, I did the end of the driveway, waving merrily as the snow plow motored on by.
The kids took off to pick up their friends, and drive on to Montreal for dinner and a sleepover.
Grampa took the girls on a trip to the video rental store, the special store, and they bought me chocolates. I used the snowblower on the driveway and fetched trailcam SD cards. Jos selected herself a ring. Izzy an octopus.


We made ourselves wreaths, Jos did the Valentine's Day one, Izzy and I the St. Patrick's Day one.



Next it was art, reading, and more play. Isabelle and I coloured the octopus together. What a lovely time, chatting, and just hanging out.
It was the theme of the day. There was a kid's show that told us all about octopi. Funny coincidence. It showed them in the ocean, hiding amongst the coral, and swimming along.



Back indoors, our snowblower had an issue. Hubby called in Bob, the guy. The girls watched Kubo and the Two Strings. I quite liked it. Had to pause mid-movie for lunch. (No more TV lunches, with my new carpet.) Sandwiches. We finished the movie.
Then Izzy and I played school. Jos read. Grampa had  a nap.



Dinner was a 'Jenn's Mess.' I had taken a no-bake, slow cooker vegetarian lasagna recipe, added ground beef, and then noodles. It was our dinner on Thursday, before the kids arrived. It was out in the outdoor refrigerator (the garage) and I just popped it back into the cooker for the afternoon. I had to add a jar of spaghetti sauce. That boosted it nicely. By now the flavours were well-acquainted. Isabelle wasn't in favour of the flavour, although she did try it. She toddled on over to the counter and made herself a ham sandwich. Easy peasy. They are growing so fast!
Later we watch BFG, the Big Friendly Giant. It was so fun!

Sunday

Grampa went into town to return our videos. He picked up a pancake for Izzy, and a toasted egg sandwich for me. He had a wrap. It was pretty quiet in the restaurant, usually the diner is packed for breakfast. We are anticipating a major dump of snow.

At home, there was a spill, so we changed the tablecloth from yellow to red. I wanted blue, but Izzy pointed out that it was Valentine's Day! What was I thinking???

The pancake was shaped like a bear! Poor photo, but you get the gist.


Daisy is very, very tired! So am I, but a good tired. I'm doing laundry, again!


Izzy and her octopus played school, again. She let me create a video of her joke, puns are the big thing these days. I have to ask permission to photograph them.

Why is 6 afraid of 7?

Because 7 ate 9.

And dogs take Xrays? No, but cats can.

After that, we played some computer games. Lots of fun.
Jos taught me how to play MyBoo. Izzy played Spirits of Spring, an amazing game, developed by We Are Minority, about bullying.

We were worried about Momma and Papa, who were driving back from Montreal. This is how much ice is under 3" of snow on the driveway. I did the driveway yesterday and again today. More snow is to come. 

The roads are terrible. After I did the driveway, Izzy and I went down to the island.

What a visit it was!

Another fine day in southeastern Ontario!
Mommy and Papa were playing archery tag, we met them halfway to pass over the girls! You can Google photos!
Previously, Mommy played bubble soccer with her colleagues.

We eased into the day, watching Daniel Tiger until nearly noon, when Jos got up! (She's practicing for being a teenager!) In the meantime, I was in and out of the house, as we had our tap repaired.  He went back to the store, as it had to be totally replaced.


After another breakfast/lunch at noon on the front porch, we went back to the fort and the frog pond.
 We did managed to catch some Wood frogs, and watch others mating. They 'hug,' then she lays the eggs and the smaller male, on top, deposits the sperm.

amplexus

I can't show you anymore photos, since Izzy peeled off her clothes to play in the sun in the frog pond. At one point, wearing just boots, she jumped off the dock. She couldn't help herself! She did shriek!
Jos took off her leggings, and went in in her boots.

Happily, Jos spotted a Ribbon snake! We couldn't catch it, though, as it was too fast for me! The frogs were part of the catch-and-release program. There are thousands in the pond. (You can hear them in the videos!) There are big snails, as well as bullfrog tadpoles.


A fly-by shooting. A hawk, methinks.


In the meantime, while we still imagine Buster is here; at the door, outside playing. It is a grieving process.

Dorah has responded really well to his absence, mushing on top of me, on the chair in the living room- for the first time in months. (His aggression was increasing.) Dorah went outside, as well, which she hasn't done in months, only partly due to the weather. It takes an adjustment, but having the girls here was wonderful, and a good distraction to soften our heartache.

[The back story: Buster tails: feline, black cat aggression]

For grampa: Our videos!

Iz on golden pond from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
This is part one. Part two involved a little more water! She made it along the fallen tree trunk, and back.
Iz pond two from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Isabelle wanted to catch a frog. She went to the far side, which is warmer and more shallow. She got more than just a soaker, dancing happily back to me. "Next time I go in there, I'm going naked!"
Explorers from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
I had strict instruction to film this episode. Running down the hill into the gully, and back up to the fence!
Run! from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
They went down well that night!

The best birthday ever!

Hubby had fun planning his birthday. He is otherwise not really into them, not having had them as a child. For our granddaughters, he's a major general!
They've moved away from Frozen, but they are still into the minions.
Hubby is also growing a mustache, having shaved his beard. He found a suitable likeness, and a hat for himself. We had so much fun.
They arrived, with toys in large purses and bags. Josie: "Gramma, it might look like we're staying over night, I've got so much stuff, but we're not!"
We had a play, while Josie lined up all her toys. Isabelle required I take a photo or two!
Next lunch, then cake, then pressies. You can see Dorah guarding the present on the bed. I loved the photos, with Josie hanging on to her sister in sheer delight while grampa blew out the candles!
Afterwards, we watched Bindi on Dancing With the Stars. Just Bindi's dances with Erik Hough, since some of the others segments are, well, vulgar, and remind me of pole dancers rather than ballroom dancing.
After THAT, hubby and our S-I-L had some good post-election chats. Caitlin and Josie had a play in the basement play room. Izzy popped her boots on. 'Gramma, come out and play tag!'
Izzy and I went out. We ran in the back yard. We went down the hill to the meadow.
"Gramma, I don't know what to do inside, but I sure know what to do outside!"
We were a long time outdoors, in the forest, down by the frog pond, on the dock. We had a grand time. Daisy followed us, far behind in the forest. She's a bit unsure of the girls. The only downside was that Izzy picked herself up a tick, which was crawling on her sleep toy in the car. I'm ready for a cold spell! That's 100 ticks this year.

We had an impressive 8-point buck visit.
It was an amazing sunset, which JB also missed since he went to Evesong in town.
Such a full day!