Getting Our Grandma Fix
When A and I were at Molly and Clint’s wedding, Clint’s mom mentioned that she had a friend currently living in England. She wasn’t sure how close to London she was, and she knew the woman was only in the UK until May, but she noted that the woman had grandkids about my kids’ ages and asked if she could give her my email so that perhaps we could meet in the time that we’re both there together.
Well, shure.
So, after several weeks of emailing, today was the day. Jo made the trip out here and we had a fantastic time. It was strange though…I kept forgetting that she is also from Kansas. She knows where I grew up and I’m familiar with her part of the state as well. I’m usually just so thrilled to be around other Americans that I wouldn’t dream of meeting someone who lives an hour from my old stomping grounds.
At any rate, I think she had a good time with the kids, and I certainly enjoyed talking to her.
I picked her up from the tube station in the car because it wasn’t the nicest day. (Rain I can handle, but the wind was horrible.) Having had an epiphany the other night when I was so worried about having the house picked up, I decided that she’d either like me or she wouldn’t, and how my house looked really didn’t matter - to me at least. (And really it looked pretty good.)
As we walked into the hallway scattered with shoes, I said to her - without apologizing, “I’ll warn you…my house is generally messy, but I’m a good mom.” She was totally excited and said, “Oh good! That’s just the kind of mum I like!”
Whew…dodged that bullet.
I got to making tea while she played with E. I was listening to her talk to E about the book they were reading and it made me so happy - she’s great with kids.
Anyway, I completely forgot about her tea. I knew we would be pals when I finally remembered about it and she asked me where we keep the milk and then helped herself (to mask the SUPER strong tea??) like she’d been here a million times. I love it when people are comfortable at my house.
And those of you who know me have probably hopefully figured out that if you want it, and I have it? It’s yours…but you’ll have to get it yourself! Probably doesn’t make me the hostess with the mostess, but if you don’t like it, don’t come back when I invite you. If you do like it, invite yourself over. I’m all for that.
I made a crazy little lunch and kept forgetting to offer her stuff and she was so sweet. We were laughing about it as I left my half-eaten meal on the table to go get Liam. As I headed out, I remembered something else I’d forgotten and told told her to help herself to whatever she could find…I didn’t care. She smiled at me and said, “I like you, Heidi.”
This is my kind of woman!
Got home from getting L and E went down for a nap, so L got to do his most favorite pretending at the moment.
Tea Party
Jo stayed until E got up from her nap and we walked back to the tube station in the sunshine. (This country’s weather is so weird.) After several rounds of hugs and thank yous for the gifts she brought the kids,
she was on her way.
On the way home, L turned into a grump and when we got home he was acting like a freak show, so I sent him to his room to calm down. Ten minutes later he was asleep, so we missed our play date with F1 and crew.
When he woke up, I took his temp and he is, in fact, sick. I drugged both him and E for good measure and A got them in bed, which is not the easiest thing to do at the moment since L is on a potty strike. I think he’s afraid of the toilet again.
Anyhoo, I did financial crap until almost midnight, which sucks because I lost my 2007 info and the bank won’t let me download more than 60 days back. I emailed them to see if I can get it electronically somehow, but I’m pretty sure they’re going to think I’m smoking crack.
I also got to talk with Jen, Elias, Gabe, and Sadie. I needed to get my fix. I hadn’t seen the kids in quite a while. They’ve grown up so much. Gabe is such a kid now. And Sadie was in the camera saying “hi” to me. Thank goodness for Skype. I don’t know what I’d do without it. As it is it’s going to be so hard not to see them until June. Fortunately, the word on the street is that they may be in town in October at half term for L. If it works out, those two will be absolutely giddy.
