February 16, 2011

  • Unexpected Chewlee Time!


    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    I ended up babysitting for a few hours tonight (Tuesday) while the Princess and Johnnycakes went out for a delayed Valentine's Day dinner.  The Princess had to work on Sunday and then has an early class on Tuesday so tonight was the best time for them both.

    Chewlee was in great spirits.  She brought along two of her DVD's from home.  Tarzan and Aladdin so I knew what our evening plans were.  She and I put together her list of snack things (chocolate milk, salami and the Hershey kisses she brought with her).  She was very upset that all the popcorn from our popcorn maker was gone but she got over it quickly.  She plopped down in her Dora chair with her goodies arranged *just so* on her *table* and we watched Aladdin first.  She likes some of the songs in it and even sang along.  She kept calling my attention to the parts she thought I shouldn't miss.  Since it has been years since I saw it, I was paying attention but she had to be sure. 

    When she decided to have a Hershey's kiss, she asked me if I wanted one.  I told her that would be nice and she even opened it for me.  She then grabbed it back and told me she had to bite off the sharp top so I wouldn't hurt myself.  She proceeded to do just that and handed me back the now *safe* kiss.  I couldn't help but laugh.  She told me very seriously that I could hurt myself if I put it in my mouth with the sharp part.  I couldn't help but wonder where she got that idea from.

    She bounced back and forth between her Dora chair and my lap and bounced right up and over to the DVD to retrieve Aladdin when I opened the tray.  She asked me to press the Tarzan DVD tab so she could get it out and put it in the tray.  Then she wanted to watch what I did with the remote to start the movie.  I showed her when it got to *play* (Tarzan had more previews of other DVD's than I have seen in a coon's age) how to press the OK button and even let her do it.  That seems to have made her day the way she giggled and carried on about doing it.

    At some point during Tarzan, something reminded her of her other grandfather (the one working in Iraq).  She talks to him via Skype just about every Sunday.  She told me her other Papa had no hair on the top of his head.  I told her I knew him and I knew he had a bald head.  When I said *bald head*, that took her fancy and she said, *Yes, he has a bald head.  Not like this Papa (meaning the Beast).*  She had to show off the new phrase so she grabbed my hand and told me to *come on* while she ran to the Beast and told him that her other Papa had a *bald head*.  He, playing along, said, *Oh, really?* and she smiled and said, *Yes, he has no hair on it!*  He looked at me and smiled and said, *New words are bald head?* and I just shook my head *yes*.

    Poor Chewlee was trying to go potty and she had jeans on with a metal button, not a snap so she started to pee before she got her pullups down.  But....she finished peeing in the potty and did the other, too (which I had to oooh and aaah and high five over) but she was upset that I didn't have any more pullups here.  She had to wear a diaper since her pullups were wet and you can't put them back on her.  I told her I would explain to Mommy but I forgot so I hope she doesn't get punished for it by having something taken away from her again.

    She really was cute and lovable but we all think that about our grand kids (and great-grands, too), don't we?  But she also started to plan her birthday party.  She was making out a list of things she had to remember and people she was going to have at her party.  She had to have a *Happy Cake*, a camera (that means Papa is in charge of pictures which she told me before she even started her list), and her list of guests include all the usual suspects:  Me, the Beast, Baron, Mommy, Daddy, Tara, Chance, and both boys.  She also said the names of a couple other people that I didn't know so they could be kids from school even.  Of course, when the Princess got here, she said that Chewlee might not live that long so it was not smart of her to be making out any lists. 

    Chewlee remembered her DVD's to take home although she forgot I had put them in the living room so they wouldn't be forgotten.  She had a short moment of panic until her mother told her where they were.   She had seen them coming in.  Chewlee was bouncy and happy as she left and yelled out her goodbyes and then added a *I'll see you soon* to MY goodbye.  The Princess was heading home to do some homework before she went to bed.  I think she only has the one class tomorrow so that's not too bad.

    The Beast and I then spent about an hour cleaning out all the science experiments from the fridge.  I was sorry that none of them had taken their first breaths but...hey, there's always other chances in the future.    We wanted to get that done since tomorrow is garbage pickup and the bin had to be taken out to the street tonight.  They come VERY early in the morning here.  It's usually around 4am or so.  It has always made me wonder when they start work and how long a day they work.  At least here in our town, they don't have to worry about recyclables.   It's a sore spot with me because I have always been kind of anal about recycling.  I still cringe when I throw out things that should be recycled.  Talk about a backward area in many ways.  Although, in the very next town and same company, they recycle.  That's where Tara lives.  They also pick up everything you put out, not just whatever you can cram in the bin.  Irks me a lot at times but we can always take things over to Tara's when we must.

    The day was totally lovely.  It was 63 for our high, bright and sunny...almost perfect weather.  Baron was happy while he sunbathed out on the deck for a while.  He doesn't stay out long.  Being a short haired dog (and black), he can actually sunburn if he stays out too long.  I usually put some sunscreen on him during the summer if we are going to be outside for a while because he won't go in the house if we are outside.  He looks a bit weird but he smells nice. 

    Tonight it's only going down into the 40's and will be in the upper 60's tomorrow (Wednesday) when you are reading this.  I hope you all have wonderful weather.  The only sad thing for me is that you KNOW it's going to end soon.  We are bound to have some more cold weather before spring finally comes waltzing in with her high winds that will play havoc on our fruit tree blossoms and make me nuts.  The joys of raising so many different types of fruit trees.

    Love you all.  Have a great day.  Be careful doing whatever it is you do today.  It's HUMP day (mid-week) and it won't be long before the weekend is here.