Erin and Leah and Ava and I met up for an impromptu lunch yesterday.  I love these informal gatherings.  It’s like an uplifting little present in the middle of a tough work day.  We stopped first at a Pottery Barn and Ava and I discovered the absolute best place to hide was in the rug rack.  After a few games of “YOU CAN”T FIND US” with Leah and Erin playing Sherlock Holmes and Watson, we headed out to lunch.   An hour later I headed back home with Ava in tow to put her down for a nap so that Leah could have a few hours of toddler-free silence to run some errands.

We snuggled up to read several books prior to the nap but when I went to leave, Ava got uncharacteristically aggressive.  She jumped all over the bed laughing loudly trying to entice me to stay.  Then she moved the pillow on my head and jumped!  This is one time Grandma was happy to have a little meat on her bones.  If I was one of those spindly elderly grandmas with brittle bones I think she could have done me in!

I moved 35 pounds of pillow and toddler off of me and said sternly, “Please don’t smother Grandma,” to which she replied, “That hurt my feelings.”   Don’t you just love how kids’ minds work?  A few minutes later she settled down for her nap and I went back to work with a smile on my face and the cozy feeling of a sleeping child upstairs.

Quick picks of favorite Ava moments the last few weeks. Hats off to Mommy Bloggers.  I don’t know how you do it every day!

The last day of Ava’s week long visit with us I was working at home in 5 and ten minute spurts, I managed to get some of my business list checked off.  But the funny thing is Miss Ava definitely knows when she is being given the brief toddler brush-off.  I finished my work and said brightly “LET”S COLOR SOME PUMPKINS NOW!”   Ava’s response: “Not now, Grandma.  I’m WORKING!”    She climbed on my office chair and busily clicked away at the keys.  I’ve got to respect a girl who knows how to maker her point.  A few minutes later we colored together and signed the pages with a flourish.  Did you know you can dowload free coloring pages from the Internet?  It’s great!  Is it bad to admit I still like to color?

Taking Time to See the Rain

The best thing about hanging out with a young child is they make you stop and see things you might pass by.  We were on the way downstairs to start our day after a leisurely read and snuggle when Ava pulled me to a stop midway down.  “Look Grandma.  Let’s stop and look at the rain.”   “Okay, I said pulling her further down but first let’s go get some breakfast.” No, NOW.  Let’s watch NOW!”  

So we did.  We sat on the stairs and looked through the windows at the rain coming down.  She shook her head sadly.  “Rain is nasty.”  She was no doubt thinking about how our trip to the pumpkin patch would be cancelled.  This led to a discussion about what was good about rain.  How all the flowers are SO thirsty and look forward to a good long drink.  How you can wash your hair in it and kick water up from puddles.  Eventually she got up and looked at me with those big brown eyes and said “Rain is good….AND NASTY.”

Ava has been back home with her mom and dad for a few weeks now and we’ve seen her several times since but we do treasure these occasional overnights and  long visits, however disruptive they are to our schedule.   She sure knows how to light up a room.  Plus, it’s always good for a writer to spend time with her muse.  : )

As I write this, my daughter Erin and her dog Hogan are curled up on the couch watching a movie in the next room.  She isn’t feeling very well today, fighting off one of those fall colds that come with weather changes.  Earlier tonight we walked around the neighborhood with John looking at Halloween decorations.  I haven’t had a chance to go grocery shopping since we got back from our trip a few days ago so Erin raided her pantry to bring over some food and I cooked us all a warm rustic dinner of pork chops smothered with mushrooms, onions and wine, mashed potatoes and a plain green salad.  Then we put in a DVD of The Proposal with Sandra Bullock.  The scenery in Alaska is gorgeous and there is good chemistry between Sandra and her costar Ryan Reynolds. 

 It’s such a pleasure  to be able to do these things spur of the moment.   I tucked a blanket around Erin and came in here to catch up on some work but instead felt like a chat.  This interactive feature is new to our blog so I want to hear from you.  Have you had any simple family moments recently you want to share?