The Nanny Diaries-day 2, week 3
[posted by Grandmama]
Good Morning again from the Nanny Diaries!!
I know I haven’t written in a while but in my defense life has been a little bit hectic around here…sigh….
John did indeed pick me up in Spokane June 14 and we had a pleasant Thursday evening and Friday UNTIL…. about 4:00pm. SB called frantic cause JackPaul was sick and had to go to the hospital…the docs were worried about either meningitis or leukemia…It was quite scary but after we got there late Friday things were better. The spinal tap came back negative as did all the cultures…turns out he had a nasty virus called Fifths disease. SO……here I am again ready to resume my rightful role as the Nanny!!
This is day 2 of week 3 and the final week. John has been doing a great job of nannying the days I’ve been gone….he is much like a drill sergeant..getting those kids up and feeding them before they’re even awake or aware there is food in front of them. He seems to forget though that Doug isn’t one of “the kids” any more so that poor guy has to get up too! Oh how we’ve missed the “grumpy Dougie” mornings of by-gone days….it does a mother’s heart good to see some things never change!
Yesterday we took Wilson to Costco to buy a few things..always an adventure. He had his little push cart of all the zoo animals in the world with him and pushed it everywhere…it was cute but then he saw the snack bar….oh my. He had to get his cart in line with the big carts and knew exactly what to do when the server called “next member please.” He went right up to the register and we ordered a churro….cause the pizza wouldn’t be ready for another 5 minutes…like a 2 year old can wait 5 mintues for anything…ha!!! After that messy adventure we found Grandpa out by the van waiting cause we failed to mention the churro stop…If you know anything about the “oompa” you know patience is NOT one of his virtues. :-)
Last night was cookout night at the Manis’….we just love cookout night…there are always hot dogs and burgers and chips..whooppee!!! And this time, though Max was very patient, the hot dogs did NOT roll off the grill into his greedy little chops..
It seems like the last 2 weeks have not been nearly as traumatic as week 1…but then there have been 2 of us to do the nannying and we find double teaming to be very effective…if we can manage to keep one of us awake at all times…
Today is Abby’s BBQ at school and families are invited so while Oompa and Wilson nap I will go and help her celebrate. And…I want to see the wonderful Ms. Nelson again. John has been walking Abby to school and I’ve missed that experience. Do you think Ms. Nelson will remember me?
later taters!!
sm
Lachlan Bennett Johns Bowling
The reason the Grandmama and Oompa are here helping with the Manisfam young is because Jessi is home with her beautiful new baby son, Lachlan Bennett Johns Bowling. Here are the latest photos.
The Nanny Diaries–Day 3, Final Thoughts
[Posted by Grandmama]
Well…it is now 7:55pm. D&M are at meetings and I just finished putting Wilson to bed….As you know by now, he loves elephants and takes a family of 4 plastic ones with him everywhere….literally. Today he had on an elephant t-shirt so when I took it off for his pjs he had a hissy fit….and retreived his t-shirt from the laundry. So I thought “what the heck” and went ahead and put the shirt back on him but over his pjs. He’s a happy little boy now..albeit with a dirty shirt over his clean pjs.
We went to the mall today after Abby came home from school. We had ice cream at Baskin Robbins and then found a family restroom….I had seen signs for those before but never had a legit reason to enter one. Since both the kids had ice cream hands and faces I thought I’d finally found my “official” reason. Oh my!! It was wonderful. Who knew those family restrooms are like first class on an airplane…there is that much difference. So I now advise everyone to just steal some random child and go in one of these…fabulous.
Abby’s kdgn. teacher (Ms. Nelson) is about my age and very friendly. I must have looked pretty haggard the first two days cause today she asked if I was getting used to being the nanny yet. I assured her it was getting better every day. She smiled that special kdgn. teacher smile and I suddenly felt 5 years old again and VERY proud of myself. Thank you Ms. Nelson!!!
Tomorrow John will pick me up at the Spokane airport at 1:00pm. He promised to take me to lunch. And while I am looking forward to seeing him and going home……still….I wonder how in the world the younger Manis family will survive without me. After all..Ms. Nelson DID smile at me which means I’m doing the right thing..doesn’t it? Ha!!
More entries to come in next week’s installment of the never ending Nanny Diaries.
sm :-)
The Nanny Diaries–Day 3
[Posted by Grandmama]
Well…yesterday did indeed go very well. I even managed to get a shower and put on my make up…we won’t mention anything about brushing teeth…
Wilson and I walked Abby to school and then had time to go Safeway for the mexican roast beef ingredients. You should have seen the size of the chocolate cookie the bakery lady gave him…holy cow! Of course, Wilson did not need an AM snack.
We returned in time for an early lunch and naptime…and not just for Wilson either!! We both slept till about 2:00 and we walked to get Abby about 2:40. Michelle came up about 3:45 and my shift was up.
I cannot believe how fast the day went….and did I mention how nice the nap was? I just wish I could do more around the house…but…maybe next week when the Oompa is here.
Today (day 3) looks to be a copy of yesterday except Michelle won’t get home till 4:30ish and both she and Doug have meetings tonight at 7:00 so the kids and I will have a nice bedtime experience. :-) Wilson and I are planning a short shopping trip to Target and another nice long nap.
Did I mention Abby and I are sharing a bed? She has a new “nickname” of Kicking Girl. It is very sweet to sleep with her and we have discovered that a pillow placed lenthwise between us is VERY useful. She does sit up in bed at night and talk but I’m learning to sleep through those or just pat her on the back till she lies back down.
I’m still a novelty around here so there haven’t been any meltdowns (if you don’t count day 1….and that really was my practice day anyway!) The key to being the grandmama nanny is just to do whatever the kids want….and we all get out unscathed! ha!!!
Seriously, it has been a wonderful and bonding experience. And I am so happy to now be able to devote more time to my grandkids…but now I here Wilson pounding on something in the living room….I’m off running!
the mama
The Nanny Diaries–Day 2
[Posted by Grandmama]
Good Morning Sunshines!
Well, today is my second day as the nanny and already things are going much better than yesterday.
I was not late getting Abby to school, I did not accidentally make decaf coffee, Wilson has managed to keep all his elephant family together, I have not yet lost Max, or had to search all over the park while Wilson cries “zoo,zoo,zoo” and Abby sobs cause she thinks someone stole Max, or had to thank the elderly gentleman in the orange hat for bringing Max home, repack for the zoo and head out again. Nor have I yet made a wrong turn only to end up down by Safeco Field. I didn’t know Wilson is terrified of tunnels!
Today I only have to manage to get Abby to school with the 2 bags of pretzels for snack…well–I do have to still bring the second bag I forgot. And Safeway is on the agenda so I can find an ATM and fix the mexican roast for Doug. So…if I can manage not to lose the dog, Wilson, or my mind we will be just fine!!
Michelle has been highly amused at my struggles….she actually laughed and said “welcome to my world!” Ha ha ha. In her defense, she SAID she didn’t mean to laugh but I still don’t believe her ’cause she just keeps on smiling!! :-)
Love, mama
ps…And I honestly thought I’d be able to help around the house. Abby told me yesterday when I lost Max that God made it happen ’cause he’s in charge and I must have needed to learn something. I had no adequate response.
The Nanny Diaries
Our dear nanny, Jessi, had her first child on May 25th. So we’ve been doing our best to juggle our schedules over the last couple of weeks to have someone home with the kids. We’ve had our ups (trips to the zoo, the movies, and ice-cream outings) and downs (Wilson’s damn elephants and the terrible twos), but after 18 days of being with my beautiful children from dawn to dusk, I was ready for some relief. Grandmama to the rescue!
When branding kills!
It is clear that the London Olympics 2012 logo causes immediate and irreperable psychic damage to anyone who looks directly at it. Apparently it can trigger epileptic seizures as well.