A Different Life II

[Lily&Me]

But for things that must be done last minute.....I think I'm ready.

Company begins.......tomorrow.

I have the Powers of Attorney completed and ready for the chillun's signatures, then mine with notary public.

These can be downloaded for free, here, then you just fill them out.

www.law.siu.edu/selfhelp/info/health/dpoasup.pdf


I picked up a few solar lights at WalMart yesterday morning....$1.50 apiece, I believe.

You stick the stake in the ground, in the sun, and come evening you have light. It's that simple. They were still glowing when I got up this morning.

I rather like the idea of the Interstate in the Gila Wilderness.....surrounded by stars and incredible, inky darkness.....but for these little solars a-glowing.


Maggie

[DIR1]

Hi Maggie/Lily... solar's can be used as night lites inside too... someone posted that somewhere on this forum... I thought that was a great idea!! it can get pretty dark sometimes inside the Bvan... Hugs, gail

[Lily&Me]

Thanks, Gail.... I had read that, too.

May try it.



Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Sweet daughter and her equally sweet hubby arrived from NYC yesterday.

Have I mentioned how much I adore him, and how happy I am that they found each other? She a social worker, he a detective with the NYPD, both very responsible, focused adults, with good moral centers.

He is much like my Doug, also my son, the primary male influences on my daughter. Strong, solid, calm presences kind of men.....men you instinctively know you can trust, and who will be a port for you in any storm.

Last minute running and prep today for the big "do" tomorrow.....everything seems to be running smoothly and under control.....me, included.


Maggie

[paiceman]

Maggie: When in the SW, if you have not been and have the chance stop by Best Friends Animal Society - Kanab, UT. One of the largest no kill animal rescues in the country. They have two fully equipped sites, concrete pads - all alone, no lights. Also, take the two hour tour, I volunteer there when we go out, which we will again this summer. Amazing place- 3,700 acres and they rescue any animal. They took in a number of the Michael Vick dogs.

Also, thank your son-in-law for his service to my old stomping ground NYC. It's a very tough job now, much like the 60's. Be Safe.

Bud

[Lily&Me]

Thank you, Bud, and I will keep that animal shelter in mind.

Being a cop anywhere is especially difficult and dangerous right now. I am certain, too, that he is one of th good guys.

I am daily grateful that, as a Detectve, he is in a suit rather than a uniform....unless assigned to a parade or some special detail.

Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Everything done but producing fresh-baked, chocolate chip cookies here in a bit.

Dough made yesterday and rests in the frig for simplicity sake this am.

Cookies must be fresh, with the chips still soft and warm. It's what the hordes look for and expect.

Daughter and SIL spent the day helping me yesterday, then were off for dinner with my son and his family.

Quiet here at the little house.....but not for long.



Maggie

[Lily&Me]

20 people at the little house today, and all went well.

It gets to be a bit of a Chinese fire drill, grilling and getting food out for so many, but everyone pitched in and we got it done.

The young adults are out for dinner, and catching up with each other's lives, while the grands stayed behind with Grandma.

We have had perfect weather, and they played and ran hard all day. Scrubbed and clean, currently watching a movie before bed.

No problems or issues of any sort.

A good day, and now I have the grands with me til Wednesday.

Chicago on the train on Monday.


Maggie

[Hittenstiehl]

Yeah.......a successful family get together....... You did good. And now the joyful part seeing the world thru the eyes of grand children. Have a fun, exciting, exhausting couple of days keeping up with them by Thursday you'll need a massage and two drinks.

[Lily&Me]

We had a very busy day yesterday.

Breakfast/brunch coffee cakes produced by 8am, they and many scrambled eggs greedily consumed.

Torrential morning rains were followed by enough sunny, exceedingly humid hours that the grands donned swimming suits and ran themselves to exhaustion in the back yard.....with water shooters and a sprinkler.

Emma had an exceedingly rare, prolonged tantrum, but we got thru it. Otherwise, a very good, and uneventful day.

These kids play so well together, very little bickering, lots of imagination, and seldom an adult intervention required.

Scrubbed and ready for the big train adventure today, mid way thru an evening movie, they asked for sleep.....7:39pm.

Grandma followed shortly thereafter.

Such good children. They really are.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

The club car.

[cwf]

Asked to sleep?? Good job!

[Lily&Me]

We have had a hectic, but great, day.

Am train was late, so we did some running....really, running.....and I had a few moments where I thought maybe I had taken on too much, but it all came together and they have had fun.

We're all exhausted, and on the train home.


Maggie

[cwf]

Miss Maggie, my Maternal Grandmother "escorted" myself, my brother and two other male cousins on "The City of New Orleans" train from New Orleans to Chicago back in 1969. It was a glorious trip I will never forget. Yes, my younger brother became quite bored after being refused access to the "caboose" and engineto "drive the train". So he tore out the bottom of a paper drink cup creating a megaphone which he proceeded to describe the endless corn fields as "the raw product for Kellogg's Corn Flakes...." The conductor was not amused..

My Sainted Grandmother just watched... Then brought my brother under momentary control with a tender glance.... It was amazing...

Chicago doesn't appear to have recovered....

[Lily&Me]

I am hardly a sainted Grandma, but am a loving and devoted one. I expect them to mind me and am on them when they don't. Couldn't do much with kids who were out of control, and simply wouldn't.

We looked at the Izaak Walton Inn online and talked about taking a train trip out there and back.

Probably would be ridiculously expensive, with a family sized sleeper car, but meals are included and I think it would be an amazing experience for them. They would love the observation car. Could spend a couple of nights there and come back.

When Doug & I trained to Seattle 10 years ago or so, which took 2 1/2 days each way, we just had the best time. I'll never forget sipping coffee in the lower berth of our sleeper car, watching the Rocky Mountains pass by out the window.

Am going to look into it and see where points and miles could be used to defray costs. Because.....why not?

One of the amazing features of this new Capitol One Venture card is this "purchase eraser" thing, where you can use miles to "erase" purchases already made on your line of credit.

Going to do a mountain of laundry today, ready the Interstate for Moraine View, and hopefully make a trip to the park this afternoon.

And, Avantis for supper tonite......


Maggie

[skitique]

Maggie
You definitely a have talent dealing with your grands. We invited my husband's grand-daughter down south last summer to go camping with us at Jocasse State park. The trip started okay but early on the grand kept asking for my husband to buy her a new laptop & by the end of the week it had turned into a crying calling my ex-daughter-in-law fit because she wasn't getting a laptop. My husband was so hurt because he loves those kids & realized the mother knew that this was going to be asked for. He felt like that was the only reason for the visit which turns out it was since she hasn't called him in a year. I can't make it right for him but I certainly told both grand & mom what I thought of their behavior.😡

Jane


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[Lily&Me]

That is sad, Jane.

Children definitely reflect their parenting, no doubt about that. . These children have very devoted, excellent, and involved parents, which helps a great deal.

These four are also 12, 10, 8 and 7 1/2, and we have had them regularly, all of their lives, which makes a huge difference. They know Grandma, and what Grandma expects, and Grandma knows them.

It is very, very difficult to take on a child you are unfamiliar with, and who is unfamiliar with you. Think foster parenting.....

I'm sad for your husband, but he should keep trying. As she gets older, she will hopefully mature and enjoy contact without putting conditions on it.

I am a big believer in being the one who stays in the game.


Maggie

[skitique]

He definitely stays involved to the degree he can due to distance. He face times & visits regularly but you are right parenting is the key. My son in law is level & a good influence on them but weekends aren't enough to sway the behavior as they get older. It is sad but not sure their behavior overall will change unless required to do so at home. My heart breaks for him.


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[Lily&Me]

Yep.

I used to tell my foster parents, when placing a child with them, to pay close attention to what the child did, and how, those first days after coming into their home, as this is a window into their life.......how they play, eat, sleep, behave, what they say, etc.......and had them keep daily notes for me.

None of us are perfect parents, but children in protective custody are assessed, along with their families, to determine degree of risk at home, what is going well, and what is not, etc. This information would then go into a court report for the Judge, who would make final determinations as to problems needing addressed and whether a child could return home, and when.

Think about what you learn about a child's life, simply by observing them.


We have some older grands who were not so easy to deal with, before they were in school and had their first experiences....other than with us....with external structure. Couldn't let them out of our sight for a moment.

There is a story as to why we hadn't seen them in 4 years at the time Doug died, and why I still don't, which I will not go into.

Parenting is the key, and the good, the bad, and the ugly is reflected in our children.


Maggie

[DIR1]

Hi Maggie!!! sounds like that all turned out well for everyone!!! I love train trips... have done a few out here and now that your adventures have reminded me what fun I had, I think I'll do some more!!! something to think about and plan for.... keep having fun!!! Hugs and love to you...pats for Lily!!! gail