Sweet Nana

This morning we were all up bright and early! The kids were both up around 8. I quickly got ready to go to an automotive shop so we could have some work done on the van (nothing major - just all the normal tune-up type stuff...I guess that's what you call it...rotation, alignment, oil change, etc.) Nana volunteered to stay with the kids this morning to make things a lot easier on us all! She is such a great Nana to the kids - they absolutely love her! (When Cayman says "Nana" it sounds more like "Mena." And tonight he said "Anna" because we will get to see Anna tomorrow, and he called her "Mena" also!) But Nana is also a fantastic mother-in-law! I am so blessed to have such a good relationship with her. I've always heard people talk about the horrible mother-in-law, and on TV (and sometimes in real life) you always hear jokes about wives abhorring their mother-in-laws/never wanting to talk to them/MIL nagging constantly/etc, etc. I'm so thankful we never go through that! We've had a lot of time alone this week - mainly driving different places, especially since this has been one of the busiest weeks for Ian in quite some time! Poor guy. But during that alone time, I feel like we've gotten to know each other so much more, and I've learned a lot about her childhood, heard about family members, listened to stories of Ian and his brother growing up...it's been so much fun! Not to mention all the help she's been around the house! So thanks for branching out and doing something out of your comfort zone, Bonnie! Thanks for coming down to visit us by yourself - something out of the ordinary for you - because I've sure enjoyed our time together! (I know it's not over yet, but I know we'll be very busy the next few days, and I wanted to say it while I had a chance!)

By the way, we drove to Sanibel Island tonight because Bonnie has a friend that lives in Fort Myers (but works on Sanibel Island). For unfortunate reasons, the two were unable to meet for lunch as planned this week, so we drove Bonnie there to see her friend. Bonnie and Barbara met YEARS ago, when Ian was 7 months old, when they worked together with a company. They haven't seen each other in over 19 years! But they've kept in touch all this time. I just think that is so neat! Probably because I am so horrible at keeping in touch with people. I'm the worlds' worst about calling people - I'm not a super huge fan of talking on the phone for some reason. But I do enjoy sending people text messages whenever I think of them. And I do like Facebook because I can keep in touch with people that ordinarily I wouldn't talk to that often. But 20 years from now, I just wonder who from my present life will I be visiting because I just happen to be visiting in the same town where they're living. (Does that sentence make any sense at all?! Haha!) Basically, I'm wondering who the Barbaras in my life will be 20 years from now. (There, that's a little better...)

[caption id="attachment_1232" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="We drove past this...display I guess you would call it?...in downtown Fort Myers to show Bonnie. We still find it so fascinating!"][/caption]



I found blank note cards in the dollar spot at Target today (I borrowed Ian's car while the van was being worked on and drove to Target to pick up "a few" things. Stupid place.) Maybe I can use some of them to touch base with some friends I haven't talked to in a while. *Note to self: Write an old friend a card this week.*

Tomorrow will be a busy day! Charis has her 9 month check-up in Port Charlotte. Cayman and Nana are going to play at a park (weather permitting) while Charis and I are at the doctor's office. Tomorrow afternoon, Seth (Ian's brother), Leslie (our SIL), and two of their three kids, Zachary and Anna, are flying into town. So they'll drive to our house and then we'll all go out to eat tomorrow night. I can't wait!! I love seeing family we haven't seen in a while. And then Friday, Anna is competing in a gymnastics meet, so we'll be driving to Sarasota (Bradenton) for her competition. I'm looking forward to seeing her compete; too bad it starts at 12:15, which means my kiddos will not be getting naps that day! I'm planning to take all the ammunition in my arsenal Friday. Portable DVD player and all. Actually I'm a little more concerned about Charis than I am Cayman since she's so mobile and active now! That child does not like to be held when she can be exploring. I don't think I want her exploring too much in a large auditorium though. Maybe we'll be able to fit the pack-in-play in our aisle??? :)

Ok, these next pictures I took last night after I'd already written my blog. Cayman had been playing with the mixing bowl and colander in our bedroom. All of a sudden, I hear Ian and Cayman making "shushing" and siren noises. And this is what I see.

[caption id="attachment_1228" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="They were wearing "fire hats" running around the house putting out fires with their invisible water hoses! How cute are they??"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1227" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Then Charis caught on fire."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1230" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="She was thankful they put her fire out."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1229" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Then Cayman remembered he had his fire boots in his closet!"][/caption]