Grandma Tour 2012

Yesterday was our turn to be part of this year's "Grandma Tour". Each April, Grandma Reynolds flies north from sunny Marco Island, Florida for two weeks. She spends one day each in Mokena, Illinois and Springfield, Illinois. Coincidentally, she just happens to have adorable grandkids in both of those places (oh, sons and daughters-in-law too). She spends a couple of days in Effingham, Illinois visiting her own mother, and then spends the rest of it working on her yard at Grandma and Grandpa's summer home in Monticello, Indiana. She then returns to Marco until mid-June when she and Grandpa make their annual drive north.

Meanwhile, Grandpa remains in Florida, playing tennis, boating, and watching television. Good gig if you can get it. Oh, he has chores to do to, but it sounds more fun to imply that he gets play time while she does the work. Truth is, Grandma loves to play in the dirt, so she probably enjoys doing so without distraction.

Grandma snuck into our house sometime yesterday afternoon. When Shaling got off the bus, she knew Grandma was going to be there and was happy to see her, but apparently was a bit confused. I was next to arrive home and asked Shaling if she was happy to see Grandma. She affirmed that she was, but questioned me about Grandpa. Apparently, she wasn't aware of this whole "it's Grandpa's time to play" deal.

As Dad and Shaling headed off to softball practice, Grandma and I picked Preston up from track practice. Later, we all ate at local restaurant (Razzo's). After homework and showers were finished, Grandma took on the duty of putting the kids to be while Mom and Dad headed off to play volleyball. I'm currently in a league and Brock was subbing for an absentee.

The game was at 9:15. Nine. Fifteen. P. M. My alarm typically goes off at 5:15 (though I pushed it forward quite a bit this morning and skipped a bit of my routine). Of course, being the last game of the night, it didn't start on time. We started at 9:30. Need I mention that there is no sun at 9:30? I'm not quite sure what the temperature was around here last night, but I know it probably started with a 5. It was also windy. We play on sand, but last night I could have sworn it was snow. I thought my toes might get frostbit. Wow. Thank goodness that was our only 9:15 start all season. Phew.

Just because it's fun to post pictures (these are courtesy of a text/email from Grandpa)...here are some nameless friends that visited Grandpa as he was cleaning the boat yesterday (boating and chores all at once):

Yes, those are manatees.