A week with the kiddos

Staying with the kiddos while mom and dad vacation in Maui hasn't been a problem.

Cael holding still as Capt. Kirk

I somehow raised six children so I know the basics.
But what's interesting to me is that no matter how well I've planned or prepared, there are mini-disasters that test my ability to come through like a super grandma.
I really prepared.
I made menus, froze a couple of meals ahead, laid in extra supplies of cookies and snacks.
I outlined a sleeping plan with each child to his or her own room.
I made a flow chart that read a little like a train schedule...school at 8 for Hannah, kindergarten at noon for Mia, ACT class on Wednesday, dance on Monday.
I had my writing work all caught up and freed myself from a variety of tasks.
I planned a few outings and adventures.
And we were mostly good...
- except for the day we went to buy Bundt cakes for teacher appreciation day. The store ran out of samples before Cael got one so we had to wait around in the front where there were all kinds of glass dishes and display items. When Cael finally got his chocolate chip cake sample, he dropped it on the floor. He picked up what he could before I could stop him and took a bite. "Yucky!" he said and threw it back down.
- except when we discovered the girls needed to dress like superheroes on Thursday and here I was without access to a fabric store and a good idea. I dug through my costumes. I had an ancient Princess Leia costume that would fit Mia but nothing for Hannah. "That's OK," she said, "You could just make me a cape or something." (We came up with her big sister's Red Riding Hood cape and some nerdy glasses so she could pretend to be Supergirl's everyday persona..) The disaster came after we had Mia's hair in Princess Leia buns and tried on the costume. The pants were 5 inches too long...Emergency stitching!)
- except for the day I heard some anxious cries..."Gramma! We can't get out! Gramma!" The doorknob to Cael's bedroom was slipping around and not engaging. We had to do the screwdriver operation for a day or so.
Nothing like peering through the doorknob holes and making eye contact with a 3-year-old who wants you to get him out.
- The best part, however, was when we were trying to watch "Supergirl" so Hannah could see what Kara looks like. It was way more violent than we all expected so I asked the girls if we should turn it off.
"That's OK, gramma," said Mia. "We can just say a lot of prayers!"