I’ve had kids for more than 10 years. I haven’t taken any trips away from them, though they have spent time as a group away for me with their grandparents for a bit.

This week marks my first trip away from them. I have come to stay with my grandmother and her husband to help them as she starts recovering from her stroke. Her prognosis looks good, but every difference between “before” and “after” is difficult.

This is both one of the hardest things I’ve done and one of the easiest choices I’ve ever made. I am torn between my children and my grandmother, but being here feels very right. My heart is full.

Internet connectivity is spotty, as is email, but I’ll be back on Monday with book reviews, reviews of some new Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free products, recipes, a review of a Solar Science lab, and more random musings.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking to stock up on cool t-shirts for the summer, UneeTee is having a big sale, all t’s are $13 through June 1. The Summer-themed shirt.woot winners will be on sale Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting at midnight Central time. You can get more than 20 shirts from their Reckoning List for $15, but the shirt of the day is $10 - shipped!

I have been lucky enough to have a really close relationship with my grandparents. When I was little I would go for week long trips to “Nana camp”, which was special 1:1 time with my grandmothers - I would go to one grandmother’s house while my brother went to the other’s house, and then we’d swap. I’ve got wonderful memories of that time. I’m trying to facilitate my daughters having that same bond with their grandparents, too.

When we moved from TX to CT, I had a lot of sadness about leaving a wonderful support system and fabulous friends. However, we ended up living 5 minutes from one grandmother, and 15 minutes from the other. Nothing is better than being there for people when they need you, and I was able to be there for them when my grandfather died and when my other grandmother was hospitalized.

I’m incredibly lucky to still have 2 grandmothers - one is 85 and the other is 90. What I think is even luckier is that the girls are now old enough that they should remember my grandmothers for the loving people they are.

This morning my Nana M. (pictured here with my Grandpa Bob) had a stroke. She had some left side weakness, slurring of speech, and confusion. She’s improving, but it’s really upsetting, and now that we’re in MA it’s a bit longer than 15m to go see her. My mom and I are going tomorrow, though, and the girls will stay home with Bill for the day.

Prayers, vibes, and good wishes are all accepted for my grandmother. I’m worried, and I’m not ready to let go of her. That grandparent bond is a strong one.

The party is done for BG. She had fun, and so did all her friends. We held the party at a local rollerskating rink, it’s a place that I went to as a kid, and it’s in some kind of time warp.

We had about 10 or 15 kids, and lots of skating and falling-down was done by all. Plus lots of pizza eating (for the non-allergy people, and followed by hand-washing), and lots of cake eating.

The cake is a fun(ish) story. We made a white cake and a chocolate cake Friday night. And the white cake was fine, but the chocolate cake not so much - more like a brown brick. I planned to make another after diner, but I whacked my foot and it was iced and painful until I fell asleep a little after 3am. Then we tried to make another chocolate cake, but the oven wouldn’t preheat. The oven, she is broken. I kn has sadness. However, my mom brought cupcakes and all was right with the cake-and-party world.

BG was so happy with her party, and so glad that most of her friends could come. It was great to see cousins playing with eachother including cousins from opposite sides of the family! A nice mix of relatives and friends. I thought my dad was going to have a heart-attack, though, from all the bouncing around happening to the kids! He gets nervous they’ll get injured. I just cross my fingers and hope for no (serious) injuries.

We left here a little after 12, and came home around 4:30. I was wiped out and laid down for a nap a bit after 6. I woke up 16 hours later. that was a good nap!

Now to start worrying about MG’s birthday next month…

I hope all of you had a wonderful mother’s day!

On Friday afternoon Jack was giving Ra a hard time, so I was separating them. Stupidly, I did so with my hands. Ra accidentally nipped me, and even though it’s a tiny cut, it whacked a nerve. So until now my thumb on my left hand was basically useless. It’s a bit better, but not a ton, so I’m going to the doctor tomorrow. wheee! I think it’s been a couple months since I was last there!

I had a lovely mother’s day with sleeping in, a great bbq linner made by my step-dad, visits with my mom & step-mom, and general rest & chatting. My brother was visiting, which was a lot of fun for everyone. He grew a mustache, and now suddenly looks so much like my dad. It’s surprising.

It’s great to feel special, isn’t it? Of course, sleeping in and having meals cooked for you is a day in the life of many of the people in this house, but ah well. No pictures from Mother’s day - no new camera yet.

It’s been gorgeous here lately! The sun is too bright for me to work on the laptop outside, even!

And why are we outside all day? Well, BG got an incredible bike for her birthday, so BG and MG are riding all around the neighborhood, and exploring with some friends. The bike has gears and shocks, and is just a wonderful bike for her to ride on roads, grass, or trails.

The older girls have also started to take their bikes down to the playground, and play with the other kids in the area. I follow on my scooter with LG and at least one dog, and we hang out. It’s great!

I have to be careful about sunburns, though - the first day on the beach I got burned.

Sadly, my camera isn’t working, but my mom was nice enough to take a few pictures, including two of MG scaling the rock wall and BG climbing the rock wall. They both climbed to the top the first time! We’ll have to go back soon, they loved it. I’m hoping LG is tall enough to join them soon!

So, what’s been up with you while I’ve been distracted by the nice weather?

edited: because I mis-typed a link, making it all go wonky