Today I'm thankful for...

1. Dates with Grandma. Lillian had a special date with Grandma after school on Tuesday. They went to the car wash together, then they walked to the local Dunkin' Donuts to get donut holes for dessert, then they topped it off with a visit to the playground by Grandma's apartment. Today was Sydney's turn. I dropped her off with Grandma on my way to get Lillian from school so they could spend a few hours together before dinner time. They went to the same playground and swung on the swings "next to a baby" (according to Sydney) and went down the slide "a hundred times" (according to Grandma). :) They also went to the grocery store to buy pizza for dinner and an ice cream cake for dessert. Sydney even helped carry the pizza in the store for Grandma. But on the way to the store they made a special stop to visit the horsies at Chamounix Stable. Grandma said that as soon as she started driving across Strawberry Mansion Bridge (which is on the way to the horses) Sydney started talking about the horsies so they just had to stop. I had my own date with Grandma last week when she took my sister Audrey and me to the salon school to get spa pedicures and manicures. Now, not only are we bonded by our sister-mother-daughter relationships, but also by the hot pink nail polish that adorns our toe nails!! One-on-one time with Grandma/Mom is precious and fun. She leaves for Chicago on Sunday to spend a few months with my brother, his wife, and my adorable little 3-month old niece Anna. I will miss my mom a lot- especially being able to see her all the time and watching her play with my kids- but I'm so glad that she'll get to build the same relationship with Anna. Relationships are the most important thing we have in life.

2. Surprise parties- even if it's a farewell party. Since Grandma is leaving us soon, Lillian decided to have a surprise farewell party for her. While she was on her date with Sydney we decorated the house with balloons and streamers. Lillian made a big sign on the door that says "We love you Gma and Gpa. Love, Lillian, Sydney, Liam, Mom and Dad." She also made name tags to mark where everyone was sitting for dinner. Keeping with tradition when Daddy is on call, we picnicked on the floor. Only tonight was a fancy picnic- no paper plates and plastic utensils at any party Lilly is in charge of! Everyone (even Lil and Syd!) used "glass plates" and glass cups. Lillian lined up all the plates, put folded napkins on top of each one, carefully arranged the seating assignments, and placed forks and glasses for everyone. It was quite a fancy picnic. The service was great, too. Sydney served second pizza helpings for everyone and Lillian carried the salad bowl from the table to our picnic blanket so we wouldn't have to get up to get it. The after-party festivities involved bath time, taking a walk with Grandpa and Liam, eating ice cream cake, feeding old stale alphabet cereal to the birds in the front yard (Sydney helped herself to a few handfuls as well), book time with Grandma and Grandpa, searching under the bed with a flashlight for missing, fallen stuffed animals like Sydney's "chickmunk" (aka chipmunk) and Lillian's Beany Baby Easter Egg Bear, songs in bed, and finally falling asleep. Phew what an evening! Grandpa was so pooped out that he fell asleep sitting on the couch. It was a wonderful last hooplah before Grandma leaves Philly. We will miss her lots!!

3. Raffi. He's our new best friend. He has been our special lunch time guest all week long. Sydney has her peanut butter and Nutella sandwich and she requests to watch Raffi while she eats. Lillian wants to watch Raffi on the way to school. When Liam gets to watch he smiles and coos and kicks his legs around. Gosh, I love Raffi. I loved him when I was a kid and I love him still. He's good, pure, kid entertainment. No goofy outfits, no crazy act- just a good guy with his guitar, some great songs, and some cheesy jokes. What more does a kid need? For your watching/listening pleasure (and to take you back to your childhood days):