long story short - the kids went to New Orleans to be with their sister who's roommate recently died -- at (literally) 30 min notice -- I am in charge of my grandbeauty for the next few days -- on top of my two spoiled rotten pomeranians - butterfly and angel -- and a 40 lb 4 month old german shephard puppy -- plus working at home --

NOW -- this was 45 min of my day today

i went to leave my house (we're staying at the kids house so grandbaby feels secure in her own bed and has all her own toys and i went over to check on the two pom's that are old enough to stay by themselves) -- i scooped up belle and the handful of stuff i needed to take back to the house for the night -- the dog gate allowing me out of the house (WITHOUT INCIDENT) fell down -- i'm half way down the 3 steps with everything in one hand -- belle in the other -- and butterfly gets out -- i drop everything -- except belle ;-) -- close the door -- put belle in the car -- call butterfly -- who comes to me expecting to get into the car -- walk her up to the door and realize i've locked myself out -- then i hear my house phone ringing -- so i put butterfly in the porch -- go to get the extra key from under the lawn mower -- belle starts screaming because she thinks shes been left alone (i'm not 7 feet from her) -- and my cell phone goes off -- it's work about a contract just faxed to us -- so now i've calmed belle down -- finished my phone call -- got the key into the door -- go inside to get my stuff before belle starts back up (still within 10 feet of her securely in her car seat and the doors open) -- and BOTH dogs get out ---Yaaaaaccckkk

long story short -- both dogs are now in the house -- belle is asleep in her own bed -- dakota (my german shephard puppy) has run herself out and back to sleep -- and here i sit -- quite -- with BEER IN HAND ;-)

AHHHHHHHHHH......the joys of Grandmotherhood! LOL....what a hilarious (but exhausting) 45 minutes in the life of Lionspaaw! I hope you have another brewski coolin' in the refrig for when you finish that one!

oh its there

i just dont have the energy to get up and GET IT

Hysterical now but a real disaster at the time. If this was a show on TV it would have to be the Carol Burnett show.....stay strong grandma!!

Oh girl, I've been there. I owned a Dairy Queen and said yes when my daughter asked me to babysit her four month old daughter. My word. I would get up an hour earlier than normal to feed and bathe her and then, she'd load her diaper so I'd have to start again. I took her to my store and she was such a good baby but it was hard working and taking care of her. One of the girls that worked for me took her home with her one afternoon to help me out. I was just exhausted after four days of this. But, the two of us are really close today and she's 12 years old and I wouldn't trade that time together for the world.

I do love being with Belle This isn't the first time we've had her for a few days in a row but she was much younger the last time.

The energy of a two year old is just unbelievable ! She's "testing" me alot - seeing what she can get away with -- but it's like riding a bike -- you never forget that "moms voice".

One great thing about this last few days -- I ALMOST have her vocabulary down I still have to guess at a few of words but she's learned to grab my finger and just take me over to what she wants she just melts me when she says "Ohhh Grandma" in that "ohhh silly you" tone of voice

What was frustrating about yesterday was I PLANNED AHEAD -- you know -- not like when I was young and just plowed ahead Put the dog gate up - made sure I had everything in hand so I wouldnt have to go back in the house - left the puppy at home so I only had to deal with one baby at a time -- so what happened Just goes to show you -- life is unpredictable

What I didn't tell you about all this is that because the dogs got out and put me behind that 15 min -- we may very well have missed the terrible car accident that happened just shortly before we got there our guardian angel watching over us once again

But now I've had a good nights sleep and I'm raring to go -- I may actually make it until NOON today !!

Lion, what a story. I guess you were in the right place at the right time. Hectic it may have been, but it was the place to be...

Dianne, I didn't know you were a grandma of a 12 year old. She's the same age as my granddaughter. Does she live close to you.

chick

Lion, you are so smart to look for the good in everything. Bless you.

Have fun with Belle. My daughter had her sitting still for about an hour. You might want to try this. She let Belle paint her own toe nails. She had a blast. And was very good at getting the polish on the nail. This might work if you need a breather. Just be sure to have lots of paper towels around her.

Lion, I'm glad you found God's blessing in being late. I always try not to stress when I get behind the power curve like that because - like you - it could have been me in that accident - and being late saved the day...literally. I hate being late but being 'permanently late' is a lot worse!

I just realized she's 13, not 12. I have six of these young critters. 17,16,13,11,6 & 5. Still have two unmarried kids so might end up with more and they all live in AZ

Dianne, how often do you get to see the kids?

I know I have no control over this, but I hope my grandkids are in town when that time rolls around.

Last day of grandbeauty sitting --

The kids should be almost half way home by now -- we decided to stay at our house last night as the puppy is forgetting all her housebreaking training and the other two dogs have bags under their eyes from not sleeping well at night

All went pretty well last night -- but this morning has been a little hectic -- with the energy level of everyone being just a tad high I live in a smaller modular home -- it once fit my husband and I and our two small dogs but seems to shrink daily with this new puppy. I swear she lays down for a nap and wakes up bigger ! Anyway - after Belle shared her breakfast with the dogs and I got my husband off to play tennis (HE OWES ME BIG TIME ) I decided that the best way to solve everyones problem - well -- MINE -- was to bring out the ole play pen -- NOOooo not for ME

soooo at this particular moment - Belle is sitting in her playpen watching Sesame Street -- puppy has finally worn herself out trying to climb IN the playpen with her and I have 2 minutes to myself to hurry and post this before everyone realizes they arent the center of my attention

One nice thing about all this is that I have NO TIME for work -- so I get a few minutes to sneak in here and check up on you ladies

Gotta run -- puppy just found the clean clothes basket - so now I have to wash them all again - just as soon as I gather my husbands underwear from the porch and his sock from under the bed

Does the new puppy belong to you, or the kids?

The puppy is ours

The lady broker I have my real estate license under also has a german shephard kennel (Katzenblut.com) --

Dakota was 2 days old when her mom stepped on her stomach and more or less left her for dead. When Shirley found her in the morning - she really didnt expect her to make it. I took her home to bottle feed her every 2 hours around the clock. She was allergic to cows milk, reacted to goats milk, had a HUGE wound on her back and neck that had to be drained 2x's a day for a couple of days and finally the vet opened the one on her back and we had to clean it and dress it 2x a day. LOOOooooonnnng story short -- by the time she was stable enough to go back to her mom and siblings she was so bonded to hubby, me and our two pomeranians that she wouldnt go back to her litter. SOOOOoo we know have a 4 month old 45 lb german shephard that thinks she's a pomeranian

Her official name is Aponi Dakota - which means Butterfly Friend -- (Butterfly is the name of the pom that has taken over roll of mommy dog) and since the roll of Dakota is to be my companion and friend -- I thought the name fit

Thank goodness -- puppies grow up faster than grandbeauty's

I think you've earned a very long nap!

Dotsie, I see my grandkids about three times a year. I bring them out every summer without their parents. They act better that way.

Butterfly friend? I recall your stories of butterflies and Robert. Right?

Dianne, that sounds like such fun. I bet they look forward to it all year.

"butterfly angels in roberts tree
fluttering this way and that way
free as can be

i love you my sweet child
and i miss you today
but butterfly angels let me
know you're okay

sunsets and rainbows more vivid
since you've arrived on the scene
peace finds my heart and
i'm more quiet and serene

so fly on my life child
free as can be
and thank you sweetheart
for butterfly angels in your tree"

Butterflies were how I knew everything would be okay when Robert died. When we got our pomeranian puppy 4 weeks later - there was never a doubt of what her name would be -- Butterfly

I didnt tell you about Belle and her "eyes" (or did I ???) -- anyway - she's learning eyes, mouth, ears, etc etc and while we were driving in the car she was drawing on a piece of paper. She accidently poked a hole in the paper and sat there for a minute looking at it -- you could practically see her little mind working and then she poked another hole in the paper next to the other one -- looked at me and said "EYES"

I also had the butterfly conncection with my recently departed aunt. And, there is a butterfly on my book cover.

Loved the eyes story. How sweet is that?

Dianne -

Have you noticed that a great deal of people that have lost loved ones relate to a butterfly connection ?

I started wondering if God wasn't trying to show us the metamorphosis from lowly crawl on their belly caterpillar to beautiful fluttering free spirited butterflies in reference to heaven and earth

No, I never noticed it before. But I love the idea! My publisher, no doubt, saw the metamorphosis connection since she put it on my book cover. The butterfly is in front of a mirror.

I like to think of my aunt being as free as a butterfly and released from her earthly body that just didn't want to work anymore. She was a free spirit too so it's fitting.

There will be another funeral for our family next Thursday

I asked to babysit my grandbeauty because I just didnt feel a 2 yr old needs to be around so much pain and negativity ---

We'll stay at home and draw butterflies on the patio windows

Perfect. Maybe you can blow bubbles too.

I bought a project for bellie and her mom to do together -- its a hard cardboard cut out of a fancy cat -- you color it with all these kewl colors and then put it together

I told her I had a present for her out in my car and she took me by the finger and walked to the front door ;-)

When I gave it to her she got all wide eyed and said "CAT" and then pointed to the "paints" -- and then carried it inside for mom and dad to ohhhh and ahhhhh over -- it was almost as big as her ;-)

She's really starting to get FUN ;-)

I bet she'll love that.

I remember how much she loved the fingernail polish. She'll be able to go to town with a paintbrush.