Tales of Life with a Girl on the Go

After Kindermusik on Saturday, we once again hopped on the highway, this time destined for Trenton. The weather was fabulous – sunny and warm – and the trees along the highway were gorgeous – with reds, yellows, oranges and greens (and brown, as Reid pointed out but I was trying to be poetic) – and the sleeping was good, too. Ken said the traffic and construction were a challenge but I wouldn’t know about that. Reid slept from just after the rest stop where we had lunch until we got off the highway. She prefers to sleep at high speed, I guess.

We spent the afternoon with Grandpa Keith and Granny Rhonda. We enjoyed the sun and warmth on their deck and in the backyard for quite some time but even Reid and I weren’t brave enough to try the pool. Ken snuck away to take a nap for a bit and I didn’t blame him. I fell asleep about 8:00 Thursday and Friday nights last week but he didn’t even get home until after 10:00 on Thursday.  Reid helped Granny make a pie and a salad with dressing from scratch while I tried to dig out some of the stuff from our car. It looked as though we were still in the middle of a road trip (which we kind of are) but it was even bad enough to bother me. Imagine how bad that has to have been! Grandpa had grown some yellow tomatoes in his garden and Reid was bold enough to ask for one (and then another). I found it disconcerting that they were yellow like apples but tasted like tomatoes. Reid liked their taste, too, but also their yellowness. After supper, Reid shared some of her instruments and played harmonica with Grandpa and showed how the shaker egg, bells and harmonica worked but not when I tried to get her to something in particular. Ken pointed out she isn’t a trained animal and with our cats as role models, she never will be.

We got to Grandma Barb and Uncle Terry’s about 7:00 and Reid walked in like she owned the place. I’m so pleased that she has this outgoing nature. Grandma Barb was busily finishing up getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner. It’s not easy working and hosting family meals but Grandma does it anyway. As soon as it was time to dishes, a task I am qualified for (thanks, Mom), I bossily sent Grandma to play with Reid and I started washing the dishes. Grandpa Terry dried and we were soon done. Reid and Grandma built a big tower. Grandma was impressed to see what a good job Reid does at building towers since she had specialized for so long at knocking them down. I gave them a big pad of paper to draw on and Reid chose a page near the middle (the first page was too obvious, I guess) and had me put Grandma’s name on the facing page and so there may have been a method to her madness. Reid found many pencils to draw with and used them one after another in rapid succession since she isn’t usually allowed to use pencils, until Grandma charmed her out of them.  Once their pictures were done, Reid chose some books – okay, Reid started emptying the toy/book bag and after 10 or more books were on the floor, Ken took the bag away and Reid chose books from what was on the floor – and Grandma read to her until it was time for bed. We headed for bed about 9:00 and Reid was asleep very quickly and slept til 8:15 and is ready for another busy day.

On Saturday, we headed to Kindermusik – I wish I could say, “bright and early” but we were running a bit late as we started. Very soon after we hit the highway, we were in stop-and-go traffic. Did I mention that I was the reason we were late? Finally, we got off the highway for a couple of exits and then got back on. I don’t know if it actually saved time but at least we were moving. We were 20 minutes late for a 45 minute class and Reid had fallen asleep on the drive but she perked up and sang and did actions as soon as we arrived. I think that the summer made a big difference in her comfort level. After class, she gave Ken some cuddles and climbed into her seat with her new bag, books and instrument. The theme this session is “Milk and Cookies”. We’ll have to try some of the cookie recipes. The instrument is a rosewood xylophone that is arranged in a circle around  a base (looks a bit like a large can) with a small wooden spoon. Reid can “stir” and make some nice music.

Reid and I slept for a good chunk of the drive. I wasn’t going to sleep but it seemed to help Reid fall asleep so I made the sacrifice :+) Ken said he saw a bunch of police cars with people pulled over but I’ve never seen such a thing on Highway 7. Maybe he was hallucinating.

Arriving in Marmora, Reid woke up when the car was shut off. We walked to the cemetary to see Ken’s grandfather and we talked a bit about Grandpapa. I’m not sure what Reid understood about what was happening but then I’m often not sure what she is thinking.

We had a great visit with Grandmama. She had  all of Reid’s favourite things – meat, eggs, cheese and bread. Reid is a girl of simple tastes. Plus since it was Grandmama’s house, with Grandmama’s rules, Reid was allowed to cut her own slice of bread. Very cool if you’re two! I suggested that Reid, Grandmama and Ken go outside while I tidied up. Reid said, “No, Daddy tidy up” (which is how it goes at our house). Ken agreed to the revised plan and we ladies went out to the patio/lawn. Reid loves the backyard at Grandmama’s – there are little birdhouses in the flowerbed, a small chair at the neighbour’s to play with and a big yard to run around on (important after a 3 hour drive). This trip she found a bird bath, a chipmunk and some crows. With Ken snoozing in his chair, we decided to take Grandmama and go to the park. What a park! There was a structure that looked like a slide but it was moulded plastic and had bumps for climbing; this seemed a good idea to me since even Reid has started wanting to climb the slide.’s sloped part. There was a merry-go-round and a teeter-totter – neither of which I’ve seen in ages and they’re probably not considered safe but I stayed real close and Reid enjoyed both. At first I rode the merry-go-round but I got too dizzy. Not Reid, she is made of sterner stuff. They had the usual climbing structure with a couple of slides plus two other slides. Reid hesitated at the top of one slide and when I went to investigate she pointed and said “puddle”. I, with my poor sense of space, said, “Don’t worry, I’ll help” and sat her of the edge of the slide and out of the puddle – or maybe not since her shorts were wet when she got to the bottom :+) Grandmama bought us a popsicle to share, just the sort of thing Grandmama’s are famous for. I’m not sure if Reid had ever had a popsicle with us before. If not, I’m glad her first was banana since it’s my favourite. She has had fudgesicle-type creamy things, maybe they count as popsicles.

We left after about 4 hours and had a relatively uneventful ride – except for the potty break request at 100 km/hour. I think it’s actually easier to find a place to stop on the 401 with all its exits than on Highway 7. We stopped at Arby’s for supper (I can’t remember seeing one north of Leamington) where Reid fell in love with my strawberry shake – nothing but health food for her. After chatting instead of falling asleep for far too long, Reid gave up when I pretended to go to sleep. Again I sacrificed!

We made it home after about 12 hours, tired and happy.