The window is open but my time sitting here is brief this week because the Grands are here! Hubby and I have 7 Grands–5 in the Carolinas and 2 in Ohio. The Ohio Grands are the oldest, K is 15 ½ and D is 12, and we don’t see them nearly enough. We drove through Debby’s rain to get them and bring them here. It’s the first time the two of them have been here together without the parents. We’re loving it.

Spending the week with a teen and pre-teen is much different than a day with the 4 younger Musketeers who are usually here! (The 7^th Grand is only 10 months old so she’s never been here by herself …yet…)

Instead of a morning at the playground or watching Bluey, there’s been a visit to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville and seeing the Broadway production of The Lion King in Charlotte.

Instead of fine dining at the Two Star Restaurant where the food seems to melt in your mouth … because it’s all pretend, last night K made real mouth-watering gnocchi with garlic sauce, then she and her brother made a dessert with puff pastry, blackberries and vanilla cream sauce.

Saturday was a family game and taco bar night when the other local cousins came with their parents. It’s been 6 years since all the Grands have been in the same place at the same time. Phones with their cameras were at the ready to capture the rare event. We managed a few photos where everyone was looking in the same direction and smiling–except for the 10-month-old who would only look at me.

Instead of the individual Christmas gingerbread house decorating, games were played in different groupings with K and D showing the younger ones how to play Cootie, and building with Lincoln Logs, and bowling with plastic ball and pins down the entrance hallway; but K also had a deep conversation with one aunt about homeschooling–K and D are homeschooled and so is one of their cousins. Later, there was an hour-long political discussion with K and 3 of the adults.

Having these two here this week reminds me of our own children who are 10 years apart from oldest to youngest, and how shifting gears between conversations and activities was what made life interesting and fun. Sometimes stressful but mostly interesting and fun. They’re here for a few more days so instead of hearing about the advantages and disadvantages between dinosaurs, I’ll sit back and listen to more about Fortnight (it’s a video game, right?). I’ll have discussions about career plans, politics, and the angst of having a younger brother. And instead of dodging tricycles, I’ll be trusting my granddaughter driving my car around our neighborhood with her shiny new learner’s permit. A life relived and I’m loving it all over again.

I’ll be busy and I hope your week is as fun and adventurous! See you next Monday.