Last night was a Jillian Friday night
or as she calls it, " My Friday night turn"
As she gets older it becomes just a little harder to entertain her
boys and the internet seems to be her jam these days.
If there is one thing I am so fortunate for it is the rules of the Cottage.
When they come for their Friday there is no TV or iPad.
There are a few exceptions like if we watch a movie together, popcorn included
or in the early morning when I am also on my computer drinking coffee.
Because it has been firmly in place since the beginning, they rarely ask for either.
But Jilly is getting older whether we like it or not
so it becomes a tad harder to keep her entertained.
They know, however, that on their Friday we do what they want.
When i picked her up at MawMaw and Poppy
she was dancing around saying she was so excited that it was her turn.
Of course, I think its only because she had no better offers on this night.
Jojo has been on vacation with a friend this week and because Jilly
misses her she had tie-died her a t-shirt and wanted to do a cricut iron on for it.
I love me some Cricut so that took about....... an hour!
"Mumsie can we go walk?"
It was hot and almost dark but hey, she is calling the shots.
When she noticed her shadow on the brick she asked for
a photo, here is that, another memory being made.
"Can I paint the birdhouse you bought for me?"
" I want to surprise you and you can put it out your studio window with
your other bird and squirrel feeders"
Great idea, I thought as I was hoping to paint another wall in my bedroom.
She diligently spent two hours on this masterpiece
and was quite pleased with it.
About that boyfriend stuff, each time that subject comes up Mumsie sings loudly
to the tune of Encanto's Bruno...
"WE DON'T TALK ABOUT BOYFRIENDS, NO NO NO!"
It was getting late I was tired, she was not quite ready to go to bed.
I said that's fine but you will have to lay in my bed and read or something.
Which brings me to another tradition at the Cottage.
Each night as the grandgirls settle down to sleep,
I sing to them their prayers and a few other songs from when they were little and a back rub.
"If I fall asleep, don't wake me to sing or rub"
"Oh, forget it then, I am going to sleep"
She settles and quietly listens to all my singing, bad notes and all.
Just as she is about to fall asleep, she whispers,
"This is my favorite part about coming sleep here"
Why don't you just melt my heart right there.
Jillian loves tradition, rarely wants anything to change when she comes here.
I often threaten to sell the triple bunk beds as they never sleep in them.
While we played she again asked me not to get rid of them.
"Mumsie, I will be so sad, it's all about the memories"
Well that will keep the bunks here for a tad longer.
Each morning begins with a rock in my recliner.
This girl will not let me slide on any traditions.
As I rock her this morning I am reminded of something i often
say in my heart as I rock, something perhaps that DR. Suess would say:
"...AND I WILL ROCK YOU HERE OR THERE,
I WILL ROCK YOU ANYWHERE
I WILL ROCK WHEN YOU COME THROUGH MY DOOR,
I WILL ROCK EVEN WHEN YOUR FEET TOUCH THE FLOOR"
Happy Saturday, you all!
If you can't be with the ones you love, love the ones your with.
