Home again

Ekko Bekko, you are my big girl. We went to visit Grandma and Grandpa this past weekend. You were so excited all week about going. When we left on Thursday night you were completely wound up. We stopped for the night in Parry Sound and figured that would make the trip easier for you girls. At first you kept insisting that you didn’t want to sleep in a hotel. You wanted to go to Grandpa’s right then. But when we got in the hotel, you loved it. You had to “pin” round and round you were so excited. A room with two beds. A room with a bathroom right off it. You had never stayed in a hotel before and you were giddy with glee. It was so much fun watching your enthusiasm. I think the piece that made the room for you was finding the kleenex box in the bathroom as part of the counter. That was so amazing.
You did very well in the car. Grandma had given you a musical book for your birthday and you played with that a lot. In fact you played with that a lot all weekend. By the time we left, Grandpa was laughing that he had the song “Old Grey Mare” running through his head constantly. Auntie Becky and Uncle Aldo also made you a little box of fun to take in the car. That helped too. And the chips. You sure love chips.
Our weekend at Grandpy’s was fun. You weren’t shy for even a minute. Right away you were asking Grandpa about seeing his chickens. Grandpa hunted out mommy’s old barn hat from milking cows and let you wear it. That was funny. You loved his chickens. Grandpa let you carry an egg in your pocket in from the chicken coop. That was exciting. You also loved the wheel barrow. Grandpa took you for a ride all over their yard with the wheelbarrow. When we stopped for lunch on our way home, you spotted a couple of wheelbarrows for sale and wanted to buy one! Mommy loved watching you so happy and playing. You fed Maggie some of her bones. You helped Grandmy make bread. And Grandmy made pumpkin and blackberry pies for us. I knew you must be her grandchild and not her child when she caught you in the kitchen eating the berries out of the pie and she laughed till tears ran down her face. When I was about to make you leave the pie alone, Grandma said “if you can’t get spoiled at Grandma’s house, where can you get spoiled”. Then sadly, the weekend was over and we had to get back in the car. You were a bit sad to leave but there was another package of chips to ease the transition. I don’t think Mommy or Daddy even ate any chips on the way home. You sure did a good job on that package though!
Coming home we drove the whole way in one day. By the time we got to Barrie, you and Zoe were no longer happy. Not at all. You were hungry for something beside chips. Several times you pleaded in the car for beef barley soup. Daddy suggested we stop in Barrie and see if we could find a Chinese restaurant. At least that way we might find some food you like. Fast food places aren’t your favourite. We found a Chinese food buffet place that was almost closing. There were slim pickings on the buffet but enough for us. There was still shrimp, jello (three colours!) and ice cream so that made you happy. The lady that owned the place was quite enamoured with you and Zoe. You made her laugh so hard when your tummy got happy, and you were happy again. You stood up and hugged me and loudly exclaimed “You are just the cutest little mommy I ever did see”. Thanks Ekko! They also had crab legs on their buffet. You got quite excited and told us that Lolo likes those. What a good memory you have.
I should go feed you girlies now as you are both awake and playing around here now. It was fun to go on a little holiday with you. I like seeing how exciting new things are for you. What a delight you are. – Love, Mommy