Unexpected Babysitting, Snuggles, and Shaina is Delayed

A warm, balmy –4°C to start the day with our usual coffees. I went to publish a blog post that should have gone live last night, but the gremlins clearly had other plans. Shortly after 9, Nathan texted: Renn was sick—coughing, sneezing, runny nose—and wondered if I might be free to help for the day since he had appointments, Kaylin was working, and school wouldn’t allow a sick child.

I showered, dressed, tossed a few things into a bag (including the massive book I still haven’t finished), fed Harley, and was out the door within twenty minutes. Sheldon was on the phone and had no idea I was even leaving. I made good time, skirting rush hour and arriving just after 10:30—right as K headed out the door for work at 10:45. Perfect timing.

Poor little Renny was miserable: all the cold symptoms plus puffy, watery eyes, and she and Nate had been up since 5. Add tired to the list. We had some playtime and snuggles before Nathan returned around noon from his late-running 10 a.m. appointment. He made us cheesy noodles for lunch—thanks, Nate—then headed off to shower and work upstairs.

We put her new Bluey puzzle together and had a mini ice cream cone

played a little push pop bubbles

Renn demonstrated her avid vegetable cutting skills

lunch time which also featured a dish of ice cream

Renn and I settled onto the couch for shows, and once Nathan left for more appointments, she fell asleep. She got in a solid hour, hopefully enough to take the edge off the bug. It was a cozy, snuggly afternoon until Kaylin came home from work at about 4:30.

Nathan returned a bit later with groceries for a lovely rose gnocchi and sausage supper. Kaylin did a quick tidy while Renn and I decorated the window with vinyl snowflakes. Then it was playtime until supper—though she was not a fan of the meal. She decorated her felt Christmas tree, we played a few more games, and before long it was 7 and time to get her ready for bed.

good thing she had a "glub" for the hot cookies in her oven

I headed out, making a stop at a liquor store to pick up the iced tea vodka I enjoyed in the U.S., then continued on to Costco. Surprisingly not as chaotic as expected, but still busy. I was home by 8:40 with a completely pain-free drive. S was laying on the bed watching hockey after his own day of playing hockey. He had picked up Cooper earlier, who was now home with Brit after she was out to get horses fed.

I worked on today’s blog while enjoying a rum and eggnog S made before he left for the airport after 10. I watched a bit more Selling Manhattan and finally shut the lights off at midnight. S and S arrived home around 12:45. A long day for little S, who was more than ready to hit the sheets.