Auntie Brenda

After work today Brenda and I were talking in the parking lot.  We were discussing the goings on this week with the kids and their Mommy visit.  Our family is very very small.  It used to be bigger, but a lot of the people in it died off as happens.  And some deaths bring the ends of other relationships.  As often happens.
The littles have this whole other side which is Cassie's family.  Some live up north and some live here.  If Nana Nita doesn't take them, they have no interaction with the ones who live here.  And Nana Nita lives up north so it doesn't happen very often.  The littles are completely out of sight out of mind.  I used to try to help the littles have relationships with this family.  I have been told countless times that they would help in any way they could.  I asked once who Rhianna used for daycare when I was looking at the need.  I had msged her on facebook since I no longer had her address/phone number.  It took her over three years to respond to it. I asked Missy if we could come see the farm when Audrie was in her farm stage.  That didn't happen.  It is what it is.  After a bit I gave up on trying.
So I try to put this whole thing in that bag of things that I try to let go of.  Yeah, I know, easier said than done.  Most of the time I'm pretty good and don't think about these things.  We just live our life and go about our day to day routine.  This week it all feels thrown in my face and it is hard to let it go.  I already know I am going to be offended if the littles don't get to go to the picnic.  Jazzlynn is going.  So I guess we wait and see how that one goes and not try to worry too much about it until it happens or doesn't.
But Brenda and I were talking about how we (meaning me and the littles) are creating our own family.  That is why we have an Auntie Brenda and an Auntie Marti.  We haven't found any cousins yet, but we might yet.  We take our support and love anywhere it comes from.  And it is sad that it comes from people who aren't related, but again it is what it is.
We go to the island and feel more connection with people we only see twice a year than we do with those who are related.  But I guess we actually see those people at the island more than we see the family on Cassie's side.
So here is a BIG shout out to those who are a part of our lives because they choose to be.  We love Brenda and Marti. Good thing for them and all they bring to our table.

Ooops

Today was a routine day.  And after five days of being out of our routine, it appears we forgot how.  No one wanted to move this morning.  We ended up being about twenty minutes late to day care.  Mornings like this are hard.  The upside is we all got where we needed to go with no repercussions for our lateness.
Cassie had changed her mind on whether she was going to the birthday party/picnic this upcoming weekend.  Family drama.  But then her mom asked her to go.  So she changed her mind back.  I was told she wanted to take the kids, but she was going to have to check to see if it was okay.  The only thing Nana Nita had talked about was taking the kids out to eat on Sunday.  I'm flabbergasted to say the least.
It is that thing of words have no meaning.  It is the actions.  And it sure looks like the actions are exclusionary.  And I guess that is all right.  We can't be let down when we have no expectations.  So I'm not expecting the kids to be invited to the Kadow family gathering.  Again it is sad for them, but they don't know what they are missing.

Two. Only Two?

First Cassie asked if she can take the kids to the surprise birthday party, so the kids can see the family, play with the second cousins.  In the middle of asking she pops off with even though they see them all the time.  Wait, what?  We haven't seen any of the Kadow's since last July, when Cassie was here.  The only person in Cassie's family who makes any effort to include the littles is Traci.
Second the littles have now posed the question of "who am I?". Am I like a babysitter aunt?  Well no.  So now I seriously need to think about how to answer how they came to be with me.  Because they are finally questioning it all.  And how do you explain that to little kids?  In a way they can understand without all the drama and heartache.
Yeah two things are enough for today.

Golly Gee

The littles went to spend the holiday with their Mom.  Overnight.  My first overnight since August of last year without them.  I dropped them off.
Then I came home and cleaned and cleaned.  The living room and the kitchen are clean and have stayed so since I finished.  Wow.  Amazing.  So this is what it is like without kids.  ;p
I have netflixed all afternoon and painted some rocks this evening.  Now I am listening to fireworks.  Just enjoying the peace and quiet of the house.

Home

I resisted the urge to pack right up as soon as we got up.  So the little man headed to the beach and I didn't see him again until noon.  Well I saw him, but he didn't see me.  I packed up while Pat fished.  Pat is staying another night.  We needed to get home so we could unpack and take baths,etc.  Can't have the littles going to Cassie's dirty from camping.
While loading stuff in the car I realized there were two birds up in the tree.  I thought they were eagles, but I'm pretty sure they are ospreys.  And naturally by the time I got the camera out one of them had flown away.  Still very cool and impressive.  We watched them and the eagles all weekend.  Met some more people, had some good conversations and just a good time.  The little man missed out on smores because he was so exhausted he fell asleep before he ever got any.  Heard about it today let me tell you.
I love days on the river.  The kids can run to their hearts content.  They get tired out.  Life is slower for a couple of days.

Sunday Fun

For the past three years there has been a sailboat anchored out in the river.  It belongs to one of the regulars.  Well this year the river rose so much.  Guess it broke one of it's anchors.  Anyway, the boat is not in the river anymore.   I went for a walk and found it.  I guess it was jacked up, but one of the jacks gave.
We made use of Pat's new sport umbrella.  It is the coolest thing.  We can sit on the beach and have some nice shade.
I picked up Mom, Cassie, David and Jazzlynn today and brought them out.  They all played on the beach while I visited with Dede.  I love being at the island because I get a nice break from the kids misbehaving.  On the island they run and run and run.  Today they got to run with Mommy and Jazzlynn.  They had a good time.
Pat cooked us some halibut for dinner.  The little man again ate three pieces and this after he had had a hot dog.  Man I think he likes that fish.  And speaking of fish.  The little woman tried steelhead and halibut this weekend.  She claimed not to like either one, but she did try them.  It's an improvement.
The little will spend the fourth with Cassie.

Second Day

More fishing.  No fish.  Fires in pits.  No fires on Friday due to big wind.  The fire felt nice.  I visited with all the people today and felt like I must have finally arrived.  Either that or because so few of the regulars were there there were fewer people to talk to.
Tried to bring Mom out, but she wouldn't get up and come.  So I just went on back.