Patty said she needed her house "Joanietized." This is a term she coined because when I was her nanny I liked things organized, routine and a certain way.
I went down to their home Monday night and surprised my Godson Chandler.
Tuesday I was given the task of bringing the Christmas ornaments up from their storage area. It was fun to reminisce seeing different items I remembered the boys having when I shared my Christmases with them.
I would often share my thanksgiving with them as well. I hadn't had a chance to do that for the last 4 years so it was good to go visit this week. I am so thankful to my friend who pointed out to me that my priorities were a little displaced and brought to my attention that I needed to go spend time with my second family.
I went to my favorite orchid wholesale shop. Westerly Orchids in Carpinteria and I found a deep violet infused phaleonopsis that I placed in the front entry way of Patty's beautiful peaceful home.
I was able to take a lunch break and go do a crossfit workout. I was happy to do all the pull-ups in the warm up and do the wod and learn how to do a weight lift better. I'm excited about the challenge the ladies of crossfit Grover Beach are doing its really helping me with my health and fitness goal and has made it easier to hold myself accountable.
Tuesday evening my Godson Chan and I went to the hardware store and had fun maneuvering the plywood board through the isles. Afterward we went to the place we still call the pumpkin patch to pick out a Christmas tree. He selected the first one he saw then we proceeded to look at others and settled on his first choice. He and I worked together and lifted it off my car and into the house. Everyone commented on the large beautiful tree we selected. We then picked up dinner from a drive thru we've been going to since he was 4 and had a parasite that had him living on a bland diet of chicken noodle soup and French fries. I found our order comical I had the bunless burger no sauce no pickles he had the burger with the bun no sauce no vegetables. I loved watching Chan just having fun hanging out together enjoying his sour apple sticks, loving the pine scented candle, seeing the horse at the Christmas tree lot that he says has been there forever, but I only just noticed it last night because he pointed it out.
Today I got up to make Chan and his brother JT breakfast. I woke JT up and he requested pancakes. It's so great to think he's almost 18 and he knows he can ask me for nearly anything. My reward is his appreciation. He says thanks for breakfast Joanie then asks when I'm coming back again I tell him I want to make it back before Christmas which is also just before his birthday. He gives me a hug and thanks me for coming down and he asks if I can drive Chan to school so he isn't late.
I got to spend ten extra minutes with Chan and snapped a pic of him by the Christmas tree just before he left for school. I made sure to sneak in that extra hug too when I dropped him off at school. I loved that he wasn't too cool to give me a hug or say love u too as he headed off to class.
I am so grateful for this little time away with the people I cherish the most who always give me so much love.
