The adventures of Jordan in Guelphlandia

Hi. This is Laura. Well, Auntie Laura to the McCawley kids. I'm here to tell of Jordan's adventures in Guelph. See, his Mom brought him to my house one Sunday morning, and, about an hour later, abando-- erm, left him in my care for a sleepover. We were just prepping to make grilled cheese and Jordan was almost too preoccupied to notice as his Mom and sister Amber slipped out the door. I think Roxy (that's my dog) was more upset. I'm pretty sure Jordan at least managed to say goodbye, and perhaps even offered a hug and kiss (little did he realize, despite being told for days ahead, that he wouldn't see Mom again until tomorrow). But then it was down to business.

Michael Jackson playing in the background at Jordan's request, the little man and I sliced bread and cheese, layered on the butter, and set those grilled cheese going in my jaffle maker. While we waited for them to cool a bit for eating, we looked at a couple of books: Muppets. I am very proud that my sister has created in him another Muppetphile. He fits right in with the Mousseau clan. Jordan identified Blueberry and Dum-dum straight off the bat (well done, Dad) and then, after some coaxing, I managed to get him back downstairs for lunch.

After lunch we lounged a bit, read some more and did some chalk drawings on my front walk as we waited for the requisite hour after eating before we went swimming. And by swimming I mean splashing. I took Jordan to a near-by wading pool/park. A short but steep uphill slog, he rode in the stroller there, but at the edge of the park he would no longer stay contained. I released him and he ran straight to the sandy play area, littered with toys including some classic Tonka trucks.

We did the slide, we played with trucks, then he finally noticed the water and in we went. After about two minutes it was back to the sand, then the pool, then the sand, then the pool, then the sand... At this point he's probably been in my care for about three hours and I'm exhausted.

Eventually though, Jordan decides he is done and we go back home (he walked home - no stroller for him) where we do some more reading, then some painting and chalk drawings, then walk the dog. Then dinner comes. Baked mac & cheese. And as I take my first bite I know almost instantly that Jordan probably won't like it; the old cheddar is probably too old for a less-than-three-year-old's taste. But he eats a spoonful, then another, then another. And then, after about six or seven of them, he looks at me and rather sheepishly says, "I don't like this." I had to laugh. And then we agreed that yogurt with blueberries would round out his dinner nicely.

Not long after dinner the little man started fading. I took him upstairs, I read him two new books (including Mortimer by Robert Munsch) and on the third book (brought from home) he was gone. Time: 7:18 p.m. Incredible. Though I was tired I went downstairs and cleaned up dinner and our play-time things, then sat to watch a bit of teev before retiring myself, prepared for the 5:00 a.m. wake-up call my sister warned me about. Around 9:00 p.m. I hear an upset monkey. I go upstairs and he is sobbing. Bad dream? He says, "Mommy!" And I say, "It's Auntie Laura, sweetie. Is everything okay?" He sobs a couple more times, then relaxes and passes back out. Phew!

I go to bed shortly after this and round about 4:00 a.m. hear a little stirring. Jordan is playing with my bedroom door. I get up, and Roxy and I join him in his bed where he goes back to sleep. Then up again at 5:30 a.m. I tell him, "We can't get up before the sun does." He humours me and stays in bed until about 6:00 a.m.

By 1:00 p.m. we've walked the dog (Jordan' s getting very god at helping), eaten breakfast (scrambled eggs and toast), gone to see a train go by (the conductor waved at Jordan), played at a park, watched an episode of Thomas the Train, done more chalk drawings, eaten lunch (hummus and pita with cherry tomatoes) and Jordan is passed out for his afternoon nap - after a request for Mortimer (and he already knows Mortimer's song).

Exhausted, I wonder whether I should shower, clean-up or nap. I clean first, prep dinner second, then worry he'll wake while I'm in the shower and freak out, so decide to nap instead. At 3:30 p.m. I decide we've both had enough napping and Roxy gently nudges him awake which makes him giggle. We watch a couple of short videos on YouTube, do some "birdwatching" through binoculars, take Roxy for another walk, and do a few more chalk drawings, the latter of which we're just wrapping up as Mom, Dad and sister Amber pull up to join us for dinner before dragging the little guy home.

It's 6:30 p.m. My house is empty. I'm exhausted, I haven't showered for about 40 hours, and I have to clean up. Again. Still, it's too quiet and I miss the little dude already. Looking forward to round two in September! And so is Roxy - those two bonded like two oppositely charged ions! See you soon, buddy.

P.S. Sorry about the slightly pink underoos. I was sure I'd washed that bright red skirt before...