My Nanny Diary

Late July:
Talked to my Mom today.  Turns out Jeff and Kathy need a nanny for a week and the 'rents are traveling (yet again.)  Mark my words - I WILL find a way to get to Austin.

1 week after "Late July":
Meetings moved, vacation days blocked, ticket to Austin purchased.  Nanny 911 to the rescue!

Sunday, August 22nd:
I arrive in Austin, TX to 105 degree weather.  That's right - even triple digits won't keep me away from my nephew.  Jeff and I grab lunch and Vaughn and I get reacquainted.  He remembers what I taught him last time I was in town ...

Monday, August 23rd:
Full day playing with racecars, hammers, magnets, racecars, stuffed animals ... oh yeah, and racecars.

Tuesday, August 24th:
Repeat Monday ... add playing in the dirt out back and sweating from parts of my body I didn't know I had.  Took a trip to the Splash Pad to cool off.  Put Vaughn in and out of the car seat, oh, three times or so because I kept forgetting things in the house.  Gimme a break, this babysitter has been out of practice for quite some time now.

Weds, August 25th
Trip to the Children's Museum.  He was by far the best kid there, at least, that's what I heard ... SO good, he even talked Aunt Trace into a popsicle when we got home.

Thurs, August 26th
Austin Zoo, here we come!  Vaughn's favorite was the pint-sized deer that he was able to feed.  He couldn't get enough, and neither could the mini-deer.  They were a perfect pair.  We went home with a stuffed donkey as a souvenir.  Buying things from the gift shop - that skill I get from my Dad.

Friday, August 27th
Walk around the block and past the firehouse so we could wave at the fire truck.  BIG day.  Spent some time on the front porch blowing bubbles.  He blows more from the soap on his lips than through the little stick ... hilarious.

The days were so exhausting, Vaughn and I relaxed in the evenings with our "juice."

The weekend was full of quality time with my brother and sister-in-law.  VIP seats at a local fashion show, cocktails, movies, dinner at a great taco place ... they know how to spoil the babysitter.

Bottom line - Vaughn and I are BFF's!  What a wonderful opportunity to spend some one-on-one time bonding with my little nephew whom I don't get to see nearly enough.  Skype is handy but doesn't always cut it.  Now I can understand his language, I know his favorite foods, and he even knows my name ... Ace!

Escapades

A couple weekends ago now, my BFF and her husband made the trek to Minnesota for a 4-day visit.  That's right, folks ... I got Rocky to leave Ohio!  It doesn't happen often, but that's what makes it so special.  This was Rocky and Tom's first vacation without their little peanut, Ryan, so it was a big deal for everyone.

The weekend kicked off giving Tom a tour of the city as this was his first time in Minneapolis.  He's the type (like me) that needs to see "the sights" everywhere he goes - that's an easy one, Tom.  Mall of America - check.  That's all we've got.  :)

The weekend was full of high quality bonding - seriously, I have to take advantage of any opportunity I get with this girl ;) - but I wanted to share a few of the major highlights:

#1 - We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon on the lake.  Pretty common for a Minnesota summer, but when we can be on a gorgeous lake in 15 minutes from our house with great friends and great weather ... life is good.  Kyle even gave Roxanne a fishing lesson!

#2 - Rocky and Tom helped with some significant yard work (they offered, no ... insisted, promise!)  Anyone who had visited in the past several months knows that we had some serious ivy that was out of control on the front of the house.  Well, life was busy and we didn't have a chance to get around to it ... until the Eaton's arrived!  That's right.  The ivy didn't stand a chance against this crew.  And we pulled out some overgrown (and ugly) Junipers.  Rocky and Tom - we can't thank you enough!

Don't worry, I helped.  :)

Before ...

After!

#3 - The third and final highlight will help explain this blog's title (for the fans out there) - Rock and I revisted our high school days and went to the Janet Jackson concert.  We had gone together to see her on a whim back in the 90's, and it was one of the best shows we had ever seen.  The fact that this was only Rocky's second time to Minneapolis for only 4 days and Janet happened to be in town - it was meant to be!  Nothing like a trip down memory lane (and some killer tunes) with your BFF.  :)

Thanks to Rocky and Tom for hanging out with us in Minne ... clearly we made Minnesota fans out of them!

We know it's our turn to visit next time ... but, if you ever get the itch to leave Ohio again, you know where to find us. :)