Friday: grandma camp winds down

In Chicago, wake-ups feel different. The young family lives in a quiet neighborhood, but I am very much aware of city life outside my window. The light is different, and yes, even the quiet is different. But, I dont waste time listening to it -- I'm up more or less with the girls, even though their parents help them along in the morning. Juniper has school, Primrose will spend the day with me, but as a day-camper. Initially, we are all together.

I watch that morning scurry, the checking off items to take, things to schedule for the day. (Juniper has water play at school this morning. Can you tell?)

Primrose, her mom, and I will walk the littlest one to the school and then the three of us will swing over to Mindy's Bakery for breakfast treats. We all leave by 7:45.

(Have a great day at school, Juniper!)

Mindy's morning pastries are extraordinary. I mean, I love my Madison Sourdough treats, but this place takes it to a whole other level.

At home, we eat the following:

And then Primrose and I set to work on a complicated Lego construction project. She's 98% reliable on her own in following Lego instructions, which is a good thing because she does not like being guided to the next step.

We get two fifths of it done before we put it away for the day. A brief pretend play (school -- one of her favorites) and then we go for lunch. My daughter breaks from work to join us and we quickly make our way to one of our all time faves -- Lonesome Rose.

(outdoor eating weather!)

(Fish bowls for the grownups, tacos for the little girl.)

(a three way selfie...)

There's a place nearby where they make their own ice cream bars and popsicles. Sort of like Good Humor only hand-crafted and, too, meeting the seasonal demand for fresh ingredients. We buy some popsicles for after-dinner: blueberry corn for my daughter and me, something more conventional for the kids.

And now Primrose and I take a little walk. Worn out, she naps, and the day -- indeed, the whole week -- of grandma camp winds down.

Dinner? My daughter cooks another wonderful meal and then of course, we finish off with the popsicles.

A few last games to play, a few last grandma calls to respond to, a few more dances.

I'll return home tomorrow. For now, I fall asleep to the lights and sounds of a city winding down for the for the night, for the week.

With love...