I’m still grinning from this weekend! A few months ago my mom asked if the kids and I wanted to join her for a trip to Ohio to see my Grandma. As most parents do, I replied with a simple “I’ll think about it.” It’s so hard to plan more than a few weeks in advance with my husband’s schedule. If he ever gets a weekend at home we like to spend it together as a family. Fast forward to Friday morning, I knew he was gone for the weekend and we didn’t have ANY plans for the kids. No birthday parties, no golf matches, no Girl Scout events, nothing! I asked the kids on the way to school if they wanted to make a trip to Ohio to see their Great Grandma and they were both beyond excited!!
It’s been about 4 years since we’ve visited her and well overdue considering she’s 92. I made some calls and arranged for a dog sitter, set up a rental car and booked our flights. Since we are an airline family we fly standby and the flights are the “easy” part – as long as seats are available (which isn’t always easy). I picked the kids up from school and told them the good news!! We’re going to Ohio….for less than 24 hours!!!
We’ve done crazier things for sure. One time my husband and I flew to Amsterdam for 19 hours!
The first open flight was Saturday morning and put us into Detroit at 11:30am. About an hour after landing we finally made our way out of the airport and into the rental car on our way to Toledo. (Fun fact: I was born in Toledo and moved when I was two.) The fun part of all of this….
Grandma didn’t know we were coming! My mom knew we were headed their way, but she didn’t tell my Grandma!! It was going to be a surprise and I was beaming with excitement!
She had no idea who was knocking at her door and was very surprised to see us standing there!! Surprise accomplished!
We only had the day to spend with her because of the flights going home. We had to leave her house by 6:30 the next morning in order to make it back home for the week ahead. We may have only had 10 hours to spend together before we all crashed for the night but it was the best 10 hours of the year! This was the first time my daughter remembers meeting her Great Grandma. She’s met her twice before but she was less than 2 years old each time. I was so afraid that something would happen and my daughter would never remember my Grandma. My son has several memories since he’s older, but you can’t have too many.
Fun facts about my Grandma:
- She was born in 1924.
- She still lives in the same house where my mom was born, by herself!
- Her oven/stove was from the 1940s and still works. In fact it makes the BEST chocolate chip cookies on the planet!
- She’s been married twice and has outlived both of her husband’s.
- She still drives, mows her lawn, and does most of the routine maintenance/chores around the home.
- She has the most amazing photo albums from the 1940s and beyond.
Grandma, Great Grandma and the kids – 2016
Great Grandma’s House
Circa 1940’s Oven
My happy spot on cold days!
My Grandpa – Circa 1944 – Enlistment Day WWII
Just how I remember it as a kid! Not much has changed.
Me and Grandma – 2016
Playing Uno with Grandma
The kids enjoyed looking around Great Grandma’s house and were fascinated with the basement. I guess they don’t get to see those often since we live in Florida on a slab. I was excited to spend some time with both my mom and Grandma, even if it was just for the day. Our lives are busy and hectic but family is important. This special lady has certainly given us all 92 reasons to smile.
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