On Saturday, I took Clementine for her "day." Each grandchild gets one day to spend with me, alone. The grandchild gets to select one or two activities, and we do them together. It is easier on my energy level and on my pocketbook, and it provides some quality time for us both. I get to know my grandchildren as individuals, not a ten-armed, ten-legged, maelstrom of activity and joyful noise, at least for an afternoon.

 

As the oldest, and the grandchild I've had the longest, Damien has played pinball, got his ear pierced, and seen movies, including Wall-e, and Hugo in 3-D. Scarlet went with me to the Imperial Spa, where she liked the Warm Tub but found the sauna too hot, like Goldilocks! Collin wanted to play at the local arcade before we went to see Hugo (in regular D). Amy's turn comes next, and she wants to go to "someplace beautiful," so I'm planning a trip to the Oo-la-la Girly Spa, followed by a visit to the Bellagio Conservatory.

 

Clementine wanted to see The Secret World of Arrietty, and then to stop at the Pinball Hall of Fame. So that's what we did. Both highly recommended, and grandparents, especially, will get a kick out of some of the very "vintage" pinball machines that have been restored to (pretty much) working order.

 

Damien will turn eleven at the end of this month, and probably won't want to go on too many more Days of his own with me. I'm so glad I took the time to make special Grannie Hellie memories with him and all the other grandkids throughout the years . . . and I wonder what Tesla Mae will want to do when it's her day, in a year or two?