“I smell children.”

I utter this sing-song phrase from Hocus Pocus when I hear the patter of the little feet up my stairs and then the creaking open of my bedroom door, early in the morning. Giggling ensues and there they are- Wyatt and Phoenix- two of my grandsons, waiting for me to get up and start the day.

That is because my daughter A.J. and her two sons, now 8 and 3 1/2, have moved from Saint Augustine, back to Miami and into our house. It happened almost a month ago, although at this point, it seems like a lifetime ago. I was more than a little shocked to hear my daughter was so unhappy in Saint Augustine and wanted to move back to Miami to be near her family and a support system. Of course I was also thrilled about them moving in with us, but also a little apprehensive.

If you read this blog, you know I’ve had a hard time adjusting to the empty nest of just my husband and I, home alone. The house seemed so big and empty; I was lonely and struggling a bit without my grandsons here. I know I should have reveled in the freedom and leisure time, but in fact, I never really did.

I would drive past Sunset Elementary and remember how I would walk Wyatt to school and pick him up in the afternoon for tennis. I would find a little Matchbox car and it reminded me of Phoenix and the container of cars I kept in the family room for him to play with. Stray crayons also reminded me of Phoenix, who loves to color and Monopoly of Wyatt, who is a Monopoly fiend. I eventually put the toys, cars and children books away, as they just made me sad.

Well, they’ve all been pulled out again and are in full use, as are the Board Games and Chess set I never put away. Decorating for Halloween is so much more fun with a couple of enthusiastic assistants and they’ve been fawning over their new little cousin Celine. We’ve already had many family gatherings since they’ve returned and, while it’s been an adjustment, so far, so good.

They know now not to enter my room in the morning until I’m awake (and preferably after I’ve had coffee) and not to talk during Jeopardy (although Phoenix still does). I wake up in the morning hearing screams of “Bop!” when my husband walks downstairs to go to work and I’m greeted with “Gigi!” and hugs around my legs when I walk in the door of my house. I’ve been cooking more than usual and A.J. and the boys are pitching in, cooking one night a week. There’s also been a lot more meditating, yoga and Happy Hours on my end. And trips to the Keys for the weekend.

I used my Serve It Up! tennis cookbook to make a recipe and like, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, it led me to another recipe and then another and another. I made Swedish Turkey Meatballs (pg 64) one night, with buttered egg noodles and peas and it was a hit. On the same page was “Like Blue Sky Chicken Imperial” so I made that another night, when we had Emma and Guillermo over. It was good and now that Blue Sky at Red Bird is closed, I’m glad I have the recipe and it makes a lot! My sister Elise’s Flank Steak is on the page next to it (very good) and the Unstuffed Cabbage as well, which inspired me to make Stuffed Cabbage.

Stuffed Cabbage (I made Ina Garten’s) is a multi-step process and, unfortunately, no one liked it so it’s not a repeat! The other recipe I tried was Lentil Soup with Sausage and Kale (page 49). It’s a perfect rainy, Fall day recipe and it was delicious, although I didn’t add the kale as I didn’t have any. The last thing I made from there was Kona Inn Banana Bread, which makes two loaves and is quite moist and delicious. It was a recipe from an old tennis teammate of mine, Kelly, and I made it for a Girl’s Weekend in the Keys in Naples, that didn’t happen because of Hurricane Milton. Luckily, they freeze beautifully.

I will be happy when Hurricane Season is over! November 30th can’t come soon enough, even though Miami has luckily, been spared so far. Before then there’s Thanksgiving, which I’ll be hosting this year for a whole lot of family. I have a lot to be Thankful for this year, not the least is a brand new granddaughter and two little boys and their mother so close at hand.

Up Next: Kona Inn Banana Bread