What I Learned this Weekend

No matter how hard I try, I cannot ride my bike standing up...you know, they say to gain speed or power to stand up and pedal. I can't. For some reason, it is just physically impossible for me. I must have a disorder.

So Much Fun!

As I posted, Chloe spent the long weekend here with us. It was so much fun having her here!

I was able to get this playhouse for her to have here from my friend, S, at work and she just loves it.
I think if I were a little girl, I would too. I remember enjoying a play house of sorts we had when my sister and I were little, and I remember this old wood antique ice box in it...boy, would that be worth some bucks now!!!

Sammy is investigating the house. Of course, there were a few times that Miss Chloe Bean had Sissy and Sammy as visitors inside the house. She also ate snacks in there, lunch in there, and has a little chair in there, etc.
It was the most fun!

We looked at the Sunday ads in the paper. She asked me if I'd buy this pool for her and Brooklyn to play in:I said I thought 400.00 was too much money. She told me I could just go to work and buy some money...ha. If only!

By the way, we do have a 10 foot pool already for the "non-spoiled" grandkids to enjoy while they are here, and it is pretty nice! Isn't it???


They swam in it last year! Click here to see photos from last summer.

We went on a long walk (I walked ...Chloe Bean rode her Dora bike.) We played, we laughed, we had fun. We had to rest for a bit in the afternoon...Sammy too:
We had fun with Chloe Bean...isn't she sweet?

Let's Try This

For all my "menopausal" friends, blogging friends and local ones, who can relate...let's try this:
It says it combats the three symptoms of menopausal skin: itchiness, dryness and loss of elasticity. Hey, it is worth a try, and you can get a free sample by going to their site. I sure signed up for my free sample. I'll let you know what I think!

UH OH!

Yikes...Is this writing on my sons shirt a bad sign?
Gosh, I hope not! :-)

We enjoyed a couple hours together on Monday as we met to exchange children. Of course, it is not often that we have all four in the same place at the same time, so we were pretty darned happy!

(Chloe, our granddaughter spent the weekend while mommy (the blonde) and her boyfriend ran in the Bolder Boulder and spent time with our son and wife in Denver). Then, we met and she went home with them and our grandson from Denver came home with us for a few days. What joy for us! Having them both visit us! And, soon, they will come at the same time to visit again! Yippee!!)

Memorial Day

Thought of loved ones no longer here flood my mind today. Have a thoughtful day...

"The List"

Neck
Right Shoulder
Left Elbow
Left Thumb
Joints on right Hand
Left Wrist
Lower Back
Lower Front
Both hips, especially right
Both knees
Bruise on Right Shin
Ankles
Arches on both Feet
Joint on Right toe


This is what hurts right now. Pathetic, huh?

I probably need to use my new body lotion, or have a glass of wine, or take some Ibuprofen?

Sammy Sighs Again...

You may recall how I have my special places to be all alone. I wrote you about them last year in a post on this blog.

Look here who invaded my favorite special place:
A guy just can't get a break around here.

Sammy Sighs

Silly Sissy and I got to go on a road trip to Wyoming this weekend. It was pretty fun, and I really did behave myself. I even rode in the car good. Sissy didn't. She was like a little waterbug...just like sometimes when she walks. Dad said she was naughty riding.

Anyway, Mom took us out for a walk there. Mom likes to walk there...she says it is so peaceful. She likes to go walk around the river.

So, off we went. First we walked a ways, before I thought we'd ever get anywhere special. Then we walked across this bridge. I never remember walking across a bridge before in my whole yorkie life. I looked through the railing and saw this great big bathtub.

See how big it looks here:

Mom told me I was silly, it wasn't a bathtub, that was the river.

We kept on walking and I saw a real pretty flower or plant that I should smell. Wow, that plant wasn't nice. All of a sudden, it had something prickly stuck in my poor little nose. I didn't even cry, though. I tried getting it out with my paw. Then, it stuck in my paw. Mom had to try to get it out, and a nice man had to subdue Sissy, who was obliviously trying to run on down the road on the leash, pulling on me and Mom. Silly Sissy isn't very thoughtful. Mom said Ouch because the prickly flower stuck her too. (Mom said it was a cactus...what the heck is that? .. We don't have flowers like that back home in our town.)

I was already doubting how peaceful this was supposed to be when I heard gunfire. I jumped and looked back at Mom "What the heck...is that a gang war out here? There is nothing peaceful about that!". Mom just smiled at me and explained that it was the shooting range off in the distance that the National Guard use for training. Yikes.

I calmed down and off we went on our "peaceful" walk.We walked on this dirt road, and Mom seemed pretty happy just enjoying the walk. Then, I saw it....a grave. See, Mom, I told you, it was not safe...all those guns I heard back there and all.... Yikes! (She 'splained that this grave goes back many many years to the days of the Oregon Trail.) Whew!

See how pretty the sites were. After I calmed myself, I even enjoyed them.

It was a pretty long walk, but I was relaxed and started to enjoy myself just a big too. Mom said it was only about 3 miles, but I was getting kinda tired and my tongue was a draggin'. Mom really liked this tree. I have no clue why. It looks pretty darned dead to me....




Oops, I relaxed too soon. We came to the end of the dirt road, and reached the highway into town. But, how to get there? There's this really big trap. Sissy and I will disappear forever. We just stood there in fear for our very lives. Mom laughed at us and picked us up and carried us over. Good thing Mom was big enough to not fall into that trap. (Mom 'splained that it was a cattle guard...whatever that is...).

Anyway, I did have fun visiting at Mom's parent's house. They have this great big yard, kinda like a park...really! I love running around there. The grandpa let me sit on his lap sometimes, too.

I hope they take me to visit again.

There's No Place Like Home

Hello.

Hope you all had a great weekend. The weather here was beautiful!

We went "home" this weekend. We hadn't been there since March
(see posts of last trip):

Trip Home
The Weekend in Picture
and
Why the Food Photos?

We had a nephew graduating from our old Alma Mater, so a big family gathering was attended. We sure enjoyed seeing everyone. It was especially nice to see our parents. We got to see my husband's mother and my mom and dad, as well as one of my sisters, and several of my husband's brothers, aunts, nieces, cousins, nephews and old friends.

It is always so nice "being home" at our childhood places. I enjoyed the small town sounds, the hugs from old friends, sleeping in my old house, and spending time with our loved ones. I also got to attend my old church, which is always such a blessing to me. I especially enjoyed sitting by my dad today, along with my sister and mom. Dad and I enjoyed being there together. What a treat!

We just so enjoyed being there.

Sissy and Sammy went along to visit and Sammy has a post to write. He's biting at the bit to get it done.

You all have a great start to the week on Monday. Thanks for reading!

Bed Head

Poor Sissy must have had a rough night the other night:

Missing Elsie and Helen

Thoughts of my grandmothers filled my mind yesterday with it being Mother's Day. I never was one to send cards on grandparents day. But, I did send my grandmas cards on Mother's Day. I can't tell you how much love my grandmas gave me. I love them dearly, and still talk to them.

My heart feels full, yet empty. Even empty, it aches. Is that possible?

I love them so much and miss them even more.

I will have to write about them each sometime...future posts in the works.

I know that yesterday, my mama was missing her mama. I am so lucky to have my mama be such a good mother and friend. I love her so much.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

I am re-posting this post that I wrote in November, 2007. Happy Mothers Day to my mom and to all of my friends, sisters, daughters, aunts, sisters in law, mother in law, and blogging friends. Mothers are so important, and I love my mom. Very, very much....



My Mom

My mom is special. She has never been "mother", always "mom".

She amazes me with her strengths, courage and faith.

She is one of three sisters, the youngest by quite a few years. She later became the mother of four daughters...I think she is probably pretty in-tune to the female world.

She credits many of her attributes to my Grandma (Elsie), and I can say that we are blessed to have her be the same in many ways as Grandma. But, she is her own person, and one that I admire greatly.

Mom grew up in a small town, smaller than my hometown, and moved upon her marriage to Chicago...what a change. Her stories of the differences are just enthralling. I would have been scared to death upon such change.

Later, my father worked for CB&Q railroad and we moved often. She seemed to take all this in stride and always managed, even with him away at times, or on odd shifts, and being far away from her own parents and siblings.

She gave birth to me fifty years ago (yet she remains at about age 35 to me, always), then had still born twins, followed by the birth of my younger sister. Mom was to suffer later the loss of her husband, my father, to cancer. I don't remember a lot about my younger childhood, probably due to the stress of the loss. But, she remained strong and took care of her daughters. It was much later in life that I read a journal she had kept writing about my father's illness, her feelings, and various stages of the cancer. In those days, cancer killed, and it usually was painful and hard on the person and those around him.

The journal enlightened me to let me know how much she truly had suffered while not showing us girls how scared and alone she felt, by crying in the middle of the night in my grandmother's arms, by calling a friend just to hear her voice. She never showed that fear and loneliness to me. I was a child. I depended on her fully.

Later she remarried a wonderful, man, Dad. He has been a blessing to us all, and I love him with all my heart. My father's family welcomed him and they became his extended family as well, which was so giving and wonderful. I had lots of grandparents and extended family between Mom, Dad and my father. How lucky!

Mom give birth to two more daughters then, my sisters, who are 14 and 12 years younger than I am. I am so lucky to have the three sisters. I love having sisters.

I am not going to tell her life story, I couldn't even begin to get all the details!

I sometimes still feel like a young child, calling my mom for advice, or just to share, or just to cry or laugh. And, she lets me.

When I am happy, she shares my happiness, and loves me...
When I laugh, she laughs with me, and loves me...
When I am sad, she comforts me, and loves me...
When I cry, she dries my tears, and loves me...
When I succeed, she congratulates me, and loves me...
When I fail, she encourages me, and loves me...
When I falter, she lifts me up, and loves me...
When I am lost, she helps me find a path, and loves me...
When I lose faith, she enlightens me, and loves me...
When I forget, she reminds me, and loves me...
When I need, she gives, and loves me...
When I give, she appreciates me, and loves me...
When I make mistakes, she helps me find answers, and loves me...
When I talk, she listens, and loves me...
When I ask, she answers, and loves me...
When I am lonely, she consoles me, and loves me...
When I am frustrated, she helps me, and loves me...
When I need forgiveness, she forgives me, and loves me...
When I fly, she hangs on and flies with me, and loves me...
She loves me.

She has taught me so much about life, about the importance of doing for others, about faith and family and friendship and love.

I feel her love...all of the time. It envelopes me, and wraps me like a warm blanket. When I feel blue, I just need to grab that blanket a little tighter.

I am thankful for Mom. I hope that I can be even just a little bit like her.

Happy Birthday

Today is my youngest's 19th birthday. I can't believe she is 19. I hope she finds a path to follow, and happiness.

I know amid all the confusion and unknowing, there is still a little girl inside. The little girl still needs me, but the 19 year old wants to spread her wings and fly, she just doesn't know where quite yet.

I hope she can find her little corner in this world. I hope she'll always know how much she is loved.

There are so many hopes and dreams I have for you, my youngest...

Sad Face

This is the sad face I see staring out the window at me every day as I leave the driveway. I think I should just stay home with Little Miss Sissy, don't you?

Poor little sad face....

Beautiful Ballerina

No words needed!

For more photos: Dance Recital

Here I am...

I haven't blogged in DAYS. I haven't even read any blogs, so I have just been trying to catch up on my favorites. I miss reading them, it's like my little blogging family or something.

Change is always hard on people. I think I particularly seem to resist it. Therefore, I've been struggling with upcoming changes in my life. So, now I am resolved to look ahead and be happy ... accept challenges...and know it is going to be good.

I have had several jobs in my life. The longest I had were in the legal fields. First I worked in the office of the County Judge for several years, and then I worked in law offices, including the County Attorney's office (prosecutor) for twelve years. I loved it, and during that tenure, I became a paralegal...you know, certificate and all. Ha. Anyway, to make a long story short, or leave out a bunch, eventually I started working for a school, in particular for the special education department (in the office). Even though the pay was too low, I have just loved it. I love what I do and especially the people I work with. I really, truly do.

My boss is changing jobs and will not be in his position any longer, and told me he wanted me to move over to this new building with him, and do technology. (My job had evolved to doing a lot of that already). I wasn't sure about all this, and leaving those people I enjoy.

But, it will all work out. And, I am excited for this new challenge. I will be training my coworker in the areas that have been mine (excluding technology) and have started working on more technology projects already. I get to keep working on a bunch of trouble shooting and assistance with staff that I like, and get to keep doing the school web page, so I am glad of that. And, the new stuff will be challenging and interesting.

The conference I went to in Omaha was for technology, and I learned a bunch. I hope we can utilize some of the ideas. I will be training two days next week as well, but only day trips. So, I ought to be getting smart sooner or later, right?

Anyway, this is a long post, I know. I just have been tossing this around and around....and today, decided to finally write. Writing is such a way to work things through...it truly is!

Other items to note today: blizzard all day here! Yikes! granddaughter Chloe Bean will be debuting at her first dance recital this weekend! Can't wait! prayers to someone dear to me who needs our prayers right now! thanks to all of you for letting me write!