A Year of Change

Good morning…our youngest climbed into bed with us at midnight and proceeded to squirm, kick and flop around until 5:50a.m. when he exclaimed,”Mom, I am starving”. At that point I got up and put our little man in front of the boob tube with an “organic pop tart”. Not the best breakfast, but there is nothing artificial and no high fructose corn syrup. For those of you that are not familiar with high fructose corn syrup it is proven to damage the body….although corn producers are trying to now call it corn sugar…still bad…and of course the companies can say pretty much anything they want about their product until someone sues and proves otherwise. Anyway, google high fructose corn syrup and read for yourselves… Whole Foods has gone as far as to ban any product with high fructose corn syrup from the shelves and that is a pretty big statement.

We had an awesome “Day in Denver”. We started out at Larimer Square and began our scavenger hunt for historic buildings. Our group was small…just our son and one of his friends…the perfect size group…the Mister, myself and two boys…great ratio of parents to boys. We made our way down to the Oxford Hotel and treated the boys to Brunch and hot chocolate. After our tummies were satisfied we headed to Union Station. The kids had booklets to fill out along the way with questions about the buildings and what they noticed about architecture….we had 17 buildings to see on our tour. We finished off with the Capitol walking up and down all the stairs including the 61 steps up to the Dome. The views from the top were 360 degrees of pure Colorado beauty. We popped our heads in to see if the Governor was available to meet a couple of third graders, but he was out of the office….maybe he was touring NREL with V.P. Biden….Anyway, we made a quick pass through Civic Center Park to answer the last questions in the kids booklet…totally disgusting…urine on the steps and as sad as I feel for the homeless people residing there…maybe a tree would be a better option. We made our way over to the Library for drinks and snacks and sat outside to enjoy the weather and crane watching…major construction was going on across the street with 3 of 4 cranes all working at the same time….very interesting for 9 year old boys!! We then made our way back to the bus for a not so quiet ride back to school….needless to say all of the kids had a great “Day in Denver”.

Dad went to the gym this morning. I’ll take a run when he returns…then I am off to make 7 more invitations for L.O.L.’s 90th birthday party…Grandma, Uncle T. and Auntie B. yours are on the way…Saturday June 4th at her house from 2-4. We will get the critters…little boys included a walk this morning.

I work today and I think Dad is taking the boys to Boulder and then I don’t know what the plan for the day is….I am sure it will be something fun.

The youngest is still starving, so I am off to make a smoothie, flat white eggs and toast….here comes the oldest….have a great day!!!
God Bless
LLF

Today’s the big field trip. Mom and I both arranged for the day off to be Team leaders for our oldest ones group. Before we get to the days activities, I have to tell you about the littlest ones performance in the 1st and 2nd grade play last night. All the kids were dressed up as dinosaurs and sang and performed for about 25 minutes. The youngest was smack dab in the middle of the whole group giving us a good view. We arrived about an hour early and were still about 6 rows back in the crowd. There we so many people I’m sure it violated some sort of fire code. We managed to record the performance on our dvd recorder and have to get everyone a copy. The littlest one was so cute bopping back and forth singing songs and acting out his rehearsed hand gestures with a foot tall dinosaur head on top of his head which was part of his full body costume. All you could see was his little face sticking out signing away. 5 minutes into it, it was getting really hot in the gym. Between songs all the kids were fanning themselves, it’s a wonder no one fainted. Anyhow it was a great show, one of those magical moments in a parents life that you’ll always remember, and we were really proud of him.

Now to the Day in Denver. The oldest is having a mini fit right now as we’re out of Honey Nut Cherrios and he has to have the ones not coated in sugar. We need to nip this mini event in the bud so it doesn’t ruin the day. We need to be at school by 8:45 and should be home by 2pm. We have a map that we follow that takes us through many of the most historical buildings in downtown over a 4 hour period. It should be some good exercise and very entertaining, for kids and adults. This event goes on rain or shine and thankfully the sun is out right now, let’s hope it holds out as we can’t handle anymore rain.

Our yellow lab goes in for a tooth extraction next Wednesday. Yesterday both pups went in for shots and check ups (to the tune of $250!) and we have about another $250 coming up with the coming procedure, but what can you do, you have to take care of your pets. Still no microwave and we’re slowly adapting to life without the modern convenience of instant heat. Who knows how long we’ll go without getting this fixed, I’m betting on early 2012 before we’re back up and running with a wave!

Mom starts her marathon work week tomorrow, I think she works 8 out of the next 9 days, so much for part time. Yesterday she put in another 2 hours cleaning L.O.L. house (that about 5 hours this week) as her house is full of dust and clutter and Mom makes $15 per hour. It’s a win win for both as L.O.L. gets some long overdue cleaning and company and the misses gets a few extra bucks which always helps. I’m glad L.O.L. suggested this as the wife would have probably ended up cleaning anyhow to help her out, for no money.

The oldest is still melting down which isn’t a good sign, must not have had enough sleep. Time to go as we leave in less than an hour. I’m so sick of seeing the news consumed with the french guy who supposedly assaulted a hotel worker and Arnold who fathered some love child while married, what in the hell is going on. I know this stuff happens all the time, but the media just milks every situation for all it can. There’s many more pressing issues the World faces rather than sex scandals, give it a rest already. Just my opinion.

So until tomorrow, take care and God Bless,

Yesterday was quite the weather day. We had hard rain that turned to hard hail, some wind and a bunch of flooding around the neighborhood. It started right when the kids got out of school at 12:15. I was standing outside waiting for them at 12:10 and by the time the bell rang at 12:15, we had to run for the truck. When we got home it was coming down so hard that we all got soaked trying to move some plants (the ones in containers) closer to the house. Then the hail started, and it kept going for a good 30 minutes. After the hail we had about a 15 minute break and then the rain was back. I had to grab a shovel and go dig some trenches to divert the water away from the house. There was so much water the ground couldn’t soak it up anymore. Finally this morning it’s dry, however it’s supposed to start up again around noon. This whole system is supposed to move out by Saturday. They say this is the wettest May on record and I think we’ve had about 5 or 6 inches so far. Oh well, at least things should grow when it all stops.

The boys did their homework and then watched a movie while I worked. Mom arrived home from her Open House around 2pm. It was a pretty good afternoon and evening with not a lot going on. I woke up early today and made breakfast for Mom and the boys. The littlest one and I picked up some cinnamon rolls yesterday at the store so I threw those in the oven around 6:30 while I made some “flat white eggs” and set the table. Our microwave finally bit the dust. It was starting to go on by itself and we were afraid it might blow up or something. Then it just quit altogether and lost all power. Funny as it’s only been one night and a morning, but we really had become dependent on it. We’ve all gone to it at least 2 or 3 times only to remember, it’s gone. How would we do with no power if we can’t get along without a little microwave, probably not too well.

Mom’s off to the vet for shots with both dogs and I’m waiting for the Door Company to get here as they’re installing a new deadbolt and fixing the weather stripping from when they put in our new backdoor a few months ago. Then I need to run to the distributor to meet with the General Manager and pick up some samples. Tonight is the World Premier of the youngest ones first grade play. I think we need to be there at 6 to get a good seat and it starts at 7. Then tomorrow is the oldest ones field trip which is “A Day in Denver”. The kids are all split up into small groups and paired up with parents and they have a guide book “guiding” them through all the historical places in downtown Denver. The bus leaves about 9:45am and returns to school around 2pm. I hope it doesn’t rain as Mom and I are leading a group. I also volunteered to be one of two emergency contacts meaning I drive our car and stage it and one end of town and then if anyone gets sick or hurt, they call my cell (if there closest to me) and I drive them back to the school. Hope no one gets ill so I don’t have to leave in the middle of the day.

Uncle T has a lot of work going on down at his house. I can see new sod going in but am not sure of what else he’s doing. Whatever it is I’m sure it’ll be nice.

Yesterday I had my annual physical (hadn’t been for 2 years this time) and thankfully I’m in great shape with no problems. You never really know how you’re really doing until you get the results of your blood tests that show all the numbers of what’s going on inside your body. Looks like I’m good to go for another year. Everyone out there needs to make sure you stay up on your check ups. Better to go in regularly than wait until something gets so bad you have to go in.

Well time to go, I have to finish up early today for the big play so I need to get moving. Hope everyone is doing well and that you all have a great day.

God Bless,

Good morning…it rained in the late afternoon yesterday and through the night with more to come today. The good news is everything is lush and growing well without much attention. We had a brief thunder storm accompanied by a few flashes of lightning which are two of my favorite things during the month of May

The boys have early release today and that means Dad will have to pick them up at 12:15 and try to occupy them for the rest of the day until I return from the open house I am doing from 11-2. I am sure that they will come up with something fun…La Crosse, Football, Tag…depending on the weather.

I didn’t get my whole run in yesterday, so I will double it today. I did get the house clean…minus the destruction zone under the boys bed. I also finished two rooms thoroughly…top to bottom…walls and floors included at L.O.L.’s…I’ll try to do some more at her house today or tomorrow.

The boys chose dinner last night. English muffins with poached eggs, bacon, and good old white american cheese melted on top. At least they ate…the oldest had two and the youngest ate one….reluctantly…because his brother showed him the yellow part of the egg. The yellow part of the egg is something that the youngest will not eat…so, for you aunts, uncles, grandmas, and friends that may need to prepare eggs for him… he only eats flat white eggs at this point in his life. That means you spray the pan with pam, separate the the egg so only the white ends up in the pan..cook, flip and serve. I sneak the yolk into his french toast,, so it doesn’t go to waste.

The boys played outside for almost 2 hours after dinner and fell asleep fairly easily. The youngest once again slept the entire night in his own bed. Hurray!!

When the boys were leaving for school yesterday we think our missing kitty came home. Memorial Day weekend will mark 2 years. Anyway, Dad yelled in to the house that Budley had returned…I immediately ran out of the house to see, and I think it may be Budley…a little bigger…maybe from being an indoor cat down the street and living the “High Life”. She is gone today, but I hope she returns today. I’ll say another prayer for my kitty to return if that is God’s plan. You’re all welcome to join me.

I have to make breakfast for the masses…have an enjoyable day

God Bless
LLF

That’s right, the littlest one got 9 out of 10 on his spelling lest (he forgot to put the “e” on there) and the oldest got 50 out of 50 on his timed math test (and had a minute to spare) and proudly proclaimed, “and I didn’t even have to study”. We’re going to have to step both boys work up this summer. When they were Principals for a Day, the oldest was in on a 5th grade class and was getting all the math problems correct. The kids were asking him, “dude, how old are you?”. Now when I was a kid, I was in 1st grade for about 6 weeks before they moved me up to 2nd, as apparently I wasn’t challenged enough (who knew I was so smart, huh?), and when you’re not challenged, you tend to get bored and distracted in school. This summer we’re having “home school” for the first hour of each morning, five days a week. They have a program called Bridge Books, which we need to pick up for both boys. The main reason for doing this is at this age, is they can lose what they learned throughout the year over the 3 month break, without studying. In our case, I think we’ll get each boy a level above where they are supposed to be so they’re challenged and have a leg up when they return to school in late August. Don’t want anyone regressing as we’ve worked too hard to get where we are today.

It’ll be 70 today with rain late in the afternoon. It’s real green here and the grass is loving it. It almost looks like California. The big dog woke us (actually woke the misses who woke me) at 2am as he was chasing something outside. I had to go down, bribe him with some food, and bring him inside for the remainder of the night. This never bodes well for a good night sleep. Today I have a couple of conference calls in the morning, first with Illinois and then with California. I think it’s time to raise prices again (I just did this April 1st) as the Euro and expenses, and the market in general is too unpredictable. I need to stay ahead of the curve.

Both boys just finished eggs, toast and strawberry smoothies for breakfast and are headed to the front yard to play la crosse. Last night they negotiated the purchase of a real la crosse racket, 2 smaller ones and a real la crosse ball from the teenage neighbor for $10. It was their money so I let them go ahead with the purchase. Besides they were hell bent on getting rackets and it would have cost me upwards of $50 at the store. You see la crosse seems to be the new game of the day. They love throwing the ball back and forth and have created a couple of goals in the front yard. Mom’s not too thrilled as they keep running through her flowers! At least it’s something that gets them exercise rather than some Chinese plastic toy that’ll be in the trash within weeks if not days. The house is also full of rollie pollies as the youngest is collecting them for some class project.

The Mister was called to work, so I am taking over….

The boys and I had fun turning over rocks to find potato bugs…aka…rollie pollie bugs yesterday.  We collected 8 bugs…they need 20 for the first grade class to study.  Don’t worry, it’s a catch and release program…no bugs will be harmed. I had to cut the boys off at 8, so other children can bring bugs in as well.

The boys are already outside this morning…6:45 a.m. playing catch with the prized La Crosse sticks and a tennis ball.  I can see them from the front window and boy are the enjoying themselves!

Dad has calls and meetings this morning and I am finally going to suck it up and spring clean…again.  I am giving myself until noon cleaning our house and then going to work cleaning June’s from noon until 2:00p.m. I’m sure I’ll have dish pan hands at the end of the day.

I am taking a quick run for myself this morning and then throwing the ball for the dogs.  I took them on my last run and it was not so much fun.  You see they both wanted to stop and sniff things in opposite directions and I was lucky to get home with both of my arms still in the sockets. Thus, today I will run on my own and toss the ball for the critters.  Time permitting after school maybe the boys and I can take the dogs for a walk or up to everyone’s favorite place….Grandma’s.

Our youngest has his first grade performance Thursday at 6:30p.m. Grandmas, Uncles, Aunts and friends are all welcome to attend.  It is a first grade performance and it is his first performance at school.  All the kids are singing, so it should be quite entertaining.

I’m off to start my day…wish me luck..it is so hard to get motivated to clean when I feel like I am literally drowning in clutter and dog hair…one or two more cups of coffee and a run may do the trick.

Enjoy your day..God bless…

LLF

After an undefeated season, the oldest ones flag football team is in the playoffs. Yesterday it was quite a game. Only 8 boys showed up due to some conflict with Boy Scouts so all of them played a lot. Our future NFL player caught a long pass which was almost a touchdown (he slipped on the wet grass and his foot went out of bounds right before the end zone), ran the length of the field but was finally caught 5 yards before the end zone, had another long run for a huge first down, defended a number of passes and almost had an interception, and overall had his best game of the year. He was also one of two boys awarded a medal after the game for his stellar play. He was beaming after the game and I was too, it was a lot of fun.

Mom arrived home at 3:30, about 10 minutes after us and we started to prepare for the end of season soccer party for the youngest. We were there from about 5 until 7pm and both boys played hard in the backyard. The littlest one also received his medal for the season. In the morning after Mom went to work, the youngest and I went for breakfast (just a cup of oatmeal) at Mom’s work and then killed some time until we picked his brother up at 10am. The sleep over was a blast. The kids were in the rain at the la crosse game and got so wet that the hostess of the party washed all the boys clothes while they slept during the night. From what I understand, it was quite a party.

So for the weekend, we had two soccer games, one football game, a birthday party and a soccer party, all mixed in with some chores, playtime with the neighbor kids and a bunch of laundry.

Today the sun is back until Wednesday. We’ll have to “get some” while we can. They (some evangelical christians) say the World is coming to an end this Saturday, the 21st, hope they’re wrong. There are lots of billboards around town predicting this. It seems every year or so something like this is forecasted by someone, remember Y2K? The bible says no one knows the day so I don’t really put too much stock in this. Do you really think God has confided in some TV preacher to tell the World what’s going on, I don’t. On the other hand, I do still advocate having some extra food and water around.

Mom works this Wednesday as a relator. She’s doing some open houses at $25 per hour for one of our friends. Then she is off until Saturday when a streak of 6 days in a row begins. We have the littlest ones play on Thursday and the oldest ones Day In Denver field trip on Friday. I have numerous conference calls today and tomorrow and lots to do the rest of the week in the office. I’d like to find some spare time to get the rest of the basement cleaned up but it doesn’t look good. Anyhow, lots to do so time to run, have a great day and God Bless,

Well once again the weatherman was wrong. What kind of job is that? I mean they have a 50/50 chance of getting it right and it’s amazing how often they’re wrong! It’s pretty warm outside and drizzling a bit but no snow as forecasted.

Yesterday however was another matter, it was clear and cool in the am but by the time we got to the oldest ones soccer game (yes we went after all as we realized we had more time than thought before the party) it was raining cats and dogs. I made the mistake of not putting him in long pants and the rain was coming down sideways. We did leave at half time to get him to his sleepover/birthday party on time. All the boys then headed out to the la crosse game where I’m sure they got soaked. We pick him up at 10 this morning, hopefully he got a little sleep.

The youngest played with friends most of the day while Mom took a nap from 5:30 to 7:30pm. We’re all up now with me leading the way at 5am. It’s now 6:20 and Mom will leave for work in about 30 minutes. We have flag football today at 1pm and are hoping the rain will move out by then. It’s sure green outside and supposed to be in the 70’s the next two days before rain returns for the next three. I’m not really complaining as we need the moisture and when it’s gone, it’ll be gone. We let Mojo the malamute sleep inside last night as it was wet, anyone know how wet dog smells, too bad we can’t put a “scratch and sniff” tab on this!

Mom works from 7:15 until 3pm today so it’ll be me and the boys most of the day. We do have the youngest ones end of the season soccer party today at 5pm which is a mexican pot luck. I’m sure we’ll be home by 7 as we have school tomorrow. 2 weeks and 1 day left in the year, WOW! Aunt Blondie and some of you commented about church summer camps and stuff of that sort for day care, however girls, these too cost money and they’re not cheap, believe me as we’ve already checked them out. We’ll manage but thanks for the suggestions.

The annual Colorado indian pow wow is today at a famous 100 year old restaurant called The Fort. We’ve gone almost every year and might try to sneak up there today to walk around as the kids really enjoy it. We know a few guys, like this indian silversmith from Gallup New Mexico named Ira, that participate every year. We’ll have to see how the morning goes.

I was thinking we should have some sort of family reunion here in August. You see Dixie and Don are passing through on their way to Oklahoma for Aunt Myrna’s birthday party, so we should try to organize something. I know Aunt Robie would love to get out of the August heat in AZ. Maybe Grandma Annette and Grandpa Jim (now immortalized as “fast snap Jim” from Grandma Dixie’s party) along with Aunt Serena and Uncle Matt could make it! What do you guys think? Let us know and we’ll put something together. We have lots of Marriott points and could probably swing some hotel rooms. Let’s talk.

The youngest and I are running over to Whole Foods for breakfast at Mom’s store in about an hour, so time to hit the showers. There’s also an old west gun show today with tons of collectables that the boys and I always like to go to. They have all the old cowboy stuff like spurs, bugles, sheriff badges and other historical stuff 7 and 9 year (and 54 year) old boys like. It’ll have to be one or the other (if we make either at all) as we can’t do both. All of this of course depends on how much sleep the oldest got last night at the sleep over.

In closing most of you know I’m a student of history, because as they say, history repeats itself. So check out these thoughts I stumbled across below as it might give you a glimpse of what the world, or more specifically, great civilizations experience. Not trying to be negative or saying this is what we’re all in for, just “some history” of what other great societies have faced. Her ya go,

“Civilizations rise, decay and die. Time, as the ancient Greeks argued, for individuals and for states is cyclical. As societies become more complex they become inevitably more precarious. They become increasingly vulnerable. And as they begin to break down there is a strange retreat by a terrified and confused population from reality, an inability to acknowledge the self-evident fragility and impending collapse. The elites at the end speak in phrases and jargon that do not correlate to reality. They retreat into isolated compounds, whether at the court at Versailles, the Forbidden City or modern palatial estates. The elites indulge in unchecked hedonism, the accumulation of vaster wealth and extravagant consumption. They are deaf to the suffering of the masses who are repressed with greater and greater ferocity. Resources are more ruthlessly depleted until they are exhausted. And then the hollowed-out edifice collapses. The Roman and Sumerian empires fell this way… Civilizations in the last moments embrace a total severance from reality, a reality that becomes too bleak to be absorbed. This time when we go down it will be global. There are no new lands to pillage, no new peoples to exploit. Technology, which has obliterated the constraints of time and space, has turned our global village into a global death trap.”

This in short, if history repeats itself, means that the World is headed towards some sort of global correction. I think this is more likely, and already going on,  in countries like those in the middle east where the gap between the people and the rulers is the greatest. Our main issue here in the U.S. is that we (especially our government) have all been living beyond our means. Hopefully our politicians or elites, can get there sh$t together and stop spending money we (actually they) don’t have. If only they were spending their own money from their own wallets, they might think twice. Oh well, just some history to think about.

Today it’s going to be a beautiful day, hopefully for you too, wherever you are. We hope everyone is doing well and we’ll talk tomorrow.

God Bless,

It’s 4:30am and I woke up early as today is the annual Shred-a-Thon sponsored by someone, I think various police departments, to allow people to get rid of old tax returns, checks, and other things that might have social security numbers or other information that identity thieves could use. I’ve filled about 2 trash bags with tax returns, checks, credit card statements and receipts going back to 1994! It’ll be good to get rid of this stuff.

We pulled our plants out of the garage yesterday but might have to put them back tonight as the forecast is for more snow! This is about the latest I can remember snow in the city. A few ski areas are saying they might stay open through July 4th. Oh well, at least we had one nice day.

Today the littlest one has his soccer game at 10:30 am and this is the last one of the season. Our oldest is supposed to play at 2:30 (they changed the time from noon till then) but were going to have to opt out as he has to be at his sleep over/birthday party by 3:30. The game is too far away for him to play and make it to the party on time. We’d let him arrive late but all the boys are going to a La Crosse game and they get to meet the players, so we’re under strict instructions not to be late. This is also his last game of the year but he doesn’t seem to care much, he’s in football mode right now.

Yesterday as you know, was Principal for a Day. The boys were very well behaved (according to the principal) and spent the entire day with her doing whatever principals do. I do know they lead the school in an impromptu fire drill, sat in on a couple of meetings, were crossing guards at the end of the day and best of all, got to carry and talk on the school radios all day. All there little friends were quite envious. I think they both had a great time. I had a few meetings during the day and got a quick haircut while Mom did some work around the house and ran some errands.

We had grandma over for dinner which was nice, although she kind of “eats and runs”. I’m just teasing as I think she feels we have our hands full with the boys and is just trying to get out of the way. She sure looks good but kind of skinny these days, she says it’s just her old jeans that are loose. Anyhow it was nice to have her over, we need to make this a regular thing.

Both dogs played in the mud left over from the 2 inches of rain we received the past few days. Time to get them groomed or give them a bath. This is quite a chore (if we do it ourselves) as it’s really hard to hold 200 pounds of wet frisky dogs still while you wash them. I think right now it’s still too cold outside so we might have to allocate $90 for the groomer sometime soon. I don’t know about you but my haircuts are only $35! It’s now almost 6am and I want to go to the gym before heading to the Sheriff’s department to drop of my shreadables. My backs a little sore from bending over sorting all the papers to throw out, sure hope it doesn’t go out!

Mom was still a bit out of energy yesterday. I think her job and work at home is having a cumulative affect on her and she really needs some rest. When she had her “week off”, I noticed how it took her about 3 or 4 days to finally relax. I think she gets worn down a bit quicker than me. Not so much the physical work but all the mental issues or drama that go with it. I’ve always been lucky as I’m shallow and self centered and can get over anything in about 15 seconds, while sometimes things can bother her for days. I’ll try to make sure she has a good last day off before heading to work at 7am tomorrow.

Before I go, we watched Kings Speech last night and it’s everything they say it is. Besides being a true story, it was beautifully scripted, well acted and deserving of the Oscar. If you haven’t seen it, make sure you do, as it’s worth your time.

No politics today, even though they now say medicare and social security are in worse trouble than originally thought, and what’s with all the porn found in Bin Laden’s stuff! I thought one of their big things was to denounce the west for our sexual freedom, hmmmm????

We hope you all have a great weekend, God Bless and take care,

The rain has stopped, the sky is clearing, and the temperature is supposed to reach almost 70 today.

Our Malamute is howling…he must know that I just took a quick run….I am planning to race in the Tri for the Cure again this year, so it is high time that I start training.

The boys were picked up this morning to go out to breakfast with their Principal and share in her work today.  I took pictures of them getting into her car, of course, they were grinning from ear to ear.  I’ll go to school a bit later to take advantage of another “Photo opp”.  Both boys were planning to wear T-shirts to school today, but I had to nix that idea and coerce them into wearing short sleeve, button down shirts that almost look like I iron…. I only iron for Grandmas(yes…plural)birthdays.

I got the bathrooms cleaned yesterday and the sheets and bedding washed on all of the beds. After a short battle with the comforter, I finally won out getting it stuffed into the duvet cover corner to corner. Anyone with a duvet cover can feel my pain and a little frustration…especially when one is determined to get the darn thing in straight. My plan was to get the clutter around the house picked up yesterday, but I ran out of energy…so…I’ll have to work on that today, as well as exercise the mutts, uncover the veggies, and chase the never ending supply of dog hair down.

Grandma is coming over to eat dinner with us tonight. Hurray!! We are all excited to visit with her and I hope the boys want to share the experiences of their day with us tonight.  I think I’ll make chicken enchiladas, rice and salad….of course, we better have balloons and a cake for our “Principal For A Day” celebration.

I spoke with my mom on the phone yesterday and she told me of some of the random acts of kindness that my grandmother displayed…..My mom’s family is from Oklahoma, and she grew up during the dust bowl and the end of the depression.  From what she told me my grandmother got a call from my grandmother’s sister, who lived over 100 miles away, and was told that they could no longer afford to feed or clothe their daughter. After hearing this my grandmother got in her car and drove over 100 miles on unpaved roads…dust swirling….to pick up my mom’s cousin. Grandma brought Lenora home to live with my mom and her six brothers and sisters.  My grandma even baked a birthday cake for Lenora and that was a real treat since it was the 1930’s and my grandparents were not well to do by any means. My mom is just learning of these acts of kindness….I guess grandma never mentioned any of this to anyone…it was just part of life.  My mom is just as giving and has done so much for so many…

I remember when I was growing up that she was always doing something for people in need. We had a “Mother-in-Law” house attached to ours that my grandma lived in until I was 12…my grandma came out to California from Oklahoma to help take care of me when I was 5 and stayed until I was 12. I walked home from school, had lunch and watched her “Stories” with her every day. Of course that was once I was old enough to walk the 2 1/2 blocks to and  from school, all by myself. After my grandma went home to Oklahoma one of my mom’s students was in need of some help. This student’s family …parents, brother and maybe a sister or two( I can’t remember how many were in the family) had fled Vietnam. They had to leave everything behind…most of their worldly possessions when they fled their Country. My mom moved this family into our “Mother-in-Law” house until the family could get on their feet…boy did my dad hate the smell of Vietnamese food. The scent would waft it’s way through the double doors right into my parent’s room. I don’t remember the smell being horrible, but it was really different. Anyway, I know that my mom unconditionally helped many people…this is just one example…she says she learned  what she lived growing up.  I’ll write more later….hubby is home and needs breakfast…

God Bless…

LLF

I feel like we are back in Seattle this morning. The rain is a steady, misty rain, and there is wonderful, welcome humidity in the air. The temperature is 38 degrees and the vegetables are still covered. So far the flowers seem to be holding up well and enjoying the moisture. The rain is supposed to last through the night…that will surely sprout more dandelions…ugg.

The boys had a great day yesterday…all homework was finished…they both read for “Race To Read” week at school, practiced their spelling words, and headed down to Uncle T.’s and Auntie B’s while Dad went to school for the “Day In Denver” parent meeting.

Auntie B bought each boy a 6 month membership to “Club Penguin”. It’s a Disney online web site that they are really enjoying. I have to run down to give Bunkie his shot and make sure that June (S.L.O.L.) eats something for breakfast….so…I am handing off to my man.

Well I fell asleep about 15 minutes before Mom got home last night, I just couldn’t stay up. I was supposed to go into the doctor this morning to have blood drawn for my every other year physical but I forgot not to eat so I’ll need to put it off until tomorrow. I don’t know how they expect anyone to go without food from midnight till 8 in the morning!

Last night was a fun night for the boys and I. After my meeting at school, I picked the kids up at Uncle T and Aunt B’s. I know they both had some sort of treats down there as that’s how they roll, but neither showed any signs of meltdown. By this time it was 6:30 and I had nothing for dinner so we ordered chinese. Our food was delivered just before 7 and we set up a table in the living room as the boys really wanted to watch this show called The Middle. Both boys, especially the oldest, really chowed down on the sesame chicken and rice. I know it’s not the healthiest but we eat this about once a year. We sure are swollen up this morning from all the salt and msg! The three of us then “snuggled” (their favorite evening activity meaning jump in my bed) for another half hour before I sent both of them into their room for the night. The littlest one needed me to find him his favorite shirt to sleep in which is an old New York Rangers (hockey team) of mine that he likes to sleep in. I wasn’t sure where it was as I don’t wear it much anymore but I opened the dresser drawer and there it was! He was quite happy and content and now ready for bed. It’s kind of like a security blanket or something for him.

I did a some work on the computer until the battery ran out and then dozed off about 9:45, 15 minutes before Mom got home.

Today it’s supposed to stop raining mid-day to late afternoon. I think it’ll still be in the mid thirties tonight so we’ll probably keep the plants covered. The garden expert on the news said with this much water, plants will probably be stunted if they survive, and that we should probably just start over! What a drag, at least we have some in containers that have been in the garage that are ok.

Everyone from my Company arrived home safely from Spain which is great as they just had 2 earthquakes right near one of our estates where the group visited. I guess the big guy was watching out for them. Tomorrow the boys both are, get ready for it, “Principal For a Day!” We paid something like $30 each at the school fundraiser/auction last October for this. The Principal will pick them both up at 7:30 for breakfast and then they’ll head off to school. Outside of taking their spelling tests first thing in the morning, both boys will spend the entire day with the Principal helping her do whatever she does throughout the day. They’re both quite excited as you can imagine, kind of drunk on the power they will both have. They’ve been planning this for months thinking they’ll be able to call recess for the whole afternoon for the whole school and other fun things as well. I don’t think this will happen but we’ll see what they get away with. I think there is a fire/evacuation drill (weather permitting) where they get to set off the alarm and lead the school down the street to the church parking lot next door. We’ll show up and take some pictures of the whole thing and maybe we can figure out how to post some next week.

We have only 12 days of school left and it looks like Mom has arranged to cut her hours a bit during the summer. I think she’ll work two days a week at the store so we don’t have to spend too much money on daycare and we’ll still get our grocery discount. To offset the drop in income, I think she’s going to pick up a few hours a week cleaning house, making dinners and running errands (like grocery shopping) for the L.O.L. down the street. Anything helps!

No big plans so far for summer, we’d like to get up to the mountains for a weekend or so but have nothing planned. It’s almost 9am and time to get to work, so until tomorrow, take care and God Bless,