Back again

Well, I'm finally back. It's been kind of a wild 3 weeks here. I'll have to go into detail later when I have a bit of time, but here is the short story of what has gone on here:

On June 18th my grandma went into the hospital while my parents were out of state. I live 30 minutes from my grandparents so I went back and forth to the hospital to visit and see how things were going, so that I could let my mom know and hopefully set her mind at ease while she was gone. I'm so glad that I was able to do that. I received some treasures that I will be able to hold on to. More on that later. Grandma went home on the 22nd, but was too weak for grandpa to be able to help her, so on the 23rd she went to a rehab/nursing center. The people there were wonderful. We had a meeting on the 26th with the goal of doing OT and PT and getting her back home. Things were going pretty well. On the 3rd of July, Mom and Dad stopped through on their way out again and grandma was still doing fine. On the 4th she was dehydrated again and they could no longer get an iv in. Mom and Dad came back on the 5th to see how she was doing and she was eating and drinking and walked using her walker again. Thinking all was well again, they went on home. On the 6th, mom got a call from grandpa that gma was no longer eating or drinking and had not gotten out of bed. Mom and Dad came back. My aunt and uncle joined my mom as we waited for the Lord to call grandma home.

Dad and I decided on the 12th to go ahead and head back to their house so that he could go to work and I could work on camp. We got 10 minutes from their house when we received the call that Grandma died. Dad and I stayed until Wednesday and then returned, while Mom, Brian and my sister, Angela and her husband, Travis held down the fort at our house and finalized all the plans. Visitation was Thursday and the funeral was Friday.

I returned to Mom and Dad's house Friday night and went back to work on camp stuff on Saturday morning. Sunday through Saturday went as the usual blur of activity during camp.

Today we returned home and I'm writing this as I cool off after hanging clothes on the line. I have pictures that I would like to post as well as some of my treasured stories. I hope to catch up on those soon.

Well, that was a long short story. Beware of the long story!

Sad News

I just heard this evening that my college bassoon teacher passed away. He was a teacher, mentor, friend and very much like a family member to me. I wish he hadn't lived so far away these past several years.

I had such high respect for him. Not only did he teach me bassoon through my undergraduate degree, but we worked together on camp. I was his secretary for four years for the camp. The first year I was secretary, he was ill and in the hospital from early in the summer until the final day of camp. He ran camp from his hospital bed through me. I made many trips that year to see him and find out what to do next. He was so prepared that it wasn't hard to put all together. I learned so much that year.

After I graduated from college he made me his assistant director. I was honored to have that title, a title I didn't feel I necessarily deserved; and honored that he respected my opinions enough to give me that title. I worked with him until he retired and moved in with his daughter and her husband out of state.

He was very happy living next to his daughter. They had a nice house that basically had an apartment attached. He could live independently yet be a part of their lives. He was so excited when his grandson was born.

One thing I will miss is his Christmas letters. They were always so nicely done and included photos of his family and his cats (who he treated as family). He did beautiful woodwork. We have one of the doll houses that he built. He was so kind to give it to my girls. He also cross-stitched! One of my treasured wedding presents is a wall hanging that he cross-stitched for us himself.

My prayers are with his children and grandchildren. They are all very neat people.

I will miss him.

Lady Bug's Art Show

Lady Bug went to art camp last week. Here are her masterpieces:

Monkey's Birthday Pictures

Better late than never!

Sleepwalking

Here we go again.

I am married to a sleep walker. Ask me about our Europe trip sometime. Last year Brian ATE in his sleep. I know because we were having a bad season with ants getting into our house. I was keeping the kitchen meticulously clean. I always went to bed AFTER everyone else so that I could make sure everything was clean in the kitchen. One morning I got up and there was a finished bowl of ice cream full of ants. Ants were just streaming to and from that bowl. I was furious. How dare he leave that kind of thing for the ants. He had no idea. He was totally asleep.

I now have a child just like him. Monkey sleep walks. Tonight she did it again. The bad thing is - it's usually when she needs to use the bathroom. She gets up but has no idea where she is or what she is doing. So, tonight she made her way into my bathroom. Stepped up on the little step stool and emptied right there on the stool and my bathroom rug.

This is why I can never go to sleep early at night. When I even THINK of going to bed early, something like this happens. It was storms and no power last night. NOW, I'd better go to bed. 

Dishwasher

Panda is a worker! That little three year old did all the dishes this noon. She rinsed and put dishes in the dishwasher (in the correct places) and then washed the dishes that could not go in the dishwasher. 

Sometimes it's hard to believe she's only three. And then again, I can't believe she's ALREADY three!

On Hold

I've got plenty of things to do this morning, BUT...

Last night as I was taking a shower and was only half way through, Brian discovered that our main line was backing up. Great. So much for getting in a shower after I took a walk and got all sweaty. I'm glad I at least got my hair washed.

The good news is that the drain guy is here right now. So, I sit and hide out in my room on the computer until I can go and get ready for the day.

Warning - Sliding Doors

Warning: Don't try this at home. Or at church. Or at the grocery store. Just don't try it.

I have a clumsy husband. He'll readily admit that. Today he chalked another one up.

Lucy and I had been at the homeschool convention this weekend and then followed that with attending a concert. She was up very late last night so called this morning to ask if we were going to have a "B train" going to church today. (we travel 30 miles to church - sometimes we try to car pool especially when the schedule is not working in our favor - you know - life happens). The "B train" schedule would help us out as well. So, I got the girls ready and sent them with Brian who picked up Little Lucy who plays piano for opening. (That was the "A Train")

As Brian got the girls out of the car, Little Lucy helped them across the parking lot to the door of the church . One of the girls hit the sliding door button on the van. Brian was watching the girls go across the parking lot when he realized that he needed something out of the van. He reached back in without looking to push the button to open the door. The problem was: the door was already too close to closing. He missed the button and the door closed on his finger. He could not get his finger out of the door and the door locked.

Here's where the next problem came in. He was in my van. I have the keychain unlock on my keychain. He only had the key which opens the driver's side door. He was stuck in the door on the passenger's side. Of course the keys were also in his pocket on the same as the stuck finger. He had to reach across his body to get the keys out of his pocket so that Little Lucy could go around the car, unlock the door and open the sliding door.

The good news - his finger was not hurt too badly. We have a nurse  in our church who looked at it quickly and didn't think it needed stitches (there was a small gash). He lost some feeling in the finger which was concerning for a musician who plays piano! Thankfully after using ice to reduce the swelling the feeling was returning and he was able to play the piano tonight.

Cleaning mode

We're in cleaning mode here. Time to dig out after the school year and get things done that I just don't have time to do while doing lessons, KMEA, etc. while Brian is working too. 

He is pretty much done at school now. We went up today to look at his rooms and see how he might arrange them for next year since he has to move. Maintenance will move things on Friday for him, but they will put everything into one of the rooms and while the other is re-carpeted. Who knows when that will get done. So, I think we are at a stand still for arranging his rooms until closer to school time.

I got my laundry caught up (as much as you can catch up on laundry!) yesterday. I was able to hang it out on the line. I love the smell of line dried laundry! I've been working on the office and the toy area. I bought a bunch of storage containers to sort and organize the toys. I've been going through old paperwork and getting stuff shredded. There's still a ton to do but, I'm finally seeing a bit of progress.

Still on the list to do: organizing photos and photo memory cards, ordering photos and going through each room to reorganize. Sounds easy. Not really.

Specifics are important

While we were at my niece's graduation, my bil, Kevin started playing with the girls. He chased them around the house. They ran screaming in delight. Kevin caught Monkey and held her up side down by the ankles. Her response:  "Put me down... on something soft!"

Happy Birthday Monkey!

Today is Monkey's 6th birthday. She is very excited about her birthday.  

She was born at 11:27 a.m. and was just beautiful. After all the problems I had nursing Lady Bug, the only thing I was concerned about with Monkey was whether she would nurse well!  She did great immediately. That was such a huge relief.

I need to post pictures, but we have a baby shower to attend, so I will have to get to the pictures later. Stay tuned...

Ah, the wind

I went out to get the mail this morning and it is windy again. But, today it feels different. The wind feels soft. It is the perfect temperature. 

So, since I'm miles behind on the laundry, it is going on the clothesline today so I can enjoy this wind.

I am SO behind!

I think I'm back to talking to myself on this blog when I actually get to updating it! That's just how bad I've been. So, if you are still out there reading at some point - "Hello!!"  Glad you are still here!

We went to my niece's graduation this weekend. I hope to have some more time soon to upload the pictures to share. We had a lot of fun. I went up early to help with cleaning and set up of the party. Jeanette was doing great on Thursday, but pushed herself too far and was feeling really crummy on Friday and most of Saturday (the day of the party). Sunday was much better though and that was the actual day of graduation. I'm so glad that she was feeling good then.

We stayed at a Looper's house in the same town. They were out taking their oldest daughter to grad school. So, I can't decide if we were in a bed and breakfast or semi-house sitting. :) It was very nice though. And, we did get to enjoy a short visit when they returned before we had to leave.

I will soon be the proud owner of a wireless router. That may help me get back on the stick of blogging. While it has been nice outside, I have a hard time staying down in the dungeon (the basement) especially if I send the girls outside. 

My blog is one year old now as of the 14th. 

I am going to bed. My laundry is still out of control. The dishes are getting closer to being managed. The clutter and toys are going to drive me over the edge...

Review time again

I'm slowly checking things off my "to do" list for May. It is always so busy this time of year!

*Brian and I played a gig this weekend. Moszowski's piano concerto and a premier piece. We always like this gig. It is a short rehearsal schedule, they feed us and the pay is pretty good. That always helps especially this time of year - with two birthdays this month and our house taxes due (I'm still grumbling that they moved it up from June...but, that's another story)

*Mom and Dad watched the girls while we did our gig. So, for Mother's Day I got spoiled by my Mom! I came home to a clean kitchen and the rest of my laundry done and folded. Thanks Mom!

*Lady Bug's new Webkinz (her birthday present from Gma, Gpa, Angela and Travis) took a side trip back to Gma's house. Gma made things all better again by mailing it back. It arrived in one day.

*I had my evaluation (mentioned in my last weekly review). I will get my raise this year - I passed. I would certainly hope so! I do all my jobs to the best of my ability. I see them as my service to those around me and I enjoy that.

*Childbirth classes will finish this week and so will several more of my lessons. I think I have 3 more students who have another lesson to make up. Otherwise, the schedule is freeing up a bit more.

*My niece graduates this weekend. I'm so excited to see all the family again. I'm also very humbled by a Looper friend who has offered her house for us to stay in while we are there for graduation. They will be traveling with their daughter to grad school. I will do my best to be a good "house sitter". What a sweet offer and what a blessing - we were going to get a hotel for Saturday night for sure, but now we can save a little more money. And, we will get to visit with them a little when they return, but unfortunately it will be about the time we need to leave - so, it will be a short visit. 

*Brian found out that he will have to move out of his classroom for next year. It is unfortunate because he has a nice large room now for his music classes which allows him to teach the way her really feels is best - with lots of movement, instruments, etc. The good news is that they gave him two connecting rooms. It's not ideal, but will at least offer him more flexibility than if he had been given just one of those tiny rooms. At this point I told him to be thankful that he HAS a job and that this was a minimal inconvenience. I'm kind of excited because I'll go help him organize the two rooms. I like organizing. (if you saw my house - you'd NEVER guess that one...I have kids, I home school and hold 4 part time jobs - cut me a little slack  ;)  )

Have a great week. I'm taking my lap top, but I'm not sure how much I will get to get on it!

Growing Like a Weed

We had Panda's  three year well child appointment this morning. Everything went just fine. She grew 5 inches this past year! Wow!  That surprised me. She's actually in the 50th percentile in height. My kids don't usually make it past the 25th percentile in height IF they actually reach the 25th percentile.

She seems to be the most "normal" of my three kids. She actually answered the questions our pediatrician asked (might help that he's her god father). The other two always played shy. She goes to bed easily. However, she is NOT potty trained yet. She knows all her colors, animals, animal sounds and many letters and numbers. 

It will be fun to see what she does this year. With two older sisters teaching her everything, the possibilities are endless...