Bicentennial Baby

Today is Amy's 35th birthday. She was born in 1976......the year of our bicentennial. What a cutie she was! Our second daughter....weighing in at 7 lbs. 12 ounces and 21 inches long. Kari and I had gone to LeeAnn's birthday party in the afternoon, but it was after we went to Poppin' Fresh later that Saturday night with Liz and Ed that I started having some good pains. At 10 p.m. the pains were 15 minutes apart, until 11:00 and then they were coming hard and 5 minutes apart. We packed up Kari and Buffy and took them to Mom's. Got to the hospital close to midnight. She was born at 3:49 a.m. on March 21, 1976....a Sunday. Dan went in the delivery room this time and even cut the cord.

Amy was a beautiful baby and little girl. She had such a personality, too. Looking through her Raggedy Ann baby book, I found a little anecdote she probably has never heard before. I thought it was kind of cute, so I will honor her with it now. She went to Vacation Bible School in 1980 and loved it. One of the songs they sang was Morning is Broken. Trying to remember it one day a month later she asked about that song about how the "weather fell". Ya gotta love kids, dontcha?!

Happy Birthday, Amy!!

CONTINUING ON.......

Since I've been away from blogging for over two months, I decided that since I'm on spring break, maybe I could do some catching up.





My last post was about not being able to muster up the courage to throw away two house plants that were still "hanging on by a thread". So here's the catch-up on that one:





I finally couldn't take it any more. The plant that I liked the most kept holding on to one pretty flower blossom for months, started looking sicker and sicker. The flower faded and dropped and so did huge sections of leaves. It was deown to one piece that was still alive, but the rest was not good, so I DID finally pack it off to the trash. It was hard to do, tho, I will admit, because people had been advising me that I could cut it back, and then in spring, it would start to come back to life and bloom, etc. Well, I couldn't muster up the patience for that, so off it went.





But, surprisingly, the other plant.....and the one, by the way, that I had fully expected to kick the bucket first......has started to look pretty nice and is blooming again. It is still pretty gangly and spindly, but it has lots of flower buds and blossoms coming out. I will probably hold onto it and throw it outside eventually to see if it will survive. Problem is: Now I am just reinforced that sometimes it's okay to hang on to stuff.

Grumpy

Wasn't there a famous dwarf named Grumpy?

At Amy's birthday party, Hailey barely smiled all day. She put her head down, crumpled up her lips, and looked like she was the mean old troll who was gonna chase us away from her bridge.

A couple of times, there was a light in her eyes that shone, and a little honey of a smile on her lips, but, for the most part, (especially, if a guy was nearby).....she was a wee bit crabby.

Here's a cute picture where Jennie is trying to match Hailey's crabby face.

Car Troubles.....

In case you can't read the read print on the dashboard.....it simply says BRAKES. Just a little message to let you know that they are not presently working. Maybe you shouldn't drive without them, right? WRONG!!

Saturday, on Tom's birthday, we were invited to Amy and Mike's for dinner to celebrate.They live in New Richmond and their house is a big one on the end of a cul-de-sac kind of in the boonies. Lucky thing because Tom was on the phone as we were pulling into their driveway and he was acting a little strange, but still talking to the person on the phone (a lady who lives across the street from his rental property in Turtle Lake.) He came inside after the rest of us, and proceeded to just mention that a brake line must have broken or something, because he was pushing the brakes to the floor. No worry in this family. We enjoyed a nice evening with the Belmont's and then it's time to go home and now the red BRAKE light is on and we drive home with no brakes!! We didn't have a single car follow us the whole time and there really was very little traffic, although we had Kyle on the lookout for deer and other animals that might suddenly dart out in front of us. There were two hairy spots....one where we had to cross a road, but luckily there was a hill going up and then not too many cars , so we were able to make it across safely pumping to help slow us down. No animals chose to ambush us and we got to McCutcheon rode with no mishaps. There, we dropped off Kyle and Tom and I took his new yellow truck to St. Paul to deliver me to my door.

The crazy part is: The day before, in the afternoon, Grandma's car was making a weird noise and we were heading from my house to Walmart, when we smelled something like burning rubber so decided to stop at her house to "check" things before we went any further, and when we opened the hood, found white smoke pouring out of the front of the car on the passenger side. A tow truck came and got her Mercury Sable and it won't be ready until Tuesday. Some kind of freeze-up on an idle arm or something was causing the belt to slip. Lucky it didn't happen on the way to Walmart, or better yet, glad we weren't driving it to Amy's house in Champlin when the problem arose.

Then, after Tom went to New Richmond to help his Mom on Friday aftenoon, he picked me up for dinner at the Best Steak House. It's one of our favorite places, and we were having a long, leisurely talk waiting to hear from Kyle who was doing some stuff with Kim. We were planning to go to the Car Show at the Convention Center with him. When he called, we went out to the car, and Tom couldn't locate his keys. That's when I saw them in the ignition. I have an extra set of Tom's car keys in my purse for just such an occasion, (It has happened before.) but, of course, I had changed purses that night so I wouldn't have to carry a big heavy one around with me. Kyle asked his mom if he could borrow her van, and he took us across town to get the spare set of keys. Then, we had to go to Stillwater to pick up Kyle's truck where he had left it when he met his Mom to do their errands. Needless to say, by now it was too late to make the car show.

The scariest part of this whole story is that I am the only one right now who seems to have a dependable vehicle. Hope the Sentra knows it is much appreciated! (Tom's van has been idle all winter and even buried in tall snow....but he is going to work on trying to get it started....I'm glad, cuz I love that van!)

Car Show

Today was Tom's Birthday. March 19th. He turned 63 and, finally, caught up to me. It was a plan to go to the car show last night, but it didn't happen.....so we went today. So many cars. So many people. So many people trying out the seats in so many cars. It was the thing to do so I sat in most of them, too. My back got tired and my mind was swimming. Pretty soon, they were all looking the same. Kyle came with us. There were really expensive cars, Smart cars, electric and diesel and gas cars, good and bad mileage cars, fancy and plain cars, shiny and matte finish cars, vans, and trucks, too. Porsches, Jaguars, Corvettes, Mazarattis, Mazdas, Chevys, Fords, Nissans, Cadillacs, Buicks, Volkswagens, BMWs, Lexis's, Mercedes, etc., etc., etc. You name it, it was there.

However, the best cars I saw there were these, beyond a doubt!!

Grandma's Birthday

For Mom's birthday this year, I decided to invite her over for dinner. I put ribs in the crock pot, made baked potatoes, green beans with almonds, crescent rolls, and bought a chocolate cake. Kristin, Jennie and Tom D., Bob, and my Tom came, too. We had a nice celebration and I think she enjoyed it. 85 is a little amazing, is it not? We'll celebrate with the rest on the 19th.

My Birthday

It's hard to work on your birthday when no one knows it's your birthday. Even harder when they knew on Monday when the email mentioned it in the weekly bulletin, but by the time Thursday rolls around, it is forgotten. I feel like I am walking around with a big arrow above my head following me around. "Here she is! It's the birthday girl! Wish her a happy birthday NOW! Make a big deal. This day only comes around once a year, you know!"

It's not so bad until your colleague (who has a locker next to you) remembers at the end of the day and sheepishly wishes you a happy birthday and apologizes because they forgot to say it earlier. It's even worse when you are in the elevator with a colleague who mentions that the reason he was late this morning was because it was his wife's birthday, (blah, blah, blah---) and we had discussed earlier in the month that we both had the same birthday and he forgot about that. Do I mention it? or play dumb and he finds out later and HE feels dumb?

Aside from work, I got texted and phoned early in the morning with lots of love and well wishing. My girls are celebrating with Mom and I later in the month. Tom took me to my choice for dinner and I chose Round Robin .....French onion soup, yum!!

Familiar Words

These two gangly ugly looking plants are from my front steps. They sat there all summer and into early fall full of blossoms and looking beautiful. When it was time to bring them in, I put them in the back room by the big picture window, and I have tried to remember to open the drapes every morning so they will get some sun every day. I have to water them like crazy....one or two days without a drink and they turn all droopy. Little by little, they have lost their blooms and just have leaves.

Just the other day,l I was sighing as I was picking up MORE dried leaves from the floor, and I had the thought that maybe it is time.....let them give up the ghost and start fresh next year, but I didn't do it yet, cuz trash day is on Tuesday.

So....then, we go over for a visit to see Mom and Bob. There by her back door is a plant about twenty times weaker-looking than these two guys. It was the Mother's Day azalea I gave her and there are two teeny, tiny green leaves on it. Otherwise, I would venture to say, it is a dried up dirt ball with a dried up stem in the middle of it. Well, I didn't say anything, but as we were getting ready to go, she pointed it out, and said something to the effect that she hates to throw it out....after all, it is a living thing! Oh my gosh....those were the same exact words that I struggled with inside my brain when I was thinking of throwing my plants. It's a living thing! It is scairy how much we pick up from our Moms.......Girls, watch out, I think you are doomed.

My HERO

Tom came to the rescue on Saturday. I have been trying to keep the back lot by the garage shoveled out so I can park in back during a snow emergency. I looked at it after doing the sidewalk (for the millionth time, it felt) and just couldn't bring myself to go back there and start it. Even though the snow was pretty light and fluffy, my back was already feeling it because of all the lifting to get it up and over the current high snowbanks. I saw a yellow truck pulling up in front of the house. Attached to it was a trailer loaded with a little tractor with a snowblowing attachment. Tom plowed me out in no time and even moved some of the big piles in front of my garage. What a great feeling that was to get that done!! The best part is that he loves his tractor and enjoys doing it.

Certified

For two nights, from 6 to 9:30 I attended my CPR and first aid classes. It was on the llth and 12th in the bus garage down on Randolph near West Seventh. Boring, boring, and long. We read the book, watch film clips, practice the skills on manniquins...both adult and infant. For someone my age, with all my aches and pains, it isn't easy bending down there on the floor on a mat, but has to be done to earn the card. Actually, I have to go through the CPR training once a year and the first aid every three years. I get paid for the time......seven hours total, but it takes up two whole nights and the room is small and close and cold! Judy Pierson and I went on the same night, so that helped....and she gave me a hard time cuz I know someone everywhere we go....and I walked in and there was Sarah Follmer and Ryan Paitich! Oh well....it happens when we walk, too. I guess when you have been around for sixty years and, especially, when you sub all over, you make a lot of acquaintances.

My biggest compaint was how nervous I feel about knowing I am certified, but feeling like I'm not sure I could save a life. I guess I could do chest compressions and give rescue breaths......30/2 for as long as possible until help arrives. I found myself thinking-Don't doctors have to go to school for about 8 years? How can I learn everything in two nights?

What I mostly learned: Call 9-1-1-!!

A Day at Grammy's House!

Hannah was a great help to me. I took down all the Christmas decorations and she took the ornaments off the tree and put them in little plastic bags to bundle them up for next year. Then, Kristin, Bob, and Jennie and I fought with the tree to put it back in a vinyl bag for storage out in the garage. I always feel like we are carrying a dead body out there.

I love it when Hannah asks me, "Grammy, why you have two houses?" I always tell her I am just lucky, I guess. Jenny told Amy she would watch the girls today and I was happy to volunteer my house so I could see them. Kristin stopped in, too, and even Mom and Bob came over later.

The girls were so cute and so sweet, as alway

Kari just blogged about Agus deciding he was ready to pose for some pictures....after all that time of never wanting to look at anyone holding a camera. And Hailey was posing for us all day Sunday, too. She was such a little ham for the camera. Hannah likes to pull down the couch armrest and they were sitting on it. When I grabbed this pillow, Hailey immediately let out a big sigh and just leaned back on it. It was so cute!

She was so cute! It almost looks like she has on a wig

Those are some amazing blue eyes....and cheeks!!!

FINALLY......!.

Well....I finally got brave enough to take the plunge and got my LONG hair chopped off. It was something I knew I had to do, but I just kept putting it off. Finally, on Saturday when Tom and I were at Har Mar's Antique Show, I got brave and went into Fantastic Sam's and got it cut. Even though it is dramatically shorter and very obvious, I still am hearing, "Miss Chris?!! Did you get a haircut??!!" Maybe I should give a redneck smart aleck comment back, and say, "No I just folded it."

Believe It or Not!

Amy bought me a new overnight bag for the lake. I love it. It has lots of fun compartments, and a telescopic handle if I want to pull it on wheels. It was something I asked for because the old bag I used was falling apart. ( I've had it forever and it sits on the closet floor, packed, ready to go to Pine City at a moment's notice.) So, I am so glad someone listened to my idea and bought me a new duffle bag.

The part that is hard to believe is that I actually put the other bag in the trash and threw it away!

Yep..I did. Honest. You wouldn't believe it, would you? That's why I took a picture. I really did do it. ( Although......now that I think about it, maybe I could use it for....NO! It is too late. Gene's has already picked up the trash and it is gone forever.) Yeah, I let it go! Shocker, huh?

Yum, yum!

Ican't do it. I can't eat a mushroom swiss burger at Smashburger without moaning with pleasure after each bite. It is kind of ridiculous, but these burgers are just amazing. I get it with pepper jack cheese for a little zing and it comes complete with garlic buttered mushrooms! Oh my....it is so delicious!!

JudyPierson and I have been walking around Har Mar and I introduced her to the Smashburger one night. She liked it so much that tonight (Thursday) her daughter, Tammy, and Tom met us after walking to eat there. Tammy liked it alot, too. We had a nice time and I chuckle when I think of it, because Judy and I are saying "ummmm's" the whole time. Seriously, if you haven't tried this, you might want to give it a shot. (A little pricey, though).

Hudson Animals

This is one of the reasons Tom loves having two dogs. They play tug with each other and he is "off the hook". The addition of Pink to the family has given Jackson a playmate. They grab one end of the rope and start pulling against each other, growling and tugging as hard as they can. It is actually kind of comical and very cute. They even do this with chew toys, like bones, and sometimes get real up close and personal with the object . For instance, if the bone is six inches long, they have a couple of inches in each mouth and only one inch in between. All in all, I think they are becoming good friends and enjoy each other's company.....when they are not being jealous and vying for adult attention. I know one thing. They love me when I come around and I, too, am glad I no longer am required to be a "tuggee".

Whenever Tom brings me to his home in Hudson, I can usually expect to see deer. The valley behind his house is full of them. They are usually in groups, sometimes as large as 20 of them together. It is usually more like 5 or 6. I love to look out the back windows to try to see shadows lying in the sumac where the does or their young are resting. There are always lots of trails in the snow and when they aren't in plain sight, it makes a person wonder where they are because you just know they are there. Kyle buys bags of corn from Fleet Farm to encourage them to stick around and they often come right up to their deck area to graze. It can be very fascinating.

Shucks, that was my idea......

Amy beat me to the punch. I was thinking about ideas for blogging the other day, and I came up with Bejeweled Blitz, since I probably play it everyday. It gives you a minute to connect colored jewels that explode and it is addicting!!! One minute?! Ha!! I play the one minute game for an hour or sometimes more, always trying to beat my highest score. I have had some good ones, but my friend, Barb Pierce, always seems to top me. Anyway, there was Amy's blog talking about the game she plays all the time. Oh well.

Then.....I went on to read Jen's post about the new 42 inch plasma TV at Mom's house. She nailed it, and did a much better job of describing it all than I would have. It was quite an ordeal shopping, bring it home, and setting it up when Bob has such a hard time changing his routine. He loves it now and probably would never go back to the dinosaur underneath, but there were times when Tom and I wanted to crank it back up just to prove a point or two when he was raving about how good it still was!! I had intended on posting that one, too. In fact, Tom and I were backing out of the driveway when, all of a sudden, I grabbed my camera with the intention of running back in for a picture. He teased me about it, so I gave up, deciding I would remember the next time....but Jen beat me to it.

Mall of America

It seemed pretty ironic to me that I waited to go to the Mall of America until after Christmas, but I wanted to get the movie Wizard of Oz for the Ecuador grandsons and I knew I could find it there at a store called FYE. So on Dec. 26, Tom and I decided to go to the MOA. Parking was a bear. We ended up on the top floor of the ramp and there were guys directing traffic, etc. Maybe most normal people would turn around and go home, but we trudged on with our plan. The Mall was full of people, too, although my particular store was a walk in-walk out type situation (whew!). The Christmas decorations and two giant trees were beautiful, so I took a couple of pictures. The other picture is about the technology that surprised me out there.

Guess I really don't know if I understand all the differences between mp3players, ipods, iphones, ipads, itouch phones (?), but anyway, while eating in the food court, I noticed this little kiosk for the first time ever. I didn't realize that if my regular cell phone battery goes dead, there is a spot at the mall where I can "hook up" for power. It was a SAMSUNG t-mobile plug in and that was surprising to me. I actually have a phone that fits that description, so if I am ever high and dry without power at the MOA, I have hope and shouldn't despair.

That is.....unless someone else has beaten me to it and there are no open spots. Sigh....

About the artist

Another wonderful Christmas present that I received was this art print by Hannah. She chose the colors and design especially for me and thought I would like a purple handprint in the middle of it.

Well, I do!! It is perfect!! I have it hanging on the wall above my computer so I will see it every day. How many three year olds are thinking of giving gifts to others at Christmastime? What a special little girl! We love you, Hannah!

(As we were opening gifts, one by one, it became apparent that people were receiving pictures painted by Hannah, I had noticed that most of them were wrapped in candy cane striped red and white paper, but I didn't have anything in that color....so I was really excited when I noticed that one of the last gifts I hadn't opened yet was the same size as all the others, and sure enough it was my picture from her. She made each one individually geared towards the recipient, so no two are alike. We each love the ones she made especially for us.)

2011

WOW! It's a new year again (and already!)

I hope that 2011 brings the best of everything to my loved ones. It is amazing to me that it is 11 years past the millenium.

I got a new scrapbooked calendar for Christmas from the grandkids......(thanks to Amy.) It is my favorite present! Every page is a treasure and I will enjoy it all through the year. I want Amy to know that it is appreciated and how much I love it. She did a wonderful job (as always!)

And then.....to give all the credit to the kids by putting their names on it alone....well that was very special, too. Amy, you are a gem! I love you!!