January 2016

It's been a busy last half of January 2016.  Ron and I decided to paint for two Saturdays - first the bedroom and bathroom upstairs and the next Saturday Amanda's bedroom and bathroom on the lowest floor.  We realized more than ever that we aren't 25 anymore!!!  Geez.  We painted 5 hours straight both times and got it done, but we were sure tired afterward.  Pictures are back up and the rooms are back in order - which was actually the bigger part of the jobs.  Moving furniture isn't for people in their 60's - especially when I was suffering already with knee problems.  Made it much worse.  After we accomplished those projects, we decided to hire Ed the Painter to paint the family room downstairs and both staircases/landing upstairs.  And while we were at it, we decided to have him paint the garage and put up boards to put in hangers to hang things on the walls out there.  Needless to say, this took lots of prep work to get the walls ready both inside and in the garage, especially in the garage - causing my knee more pain.  But - it is done now, and it looks nice.  Still not completely finished with the "put back" part, especially in the garage, but everything is livable.

Knee - I first hurt my sciatica and leg/knee on Christmas Eve at water aerobics.  Then on the day after new years, I twisted my knee again.  Then I took on all the painting projects - moving furniture - up and down the stairs a million times, etc., and things went from bad to worse.  The final "bad" time was this past Friday when I went to KC with Kelly for a little shopping.  When she let me out at Kohl's while she went on to Best Buy, I slid out of her truck onto the blacktop and forgot how far it was from the seat to the street and landed on it "wrong", causing excruciating pain.  Then walked forever in Kohl's - then walked forever at Walmart - then had a very rough ride home which jostled it even more - wow - by the time we arrived back in Clinton, I didn't think I would get back into our house with 4 steps!  I needed a walker once in the house (good thing I had kept one of WJ's) and was hurting.  Didn't sleep well due to pain.  Spent Saturday in recliner with leg elevated and ice on it - again using a walker.  Pain, pain.  I slept pretty good and felt a lot better Sunday morning - of course I had taken 7 Prednisone and 2 Hydrodocone on Saturday which didn't hurt.  We decided to go to Overland Park, as planned, to see the Todds for a short visit and lunch.  The kids were happy to see us, and we played Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders and Trash before going to Olive Garden for lunch.  I had made smores brownies for dessert, and then we drove home.

Once home, we spent some time in the garage getting things back in order so we could get our vehicles back in the garage.  Mission accomplished, but now my knee hurts again - more ice - elevated - arghhhh.  I'm planning to go to the doctor on Monday to have some x-rays to see what is going on.  I've only walked 3 times since 1/1/16 and only been to water aerobics once.  I'm going to be staying with the little people for a week starting 2/2 - need to be well!

There is a picture of the PEO peanut butter cake I decorated for our meeting a week or so ago.  It turned out pretty and was delicious.

Ron is leaving Wednesday for a buddy golf trip to San Diego and will return the following Monday night very late.

Bible Study has resumed after a break through Christmas and New Years.  I went to visit Uncle Jim/Gloria last Thursday.  He is doing well at home.

As I was doing some decluttering, I ran onto the pictures of Joe and Tom with their grandmothers, etc. - such cuties.  Wild Wilma and Mom enjoyed each other very much and spent a great deal of time together in their later years before Wild Wilma passed away.  Mom always missed her and talked about her fondly.  They were at a grandparents day gathering at their school that day.  Wild Wilma was always the life of the party.

Hopefully I find out what is wrong with my knee and things improve this week.  Mary is improving with her physical therapy - yay!

We are blessed.

First Full Week of January 2016

The first full week of January 2016 started off well.  I spent some time decluttering and selling a few items online for Amanda.  I'm really good at it!!!!  ha ha

On Thursday, I spent most of the morning upstairs readying the bedroom and bathroom up there for painters - the Ron and Peggy kind!  It takes a while just to get ready to paint!  On Saturday, the painting happened!  We painted from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and it went pretty well except Ron hurt his arm moving the bed back into place, and I hurt my hip and knee again.  Geez - we are getting old!  The rooms look great, and it is good to have it done.   I still need to touch up the ceiling which now has some beige paint on it (I didn't say we are "good" painters), and I need to rehang the pictures - some of which are not going to make the cut - but the job is mostly done.

After painting and clean up, I fixed us a delicious fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy meal prior to the Chief's playoff game.  Maybe it was because we were starved and very tired, but it sure tasted good.  Then I fixed peach cobbler in the crock pot - a recipe from Facebook - which was yummy with ice cream on top for half time of the Chief's game.  We didn't move out of our recliners the rest of the day!

On Sunday, we went to Overland Park.  Chad unexpectedly had to work part of the day, so we took the opportunity to spend some time with Amanda and the kids.  When we arrived, Peyton was working on her "project" - making a jewelry box cake from a cookbook she brought home from library day at school.  She did a fantastic job, and it really looked like a jewelry box - and it tasted great as our dessert after lunch at Olive Garden.

Peyton and Garrison had rest time, then Chad finished his work, so he and Ron went to the movie to see Star Wars - the second time for Chad - the first for Ron.  I was so grateful Chad wanted to go with Ron so I didn't have to!!!!  Peyton and Amanda went to a PTA meeting around 4 - Garrison and I stayed home and had a great time - I don't often get alone time with Garrison, and we had a blast.  He's my little "talker" and has great imaginative skills.  We made robots out of modeling clay, worked with his money out of his piggy bank and played flashlight tag on the ceiling.   When Amanda and Peyton got back, we played silent catch (that wasn't the name of it, but I can't remember what it was) and played until the guys came home from the movie.

All-on-all, a great Sunday!  We are blessed.

End of December 2015 and New Years 2016

Ron took off the week between Christmas and New Years, so on Tuesday, we decided to treat it like a vacation day and go to the city for some fun.  We did some shopping in Belton and decided to go on to Overland Park for lunch at Freddy's.  We called Amanda to see if they might want to join us for lunch, and lo and behold, they were on their way to Freddy's for lunch then!  Perfect timing.  We met her and the kids (Chad had to work) for a fun lunch at one of our favorite places and enjoyed seeing them.  After lunch, we went back to Belton to see the movie, Joy.  We hadn't been to the movie for many months and have seen 3 movies at the theatre in December!  We're getting wild and crazy.

On Thursday, New Years Eve, we picked up the kids for a visit.  We stopped at McDonald's on the way home in Belton for lunch (indoor playground).  Peyton had requested BBQ meatballs and rice for dinner for New Years Eve, so that is what we had.  Kelly joined us for dinner and we watched a movie she brought, Max (about a dog like Roxie).  It was a good movie, and the kids loved having her join us.  We baked homemade shortbread in molds for dessert - yummy.  We had a "toast" of sparkling grape juice at 8 p.m. before they went to bed.  Their parents went out with a few couples for dinner and bowling.

On New Years Day, we had a fun at-home day with the kids.  We made salt-art pictures and had fun playing games and cards.  Garrison wore his pajamas all day.  Peyton was proud of herself for getting up and getting dressed and making the bed and brushing her hair before we even knew she was awake.  She did that both mornings she was here - so proud of her.  We went out for a little drive and ice cream late in the afternoon and took a tour of Clinton, showing the kids where we lived in the past, Grandma and Grandpa's shop, etc.  They had lots of questions.  We also went to the cemetery.  Peyton really misses Grammaw and talks about her memories of her a lot.

On Saturday before we took them home. they decorated foam poster boards with drawing, coloring, stickers and stamps and had a great time.  We also made homemade pizza.

Since Peyton didn't have school until Tuesday, I went to Overland Park late Sunday afternoon to stay with the kids on Monday.  Garrison was given the option of going to "school" (his was open), but he said, "I want to stay home with you guys".  So cute.

On Monday, they slept until 8 a.m.!   Unusual.  We started out the morning slowly.  Peyton had banana bread for breakfast.  Garrison wanted pancakes, so I made him pancakes - he ate 6 small pancakes!  Peyton and I played ring the bell game (that isn't the real name but I can't think of it), then we loaded up the van and went to Scheels.  First they bowled, then we all rode the ferris wheel.  Since there wasn't a line, we had a very long ride which was fun.  Then they played on the indoor playground there then back to bowl again.  Peyton wanted to look at the shoes and found a pair of mint green tennis shoes which she loved - so we got them.  She also wanted some new flip flops for their upcoming cruise, so we found some Under Armour flip flops which fit and she liked.

We then went to lunch at IHOP.  Who would have imagined there would be a 20 minute wait at IHOP on a Monday morning at 11:20 a.m.! There was!  We had a nice lunch and then went to Hyvee for a little grocery shopping.  Garrison had his own cart which made the trip more exciting.  They rode the mechanical pony there too.

After we came back to their house, they had rest time.  While Garrison was still sleeping, Peyton and I played Trash and War (two card games) and had a great time.  She won both of course - fair and square.  Mommy came home from work, so Grammy came back to Clinton although Garrison really wanted me to have supper with them.  It was a wonderful day.

We are blessed.