My first week of retirement went very well - however, I think I need to learn to pace myself better - I may have to return to work to rest up!

One of the pictures is of a flower pot arrangement I received as a gift for my retirement and Elsa, the retirement turtle - special gift from Amanda, Chad, Peyton and Garrison for my retirement.  Guess who named the turtle?????  Miss Peyton of course - Elsa from Frozen.

I painted the lawn furniture one day and did some extra cleaning for the luncheon I am hosting for my former co-workers on Tuesday as a thank-you for the retirement party they threw for me!  Mom helped me quite a bit as well - I think she is enjoying my retirement too.   We went to a few garage sales on Friday morning.

Friday afternoon, Ron and I had cardio scans at St. Luke's South.  We both had some calcification - Ron more than me 128-33 respectively.  Better eating and exercise were suggested.  I have walked almost every day since retirement - one of my goals.  We both need to eat better, and Ron needs to get into exercising.

After our appointments, we did a little shopping then went to the Todds.  We were thrilled when we turned the corner and found Peyton and Garrison outside waiting for us on the front sidewalk, jumping up and down with joy (we had called that we were close).  We all went outside to enjoy the beautiful afternoon and to play with the kids on the playlet, etc.

Amanda and Chad went to the new restaurant - Firepit (I think) for an early anniversary celebration since we were there to stay with the kids - and the rest of us went to Freddy's to eat.  Peyton and Garrison both wanted to eat outside, and it was the perfect evening for it!  Peyton suggested Orange Leaf for dessert, so we loaded up in the car and went there for some frozen yogurt.

Grandpa helped them get started with baths, and when I arrived in the bathroom, I asked Peyton if she had lost a tooth - I thought I saw a gap!  She said she didn't think so.  Well.......she had at some point - probably while eating the gummy worms on her ice cream!  She said she remembered something sticking in her teeth, and she thought maybe she threw it on the floor, but we couldn't find it.  She was pretty upset about the whole process of losing a tooth, but we talked about it and finally calmed down.  We texted Mommy who told us where the Tooth Fairy pillow was located, so we wrote the tooth fairy a note to tell her that she had lost her tooth but couldn't find it and left the note in the pillow.  As Peyton was very upset, she slept with me in the main room (what the kids call the guest room) and Grandpa agreed to sleep in the princess bed in Peyton's room (thanks Grandpa).  Lo and behold the tooth fairy brought a glittery $5 bill and left a receipt for the tooth.  Peyton told me the next morning, "well, maybe it isn't so bad losing a tooth".  ha ha  She also told me she was tired of being a kid!

Saturday morning, we all went to First Watch for breakfast - yummo and fun!  Afterward, Ron and Chad went to Golf Galaxy to order Ron new golf clubs, and the rest of us did a little shopping and took Garrison for a haircut.  He chose to sit in the Duck Dynasty four-wheeler chair and was a really good boy.

We all met back up at the Todds and then Grammy and Grandpa headed back to Clinton.  When arriving back in Clinton,  we picked up Mom and brought her home with us.  She and I went to Kelly's to pick gooseberries - enough for two pies - and Mom did most of the stemming.  We grilled chicken, hamburgers, polish sausages and hotdogs (enough for a few meals) and enjoyed hamburgers and french fries for dinner.  Mom stayed until about 7:30 p.m. - almost unheard of!

Sunday we went to church where I played the gathering music.  We had the grilled chicken and baked potatoes for lunch at 810 along with yummy banana pudding.  Mom and I made carmel popcorn puffs for me to use for party favors on Tuesday, we all took naps, then we went to the cemetery for Memorial Day.  Mom and I had taken the flowers out earlier in the week, but she wanted to go back to see all the flags displayed and visit the graves again.

Ron is playing golf Memorial Day morning with his friends.  A very busy first week of retirement.  We are blessed.

Peggy's Retirement and Visit from Amanda/Kids - May 2014

It's been a busy week!  Amanda, Peyton and Garrison arrived in Clinton Wednesday evening for a few days of fun!  Chad was playing golf in a tournament in Wisconsin (which he won his flight - way to go).  Wednesday was my final day of work with the Family Support Division after almost 34 years of work.

Thursday morning, Grandma came over first thing - per Peyton's request of course!  We ate an early lunch and then headed to my retirement party.  My co-workers threw a fantastic party for me - I was truly humbled.  I loved having my family there, including Ron, Mom, Amanda and the kids - and many of my friends - it was truly a fantastic couple of hours.   One of the awesome gifts I received was this gigantic pot of flowers for the patio.

Garrison had a little bit of a runny nose all day, but after Amanda finished her conference call around 5:30 p.m., his little eyes were red, and he wasn't feeling well at all, so we took him to the walk-in clinic where the nurse practitioner diagnosed him with pink eye, double ear infection and possibly strep throat.  He had a fever and felt lousy.  After a good night's sleep and a couple of doses of medicine, he felt much better.

Friday morning, we headed south for Silver Dollar City.   We had a blast riding the kiddie rides, tea cups, mini-roller coaster, enjoying a funnel cake, BBQ, shopping in the taffy store and Brown's Candy Store, etc.  The kids had so much run - and of course, we did too, watching them having fun.  We left there around 3 p.m. and had an early, early dinner  at Montana Mike's.  We stayed at the Fairfield Inn - Marriott, and enjoyed swimming in the pool Friday evening and taking a dip in the hot tub.  Swimming lessons have definitely paid off for the kids.  Saturday morning, we had breakfast at the hotel before enjoying another swim and then headed to Lambert's - Home of the Throwed Rolls - for an early lunch.  The kids really enjoyed seeing them throw the rolls and even caught some right before we left.

Amanda was very patient and helped me with my new MacBook laptop and getting the printer hooked up on Saturday afternoon.  We visited Grammaw at her house, and Peyton was able to talk her into coming home with us for a sleepover!  We had leftovers from Lambert's for dinner and had a fun time playing outside, looking for frogs at the pond on #17 green, etc.

Sunday morning we went to church where Amanda honored me by playing a piano/organ duet with me - first time in nearly 4 years.  We received many compliments.  Peyton sat on the organ bench with me during our song and was good as gold.  We all enjoyed donuts after church and then had green bean casserole for lunch before they headed back to Overland Park - I miss them already.

A few days/weekend full of blessings and fun - so many precious family memories.

Mother's Day Weekend 2014

Mother's Day Weekend started as it has for the past 3 years with a day of shopping and a great lunch with my reason for being a Mom - my sweet Amanda!  We shopped all morning and had lunch at Olive Garden (one of our favorites - with peach tea), then we spent the afternoon purchasing a new Apple Mac Book Computer/printer for me - my retirement gift to myself!  We picked the kids up at school early - they were thrilled to see us.

Amanda and Chad had planned to have a date night, so I spent the night.  However, Chad's eye was bothering him from the surgery the week before, so he needed to rest, but I stayed anyway!  The kids and I went to McDonald's for dinner and had a blast - so much so we were there for an hour!  The kids ate great and earned the right for ice cream.  Garrison wanted a cone and Peyton ordered a M&M McFlurry.  We had the second dining room to ourselves and enjoyed every minute.

After getting back home, we found Mommy mowing the yard, so we "helped" her with that, watered the plants and played outside.

Peyton got to sleep with me, so we had a fun time all night!  Saturday morning, Mommy brought us donuts, and we played and played.  After Amanda went to get a facial and massage, we went into Mother's Day mode and made her cards and a lollypop bouquet - forgot to take a picture!  The kids were thrilled to get to give Mommy gifts when she returned.

We played outside - t-ball, catching, on the play set, etc., had pizza for lunch, then Grammy drove home.  Mark and Mary came to Clinton Saturday evening to see Mom.

Mother's Day, Ron and I went to church, then to Mom's.  We had a good time visiting with everyone and enjoyed a delicious fried chicken meal with strawberry shortcake.

We are blessed to have a wonderful, healthy family - thank you God!  Happy Mother's Day to all!

May 3, 2014

I went to Overland Park Saturday morning.  Amanda, the kids and I went to Oak Park Mall to try to purchase some Disney items from the movie Frozen.  Amanda stood in line while the kids and I went to the play area and rode the carousel.  We also tried to get an Elsa dress in a raffle but were not successful.  Peyton was very disappointed but handled it well.

We did a little shopping then had a lovely lunch at Olive Garden.  Garrison went home to nap while the girls went to Twisters for ice cream.

A fun day!!!!