Final Weekend of May 2015

On Monday, we had a good family Memorial Day with Mark, Mary, Joe and Nicole, and Tom who were in Clinton to pick up the bedroom suite a 810 and a few things at 1009 we were giving Joe and Nicole for their first apartment.  They joined us for lunch at our house before traveling back to St. Louis to unload.

On Friday, Grammy and Grandpa went to Overland Park to pick up Peyton and Garrison at All Around Child for the weekend in Clinton!  Amanda and Chad had plans to celebrate their anniversary with dinner and a movie and were painting the utility room and finishing up some household chores related to their new heating and AC system and new landscaping.

The kids were so excited to see us when we picked them up right after lunch.  Their teachers said they had been talking about us picking them up all morning.  When we arrived in Clinton, Ron took the kids with him to take the recycling and to run an errand or two with a visit to the bank - they came home with smartees and suckers and smiles galore.

We fixed octopuses (beef hotdogs cut and boiled to make them look like an octopus) and mashed potatoes (by request) along with peas, rolls and ice cream sundaes for dinner.  They thought neopolitan ice cream was pretty cool.  It was soon time for baths and bedtime after playing Candyland.

As it was raining Saturday morning, we couldn't do any of the outdoor fun things we had planned, so we played games and made Nuetella Pops (frozen treats) and just had fun around the house.  I took them to see Miss Kelly who has two mni-turtles in a cage in the house named Myrtle and Terrance.  We had fish sticks and macaroni and cheese (by request again) for lunch and had fun playing.  While Garrison and Grammy napped (he wanted to be rocked which suited Grammy just fine), Grandpa and Peyton went to five different playgrounds to have some fun, as it had stopped raining.

We went to Wendy's for dinner before traveling to Urich for the carnival at the Urich Reunion Festival.  As it had rained for several days, it was a muddy mess - but it didn't stop us!  Garrison loved the mud.  The kids loved riding the rides - especially the mini-train roller coaster and the swings.  They played a couple of games, both of them managing to break balloons with the dart throw.  We all had to take off our shoes before getting in the van to come home - except Grandpa who had to drive.  Shoes were unrecognizable!  The kids legs and socks were covered in mud!  When we got home, I immediately gave both of them a shower and we got ready for bed.

On Sunday, we went to church and then took a road trip to show the kids Grandma and Grandpa Mintun's farm, as they were curious - they thought it was going to be like Deanna Rose!  After we got home, the kids and I baked a heart-shaped cake for them to give their parents for their anniversary - they were sooooooo excited and very into it.   Peyton wanted a chocolate cake, and Garrison agreed.  I asked Garrison if he wanted to crack the eggs, and he told me, "I'm not too good at eggs, but my Sissy is very good at cracking eggs".  How sweet.  He helped with putting in the liquid ingredients and running the mixer - they both loved the mixer.  Peyton cut out the waxed paper for the bottom of the pans after I drew the pattern on the waxed paper - she did a great job.  Peyton wanted to make mint green colored frosting and swirls on top.  Peyton chose purple sprinkles and Garrison chose blue sprinkles, all of which ended up on top of the white "Happy Anniversary" writing.  Too funny.  They did most of the frosting job themselves with Grammy adding the swirls and the writing.  They were so excited with their finished product.  They also made homemade anniversary cards for their parents.  Peyton is doing a great job with writing and spelling (mostly).

Since we were going out for dinner when we took them back to Overland Park, we had a light lunch - pot pies, peas, bananas and blueberries.  Peyton told me the pot pie was awesome (79 cent Banquet).  So cute.  We headed toward the city around 1:30 p.m. with both kids napping part of the way.

They were happy to get home, and Mommy was happy to see them (Chad was playing in a golf tournament).  We enjoyed visiting for a while and checking out their garden which has grown by leaps and bounds this Spring.  We checked out their new patio furniture and then headed to Dickey's BBQ for dinner.  After an early dinner, we headed back to Clinton in a very quiet van - no more giggles from the back seat.  We miss them already.  Peyton asked me this weekend when we were going to move to Kansas City - hmmmmm.

We had a great weekend with our precious little sweethearts and look forward to the next time they stay with us.  Can't wait!  We are blessed.

May 18-24, 2015

We received and accepted an offer from Kathy Shoemaker this week to purchase Mom and Daddy's farm (40 acres) on Hwy AC.  Kathy and her deceased husband, Scott, have rented the land for many years - ever since the parents quit raising cattle.  The Shoemakers own the land on all 3 sides of the 40 acres, so it made sense.  We plan to close if possible the same time as we close on the sale of 810 S. Second Street - maybe this coming week or at the latest, the next week if all goes as planned.  We have been blessed to get things settled so smoothly and quickly.

It's uncanny to me how much the picture of Peggy and Mark in 1958 looks so much like the picture of Peyton and Garrison at the approximately the same ages in 2011.

Amanda traveled to San Francisco Monday-Thursday for work.  Chad again did a great job as Mr. Mom, making the sign for Peyton and taking her picture on her last day of kindergarten on Thursday. She looks so grown up - where does the time go!

The comparison pictures are of our oak round kitchen table before and after 4 hours of sanding!  Kelly helped me, so it was really 8 hours of sanding.  I've been putting coats of Tung Oil on it daily and will start applying polyurethane coats soon.  The table originally belonged to Ron's parents.

This is the first Memorial Day Weekend without Mom here with us - she is now in Heaven with Daddy.  Their graves were not damaged in the tornado last week.  Clinton had a double murder this week - murderer was killed in a shoot out with police as they were trying to capture him.

We will have guests tomorrow on Memorial Day.  Mark, Mary, Joe and Nicole and Tom are coming to Clinton to pick up the last of their things at 810 and will join us for lunch at our house.  We are excited to get to spend some time with them.  Mark and Mary will sign paperwork for the sale of the properties so they don't have to travel back to Clinton for the closings.  Mom would be very pleased that things are getting wrapped up quickly - let's keep our fingers crossed that it all goes through.

Lots of rain this week.  Amanda and family went to Deanna Rose Farms yesterday.  The kids called us Face Time last night to tell us all about it - they were excited.  We will miss them at the family gathering tomorrow but understand that Amanda has basically been gone from home for 3 weeks for work and needs some time at home and with her kids.

We are blessed - God is good.  We miss you Mom and Daddy!

May Fun 2015

It's been a busy week!  Early Monday morning, 5/11, I headed to Overland Park to spend a little time with my favorite little people!  I surprised Peyton and brought her McDonald's for lunch and ate with her at her table with her classmates.  She was so confused - she had the lunch Daddy had packed for her - AND, she had McDonald's.  The teacher told her to just eat one and save one for snack which she did - and she ate all of both before the day was done.  I also was blessed with the opportunity to pick Peyton up after school and took her to piano lessons - but not before stopping for another snack at McDonald's (twice in one day) - she had a small McFlurry (oreo) and ate every bite.  She was a hungry girl.

Piano lessons went well, and she is doing a great job - playing with both hands together - chords and all.  So proud of her.  We had wonderful conversations there and back and had a good time traveling.

Once we got back to their house, we had dinner with Chad and Garrison - chicken and rice and peas which they enjoyed.  Landscapers had been working on the yard all day and had managed to cut the line for the internet and TV, so we had a quiet evening.  They watched a little bit of Beauty and the Beast on DVD before bedtime, and we read several books and played Spelling Bee.

I spent the night and took them to school on Tuesday before heading back to Clinton.  Amanda arrived back home safely from Japan on Thursday evening.  Chad did a fantastic job playing Mr. Mom for the 9 days she was gone for work, and he orchestrated a welcome back party for Amanda at the airport with the kids - complete with signs and flowers.  How sweet!  The kids loved talking about it.

It's been a good week - we have a contract on 810 to sell it - closing date set for June 2!  That brought a rush to finish cleaning things out over there, so I spent quite a bit of time finishing up things.  Everything is pretty much gone except the remainder of the things Mark and Joe are going to use.  Things have gone so smoothly - we are blessed.

Friday night, Ron and I went to the cemetery to decorate the graves for Memorial Day - a little early, but we wanted to beat the rains and the crowds.  We had a tornado, EF0 very early Sunday morning in Clinton, and the cemetery was closed on Sunday due to damages and for safety purposes.  Pictures indicated some stones were turned over, etc - I'm anxious to get back out there to see if our flowers and the parents' graves were not involved in the tornado.  Let's hope!  Many trees uprooted around town with houses having trees landing on them and causing damage, etc.  We were fortunate to not have any damage at 810 or at 1009.  God is good.

On Sunday, I played the organ at both church services, substituting for Sam who was out of town.  After church, we again headed to Overland Park to visit with Amanda/family and to have a belated Mother's Day celebration.  We had fun watching the kids ride their bikes in the culdesac, played Slap Jack and catch with the wobble ball and finished up with a delicious dinner at Ted's Cafe - Mexican.  It's a new restaurant at Corbin Park and was very good - thanks for a great meal and fellowship to the Todds!

Mother's Day 2015

Happy Mother's Day to my precious Mother in Heaven this year.  I know she is celebrating with her Mother who she missed dearly for over 45 years and with Daddy who she missed terribly for the past 4 years.  I miss you, Mom, but I am grateful we had so many good times together and that God was merciful at the end for you.  I will see you again someday in Heaven - until then......

Happy Mother's Day to Amanda and Mary as well!  As you can see, I have been treated like a queen - much better than I deserve - with cards, flowers,  phone calls - even Face Time this morning with you sweet Amanda.  God gave us the greatest gift on June 11, 1981 - the gift that keeps on giving - and then two more times with Peyton and Garrison.  Family is everything - my Mom taught me that - and she was right.  I treasure my extended family as well - see the crazy picture at the end - that was Peyton's idea!  So happy we took those pictures at Thanksgiving and that we had that holiday all together.  We plan to celebrate together when Amanda returns from Japan - probably next Sunday.  Ron, Apollo and I have a quiet day planned to do nothing!

I had the privilege of filling in for Amanda at Muffins for Mom at the kids' day care on Friday morning.  I arrived at their house early enough to take Peyton and Garrison to school where we had muffins and apple juice together.  They chose a book for me to read to them before I left which was fun - soon there were kids all around us listening to the book as well!  The fun continued as I took Peyton to "real school" and got to walk her to her room and see her desk area and where she puts her backpack, etc.  She had fun showing me her school.  I visit with her teacher, Mrs. Ernst, a bit then headed out to do a little shopping before I came home.

I showed Mom's house 3 times this week.  Two seem to have interest - keeping our fingers crossed for an offer maybe this week.  If not, we will move on by advertising, etc.  Everyone was very complimentary on the house - what good shape it was in for an older house and how little work would have to be done to rent it.  Mom would have been happy.  They kept everything very nice and took care of what they had.

The bouquet of peonies on my kitchen table are from Mom's bush at 810 - beautiful.  I remember having peonies for our Mother's Day dinners most years from those bushes.  The smaller bush in the picture is from our flower bed out back where I transplanted peonies from Mom's house.  I didn't expect them to bloom this year, and one did not, but I was pleasantly surprised.  I'm sure Mom is smiling down from Heaven as she had been talking to me about transplanting some of the peonies this Spring.

Amanda flew to Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday of this past week for a work trip for Sprint.  She is one of two women on the trip with a total of 25 people.  She flew business class and is now spoiled!  We are very proud of her that she was chosen for this trip - way to go Amanda!  Proud of Chad for being Mr. Mom for 9 days - he's doing great!

I'm headed to Overland Park tomorrow morning for some Grammy time!  I'm planning to tidy up the house a bit and catch up the laundry since Amanda has been gone for a few days to Japan for work.  I get to pick Peyton up at All Around Child and take her to piano lessons before we return home to see Garrison and Chad and have dinner.  I will spend the night and will help as needed Tuesday morning before I come back to Clinton.  I can't wait!  Really looking forward to time with my little people.

It's a bit sad on this Mother's Day without Mom, but she had a great life - didn't have to go to the nursing home - never had to live with oxygen at home or using a walker - God is good.  Even with her sight challenges, she was able to live in her own home and then our home for the past four months all of her life - what a blessing.  She was able to see all of her grandchildren grown and was able to spend a great deal of time with Peyton and Garrison - they loved Grammaw so much and she loved them.  She loved her family so much and was so proud of each and everyone.  A life well lived and a blessing to all of us.

We are blessed!