Easter 2016

We had our 2016 Easter family celebration on Saturday 3/26.  Amanda/family and Mark and Mary joined us for a fun day and delicious meal.  Peyton and Garrison enjoyed opening their Easter bags from Grammy and Grandpa which included a Blue Crew box (KC Royals) and other fun items.  Mark and Mary brought them gift cards to Build-A-Bear which we didn't get opened until after they went home, but we will get them to them, and they will have fun picking building a new bear soon!  Grandpa hid plastic eggs for them before they arrived, and they enjoyed filling their baskets with them and then opening them to find the surprises.  I found one egg after everyone went home!!!!  It had a quarter in it, so I'm thinking it is mine!  We had a great day of visiting and catching up.  Mark enjoyed teasing the kids and playing with them.

The kids enjoyed having an Easter egg hunt outside after it warmed up - at least 3 times!

Easter Sunday we went to church early, as I played the gathering music on the piano at the first service and the organ at both services.  Between services, we enjoyed a pancake breakfast - a fundraiser by the youth of the church.  I had a fun call from my little sweethearts - telling me about what the Easter bunny left them, church, etc.  The call was the best thing of the day!

After church, we took tulips to the cemetery to Mom and Daddy's grave. We participated in buying tulips for our church service in memory of our parents.

For lunch, we had fried chicken dinners - carry outs from Brown's BBQ and then rested in the afternoon.

A fun family weekend!  We are blessed.

Week before Easter 2016

We had a very special guest for the past two weeks - Apollo!  He enjoyed his Clinton vacation while the rest of his family had fun in Fort Lauderdale, FL for a couple of days and then on a Disney Cruise.

Apollo and I walked several times in the morning with my neighbor, Esther - slowly and not as long as I used to walk, but we walked!!!!!  The mornings we didn't go, he was sad and disappointed.  He was a very good boy and was a lot of company for me.

Highlights of the past two weeks were when Amanda and the kids called me from their trip - it was so nice to hear their voices and to hear about all the fun they were having.  What a blessing for them to have the opportunity to spend a week away from all the hustle and bustle of life together!!!  

On Saturday, we met Amanda and the kids in Belton at McDonald's for lunch (the kids' choice).  We brought Peyton and Garrison back to Clinton with us to spend the night.  Peyton had requested BBQ meatballs and rice for dinner - so that is what we had, along with Hawaiian rolls (another favorite) and green beans.  We had a great time dying eggs for Easter - and there really wasn't much of a mess!!!!  Lots of giggles though.   Peyton had a slight fever in the afternoon, but she really, really, really wanted to go to the 4-H Carnival, so after her fever was gone and she ate well and seemed to be feeling better, away we went!!!!  They had a great time playing the games and gathering tickets to buy things at the prize table on our way out.  They also enjoyed cotton candy - blue tongues and all!  After their showers, we went to bed.  Garrison had not had a nap, so he was out very quickly.  Peyton had a slight cough, so I gave her some honey and a couple of drinks of water, then she was able to get off to sleep and slept most of the night.

Since we had decided to not go to church so the kids could sleep as late as possible, we took the morning very slowly.  Peyton had a slight fever, so I gave her some Tylenol, but she had a lot of fun playing in the basement and playing Figit.  The plans had been to take the kids home mid-morning and to take Amanda/kids out to lunch in OP, however, Amanda was not feeling well Sunday morning either, so we decided to wait until after lunch to take them home (more time for us to have fun with them).  We gave Peyton many options about where to go for lunch, but she wanted to have octopuses (out of hotdogs) and macaroni and cheese here, so that is what we had!!!!   Shortly after we finished lunch, we headed to Overland Park with the kids and Apollo in tow.

When we arrived, Amanda was still in bed from not feeling well, but she started feeling better once we arrived and her babies were home.  Peyton was very quiet and seemed to be feeling poorly again.  Amanda took her temperature - 103 - and she threw up - bless her heart.  Amanda took her to Urgent Care, and we stayed with Garrison (Chad was playing golf in a tournament).  Good news was that she did not have strep or the flu - a virus that would just have to wear itself out.  After they got back, Amanda and I ran to Dickey's to get BBQ for dinner - she fixed Peyton chicken noodle soup - we all ate, and then we started for home.  We would have preferred if Amanda and Peyton had not been ill, but we sure enjoyed having time with them this weekend - made our weekend special.

My knee is giving me fits - surgery is April 27.  I am very, very nervous about the surgery, but I am ready to be rid of this pain and to be able to walk right again.  Looking forward to Easter this coming Saturday.

We are blessed.

March 2016

The first week in March was one of good and bad.  Ron and I went to Overland Park on Wednesday for an appointment for me with the orthopedic specialist, Dr. Jon Browne, regarding my sore knee.  I was expecting to hear that I needed orthoscopic surgery, but instead I heard from him that I needed a total knee replacement.  Yikes.  He said if I wanted to go on our scheduled trip in late May to Alaska, he could give me a cortisone shot about 10 days before the trip to ease the pain while we are gone.  We have not made the decision as of yet whether we will go to Alaska or wait until the same trip in 2017.  Decisions, decisions.

On Thursday, a couple of my P.E.O. sisters came to my house so we could complete the annual end of the year reports.  After 2 hours, we were done!

On Saturday, we went to Amanda and Chad's to visit, play with the kids, have lunch and pick up Apollo for his Clinton vacation while the rest of the family goes on a Disney Cruise over Spring Break.  The 3 guys went to Scheels where Garrison had fun bowling, etc.  The 3 gals went to Kohl's where we had far too much fun shopping!!!  Peyton found some Minnie Mouse earrings for the trip, and Amanda and I found a few jewelry items as well.  It was fun!  Then we all met up at the new Mexican restaurant, KMachos - it was good, but spicy.  Garrison thought it was far too spicy for him. After lunch, the 3 gals went to Sam's Club, and the guys went back home for Garrison to start his rest (and for Grandpa to have a nap).  When we got back to their house, Amanda and Chad ran a few errands while Grammy and Peyton played Trash and the two guys continued their naps.  We had a great afternoon, starting home with Apollo along late afternoon.

Today, I sewed a Girl Scout Daisy vest to match Peyton's for her American Girl Doll.  Amanda found the pattern on Pinterest.  I had fun making it - I hope Peyton likes it.

I have started walking in the mornings again - about 30 minutes, am doing some leg exercises the doctor showed me to strengthen my leg/knee before surgery, and have started riding the stationery bicycle which was Mom and Daddy's.  Sometimes it pays to hold onto things!

I sold one of the kids' tables and chairs from downstairs to make room for the bicycle in the main family room downstairs.  I paid $5 for it at a garage sale about 6 years ago and sold it for $12 on the Facebook online Buy It Sell It in Clinton website.  Sold 2 minutes after I put it on there!!!

Apollo walked with Esther, my neighbor, and me this morning.  We had a good time.

We are blessed.