day one of break~!

Today is day one of summer break!  I don't know how long I will be able to spend the day doing whatever I want!  Seems my youngest stepson (he's 19) was in court today and my husband's ex (who babysits the grandkids) was with him.  My daughter in law is very upset about this.  Maybe she's afraid my stepson's criminal behavior will rub off on her boys!  I will wait until Friday and volunteer myself to watch the boys until she quits work.  I at least want a couple of days to get bored!  

The other grandma's health is pretty poor along with the fact she is disappointed that she isn't getting a granddaughter this time, has caused her to give up the babysitting job when Tracey has the new baby.  Watching three kids under the age of three is a challenge, I've done it before and you really have to love kids and pace yourself.  Otherwise you end up plopping them in front of the TV, which is a pretty sad choice.  I have a background in early childhood education, been a special ed aide and drove the school bus for 3 years.  Oh yeah raised 3 of my husband's kids full time didn't hurt either.  Besides I just love kids!

For me kids keep me young and my mind active, they are so funny and entertaining. 

So as I said I am enjoying my down time, for now at least ... time to walk the dog!

it's my birthday!

It's my birthday today.  This year will mark the ending of my 40's.  Ah my 40's they were a decade of true growth for me.  I am not a big birthday person.  Most of the time my birthday marks the end of a school year, I even graduated high school on my birthday.  I remember when I was 6 I ran around saying "on June 6 I'll be 6" to the point of being annoying (not ME??!!).  In my early 20's my birthday meant free drinks at the local bar, but I've grown out of that, plus drinking and I have an understanding , I don't and I stay out of trouble!  Later when I was a young mom I received handmade cards for the kids.

I was honored by a some great people today.  My j-land buddy Lisa Jo sent me a beautiful plaque honoring our friendship, complete with a very sweet card, I love that girl!  I am ever so grateful to my j-land family.  I also received an e-card from dear Jackie, we just met here in J-land but we have much in common (grandma!).  My kids on the bus sang to me, gave me gifts and one little girl even cried.  This time of year I always have such mixed feelings.  I realize how much I love my job and what an impact I have on them.

For a few short minutes I nearly bid on a route that was posted late, but then I remembered my biggest commitment this summer is to ME!  I deserve some time off, a siesta, time to relax, regroup, spend some time with my grandbabies and enjoy!

Afterall this is my last year of being in my 40's! 

The past week

Last weekend was a hot one here in Northern Illinois.  We spent most of it on the motorcycle.  I did sleep through the Indy 500 all that spinning makes me sleepy!  Liz's boyfriend Mike came over for dinner on Sunday night, and since our larger grill is at the camper we used a wee little one for our chicken breasts.  It worked out fine though. 

On Memorial day we went out to see the kids.  Tracey is getting huge, and the boys are as cute as ever.  A storm blew in and poor Jacob cried because his spiderman boucie toy blew next door.  It made a safe return when the rain stopped.

Also this week my already "hanging by a thread" washing machine finally refused to run.  Fortunuately for me my Menard's son came to the recue.  We drove to his store Thursday night and got a nice deal on a machine.  This one even stays put and doesn't bounce all over the dining room.  It's in the dining room because the previous owners of our house built a closet in  that room and put the washer and dryer in it.  The dryer had so much long venting through the basement to the outside that it was causing a fire hazard.  We moved that downstairs, but with the plumbing already in and a drain there I just had Mark put the new one in the old ones spot.  Besides it would have been an ugly site watching the two of us carry a washer down the narrow stairs to the basement.  The hot water heater received a huge dent in it when Tim and Mark brought that down last fall.

I took my four writen driving tests this week for my driver's license.  I even had to take the core knowledge test that I took when I was 16!  Because I drive a school bus I must have the CDL endorcement along with the Passenger and of course the school bus.  The district even reimbursed me for my $60 fee!  The test are now computerized, which when I took them three years ago freaked me out!  It was hard for me to get used to knowing you got an answer wrong immediately.  This time I took my time, skipped what I wasn't sure of and passed the first go round.  WHEW!

Have a great Saturday!

I have bats!

I got up this morning and went into our spare bedroom that used to be Matt and Tim's to look for a pen.  Something was flying around my head, I thought it was an awful big moth, then I realized it was a bat!  We had one a long time ago when the kids were still here and Jim the big brave guy he is caught it with a pillow case and let it outside.  Chickens that Mark and I are took the easy way and since the windows were already open I had him open the screens from the outside (he climbed a ladder) and then he swat it with a broom (it was hanging on the closet door) and it flew around in circles for a while before it frew out the window.   Whew!  The neighbor said it was probably a fruit bat, but so what it's like mice and spiders they look innocent but the still give me the willies!

my front yard so far this spring...without the pond

front yard last spring below...we've had a really wet spring and now with the warm weather it is growing in very well, including the weeds!  I have more ferns too mostly from the neighbor, (the white house) who mows his down!   My ivy is filling in very nicely.

My front yard is a work in progress and my therapy...the hostas never talk back and they only need some water and a little food and they are happy!

have  a great Saturday!

 

long weekend!

I've seemed to have fixed my computer so my voodoo dance over it must of worked, for now. It's the same dance I do over my boiler every winter.  Sometimes you just have to wait for what you want in life.  But that's ok, now that my computer will take my picture discs, I will take a picture of the motorcycle.  We will be spending a lot of time on it this summer.  As matter of fact we just took a ride out in the country a while ago.  There's nothing like it!

Here's the proud grandma with the boys....they are getting so big too!

Tracey is right on schedule to deliver baby #3 the end of July.  They still are deciding on a name.  She already knows she's having a boy.  I still have trouble getting used to being so sure of the sex of babies.  Way back when it was either a guess or the doctor was wrong 1/2 of the time.  Mark's fourth son was a girl until he was born a "he".  Of course he just celebrated his 22 birthday on the 24th so things have come a long way in the baby game.  I didn't have much influence on that boy, he and his younger brother spend some time with us, but was mostly protected from mean stepmom by their mother, (Mark's ex).  He did let me hug him on his birthday and he seems to be growing up, which is a good thing.  He has an apartment, a car payment and a job!

I have volunteered to help Tracey this summer as much as she wants me to...she will have her hands full with 3 and will be quitting work which makes me really, really happy.  They are able to afford it.  I think it will be easier on all of them, but mostly for the boys.

Liz did get a job offer, from the park district.  It's not for pay, but to help during the 4 day Prairie fest over Father's day weekend.  The lady that called her recognized her reference as her boyfriend's mother and wanted to know how she knew her.  Liz told her that she dates her son, Mike.  Seems that lady is related to Mike's father!  She told Liz that she will do all she can to help her with a job opportunity.  I have taught my daughter about volunteering anyway, so this will be a great experience for her.  

Here I am at the book signing.  The old guy on the right is my hubby, Mark, he may be gray, but at least he'll always have his hair!

I am off to start the 3 day weekend...it's going to be hot, sunny and beautiful! 

Happy birthday Lisa Jo!

~daughters~

My family is mainly boys.  I am the oldest and only girl, I have 3 younger brothers.  I always said that if I had had a sister I probably would have have given her away.  My husband has 5 sons, I have 2.  Liz is my only daughter and while I love her dearly and call her my miracle child there are days that she tries really, really hard to drive me crazy!  With the boys they got mad, stomped around, ate something and got over whatever was bothering them.  NOT Liz!

This past weekend she spent most of it crying.  Not just weeping, not just sniffle sniffle, but all out bawling, snot running, hiccuping sobs.  It got so bad on Sunday that Mark suggested I take her to the therapist she saw back in junior high for her "normal" growing pains.  The reason for the sobbing?  She didn't get her way.  She seems to think that if she pretends to do what we ask of her (look for a job, pick up her room, and walk the dog, before she goes out) then that means she can spend all the rest of her time with Mike.  NOPE!  She's not married to him yet and before we play we do our responsiblities.  She's better now though.  We sat down over the course of this week and discussed things step by step, over and over and she seems to get "it".  Whatever "it" is she seems to be able to discuss things without freaking out.

Lucky for her Mark's matured and grown as a father, he is much more patient and rational than he used to be.  We both realize that 'this too, shall pass', and to not take any of this personally.  We both realize that growing up is hard and she's our last--- we did ok with the rest so we'll do fine raising  her.

She is also delighted to be on the Drama Club board, which is some leadership position in theater for next year.  After this past weekend she should make the starring role in the next play! ;)  She is signed up for the summer theater which is the Pride and the Prejudice.  Maybe she can work out some of her attitude there!

Nah, I really am thankful for this kid, she has a huge heart, a loving spirit, and an all around great person!  I wouldn't trade her for 10 boys!

I need a new computer!

Just when I thought the drama of the past month was over, life threw some more my way!  Early this week while at Curves ( yes I still go at least three times a week, cheaper then a shrink!) an older lady that lives near me was giving me the update on some recent deaths in her church.  A side note here, my town used to be very, very small, in fact we were a very nice little farm town until the developers and the chain stores invaded us....progress I guess.  I've been told that I am very good at retaining gossip, but in my town the old timers aren't gossiping we are just informing the current events to one another.  Anyway, Mrs. N. told me that a gentleman had passed who happened to be the father of my best friend from high school.  D and I along with our  friend C all were buddies from 8th grade on.  Even after high school.  But we all went our separate ways after each of us divorced.  C and I see each other often because our daughters are in Choir and go to the same high school.  D was my Matron of Honor in both of my weddings.  D has had major health issues over the years, along with some really bad luck involving her choice in husbands, she's had 3.

I went to the wake on Tuesday and I knew before hand my old friend D was not doing well.  She's had all sorts of ailments over the years and because of these and years of smoking she is on oxygen.  She was so happy to see me, even with her illnesses she still had the old gleam in her eye from long ago.  C even showed up and it was like old times, if only for a short bit.  The mother in D's family is a nurse, the whole family in her mind is dying and has been for many many years!  It was a very surreal experience, one that made me grateful for my health and my own crazy  family.  D is being taken care of though, hopefully she will be enjoying some better days ahead.  I do have her phone number and will be calling her.  Hopefully, her sister's prediction (she is also sickly) of her upcoming death will be wrong.

I was driving happily home from work last night only to be greeted by my hubby who was in the middle of a major tantrum.  Work woes (the other truck driver is a stoner, who regularly blames my husband of breaking his truck) and the fact that thiscomputer was acting up again.  My computer is very, very old.  It was my fathers and I think he gave it to me shortly after my mom died in 1999.  It crashed once and a kid at Eric's school restored it for me.  Now it won't read my disc for my photos.  I have more bragging baby pictures on it too!  BLAH!  I think it's time for a new one, but I am getting a camera first!

I guess you will all have to settle for pictures of the new baby, Rylan...my brother's son, who was born in February.  Many of you remember he and his twin Tyson were born premature and Tyson died a couple of days after his birth.  I still haven't seen Rylan, my husband is still miffed at my brother for never inviting us over after he helped him build a bedroom.  I'll make him swallow his pride and we will ride over there soon, I'd really like to see the kid before he goes to college ;)

  Rylan shortly after his birth...

  Rylan is 3 1/2 months now!

                             

Otherwise the motorcycle is running great finally and the weather is sunny and perfect for a ride.  Now if the daughter would find a job so the hubby will be happy we can all take a step back relax and enjoy the upcoming summer...I know I WILL, dispite it all!