Catch up Monday

The 1st T-ball practice for the boys...they are on the Mets.
The asst. coach asked "who is new?" and Austin said "I am"...the coach asked Austin to count
1-2-3 and everyone say "go Mets"....they had to do it twice, but I was proud Austin volunteered!

Matthew standing on 2nd base....we had to tell him where to go when the coach said "Matthew go to 2nd"....how would he know??

School was out on Friday and Clyde worked 10 hr. days so we were both off work. The weather was nice so we did a little yard work. Then we ate at Bellanote (spelling?) out on the patio beside the fireplace (doors open!) I love their grilled fish sandwich with dill sauce....so yummy. That night we went to see Blindside for the second time and I loved it just as much this time:) Sat. early morning Jason Allen & Clyde met the Wiley's (Chris, Joe, Stephanie & friends) over at the Wiley's and had breakfast. Then they all traveled to Bristol, TN, to see the nascar race. Becky & kids went to Great Wolf Lodge on Fri. and into Sat. so I had a pretty "free" weekend with all the family away. Since Becky's family had a full day on Sunday, they decided to attend church on Sat. evening, so I did as well. Seemed a little strange on Sunday to sleep in then not go to church, but it was fine. I went to the mall for a few things, then on to see the boys have their first baseball practice. That was interesting! The team is the Mets and from what we can tell, they have a young team with only 4 or so returning players. Most are new, so this may be a team that improves as they learn. We hope so. At this point, the boys need to learn to step and throw in one motion, not two steps. Learning to stop the ball is another thing, so I look forward to seeing how this season goes!

Friday Night Fun with Grandkids!

Austin and Matthew wanted to take "our" pictures, so they did!
Ms. Maggie doesn't like to look at the camera!

The boys love pizza and they love drawing....perfect dinnertime with a 2, 4, and 5 yr. old!

Matthew took this picture of MJ!

Love these sweet faces...kiss..kiss..kiss....

We read a Spanish/English book about apples!

Matthew's new bedroom! So cool.

We had a great evening with Matthew, Austin & Maggie. Last week we didn't see them much, so we called earlier this week and made plans to have them for awhile on Friday night. Becky & Jason went out to eat quickly at Smashin' Tomatoes then on to see "Blindside". I knew Bec would love it and she did (course she cried). She registered the boys at Huntertown (Versailles) this week and cried. She spoke to the coach on their ballteam (Mets) and she most likely cried (I don't know that she did, but probably). It is hard seeing your kids grow up and change.
We took them to Sir Pizza last night b/c I knew they would eat it well. They did, a lot! We ordered them both a sprite and they drank very little of it. While there, the boys loved writing on new pads I brought them and MJ sat very nicely doodling as well. The boys wrote words they sounded out and drew pictures.
After this, we went to see GiGi (granny). She has been down with her back and she hasn't been driving at all, so she hasn't seen the kids in a long while. They love GiGi and enjoyed seeing her. They always get a little candy from her and they count, sing and just be "kids" while they are there. I know they have changed a lot since she last saw them. It was getting late and Maggie was tired, but she was good...just not real "lively".
Next, we took them back to their house and didn't stay up long as they have a BIG day today (Saturday). They all brushed their teeth, got into PJ's and I read a book to Austin and Matthew picked out one for Clyde to read (the longest book!) MJ just went on to bed. I will post a few pictures that will be in no particular order...I spend as much time as I want on this and don't have any extra time or patience formatting the pictures (wish they were as easy to format as in Word, but NOT).
Today we will watch UK beat TN with friends coming over to join us.....need to get off here and bake a Derby pie! Love, Later, Bye!

Beautiful Wednesday!

The boys were celebrating Mexico today at Tots so they both dressed the part!

Yesterday Beck needed to hang out for a hour so she dropped by with the kids. I made them a quick after school snack then headed for the Toyota dealership to drop off the Avalon. Then we ate a quick meal at Sonny's and drove on to our ABF (Sunday School) teacher's house. We had a meeting about making a change in class in that we will now meet off campus as a small group on Wednesday's at the Norvell's. Glenn has taught this class for almost 30 years and several of the couples that started with the Norvells are still with the class. The rest of us joined in at some point and have loved the journey together! From the beginning, we have taken in food when babies came (for those that were there then!), when there has been illness, a death in the family and so on. For each of us, we truly want to grow old together and seem to be doing just that! So, our prayer is that this class will continue to share prayers, blessings, times of sorrow, and more together as one big family. Thanks Glenn & Teresa for opening up your home and your hearts. We love you.
About the kids....Maggie can count to 10, Matthew & Austin have their first t-ball practice this Sat. and their team is the Mets. I am so excited, I can hardly stand it. Austin is very cautious about most things in life, so I am hoping he doesn't get scared and can get in there and swing the way he has in the backyard. He has a good stance and swing. Matthew is pretty fearless, and a year ago I was thinking he should stick with football or soccer. However, as the summer went on, he was hitting very well off the tee and looked good. He isn't afraid of anything that we've seen so far, except a healthy fear of our fishpond. Can't wait.

Walk at the Arboretum

Most likely didn't spell Arboretum right but actually just checked ABC and said no misspelling was found:) OK, just a quick note about our day. After attending the 2nd service, which was very crowded, but no problems getting in or out, we went home to watch UK beat Fl! I cooked us up a couple of country ham sandwiches, an apple salad (doesn't go that well but all I had on hand!) and we finished off with some m & m's! After the game, yeah Blue, we walked the Arboretum. It was beautiful and a FULL house...so many cars, no one could find a place to park. Ate at El Chicos, the best fajatas we have had there...grilled chicken, steak, shrimp and a couple of ribs. Yummo......we gardened some today before our walk, just cut back LARGE butterfly bush, and CB did a lot of trimming. Now, he is choosing mats and frames for a couple of pictures for my BR and one for my kitchen for my birthday coming up in April. I can't think of anything I wanted, so he is doing these just for me! Love having a framer handy.

Weekend is here!

Saturday is here again so time for an update to my blog (thanks Shawna for the reminder!) I haven't been taking many pictures so I hesitate to write much w/o pictures to back up the words :)
Last night was low keyed but enjoyable. Thank goodness I have friends that take the time to call around and make arrangements for a group of us to KIT. We normally eat too much, spend too much and wind up back at someone's house for dessert. Not this time....we met and ate very large (extra!), very meaty, very veggie pizzas at Sir Pizza. There is a new one on South Broadway that we went to. SP has always been our favorite pizza place. So yummy! (that's Alyssa's word) After eating, some of us went back to Susan Wiley's house to see her new window treatments. Great job Susan Walton in making them....they look great!

Saturday brought the annual STEM Fair (formally Technology Fair) at Bryan Station High. I got on the road before 8 and got home about 1. It was a long morning, but I am glad to do it and glad it's over! Our project this year was in the category of Community Service. At school we made 70+ mouse pads of many different nature and horse themes. They really turned out nice. We charged $5.00 for each and the entire amount (total $330) will go to Food for the Hungry to be used for the victims in Haiti. This week we got in more supplies (pads & transfer paper) and made 50+ more to take today. We sold these for the same $5.00 and designated the money to go half to Hospice of the Bluegrass and we are keeping half for toner (which we are now OUT of). That will be $50.00 to Hospice and $50 for new supplies.
Speaking of Hospice, I will download a picture of a basket that I put together for them. It wasn't a big deal at all. I added a card (didn't sign our families name) but I did mention how grateful our family is to them for the care of our father. Any little thing I can do is very small compared to all they are doing for he & mom. After I got home, Clyde and I went to eat at Saul Good, bought pillows next door at Kirklands and came home. Relaxing day....nice warm fire going now...my favorite muffins just out of the oven, watching Pretty Woman for the ????? time and catching up on my blog!
I will close by adding a few pictures from Matthew's 5th birthday party. He now has been with Becky's family for one year. He has been a real joy, although things have not always been as easy. He and Austin are good buds and play very well together. Becky & Jason have taken their small office and built him a closet, put up a wall and decorated his bedroom in the theme of "Pirates"! I haven't seen the finished product but I am looking forward to seeing it!
Jason was glad to run in to an old friend, Jenny, from Southland!

More Snow days!

I cannot move pictures on this laptop! Grrrrrr...and on my PC it won't read my scandisk card...so no pictures! Clyde has said we need to get another card....yes, we should!

Today is Thursday, and another snow day. I stayed home Mon. & Tues. to get my back better and see how the muscle relaxer made me feel, so I have worked one day this week. Actually, although I hate being in school in June, today was good for me. Until now, I have been on a heating pad most of the day. I got hungry! I just fixed a great grilled cheese sandwich...WW bread, Colby Jack cheese (1 slice) and a thinly sliced Gala apple. Yummy....

I know this needs to be fast, as sitting aggravates my back muscle....don't know if I should be walking on the treadmill or letting it rest????

OK, well last night after our weekly dinner with my favorite son (btw, did anyone see the commercial on the new Green's Toyota collision center....Jason is in it twice!) we went over to visit papaw. His nurse told him on Monday that the fluid is building back up too quickly. So each visit is priceless. Daddy got his new bed from Hospice yesterday. Jason and I went back to see it, and Jason raised it for dad so that it doesn't take a lot for him to stand up. I know this will help mom get more sleep, so again, we are thankful to Hospice. Dad has kept his humor, as when he told us about the bed he said "after 64 years she's kicking me out" and pointed to mom. Mom said she would miss cuddling! Funny.

Whenever I have a future donation opportunity, I will remember Hospice. There really are NO words to say how they have helped dad's quality of life. I have written it before, so don't need to keep repeating, but he does say so much that I want to pass it on anytime I can. With tears in his eyes, he says that they saved his life back in December. For the pass two months, he really has lived much better. Although he is ready for Heaven, I know he has appreciated having this time for sweet goodbyes.

Update Monday

When waking up on Friday and working all day, I didn't expect to finish the day at the ER. However, my back had been hurting a little more than normal, and by the time I got home, it was screaming. I was alone and thinking I may pass out and then what. So, I called Clyde and his phone was out of range. Thank goodness for family...I called Martha & Bev. and they decided Martha would come and take me to the hospital. It was a hard decision for me, but I was in so much pain I couldn't imagine it was JUST my back....I was thinking it may have been a kidney stone. Hard to know how much to write...hmmm...they did find a little blood in my little "cup" and you know what was in there. So, they really thought it was the kidneys. The scan did not show a stone, so I am guessing it is my back. Stayed in bed most of Sat. and Sun. on a heating pad, off school today, and this is the most I have sat up in a chair. Mostly I lay or stand...getting up still is not easy or rolling over, putting on pants, etc. I have a doctor appt. today at 3:45.

I am actually blogging to write about dad. I called mom a few minutes ago to find he is really not doing well. Over the night, he asked her to get him oxygen, his nitro pills, and just had a rough night. That means she had a rough night. She said, since his fluid was removed on Thursday, he has not been back up. She has been rolling him around in his wheelchair, he has not been strong enough for his walker (which rolls but he has to push it along). His wonderful nurse aide, Debbie, came this morning to shave him and change his PJ's and mom feels like she will have his nurse or doctor come to check on him. A hospital bed is to arrive this week. Mom said daddy thanks her for the help often, and she said he told her recently "it won't be long". He feels he is going downhill fast. We have been given an extra two months due to Hospice. They came on Dec. 18th and now it is Feb. 22nd....he has had a great two months. We have played Rook again and he has been able to do it well! He has smiled more, eaten better and enjoyed his food. He has had wonderful pies brought from friends at church (and family!) Fudge, all kinds of sweets that he has enjoyed fully. So, we are very thankful for this time. However, when the time comes he gets any worse, I know he will be ready to go. Thank you all for any prayers for my mom. She needs to be extra strong to be able to handle this time as he may go during the night or when no one is there with her. I know God will be and He will carry her along when she can't walk alone. I know He is with my dad as well. I was there last on Thursday and kissed him on the head as usual with a "I love you dad" and he always says "I love you baby".