Snow?

My plans were to do some laundry and get the sheets on the line.

Wash the windows and screen in the back family room.

Power wash the decks.

All this is being put on hold because it looks like snow. So I went and played golf with the boys.

It's not really - the stupid cottonwood tree down by Grandma's creek is going crazy this year and leaving this fluffy, allergy sneezing white stuff everywhere.

I remember when I was little and this stuff would put my Mother into allergy Hell.
I have been very lucky - it doesn't seem to bother me, except for the work I want to do outside.
Please blow away as fast as you came in!

Putting out the Flags

Placing flags on Veteran's graves for Memorial Day  is something that Mike and I have done for 10 yrs.
Being a Veteran himself, Mike knows what it takes to serve his country, but to lose your life doing it takes it to a whole other level.
We both feel honored and privileged to do this one small thing.

Brian, Mike's son, who also has served his country usually is right there along with us.
We get the same area of Bluff City Cemetery to cover and can usually knock it out in about an hour.

Well, Brian has a new position at work, with more responsibilities, and couldn't get away this year.

Don't worry Brian - I called the pinch hitter. She was more than willing to help, being retired and all.

It was a beautiful day (though looking back I don't think it's ever rained on us)  Sharen caught on real quick and we got the job done pretty fast.

We sadly had an addition to our list this year. One of Dad's fellow fire fitghter passed away this year and he was in our area. We were proud to place a flag on Paul's grave.

Getting Stronger

That's what our Aqua teacher keeps preaching as we go through our class.

Sharen and I have been going for about 3 years now and yes we thought that we, for sure, were "getting stronger".

That was until we decided to join Nick's 21 day fix program. Nick is Sharen's daughter-in-law, Erica's brother. He loves to work out and help people to get fit and healthy. Something we both need.
The food portion of the program is right up my alley all fresh vege's and fruit and protein all portion controlled.

Then the tricky part. It comes with workout CD's. There are 7 different routines for 30 minutes. "You can do anything for 30 minutes right." That's what the instructor keeps saying.
We work out together every morning - no excuses and we both are improving - up to using light weights.

We have been at this 4 weeks tomorrow and getting good results.
We are getting stronger, but maybe we have some more work to do.

During our 1/2 hr Pilates routine I mentioned to Sharen that I wanted to go and get some mulch. She needed some too so when we finished we head on over to Home Depot.
It was on sale for $2 a bag - such a deal.
Six bags for Sharen and 2 for me. We load up my car, get it home and all spread.
Then Sharen calls Jon (who is turning out to be quite the landscaper) to tell him about the sale.
"Great, can you get me 20 bags?"
"He wants us to move 20 bags? Let me see if I can borrow Mike's truck." We can do this, because we are "getting stronger."

Back over to Home Depot. Sharen and I both end up pushing a flat cart with 14 bags each on it. (We both decided since it is on sale we could use some more). Of course we were both laughing - what were we thinking that we can move 28 bags of mulch.

Here is 28 bags of mulch looks like. We had help getting the bags into the truck, but standing in Jon's driveway looking at this pile we had no idea how to get them out, except one at a time.

 I crawled into the back of the truck and pushed, pulled and flung them to the tail gate.

Sharen behind the truck.

Both of us working together moving 1 bag at a time got all of Jon's 20 bags out of the truck and into his garage.

We didn't believe it either.
We did it - maybe we are "Getting Stronger!"

My Mother's Day

I got really lucky this year.
My Mother's Day lasted the whole weekend.

It started with me picking up Roger at daycare on Friday. Luke was sleeping.
We played till Mommy, Luke and Daddy got home. Roger brought out some of Daddy's tools to "work".

 We took a walk around the house and he had to stop and smell the flowers out front.

 Mary had plans with her friends for the evening so she took off and I had dinner with my son and grandsons. Hot Dogs and Cheetos never tasted so good. We had a picnic outside.
Roger had to help Daddy with the grill.

I got to put Luke to bed while Bryan wrestled Roger to bed.
A great start to Mother's Day!

Saturday was Kaylyn's birthday party so Mary came out with the kids. Bryan is trying to get the house ready for construction on the second floor. If it ever stops raining!
I rode out to Genoa with Mary - she hadn't been to Stacy's new house yet and I wanted to show her the way to get back to the toll road when she left. Roger was very excited to see all the tractors in the fields.

I got to see my 3 other grandkids.
Kaylyn and her friends were doing cart wheels in the front yard - she is really quite good. I never could do a cart wheel.
The boys were shooting hoops with their friends.
 I think Luke found every dandelion in the front yard and picked them all.
What did Roger want to play with? Kory's shop vac! He asked Stacy really nice and got very excited when she told him he could drag it out of the garage and play with it.

He then spotted the hose and went to unravel it and squealed. The neighbor was putting in a new pool and had a bobcat sitting in his yard.
Off he goes -
The neighbor said it was OK for him to sit in it. He the man!

And to show what a good brother he is - he let Luke climb in too.

I got flowers and hugs from Stacy and all the grandkids.

Sunday started with breakfast.
Bryan and Mary and the kids joined us. I wanted Stacy to stay home and spend her Mother's Day with her kids.

After going with Sharen and her grandkids down to the creek I decided that it was time for Roger and Luke to go to "Grandma's" creek.

Took Roger two hands there were so many rocks to choose from to throw into the water.

 Luke decided to just sit and throw. It's a good thing that pipe was there cause I am pretty sure he would of crawled right into the water.

 What would a trip to the creek be without a picture on "Grandma's log"

 The trip back to the house took awhile. Luke had so many dandelions to pick.

 Of course, we had to take a ride on Grandma's tractor. Yes, this is my tractor. Mike can keep it running and full of gas, but I cut the grass most of the time, and I love doing it.

Brian came over for some grilling and my Mother's Day was complete.
I always wonder what my kids and grandkids will remember about me -  I hope it's that I was fun!!

New Roof

It's no secret that this winter has been bruuuutal.

Our roof took a toll and started to leak into the kitchen ceiling.
Mike went up and patched around the pipe (which led to nowhere and was taken out) that was leaking and it held until we could get someone to get us a new roof.

Mike knew some companies that he dealt with through the cities grant program and called for some estimates.
I knew right away we had to go with Valentine Construction.
Why?
It's a father-son deal and I liked them almost immediately. The senior Julio stood up when I entered the room. Who does that anymore?
He wore a cool hat and when he talked with me he ALWAYS took it off. Who does that anymore?
 He seemed very excited to be doing Mike Millikan's roof.
He told Mike that he is missed down at the city and things were just not the same.

All that  said they do damn fine work.

We got to listen to pounding and Mexican music for 2 days, but I didn't mind at all. They were friendly and very polite.
Lovin' my new roof.

Like the Wind

Dylan decided that he wanted to try track this spring. I was excited because I loved running track and I like to watch it too.
H chose 6 things that he wanted to try and the coach then assigns you to your races.

After a few weeks, Dylan's has the shot putt (though I think he was better at the disc - just saying), the 400 dash (which he much preferred than the 800) and the 4 X 200 relay.
On the relay he was always the 2nd runner, maybe because he is good at passing the baton. Anyway for sectional tryouts last night he was running the 1st leg. He admitted to a nervous stomach, but he was up to the challenge. I, and his Mother, both told him nervous is good. Kinda like you want to pick the dog or horse that shits a lot before a big race. Nerves are good.

I was so glad that I brought the camera so I can show you and not just brag about how fast this boy can run. That's my grandson in the white shirt flying by the others.

LIKE THE WIND - Not just cause it was a windy day either.

LegoLand

Kaylyn is turning 9 May 10th and for her birthday celebration with us she wanted to go to Legoland in Schaumburg.
She was so excited. She talked and talked and talked all morning (our tickets were for the 12:00-12:30 entry) In the car on the way there she takes a deep breath and says "Oh My Gosh, I really need to stop talking!" Mike and I had a good laugh with her.
 I have never heard of this place, but it is very cool. Only one rule - Adults must be accompanied by a child.

 You enter through a room filled of Chicago, entirely made of legos, of course - this is only half of it. So impressive.

Then you enter a jungle . My favorite part.
.

 Then on to the star wars room. There were display along the way for kids to push a button and something either lite up or moved. Again - way impressive.

 We stopped into the 4D movie. We got wind in our faces, rained on (very little drops) and the skunk in the movie let out some smelly farts. Very cool for the kids in the theater. The movie is only about 12 minutes long.

The dragon laser ride. You each get a gun to shoot at targets. Along the way they take your picture and you get you scores and a chance to purchase the pictures. We passed.
Kaylyn had a faulty gun so we switched back and forth. Turns out neither of our guns were working so Papa had the highest score! Little hint there - sit in the back where the guns are less used.

 The peddle ride. You peddle and the ride rises. There was a lot of adults on the ride, but it's clearly made for kids - Mike's knees were feeling it.

 A build your own race car and send it down the track area.

 It was a fun filled day.
Kaylyn had a great time, but the place is made for more little kids I'd say around 3-6. They did have an area with large legos and padded seating on the floor for even younger kids, maybe 1-3 year olds.

We had dinner at the "Castle" (That's what the kids call the Village Squire by our house).

Topped the day off with a selfie in the hot tub.

And cupcakes!

Happy Birthday Granddaughter!!