To Do...

My To Do List prior to vacation:
1. put some shoes on.... (just had a pedicure and my feet are cold)
2. laundry
3. kcc lesson plans for Roger, who is subbing in choir for me next week
4. unload my car - from my shopping today
5. straighten up the living room
6. straighten up the kitchen
7. straighten up the dining room - throw away the boxes
8. straighten up my bedroom - dustmop the floors
9. straighten up my office
10. straighten up the bathroom
11. Be ready for the cleaning ladies tomorrow... rofl
12. make Cali's beauty appointment for Saturday
13. make dinner, eat & clean it up
14. watch SURVIVOR tonight.... yay!
TOMORROW:
1. go to bank, deposit checks, get cash for trip
2. make sure house is neat for cleaning ladies
3. more laundry
4. enter bills onto quickbooks
5. pay bills & mail them
6. go to The Peanut with my sister for lunch
7. take my sister to a pedicure appt. @ 3
8. dinner???
9. start packing - get travel docs all together
SATURDAY:
1. breakfast - out??
2. Cali goes to the groomer
3. take sister to Wal-Mart for her toiletries :-)
4. go to Dyan's in the afternoon so Chris can get her hair cut & colored
5. have dinner at Dyan's
6. Leave Cali & Beauty at Dyan's house for the week. :'-(
7. come home and pack my bags!
SUNDAY:
1. Get up at 5 a.m., shower, makeup, hair
2. Load up the Hummer
3. leave home by 6 a.m.
4. drive to airport, park in extended parking
5. hop the shuttle to the terminal
6. 7 a.m. check in
7. 9 a.m. FLY TO MEXICO!!!!

And that's my life so far...

The Kind Cop

A funny story:

Today, on my way home from piano lessons, I was driving down 350 highway, going towards Knobtown. I know that there are always cops trying to catch speed demons like myself on that stretch of highway, but heck, I just finished a good piano lesson and was listening to Sean Hannity on the radio, trying to figure out who I'm gonna vote for in the primary tomorrow.

So, anyway... without paying attention, until it was too late, I saw the lights flashing ahead of me... I thought he was pulling over the car in front of me, but no, he waved them on, and pointed to me, and wanted me to pull over. So, the law abiding citizen that I am, I complied. I rolled down my window and handed the cop my license, and said, "Well, ya caught me!" :-) I was kinda laughing... (but really nervous inside) I guess being investigated by the FBI makes one feel that way around cops. Anyway, he said that I had a really great attitude, and that I was going 59 in a 45. I said, "Well, honest to goodness, I just left my piano lesson and was not even thinking about my speed, since I was listening to Sean Hannity on the radio, trying to figure out who I'm gonna vote for tomorrow." He just laughed, and said, "I need to see your proof of insurance". Well, after fumbling around in my jeep handbook, I finally found it, but, it had expired on the 30th of January. He said it was no big deal... Then Dyan calls, and i'm talking to the cop, and she asked if i was okay, and I said yes, that this kind officer had pulled me over for speeding! LOL She laughed her little cute head off...... I told her I'd call her back.

Then the weirdest thing happened. The cop came to me and said, "Now, what kind of ticket would you like?" I'm thinking, WHAT??? So, I said, "Well, I'd really prefer to have a warning." He laughed and said he couldn't do that.... So I said, "I'll take the cheapest ticket you can give me." and laughed.... So, then he said, "Well, how about a $10 seatbelt infraction??? I"m like YEAH!!!!!!! And I totally promised him that I'd never, ever speed again! ROFL. Then I told him that my daughter's brother in law was a cop for Kansas City.... and I gave him his name, and he didn't know him... but I told him that I'd put in a good word for him with this kid. LOL

What a day.........

Today in Kansas City... 79 degrees. Tomorrow, 3 - 6 inches of snow! Go figure.

And that's my life so far...

The Superbowl Party... or lack of...

Okay...so we were supposed to go to a Superbowl party and actually socialize with some adults, of near & around our same age. But... Don has this horrible hacking cough... and so, now we're gonna just have our own little Superbowl party at home.... But it's alright. Now I can watch all those commercials without anyone trying to talk to me.... and now I can watch the game, without anyone trying to TALK to me... and now the 7 layer bean dip & tortilla chips will be split by only Don & me... LOL And I'm now assured of sitting in a very comfy chair... my nice leather chair & ottoman, with my own blanket... LOL Perhaps I'll turn on the fire. It's pretty chilly here.

My kids sang in church today. They were MAHhh velous.... simply mahvelous.... (Billy Crystal, for you who were born in the 80's...) We sang an African-American Spiritual~ This Little Light of Mine. They let it shine! They were very good, and the descant part really shone. I'm sure gonna miss my 6th graders when they graduate from the program....

Last night was fun.... we went to Nebraska Furniture Mart and helped Don's mom buy a new TV... then the family met up at Corona Cantina for dinner... We had 9 adults and 1 baby... lol. Fun was had by all. And, I tried something new... Mojita? I loved them... (there I go drinking again)... in fact, I had two. Yum.... And Don & I split a plate of beer batter dipped tilapia... it was sooooooo delicious!

I'm afraid that I'll be having football withdrawal... I always do the weekend after the superbowl.... it doesn't matter who's playing, I love to watch football.

This time next week, I'll be in Cabo! Woo hoo!!! We'll be at the airport, going thru customs... what a pain that is.... but once we get outside the airport and catch our transportation service, it's off to Cabo, and Playa Grande... and a week of fun! I'm so excited to be taking my sister along this year! I don't think she's ever had a vacation like this before.... but at any rate, she WILL learn how to drink tequila! LOL

And that's my life so far...

He's Gone...

He's gone.... took him to the airport tonight to pick up Mommy and Daddy... he was so happy to see them. Then we took them home... and Grandpa & I left.... and now I'm sad. I've loved having the little guy here with me this week. It was good for me, and it was good for Grandpa. Maybe now I can get my rest, get my house cleaned, get my laundry done... Honest to God, I don't know how Dyan does it. Every time Christian was up, all I wanted to do was play with him... and when he went down to a nap, all I wanted to do was sit and veg out... but now, I miss him so much. I'd much rather play with Christian than do any amount of laundry, or clean any toilet. He is such a good boy.... never seen a kid like him, who will go to sleep on command. And without any tears! What a good boy he is...

I'm sad.... gotta quit for now. Besides, it's late and my back is killing me...

And that's my life so far...

Christian's Bathtime Success!

Christian.... he's such a little man! I have thoroughly enjoyed having him here for this week. But, I tell you what... he certainly wears out a Grandma!

Today was a good day, busy, but good. Christian slept until almost 9 AM... we got up, and he ate a whole bowl of oatmeal & a whole banana! And then he wanted my oatmeal too! Sheesh.... And he played and played all morning, discovering many things at Grandma's house. At one point, he was very quiet, and had quietly moved the gate at the bottom of the stairs, and snuck upstairs. By the time I noticed that he had done that, and went up there looking for him, he was sitting smack dab in the middle of my bed, with this big you-know-what-eatin' grin on his face... and so, I couldn't resist, I had to hop in the middle of the bed with him. So, for the next 30 minutes, we played in the bed. He'd stand up and fall backwards so that I could tickle him... and he'd dive into all the pillows on my bed... we had so much fun.

Bathtime has been fixed! He used to hate his baths... screaming all the way. Well, today started out the same way. I told him we had to get a bath. I put the water & soap bubbles in the tub... got the temp just right. We went to the nursery and got nekkid... and then it hit him that I was going to put HIM into that WATER... and he started the screaming thing. I told him to knock it off.... and he didn't have to sit, he could stand. So, he stopped crying, just was sorta whimpering. We got him all wet, and I said, "Sit down." And he did. Then we put shampoo on his head and I told him to wash his hair. And he did. And then I said, "Look at this!" And I proceeded to splash the water! He was so surprised, and laughed, and started splashing it himself! Oh, and the bubbles... I'd scoop them up and blow them into the tub, and he simply belly laughed at that. Ten minutes.... he was playing in the bathtub for TEN MINUTES, and I finally had to beg him to get out.... After all, Grandma's back was hurting! I'm not as young as I used to be! LOL Got him all out, and did all the grooming stuff.... mousse in the hair, brushed it into a style, brushed the teeth, got all smelly good... Then it was time for lunch. Mini Ravioli.... it's red. His face got all red too....... and we'd just finished the bath! OH well......

Today was Kaleidoscope rehearsal.... Honest to God, I have no idea how Dyan does it.... hauling all the stuff into choir.... well, I guess she doesn't have that much to haul. But I had my arms full.... my choir bag, my purse, the diaper bag, Christian, & his Chicken McNuggets & drink.... and we had to get all of this into the church.... and he kept tripping and falling... We must have looked like a sight.... LOL

It's almost 10 PM, and I am simply worn out. Hopefully he'll sleep 'til 9 again... The cleaning ladies are coming tomorrow, so I'd better spend the morning cleaning the house before they come over to clean.... it's such a mess right now. It will be nice having someone else do the heavy duty cleaning... Yup, I'm spoiled. It's my Christmas gift from Don... They'll come every other week. Yay!!!

And that's my life so far...

Christian, the Grandson

I love my grandson! He is such a little man! Don & I have the priviledge of keeping him for the week while Dyan & Jory are in Florida. They are having a marvelous time, by the way. So are we!

Christian loves anything electronic. He has discovered how to operate the DVD player, the X-Box, my stereo, and anything with a switch that turns stuff on or off. Yesterday he discovered my stereo, and he pushed some buttons and music came on, and he looked at me and smiled really big, and started dancing. Did I mention that he's only 16 months old???

Okay, so I had to do some errands yesterday. So, I waited 'til Grandpa came home, and then we all went out to dinner. Mexican. It was good. After dinner, we went to Target. I needed to pick up a few things, and Don & I were looking at the luggage. We need some new luggage before going to Cabo in a couple of weeks. Anyway....... right across the luggage was this HUGE bin full of big balls! Ohhhhhhhhhh, Christian thought he'd died and gone to heaven! He was shouting, "BALL!!! BALLLLLLL BAAAAAALL".... and so, of course, Grandma had to buy him a ball. You know, those big plastic balls, practically as big as him! Grandpa dug around until he found a blue swirly with green ball.... because we couldn't settle for anything pink or purple! He's a little MAN, after all! Well, we gave the ball to Christian, and he proceeded to throw it back to us, and then he threw it down the aisles at Target... almost every aisle! We put it in the back of the cart, and boy, oh boy, that was not good. He wanted his ball! Who can blame him? So, I quickly went thru the rest of our shopping, and we checked out, and he had to have his hands on the ball all the way back out to the jeep. He held the ball all the way home, kept trying to toss it into the front seats. Okay, so we got it home, and he played with it for about 45 minutes, and he totally loves it! I'm waiting for something to break.... but it'll be alright. The only problem with the ball is that Cali is totally scared of it. She was hiding underneath the antique table last night, trying to escape the ball. LOL

My house looks like it threw up toys. Ya try to pick them up, and before you know it, they're all back out again. Ugh....... Dyan & Jory come home Thursday. I think we'll meet them at the airport!

I love having Christian this week. Just love it..... but he is a LOT of work! When he's up, you have to watch him like a hawk. But he is so adorable, I don't mind watching him a bit! And he loves his Grandma and Grandpa..... Oh,and his Auntie Meg too...... she has watched him a few times for me this week, and he's crazy about his Auntie Meg.... who can blame him?

That's my life so far...

Wow, it's been a while!

I cannot believe that 6 months has passed since my last entry... Where has the time gone?

We had an awesome trip to the Ukraine. We spent 2 1/2 weeks there, and totally enjoyed getting to know the locals. Don & I were the team leaders, and it was challenging at times. I was in charge of the VBS (Vacation Bible School) that we held for the local children, and Don was in charge of the construction project. The team, along with the men who are residents at the rehab center, tore down a delapidated (sp?) wall, and rebuilt a wall with a concrete retaining wall. It took the full 2 weeks, because, mostly in the Ukraine, they have no tools except for shovels & wheelbarrows. But, it got done. Most of the men in the rehab center were there for alcohol addiction, as well as being HIV positive, or suffering from AIDS.

After our stay in Ukraine, we spent 3 days in Munich, Germany, and I'd go back there in a heartbeat! We stayed in a quaint little hotel downtown, in the "walking" district. We loved it there, and the little cafes and the huge cathredrals were just magnificent! We also took a daytrip to Dachau, a concentration camp just outside of Munich. It is unbelievable how people can be so evil.

Don & I returned to KC around the 10th of July, and on the 15th, I flew out again. I spent 3 weeks with my friends in Alaska, helping them run a church camp. I loved my time there, and thoroughly enjoyed getting back in touch with Becky, Terry & their kids. I taught them in choir for a number of years, and Becky used to be my accompanist. While in Alaska, (which is like being on another planet, sometimes) I was able to do cooking... sometimes for 90 people staying at the camp! Have you ever seen 180 eggs in one gigantic bowl? I have.... and I tell you what, it's not easy to whisk them up! I mastered the art of cooking on a huge griddle.... and really enjoyed that! Alaska is a beautiful state, if you can deal with very little darkness in the summertime!

Dyan & Jory are in Florida right now, and I have the little goober here for a week. Christian is simply adorable, and I'm really enjoying my time with him, although I'm realizing how come the Lord has YOUNG women have children, and not old women like me! He's wearing me out! Don had him for the entire afternoon yesterday, and when I got home from my choir festival, he said he couldn't do that again! He just didn't know what to do with him!!! Imagine that! LOL And he had to change a poopy diaper on top of it all! It's been 22 years since that man has had to change a diaper! I had to show him where the tabs go!!! LOL

Enough of an update for now. Not sure anyone still reads my blog anyway, especially since it's been 6 freakin' months since I've logged on!

However, I do read about Carly's travels around the world.... Love living thru her vicariously!

Blessings to anyone reading this boring blog......... LOL