Aug 29th - Day 11 - Iowa Trip - Back to Dad's

Started with a relaxing morning - sitting on the deck with Shirley and Wayne.  After a yummy breakfast, I loaded up and started back to Dad's.  Got in around 2:30 and then spent the rest of the day with him.  We did our usual little visit with my brother at his GarageMahal.

Not really much to share today, since I was mostly either in the car or just sitting around talking.  Good day, though, again!

Aug 28th - Day 10 - Iowa Trip - Fun with Cousins!

Shirley and I had a quiet beginning to our morning, mostly sitting and talking some more! 

Then, about 10:30, a cousin that I had never known came over.  Shirley met her a while back in the beauty shop when she noticed the woman in the next chair and commented that her hair reminded Shirley of her grandfather.  One thing led to another and they discovered that our grandfather and her mother were brother and sister!  They had a falling out back in the 30's and my grandfather never talked to her the rest of his life.  Mary didn't know anything about the "feud," but she did bring everything she had about the family history.  We had a wonderful couple of hours talking.  She left her papers, so we could make copies of anything we wanted.

Once Mary left, we ran out and made the copies right away.  Shirley will return her papers sometime soon.  Back home (it is too hot to do much else!), we relaxed and spent more time talking, watching a little TV, reading a bit, and even getting in a quick nap.

For dinner, we met a couple of Shirley's brothers at a pizza place.  It was a lot of fun.  I missed seeing the other two brothers who live here, but there were other things going on for them.  After a fun evening, we headed back to the house, watched a little TV, and then went on to bed.

My Algona stay is almost finished.  One of these times, I will stay a little longer in order to spend some good time at the courthouse.  There are documents there that I really would like to have.  This has been another great day!

 

Aug 27th - Day 9 - Iowa Trip - On to Algona

My uncle had a medical procedure this morning, so while they were doing that, I enjoyed sitting on the front porch and reading.  Their house is over 100 years old and sits on a whole city block.  There is a nice big front porch and I love being out there.  It was cool, the breeze was blowing, the wind chimes were singing, and I put my feet up and read.  What a great and relaxing couple of hours.

When they got back home, Patty and I did a couple more errands, including copying a couple of pictures and going by McDonalds to use their wi-fi service.

I then headed off for Algona to spend a couple of days with cousins.  I arrived at Shirley's about the same time she was getting home from work.  We talked non-stop and laughed a whole bunch, too.  She fixed a great dinner.  Later Vern, another cousin, stopped by and we talked and laughed some more. 

So, chalk up another great day!

Aug 26th - Day 8 - Iowa Trip - Heading to Emmetsburg

Got up and on the road this morning - heading to Emmetsburg, in northwest Iowa.  I made it to my Aunt Patty's by about 11:15.  She had made arrangements for us to meet my Uncle John at the cafe in Lone Rock for lunch.  They are the only two siblings of mother who are still living.

Patty is only seven years older than I am and she has always been a special aunt to me.  We had a great day - lots of talking and catching up.  Then we had a good lunch with my uncle and his wife.  She and their son run the cafe, so she was working a good bit of the time.  We got caught up with John and his family and enjoyed visiting for a couple of hours.

Then back to Patty's to pick up her granddaughter from school.  She had a couple of her sons and family come over for dinner, which was really fun. 

Another fun day!

Aug 25th - Day 7 - Iowa Trip - Another Lazy Day!

There isn't really much to say about today - it was pretty much a repeat of yesterday.  That is good, by the way.  We just hung around all day, except for dinner.  We went out to a Mexican place to eat, but that was it.

I got a call from the bishop letting me know that the RS presidency will be reorganized next Sunday, so I will be released.  It has been exactly two years in this calling.  I have really enjoyed it, especially working with Melanie, Sarah, and Becky.  He asked me what calling I would like to have next, so I told him!  Of course, I did say that I would serve where called, but my first choice would be family history consultant.  We will see what happens!

I talked to Bill, too.  He has been really busy and it sounds like this week will be the same.  Friday is when he and the rest of the family will fly up to Iowa.  Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Tomorrow I will head on up to visit family in Emmetsburg and Algona.  Time for the next phase of my adventure! 

Aug 24th - Day 6 - Iowa Trip - Incredibly Lazy (and Wonderful) Day!

I needed a day of rest and I really got it today!  I slept in, but for me that really means an extra 15 minutes.  So, I just laid in bed and read for a long time.  Then I finally got up, showered, etc., and moved myself to the table to check email, FB, etc., then to the couch to keep right on reading.  Somewhere in all that, Billy got up and moved to his recliner and turned on the TV.  We spent the next while half-way watching and mostly talking.

When we finally got hungry, he fixed some French toast - mighty good!  Then we went back to the couch, etc., which is where we pretty much spent the day!  There was some napping in there, some TV, some talking, some reading - all totally relaxing. 

By dinner time we were getting hungry again, so Billy fixed a fantastic dinner with chicken and a mushroom sauce, served with rice and steamed broccoli.  Very good!  He is quite a good cook, I must say!

We ended our day pretty much the same.  We did have fun making fun of the people on HGTV who can only seem to complain about whatever.  (We know that between scripted conversations and choosing only the negative scenes that we are not getting a true picture, but that's the whole point, right?)

So this was a totally lazy day and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Aug 23rd - Day 5 - Iowa Trip - Heading to Des Moines

Paula and I slept in this morning (yesterday was a very stressful day, what with all that laughing we did!)  She had a doctor's appointment, so we picked up some breakfast on the way and I just waited in the car, reading, while she ran in.  From there, we went to a sandwich place and picked up some sandwiches for our lunch.

Our big activity of the day was to go swimming at the home of one of her friends, so that was where we headed next.  After swimming, and talking!, for a couple of hours, we sat out on the patio and ate our lunch.  It was all very nice and we enjoyed ourselves.  Around 3:00, we headed back to her place.

I got packed up and took off for Des Moines to spend the weekend with my son.  It is a three hour drive, so I got in around 6:30.  Billy and I unloaded my bags, chatted a bit, and then went out for some Chinese food for dinner.  I was not very hungry, so I just had some crab ragoon and some soup. 

We spent the rest of the evening at his apartment, mostly watching some of his favorite cooking shows that he had recorded. 

Day 5 has been another great day!

Aug 22nd - Day 4 - Iowa Trip - Fun with Old Friends

OK, so I started off by insulting all of my friends from high school.  Let me rephrase, they are not OLD, they have just been my friends for a very long time!

Paula and I were up and our way by around 8:45 and got to Marion about 10:20.  We met up with everyone else at The Wit's End, a cute little coffee house.  They make the best scones.  I also had a hot chocolate with mine.  We gathered back in the back room where we met last year and had a ball, talking, laughing, finding out everything we could!  There were even a few tears over some of the difficult things that life can bring.  There were ten of us - last year there were 8, so we are growing in numbers!  Probably because our reputation for a good time is growing?????

As we approached lunch time, we moved the party over to The Fieldhouse, a bar and grill type of place built around the Iowa Hawkeyes.  We went to the same place last year and it is perfect - not too busy for lunch, so we don't interfere with other people and we can stay as long as we want without being a problem.  In fact, we stayed until 5:00!

What a great day.  Everyone told me to come back to Iowa again soon, so we can do it all again!

Paula and I headed on back to Davenport and met her son for dinner.  Then we were back at her house, just relaxing, watching some TV, and talking.  I know it seems impossible that we could possibly find anything to talk about after two days of intense talking - but, believe me, it wasn't hard!

So, I can chalk up Day 4 as a huge success!

Aug 21st - Day 3 - Iowa Trip - To Paula's

Dad and I spent the morning together.  We had breakfast at Mickie D's and then hung around the airport office.  There was a good bit of activity and I got caught up on my email, etc. 

About 11:00, I packed up and headed over to Davenport to spend a couple of days with my best friend all the way from kindergarten.  I got to her place a little after noon.  We stopped for a quick snack at Kentucky Fried (she had a coupon for BOGO), then we met her friend at the movies.  We watched "The Butler."  It was pretty good - as usual, I have some complaints, but I did enjoy it.

From there, we went for an early dinner with her friend.  After a rather long dinner, we drove around Davenport a little.  Paula was checking something out and, besides, it is fun riding around. 

Back home, we just relaxed.  She did a few things, we watched a little TV, and mostly we talked and talked and talked! 

Another successful day of vacation! 

Aug. 20th - Day 2 - Iowa Trip - Time with Dad

I got to Dad's by 11:30 and we spent the rest of the day together.  Of course, that is pretty low key stuff.  We went out to lunch.  Hung out at the airport office (which is where I can get wi-fi), hung out in his house watching TV, hung out at by brother's Garage Mahal, and ended the day back at his place watching Gone With the Wind.

He seems to be about the same, which means he is doing pretty darn good for an 85 year old!  I will be popping in and out of here a couple of times over the next two weeks.  If I stay too long at one time, he starts to get worried that I will be bored. 

The weather is beautiful here - mid-80's and plenty of sun.  It is very nice after our terribly rainy summer in Atlanta.  Of course, up here it is becoming a problem, as they need some rain desperately.  It doesn't look like they will be getting much, if any, over the next couple of weeks.  I will just enjoy it while I can!

Aug 19th - Day 1 - Iowa Trip

Today started my two week trip to Iowa.  Since I didn't want to deal with Atlanta traffic, I planned to leave after traffic had let up.  I finished my packing, got the car loaded, had breakfast, hung around with Bill for awhile, then finally left.  On my way out, I stopped at the library to return 3 books and then went by the bank to get some cash.  I finally got on the road around 10:00.

My first stop was a bit before Nashville, where I got gas and lunch, which I ate in the car.  The weather had been on and off misting, with occasion heavier rain, but never bad.  By the time I made it to Nashville, the sun came out and I never saw another raindrop!

I usually stop just before St. Louis on the first night, but the sun was still up (nice to travel in the summer
!) and I wasn't tired, so I just kept going, thinking I would get through St. Louis, so I wouldn't have to deal with morning traffic.  As it turned out, I just kept going!  I finally had to stop for gas and got a Subway sandwich at the same place.  Way out in the rural areas of Missouri, there are fewer hotels, but I found one just a little further on in Hannibal.  It was just sunset when I stopped, which was 8:00 here. That means I just have 2 1/2 or so hours to get to my dad's.  I should make it by lunchtime tomorrow.

I settled in my room, played on the computer, had some popcorn, and read until I was ready to sleep.  I listed to books on CD in the car, which really helps make the travel time easier.  I finished one short book and am about halfway or a little more through a longer book.  Sure hope I brought enough!

Good first day!

Aug 18th - Back to Sunday Again!

Sunday remains my favorite day of the week - and that was true again today.  This is one rut that I am in that I do not want to change!

Instead of attending RS today, I was in with the young women.  They had asked me to come in and say a few words, as they had nominated me as the woman who exemplified their value Individual Worth.  I was really quite honored that they even knew who I was!  I stayed and attended the Laurel class, as we try to visit them once a month as part of transitioning from YW to RS. 

At home, I finished up dinner prep.  I had put a pork loin wrapped in bacon in the oven first thing this morning to slow cook.  The rest of dinner was from the produce drawer of the kitchen.  I was afraid everything would rot during the two weeks I am gone.  So, we had sweet potatoes, fried apples, green beans, sauteed red peppers and onions, as well as frozen rolls.  It was a big hit, which was good for a "clearance" meal.

The rest of the afternoon was just relaxing with the kids and having fun as usual on a Sunday.

Bill had such a big day at church and visiting members afterwards that the kids were already gone by the time he got home.  Hopefully, this doesn't happen often!

Aug 17th - Happy Birthday, Billy!

Today was Billy's birthday, although we never even talked to him.  We both tried calling at different times, but only got voice mail.  So, he got birthday messages!

This was a busy day as I had a ton of laundry to do.  I needed to get my basic suitcase with clothes packed and everything needed to be clean to do that.  Both accomplished!  It did pretty much take my day, though.

This evening, I babysat with the kids so Lisa and David could go to a wedding reception and dinner before.  The kids and I had a fun time playing.  Brooks went to bed at 8:00 - crying all the way to bed, but as soon as I put him down, he was quiet and I never heard another peep.  Bill came by about 8:30 on his way home from a stake meeting.  Ashby was about to head to bed, so she only got to see him for a few minutes.  He then went on home, and while I was reading, Ashby came back down saying she was scared.  She managed to go back and forth to bed enough times that she was still awake when her mommy and daddy got home.  It was a fun evening.

So, another week finished - and it is still raining! 

Aug 16th - Another Rainy Day!

This has been the worst summer ever for rain - and it is at it again.  It makes it hard to want to do much, not to mention the sinus headaches that come very time.  But, the day must go on!

First thing, we dropped the car off at the shop again to get new brake pads on the front brakes.  They have squeaked ever since they were replaced last time and it was enough!  I did a few of the routine things before the RS president picked me up to go visit one of the sisters who has just moved into the ward.  We had a fun visit with her.  We have had several great families move in this summer and this is one more.  We are looking forward to the "breath of fresh air" effect that should move the ward forward.

When I got back home, I had the rest of the chores at home.  I was without a car, so I obviously didn't go anywhere else.  I did finally curl up in bed - what else was I supposed to do with the rainy day?  I also managed to get my RS email out.  I almost forgot it was Friday and time to send it!  I even fixed some homemade cream cheese potato soup and biscuits for dinner.  It was just that kind of a day!  I think it is supposed to rain and be cool for the weekend and then who knows. 

Aug 15th - Day at the Temple

I went visiting teaching today.  And what a great day it was!  I picked up my sister around 8:15 and we braved the traffic to go to the temple.  It only took us about an hour and ten minutes, so our day started well!  We ended up being there all morning and then some and had a wonderful experience.  It was one of those times when everything just seemed to be "right." 

She needed to do a couple of initiatories so she could use one of those names on a session, but there were already too many patrons, so we went to do some sealings first.  As it turned out, there were no other sisters doing sealings, so they would not been able to do anything without us.  I had a big stack of couples to be sealed and we worked on those for an hour.  Just as we needed to leave, some other sisters came in and volunteered to finish the ones we hadn't gotten done.

We then did a few initiatories.  Again, we were the only patrons at that time.  Then we went to the 12:00 session.  The session was about half full, so we were needed there, too.  There is a new film for the session which is really good.

We finished at the temple at 2:00 and stopped for lunch on the way home.  It was after 4:00 when we got home.  A full day at the temple and we were both so happy that it happened!

Aug 14th - Just Another Day

This was just another one of those ordinary days - usual routine, including some laundry, etc.  I kept really busy, just not very interesting to tell about!  First thing, we went by and picked up the car.  They didn't even charge us, since all they did was check fluids, belts and hoses.  I think they may replace the brake pads on Friday, so I will have a safe car for my trip.

Lisa did come by for a bit with the kids to return something she had borrowed.  They only stayed a half an hour or less, but it was fun seeing them.  Two new children's books had come and Ashby spent her time reading both of them.  Brooks got the Thomas the Train out and played with that. 

Bill got home early, too, but went right to work on the seminary lesson for tomorrow.  I eventually was able to sneak off for a quick nap and some reading.

I did also get in some family history time, so it wasn't a totally wasted day! 

I talked to my dad for just a minute this evening when he called to get a picture of Lisa for the concert brochures.  They were at their aeroclub board meeting.

So - like I always say - just another day!  Nothing exciting, but a good day, all the same.

Aug 13th - Much Better Day!

After such a dismal start to the week, it was bound to get better -- and it did.  We had presidency meeting this morning, so the president picked me up since the car was in the garage.  Our meeting was good and we accomplished some things.

Back at home, I did a few things around the house and spent some time on the computer doing various odds and ends.  It didn't amount to much exciting, but it was all productive. 

Bill and I had some chat time this evening - this happens sometimes when he is preparing a seminary lesson.  (He is substituting for a week and a half for one of the teachers.)  I was back in the bedroom and he came hunting for me; just wanting to talk about something in the lesson.  I always enjoy those kinds of conversations.

I went on in to bed early so I could finish the book I was reading.  It was a good one - Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman.  I then started the next book in the pile, but can tell this one is going to be a little more fluff, which is sometimes good!

Aug 12th - Dismal Monday

This has not been my most productive day!  I woke up not feeling the best, it rained on and off during the day, I developed a headache, complain, complain, complain!  The end result was that I did very little around the house.  And what I did do, wasn't done very quickly!

I worked on some things at the computer, including my weekly RS email.  I took a nap in the early afternoon.  I did feel better after that - except for the headache, which is probably caused by the weather.  I finally got myself out to the grocery store to the shopping that I planned to do last week.  I guess that makes it my big accomplishment of the day!  I was just finishing putting the last items away when Bill called to meet him at the shop, so we can leave the car for servicing and checking.   And then I actually cooked something for dinner!

Boy, talk about boring days!  I seem to have won a prize today.  Even so, it was a total loss, as I did get a few important things out of the way.  When Monday is bad, the rest of the week will definitely be better!

Aug 11th - Another Great Sabbath Day

Today was a Sunday almost like every other Sunday - in other words, just the way it ought to be! 

I attended church meetings this morning.  After teaching RS for the last two Sundays, it was nice to just conduct and then get to enjoy the lesson.  After church, I came home, picked up one of the baskets for the graduating young women, and went by the home of one of the girls.  I have been unable to connect with all of them, and this one is leaving on Tuesday, so I was down to the wire!  I had a nice visit with her and her parents.  She will be heading out to Utah State this week.

Back home again, I got dinner going.  I cooked a whole chicken in the Pantry Chef stone baker in the microwave, so it only took an hour to cook.  I seasoned it with some barbecue sauce that I had purchased a while ago - something a little different.  It was really good.  I added some boiled red potatoes, fresh black-eyed peas, brussels sprouts, watermelon, and blueberry muffins.  Everyone really liked it.  The big surprise was that Brooks loved the peas and ate two helpings.  Needless to say, Grandpa was very pleased!

The rest of the afternoon was just spent relaxing, kids playing, David sleeping on the floor, etc.  What a great day!  They had to leave by about 6:45 or so, since Brooks has suddenly decided that he doesn't need to nap.  No nap means a much earlier bedtime!

Bill had a priesthood meeting in the evening, so I had a little computer time and then was able to curl up in bed with a book.

I love my Sundays!

Aug 10th - Busy Saturday!

Lisa and David planned on going to the temple this morning, so we were going to keep the kids.  As it turned out, everyone slept so late and moved so slow that it was more like afternoon!  But, they did come!

That meant I got a few chores done first thing, including sheets and laundry.  When they got here, they were ready to play.  It was such a nice day that it didn't take long before they were outside and having a ball.  They were excited about the new kitchen set in the playhouse and that took a lot of attention.  I sat at the patio table and pretty soon, Ashby was bringing me all sorts of things to "eat."  There was an old bottle of water sitting on the table, and that became part of the fun soon enough.  I finally turned on the hose, over the back of a chair, so they would have a steady stream.  They had more fun playing with the water and dumping it from container to container.

By the time they finished this activity, they were both soaked.  So, of course, they changed into their swimming suits, since they were still dry.  After a short break for a quick rainstorm, they headed back out to the little pool.  Meanwhile, the clothes were in the dryer.  They had more fun jumping in and splashing.  It might be a tiny little plastic pool, but it did not slow down the fun!

Ashby even played in the fort a little.  It is still not finished, so a regular ladder is the only way up there.  She thought it was fun to carry glasses of water up and dump the water through the floor.  Hopefully, we will get the fort and the accompanying swingset finished one of these days!

What a great Saturday with the kids!  We played, we laughed a lot, and there were plenty of hugs, too.  Perfect day.

Aug 9th - End to Another Week!

Today was pretty much run-of-the-mill.  Normal routine stuff at home.  I got the RS email out.  I worked on family history, etc.  I also ran out for a few errands - got my haircut, shopped a little (very little, I really do hate shopping!).  I met up with someone to pick up a little wooden kitchen that I bought used.  It is cute and is in the play house.  It ought to make it more fun to play.  I even managed to cook some dinner this evening - ravioli and marinara sauce.

Billy called this evening and we had a long chat.  It had been a while since we had talked.  He seems to be doing well.  It will be nice to get to see him when I go up to Iowa in a couple of weeks.
I did get an email from one of the YW leaders saying that the girls had chosen me as an example of their value Individual Worth.  Very nice.  It has been so long since I worked in YW that I didn't know most of them even knew who I was!  Just goes to show that you never know who is watching!
As boring as my day sounds, it was actually very busy and I enjoyed it.  I like a simple routine, I guess. 

Aug 8th - Got to Babysit Today!

Lisa called this morning and said she had a long list of errands to run and it is hard to do with kids - getting them in and out of the carseats with them complaining.  Instead, she dropped them off here and we had a fun time playing.  We split our time between inside and outside.  They both ate a good lunch and then we were watching some vintage Disney cartoons (Donald, Plute, Chip & Dale) and laughing together when Lisa got back.  Fun morning!

The rest of the day was just routine.  I spent the bulk of the time working on more family history - the same problem line, but from a different angle. 

This evening was RS Meeting, so I went to that.  We had a brother from a neighboring ward who came and talked about budgeting, as well as sharing ideas on reducing debt faster and teaching children about money.  It was very good.  Attendance was not too bad - 14, I think.  It is getting better each month. 

Aug 7th - Family History Day

OK, so I was going to spend the week working on all those projects that I haven't gotten to lately........  Well, it just wasn't fun!  So, with a rainy, dark morning, I chose to work on family history instead.  I was just going to do it a little and then get busy with something else.  Is it my fault that the whole day passed? 

During breaks, I managed to get a little done (emphasis on "little") - 3 loads of laundry, house straightening, etc.,  Plus, in the afternoon, I did run to the library, the gas station, and the pharmacy.  Yeah, that was about it!  The rest of the time I was busy working on my messed up family.  That is, the family in my history that has some data problems.  I am making headway and actually got quite a lot accomplished today. 

By evening, I was pretty much done with the computer - at it just a bit too much today.  Bill was out with the missionaries, so I finished watching season 1 of Granite Flats.  It was pretty good.  It is nice to watch something clean and fun, with a bit of mystery - even if it is pretty predictable.  We got the Roku working last week, (just needed to be plugged in right) so it is easy to use.  I hardly watch TV, but I like it more this way.

Another good day!

Aug 6th - Doctor Appointment Day

I had such a headache this morning that I was rather slow moving, but I finally got it in gear.  I didn't knock anything else off the to-do list, but I did keep busy.  I called the doctor to set an appointment for prescription renewal, since they will run out in a few days and there are no refills left.  They actually had an appointment open for this afternoon.  Talk about luck.  There is only one doctor in the practice that I will see and he is usually booked up.  Anyway, I later got a call from his office saying that the pharmacy had contacted them about renewing meds and I needed an exam first.  I told them I would be there in half an hour, as I already had the appointment.  Talk about being on the same wave length!

So, this afternoon, I made the appointment.  Nothing much, really, since it is just for meds.  It must have just been a slow day in the office, since I got right in, and the doctor had time to chat.  Then while they were drawing blood, he came out to the lab station and chatted some more.  Everything looks fine - of course, blood work will take a day or two.  I guess I am now set for another six months!

I spent most of the rest of my time working on family history.  I am still working on the same line and finding a lot.  Of course, one of the things that happens with family history is that every time you find something new, you also find a question.  Then again, searching for all those answers is part of what makes family history so fun - like a mystery!

It has been a good day - not too exciting, but I actually ended up getting quite a bit done and the headache eventually went away.

Aug 5th - Day at Home - But Not Really Quiet!

Well, maybe it was quiet, but it was not lazy!  I looked at my calendar for the week this morning and realized that for the first time in ages, I do not have a ton of things written in.  There are a couple of things, but most of my days are mostly open.  What that really means is that I no longer have an excuse to put off some of the projects that have piled up.

So, today I cleaned the house a little better than usual.  I spent a lot of time on my weekly RS email, especially on the preparedness part.  I straightened out the freezer - what a mess it gets in!  Plus, a number of other similar things.  I found myself on the go for a good bit of the day.

I managed to get in a short nap in the late afternoon and then spent the next couple of hours working on family history.  I am still trying to get the Robinson family all sorted out and documented.  It just takes time!

I finished a book this evening and started another one.  I am jumping from a love story to a murder.  Good jump, I think!

It has been a good day and I really did get a lot done.  The problem is that the pile of uncompleted projects doesn't look any smaller!  Oh, well - welcome to life!

Aug 4th - Love My Sundays!

Today was another Sunday as good as usual.  The testimonies at church were good, the lessons were great.  I had to teach RS again and the sisters always have such good comments that add so much. 

Back home, I didn't have much to do to finish dinner prep, as I had a pot roast going in the crockpot.  So, I had a chance to check things on the computer for a bit and then I was able to sneak in a short nap.  I was back up and doing some family history when Bill got home.  It was a bit after that when the kids got here.

Dinner was very tasty - everything tastes better on Fast Sunday, you know!  The rest of the afternoon and evening were spent doing various fun things with the kids.  The weather was nice, so they were outside a good while.  They played in the new fort.  It doesn't have ladders yet, so David put out the regular ladder so they could climb up.  They also played in the playhouse, made bubbles with the bubble machine, and drew all sorts of pictures on the driveway and sidewalk with chalk.  Ashby played hopscotch.  Lots of fun!

I do love my Sundays!  (As I have said before........)

Aug 3rd - Working on the Playset - Finally!

David and Ashby came over this afternoon to start reconstructing the playset that was given to us - back in March, I think!  It had been planed and sanded and stained, but had been taking up room in the garage since then.  Today, they got most of the fort part done.  Just figuring out exactly what they wanted to do and where the thing was going to be set took up a good bit of time.  Once they started actually putting it together, it went well.  It is not ready to attach the ladders and the slide.  Of course, the old ladders were pretty much shot, so we need to buy some new ones.  I wonder how long that is going to take!  At least, the job has been started and it looks really good.

The rest of my day was pretty much ordinary - laundry, straightening, etc.  About the same time David arrived, the Dish Network guy came to see why we had lost our signal (the dish had moved slightly - the last guy didn't quite tighten it properly.)  Shortly after that, our niece and her fiance arrived to talk about their wedding with Bill.  They have asked him to marry them.  He got certified online, so he can do so legally, but they had a lot of details to work out.

Ashby and I played while the guys worked.  She was in the little pool for a long time, then Barbies took front stage.  She eventually ran out of steam and spent a little quiet time on the couch watching some Nick Jr.  Later, Lisa and Brooks made it over.  We fixed a quick chicken and rice dinner for everyone and had a fun evening.

So, I guess my ordinary Saturday wasn't really so ordinary after all.  At any rate, it was a good one!

Aug 2nd - Night at the Ball Field

This turned out to be a rather busy day.  This morning, it was the usual routine.  I had to make sure the house was in good shape since company will be by this afternoon.  I spent the rest of my morning working on the weekly RS email, which I got out, and on the lesson I have to teach Sunday.

Then in the early afternoon, I picked up one of the sisters I visit teach and we went to visit with my VT companion, who can't go out with me due to health problems.  The two of them had never met in person, so it was a chance for them to get to know each other personally.  They exchange emails, but it is always nice to know who your visiting teacher actually is!  We had a good visit.

Then back home, I had a few more things to finish up before Greg and family arrived.  Bill went out and bought some pizzas and drink so we could have a little dinner before we all went to the Gwinnett Braves baseball game.  We had a friend whose company was a sponsor for the evening give us free tickets.  Lisa and family made it over just a bit later.  After eating and relaxing just a bit, we headed over to the ball park.  Julie and family and Jen and Jonathan all met us at the ballpark, as they couldn't make it quite early enough.  We ended up with 17 family members there to watch the game.  It was a lot of fun.  Amazingly, Ashby and Brooks made it through the whole game, so they got to enjoy the great fireworks display along with the rest of us. 

I am not the least bit interested in the baseball, but having an outing with the family was a ton of fun! 

Aug 1st - Sneezy Day

Man, I have been sneezing and blowing my nose all day.  I sure hope I am not getting a cold.  Maybe if I just ignore it, it will go away?

I started the day (after all the sneezing) at water aerobics.  It was the last class of this session, so I won't go back until September.  When I got home, I was sneezing so much that I didn't feel like doing anything else!  I did minimal around the house and then just sat at the computer most of the rest of the day.  I really got into the family history - working on that mess with the Robinson family.  I made some good progress on it.

I did take a nap since I was not feeling so well.  Then I went back to the family history stuff.  And that is about it!  Other than sneezing and blowing my nose, I actually had a pretty good day.  After all, any day when I get engrossed in family history turns out to be a good day!

July 31st - End of Another Month!

So where has the summer gone?  It is the end of July, which used to be the middle of summer and is now almost the end with schools starting during the next week or so.  "When I was a kid".........here we go again!  Our school did start in August, but it was usually around the 25th or 26th, never earlier, and we finished around the third week of May.  Of course, we didn't have so many days off during the year - never heard of spring break, etc.  I suppose that is the trade-off.  At any rate, summer is speeding by and I am not finished playing!

Today we had planned on going swimming, but the weather was threatening and we just decided not to chance it.  Instead, I took a friend to Costco so we could price the bulk rice products.  She is working on a group food order and doesn't have a Costco membership.  We also went down to Duluth to a Korean grocery to check out prices.  We had a good time and got plenty of visiting done, too.  And, of course, since it was lunch time, we had the cheap Costco hot dog!

This afternoon, I didn't feel much like doing anything important, so I spent most of my time doing some family history.  I worked for a while on one of my tangles - where I know there are some people that don't belong - but I gave up on that again and just worked on some of the hints on Ancestry.

I finished another book today, Mary Coin, and really enjoyed it.

And another day - and another month - bites the dust!