July 30th - Not Much Exciting

Started the day with water aerobics and then didn't do much else of great interest - just the usual routine. 

I did work on family history for quite a while and enjoyed that.  I am trying to get more proficient at FamilySearch and get a little frustrated.  It is supposed to be "so easy," but I can't do some of the things I would like to do to the Family Tree.  Oh, well, maybe I will get it learned.

I talked to Dad on the phone today to let him know that Lisa and family would be coming up for the concert.  He was excited.  Lisa got the airplane tickets, a hotel room, and a rental car all reserved.  They found a package deal, so the car is only costing about $75 for the whole weekend.  They found a motel near the CR airport, which is pretty good, since the Iowa football game has everything booked solid. 

This evening, they held bishopric meeting at our house, but that didn't bother me much.  They didn't even start until about the time I am curling up in bed with a book.  I started a new book today and I think it is going to be another good one - Mary Coin. 

I must be getting back to normal finally - kind of boring!  But just the way I like it.

July 29th - Fun Day with Ashby

Ashby spent the night, so I was not surprised when I felt that little tap on my arm at 6:30 am.  Actually, the surprise was that it was not at 4:30!  Her nose was a little stuffy and she needed a dose of medicine to get it cleared.  The funny thing was that she thought it was still the middle of the night and that we needed to read a book or two so she could breathe again and then go back to sleep.  Instead, she climbed in bed with us.  It was about the time I always get up anyway, so we enjoyed a little morning snuggle before starting the day.

She announced that we needed french toast for breakfast - always a favorite in this house!  We had breakfast, got dressed and ready for the day, did the morning chores, and then played for a while.  We played together for a while and then she was self-absorbed in something and I had a chance to do the morning computer routine.

Later in the morning, she was getting hungry again, so wanted a bagel while she watched some TV.  She doesn't get Nick Jr at home, so she loves to watch it here.  With the late bagel, she wasn't ready for lunch yet, so we ran out to do pick some things up at Target.  We also spent some time in the toy department, which is always thrilling to a child!  She ended up picking out a Barbie ballerina doll.  She wanted it, because as you twirl the dolls feet, her skirt flips around - blue or pink, take your choice. 

With all the errands done, I took her home.  She was tired, since she was up a little late last night and then up early this morning, so she was ready to have some quiet time. 

When I got back home, I finished up some things that hadn't been done, and then took a very short nap.  I got into family history and spent the next several hours totally immersed in that.  I found a problem on the Ancestry.com tree and deleted a ton of names that should not have been there.  That is one of the problems that sometimes come from importing files.  I try to keep my RootsMagic tree as accurate as possible, but I am not always as careful with the online trees.  I really need to be more careful.  Anyway, that problem got fixed!

It was a good day - so much fun with Ashby!  She is getting so grown up and independent.

July 28th - Back to Normal Sunday Routine

Today was finally a "normal" Sunday - the kind I like best. 

Church meetings were really good.  I had to teach the RS lesson today and it went well.  It was from President Uchtdorf's conference talk.

Back home, I got dinner prep done.  We just had goulash, watermelon, cucumbers, acorn squash, and bread.  It was an easy dinner to get ready, so I had some time to spend at the computer.  I also started working on the RS lesson that I have to teach next week.

Then my doorbell rang!  And, good news!  Ashby was standing there, along with her mom.  Brooks was sleeping in the car, so his daddy stayed with him for a while.  Finally, everyone, including Grandpa, got home and we were able to eat dinner.

Then the children played, and everyone else relaxed or napped.  Brooks and I went out side for a while to make big bubbles with the bubble machine.  We had a lot of fun!  When it was time for them to go to home, Ashby stayed to spend the night.

We read some books, had a good snack, watched You Tube on Grandpa's new tablet, brushed teeth, and got ready for bed.  When we were ready to go to sleep, Ashby and I climbed into my bed and snuggled. 

What a fun day!

July 27th - Simply Saturday

Not much of great interest today.  It was Saturday and Bill was gone most of the day on a tubing trip with the youth from church.  I did the work at home - 5 loads of laundry, change sheets, straighten house, etc.  I spent a good bit of the day working on RS stuff, especially polishing the lesson that I have to teach tomorrow.

I even managed to get in a short nap.  After the nap, I worked on family history for a couple of hours.

And that was about it!  A day cleaning and working isn't too exciting.  Very necessary, of course, but still rather boring. 

July 26th - Pool Party!

One of the sister that I visit teach has a pool at her home and when I contacted her about coming to visit, she called back and said come to the pool.  It turns out she and her companion had invited their sisters to come for pizza and a swim and invited me to come too and to bring the grandkids.  So that is just what we did!

The first part of my morning was just routine stuff.  Then Lisa and the kids got here and played a little before we headed over to Mary's.  They were so excited.  It has been exactly a week since their last day in the pool in Florida and they were ready to do it again.  It turned out to be a nice group and we all enjoyed it.  I had a chance to chat with a couple of the other sisters, too, so that was enjoyable.  After the pizza, we had to leave.  The kids were really tired and Lisa had a dentist appointment.

The kids stayed here while Lisa went on to her appointment.  She put Brooks down as soon as we walked in the door and he ended up sleeping for four hours.  Yes, he was definitely tired!  Ashby and I played Barbie's for a while, then she got the mini-Ipad and laid on the couch to watch a video.  She didn't sleep, but she was certainly worn out.

When Lisa got back, Brooks was still sawing logs, so she ended up napping on the couch, too.  Meanwhile, I was doing some things on the computer, like getting the weekly RS email out.

When they left, I fixed myself some dinner, did a few more odds and ends that hadn't been finished.  Bill was late getting home from work, so I was curled up in bed with a book.

What a fun day!

July 25th - Mostly at Home Today

After water aerobics this morning, I spent most of the day at home.  And most of my time was spent at the desk.  I had some computer stuff that I usually do every day, including working on the RS email.  I also had to work on a RS lesson for Sunday (the teacher will not be able to be there because of a family emergency and I haven't found anyone else to substitute), as I will be the substitute.  I also worked on the lesson for the next week, which is when I was expecting to teach.  There were a number of other little things that just took time.

I did a very few things around the house - I am still having trouble getting back into my routine!  I did cook something for dinner, though, which is a bit of a surprise. I also managed to get in a nap during the afternoon.  I was so tired that I got into one of those really deep sleeps and had a little trouble waking up. 

Bill had to do some home teaching this evening, so I decided to just curl up with a book.  I finished one on the Kindle and started another one I had checked out from the library.  The one I finished was a murder mystery and was pretty good, especially for a freebie.  The one I started is called Painted Girls and is about 3 sisters who are ballet dancers in Paris in the 1880's.  I think it is going to be a good one.

And that was my day - rather boring, but sure didn't seem that way while I was going through it!

July 24th - Happy Birthday, Ashby!

Ashby turned five today and had a big party to celebrate.  She wanted a Rapunzel theme, so that is what she got!  They had cute decorations, several fun games, made individual pizzas, a cute cake, etc.  She had seven little girls as guests, plus Caroline, Kate, and Judy.  It was a lot of fun.  She was so excited when I got there that she was literally bouncing all over the place.  She had a wonderful time. 

When I got home, I finished up the four loads of laundry I had been working on and did the other usual things around the house, etc.  I managed to get a chance to rest for a few minutes.  Then, as soon as Bill got home, we took off to babysit with the kids this evening so Lisa, David, Vanett, and Noah could go out to dinner and a movie.  The kids were good and loved playing with Grandpa.

What a fun day this has been!  It is hard to believe that Ashby is already five.  She is getting so grown up!