This has been a crazy month for our visiting teaching, but the month is running out, so today we managed to get it done. Well, I ended up going alone, since my companion called and she is really sick with a bad cold. With all the stuff going around, she didn't want to spread hers as well. Since there wasn't enough month left to postpone, I had to do it.
I met one of our sisters at Chic Filet for lunch. We were there over an hour and had a great visit. Then I visited a second one at her home. She has just started back on family history and is taking my Sunday class and she could hardly wait to show me what she had found. We had planned to visit our third sister earlier, but she called and said that a friend had died and the funeral was this morning. Fortunately, we have both been in contact with her several times during the month, so she will just be an "other" contact this time.
By the time I got home, I needed a short rest and then I finished up my house chores and spent some time at the computer. I didn't get any of the to-do piles lowered, however. \
Bill had an activity with the priest's quorum this evening, so I snuggled up with some popcorn and watched a little Netflix before getting into bed to read.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Friday, January 30, 2015
January 29th - Art Class
We didn't have art class last week, because of a conflict with Brooks' Joy School. Today they had a field trip, but Lisa planned to bring Ashby over after the field trip. For some reason, he did not want to stay at the fire station, so they made it a little earlier than planned. Either way was fine with me!
We finished our sketch from last time by coloring it in. Ashby chose to use markers and colored pencils and did a very nice job. By the time she finished, she had created a whole story about what was happening. I got a kick out of her telling me how some day she would be a famous artist and make lots of money. I tried to offer a little reality without bursting her dream. I think I may have created a monster here! More power to her, though. I love her confidence. Here is the picture of the finished project:
They stayed and had some mac and cheese for lunch and watched some Disney Jr, until it was time to go home for Lisa's piano lessons. I did enjoy my time with them here.
In between, I managed to get the laundry done and some other things. I didn't get as much done on my projects as I had hoped, but piece by piece, I keep working!
Bad news for the day was that we had a washer repairman come out to look at the washer, which has been making a considerable amount of noise on the spin cycle. It turns out that the tub needs to be replaced. This style washer has a double tub with ball bearings and the bearings have gone bad. Replacement will be $500 - so it will be just as cheap to just buy a new washer. We will just keep using this one until it doesn't work, I guess. So far, it is still working fine, except for the noise!
We finished our sketch from last time by coloring it in. Ashby chose to use markers and colored pencils and did a very nice job. By the time she finished, she had created a whole story about what was happening. I got a kick out of her telling me how some day she would be a famous artist and make lots of money. I tried to offer a little reality without bursting her dream. I think I may have created a monster here! More power to her, though. I love her confidence. Here is the picture of the finished project:
They stayed and had some mac and cheese for lunch and watched some Disney Jr, until it was time to go home for Lisa's piano lessons. I did enjoy my time with them here.
In between, I managed to get the laundry done and some other things. I didn't get as much done on my projects as I had hoped, but piece by piece, I keep working!
Bad news for the day was that we had a washer repairman come out to look at the washer, which has been making a considerable amount of noise on the spin cycle. It turns out that the tub needs to be replaced. This style washer has a double tub with ball bearings and the bearings have gone bad. Replacement will be $500 - so it will be just as cheap to just buy a new washer. We will just keep using this one until it doesn't work, I guess. So far, it is still working fine, except for the noise!
Thursday, January 29, 2015
January 28th - Wednesday, Family History Day, of Course!
We didn't have any patrons at the family history center this morning, but we both kept ourselves busy - between a little of our own work and just plain chatting! We did a call in that Phyllis answered, so she was with that patron for quite a while. We enjoyed the morning, but it is always more fun when we have a patron who actually comes in!
I had enough time to come home and have some lunch and then I headed out to the home of one of the ward members who needed some help. I have helped her before, but she needed to go over it again. I think she got a better handle on it this time. She has one line that we have worked on a lot; I even worked on it myself at home. It is a complete mystery. We tried again today, but just can't seem to figure it out. I will probably try to take some time on my own again. At least, she has plenty of other things that we found that she can work on. Plus, I really encouraged her to enter the stories she remembers about her parents and grandparents. She is the only one left who has those memories and if she doesn't record them, they will be lost.
By the time I got home, for the second time, I was pretty tired. That meant a little rest time for me. I didn't nap, but I did relax! I finally found enough energy to do a few things around the house and then to do a little more on my own computer. Unfortunately, I didn't get anything done from the to-do piles. Maybe tomorrow!
I had enough time to come home and have some lunch and then I headed out to the home of one of the ward members who needed some help. I have helped her before, but she needed to go over it again. I think she got a better handle on it this time. She has one line that we have worked on a lot; I even worked on it myself at home. It is a complete mystery. We tried again today, but just can't seem to figure it out. I will probably try to take some time on my own again. At least, she has plenty of other things that we found that she can work on. Plus, I really encouraged her to enter the stories she remembers about her parents and grandparents. She is the only one left who has those memories and if she doesn't record them, they will be lost.
By the time I got home, for the second time, I was pretty tired. That meant a little rest time for me. I didn't nap, but I did relax! I finally found enough energy to do a few things around the house and then to do a little more on my own computer. Unfortunately, I didn't get anything done from the to-do piles. Maybe tomorrow!
January 27th - Just a Tuesday!
This has not been a particularly exciting day to write about - just a routine, stay-at-home, clean up the house, work on the computer kind of day. I managed to finish another item from the to-do piles, which actually cleared out a pile. Too bad it wasn't my only pile! I also spent some time texting with Venett about RootsTech. We are both getting excited!
Some days just consist of living, I guess. I was busy all day - well, except for that little rest in the afternoon - but there isn't much to retell!
Some days just consist of living, I guess. I was busy all day - well, except for that little rest in the afternoon - but there isn't much to retell!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
January 26th - Lunch with the Kiddos!
I was enjoying my Monday morning - plugging my way through the to-do pile. Then I was saved by a phone call from Lisa asking if I wanted to meet for lunch at Chili's. I mean, like, I didn't have to think about that one!
I ran the errand that I had planned to do today on my way to meet them. We had a fun lunch. She had coupon that gives a free kids meal with an adult entree, so the kids meals were free. Their favorite at Chili's is mac and cheese and french fries. Really nutritious, ha! Lisa and I got the 2 for $20 meal of fajitas, which meant we also got chips and salsa for an appetizer. We both chose the pork and it was delicious! I could only eat half of it, though, so Bill got to have his own fajita for dinner using my leftover.
I had planned to bring the kids over to the house for a little bit, so Lisa could do some shopping, but they both decided they wanted to go with her, so I came on back alone. I think they were hoping they could talk her into getting a toy at Target, even though she had emphasized that there would be now toys!
It was a rainy, dreary day so after another couple of hours at the computer, I was tired. I nestled into the big chair, turned on Netflix, and then fell asleep for a bit. I did watch Downton Abbey first, though. I fell asleep during Grantchester.
Later, I finished up another of my to-do projects, so that actually removed a pile from my desk. Hooray! I may actually see the top of my desk again before the month is over - or not!
I ran the errand that I had planned to do today on my way to meet them. We had a fun lunch. She had coupon that gives a free kids meal with an adult entree, so the kids meals were free. Their favorite at Chili's is mac and cheese and french fries. Really nutritious, ha! Lisa and I got the 2 for $20 meal of fajitas, which meant we also got chips and salsa for an appetizer. We both chose the pork and it was delicious! I could only eat half of it, though, so Bill got to have his own fajita for dinner using my leftover.
I had planned to bring the kids over to the house for a little bit, so Lisa could do some shopping, but they both decided they wanted to go with her, so I came on back alone. I think they were hoping they could talk her into getting a toy at Target, even though she had emphasized that there would be now toys!
It was a rainy, dreary day so after another couple of hours at the computer, I was tired. I nestled into the big chair, turned on Netflix, and then fell asleep for a bit. I did watch Downton Abbey first, though. I fell asleep during Grantchester.
Later, I finished up another of my to-do projects, so that actually removed a pile from my desk. Hooray! I may actually see the top of my desk again before the month is over - or not!
Monday, January 26, 2015
January 25th - Ward Conference
It seemed strange to head off to church this morning without my bag and computer. Since it was ward conference, there were no regular classes so that meant no family history class to teach. It was still a great day. The bishop's talk in sacrament meeting was especially good. It could easily have been a general conference talk and we both enjoyed it a lot. The youth sang the "Sisters in Zion/Armies of Helaman" song and did a wonderful job. I noticed more than one damp eye in the congregation. The stake president was the final speaker, also good.
The Sunday School block was all adults and focused on family history. At least, if I couldn't teach my class, they talked about the right subject. It was actually pretty well done. The Relief Society block had the brand new Stake RS presidency speak. They were just called a week ago, so this was their first "public appearance."
Once we got home, I got the stuff all ready for dinner: steaks and chicken each marinating in different sauces, potatoes ready to bake, fresh green beans snapped and simmering, a frozen dutch apple pie in the oven.
Then I sat at the computer and did some things from my to-do pile. I was thrilled to wipe out a couple of things. I just wish that the pile would actually look smaller when I do a few things!
When the kids got here, we grilled the steak and chicken and had dinner. Everyone seemed to like it, as they all ate well. Then the kids played while we chatted for a while. Finally, after cleaning up, Bill got out the quadcoptor he got this week and they all played with it. Brooks got the first turn and it was wild. Good thing it is pretty tough, because it sure did some wild crashes. Everyone else took a turn flying it, too, and Lisa won as the most in control. We really got a lot of laughs out of the whole thing, until the battery finally ran out. Fun family memories.
So, we can chalk up another wonderful Sunday!
The Sunday School block was all adults and focused on family history. At least, if I couldn't teach my class, they talked about the right subject. It was actually pretty well done. The Relief Society block had the brand new Stake RS presidency speak. They were just called a week ago, so this was their first "public appearance."
Once we got home, I got the stuff all ready for dinner: steaks and chicken each marinating in different sauces, potatoes ready to bake, fresh green beans snapped and simmering, a frozen dutch apple pie in the oven.
Then I sat at the computer and did some things from my to-do pile. I was thrilled to wipe out a couple of things. I just wish that the pile would actually look smaller when I do a few things!
When the kids got here, we grilled the steak and chicken and had dinner. Everyone seemed to like it, as they all ate well. Then the kids played while we chatted for a while. Finally, after cleaning up, Bill got out the quadcoptor he got this week and they all played with it. Brooks got the first turn and it was wild. Good thing it is pretty tough, because it sure did some wild crashes. Everyone else took a turn flying it, too, and Lisa won as the most in control. We really got a lot of laughs out of the whole thing, until the battery finally ran out. Fun family memories.
So, we can chalk up another wonderful Sunday!
Sunday, January 25, 2015
January 24th - Saturday
This has been pretty much a usual Saturday: a little straightening, a couple of loads of laundry, the usual. The new Cutco knives we bought arrived yesterday, so I needed to rinse them and get them set up. I haven't used a knife block in a long time and I really don't have room on the counter, so it meant all sorts of rearranging. It is still a work in progress, as I am still not happy with it. I will keep fiddling until I figure it out.
Bill had an estimate this morning, but was home the rest of the day. When he is home, we tend to be a little lazier than usual. Considering how lazy I usually am, that means I do almost nothing! Actually, I did quite a lot at the computer. I added more slides to my presentation, now that I have learned how to put in pictures and other files. It is coming together very nicely. I also figured out how to make a file page public, so I can have sample timelines that the attendees can get to online and just download. I have been working on that task for a while, too, and today I figured it out, using Google Drive. So proud of myself! All that is left is to fine tune the presentation and power point and then prepare some more samples to upload. Oh, and I also need to prepare a handout. I am getting there!
Bill got bored by afternoon, so he ran out to do a couple of errands, including the grocery shopping. That meant I had some things to put away when he got back.
And that was about the extent of my day. Another busy day, but hardly worth retelling.
Bill had an estimate this morning, but was home the rest of the day. When he is home, we tend to be a little lazier than usual. Considering how lazy I usually am, that means I do almost nothing! Actually, I did quite a lot at the computer. I added more slides to my presentation, now that I have learned how to put in pictures and other files. It is coming together very nicely. I also figured out how to make a file page public, so I can have sample timelines that the attendees can get to online and just download. I have been working on that task for a while, too, and today I figured it out, using Google Drive. So proud of myself! All that is left is to fine tune the presentation and power point and then prepare some more samples to upload. Oh, and I also need to prepare a handout. I am getting there!
Bill got bored by afternoon, so he ran out to do a couple of errands, including the grocery shopping. That meant I had some things to put away when he got back.
And that was about the extent of my day. Another busy day, but hardly worth retelling.
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