We Got Them Going!

Back in July I got a kick ass deal on digital photo frames...

So I got everyone one, even me!

During the holiday season, they were the farthest from our minds...

But Mindy being Mindy, she's always busy, as soon as her tree came down 

(Mine is still up), she started loading photos into hers.

Henry LOVES photos, especially of him, but he loves Teagan and Locklan too.

So it was a huge hit with him...

He even talks to it!!

I got a text from Ashley...

Her kids were fascinated as well!

Of course, I had to set mine up too...

Now last year I bought my mom one but since she didn't have internet access, you had to load the photos into hers...

Ours has wifi...we can send pictures to each other's frame.

Oh what fun!  Mindy got to see Tony's second grade picture!

Simple pleasures...

 

This and That

 Mark's brother, Uncle Mike, invited Mr.K and I, Andy and Tony and their families down for a swim and cookout.  Michelle, Mike's wife, made us Primanti Sandwiches, made famous by the restaurant in Pittsburgh.  They looked kind of like this...

Yes, there's french fries (and Michelle made the real deal fries), coleslaw, cheese, tomato and meat...

I never had one, so I made a deconstructed sandwich (no bread).  The combination was heavenly!

The main focus for the kids was...

The pool, of course.

Although it was a fairly nice day, as soon as the sun went down, it got chilly.

Even so, the kids didn't want to stop swimming.

It was a great night, good company, good conversation and 

great people.

I feel so blessed to be included in this family!

Rolling on the River!

The weekends are flying by,

I'm never going to find the time to sort through stories and photos...

We've had two fun filled weekends, lots of kids playing in the yard...

A plugged up toilet...

If you've been around here for any amount of time, you know that when my family gets together, we get crazy!

Of course, we had Cody and his family there...

And Locklan grabbed my camera and snapped this photo of a giant flag...

Teagan loves the boat!  When you ask her if she wants a boat ride, she says, "Go fast!"

She'll sit with anyone as long as we go fast!

Of course, we have to wave our arms and scream...it's a tradition, you know.

Locklan loves to drive, with Andy's assistance, of course!

It took Henry a while to get used to the wind and sound, but by 

the second time he went out, he loved it!

 This last Saturday, Andy and kids ventured out on the raft.  Not me, way too cold!

~sigh~

The only thing I like more than boating season is Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Ashley!

If you see Ashley out and about, 

Stop her and wish her a happy birthday!

40 Pounds of Flesh

On Wednesday, Ashley called me.

Last week we went together and bought 20 pounds of ground beef from a farmer.

It was amazing!

Well, as amazing as ground beef can be.

This time, a local poultry farmer was offering 40 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts for only $65.

She had ordered 40 pounds and was picking it up on Thursday.

Did I want her to add 40 for me to the order?

Since our freezer needs stocked, I said yes.

She called later to tell me that it was too late to add onto her order for this sale 

but she would split her order with me.

Okey dokey.

On Thursday, we headed to the farm where she had the guy load the chicken in her trunk.

Then we headed to camp for lunch!

I had this fleeting thought as I watched her wrestle the box of chicken into the fridge at camp to keep it cool.

Seemed like a lot of chicken.

Yesterday, Ashley and kids came over.  Ashley was going to cut the chicken into equal pieces and bag it with my food saver.

I have trouble walking but standing still is horrible for me, my knee locks and I can't move!

So while I played with the kids (yes, I play), Mr. K went to get us a pizza and Ashley opened the box.

Ugh.  Within minutes, my kitchen reeked of raw chicken!

At times, we were gagging.

She did a bang up job, bagging them in meal size portions...

It took hours and hours!

All we could say is that it is done...

Forty pounds is a LOT of chicken...

And most of all, thank goodness we didn't get 80 pounds!

We're still pretty much staying home...

Limiting trips in public...

Wearing masks in public...

Washing the skin off of our hands!

Staying healthy...

I Got Hugs!

The other day, Ashley called to tell me

they were dropping off something they made.

I got hugs!

Aren't they precious?

Just when I was missing the kids so much...

Ahhhhh...Grandma Life!

Stay home, Stay healthy, Stay safe!

Tuesday Bluesday?

Tuesday, you got me again...

knocked me down, but not for long!

Remember, yesterday I said it was re-refridge day?

I said that because when we called the store on Monday,

they told us that we were scheduled for delivery on Tuesday.

Since we put the cleaning service on hold, it was the only excitement for Tuesday.

I was up and at'em early...

About 10, Mr. K called the store to get an approximate time only to be told that they weren't sure where our new fridge was, but they could say that it was not at the store and would NOT be delivered that day.

Bummer...

Then I got a call from Locklan.

They were delivering cookies to the hospital

 (where Ashley worked for years)

and they were going to stop in to say hi.

Stopping in means they backed into the drive

 and stood in the driveway

while we stood on the porch.

It was a great visit, I wish I had thought to take photos.

I miss those kids soooo much!

The day was getting better!

Then Mindy called.  She was going to pick up their groceries,

 did I need anything?

Just dish soap.

She put it in our mailbox!

Leftovers for dinner...

Then my brother called!

His situation is even more difficult.

His daughter and grand daughter live next door.

His son, daughter-in-law and three kids are staying 
with my brother for now...

My sister-in-law is staying with her mother who is undergoing chemo.

My brother is the baby sitter (from a distance), delivery guy and feeder of the cats.

He lives in the middle of nowhere, on a stream, 
with 4 dogs and a slew of cats.

His grandkids wanted to play in the mud puddle.

Here's my brother's grandkids...

Totally made my day!

I had a nice, long talk with my mom,

I got to facetime Henry...

Tuesday didn't totally suck,

but I still have that fridge in the middle of my kitchen!

Why I Hate Tuesdays...

Last time I talked to you, we had Tuesday faucet woes...

The plumber was late.

So were the cleaning crew.

The plumber was leaving as the cleaners were pulling in.

I was a happy camper to be sure.  

A good Tuesday.

The following Tuesday, mom called.

John, a dear friend for 63 years, a classmate and Mom's neighbor died.

Beginning to dislike Tuesdays.

The following Tuesday, I had just gotten into bed when Mom called.

She was in severe pain and vomiting profusely.

I'm an hour away! I told her to call 911 and I'd meet her at the hospital.

Diagnosis:  Intestinal blockage.  Possibly in need of surgery.

(in a few days it resolved itself)

Tuesdays suck!

The very next Tuesday, Ashley (my DIL), who has a history of back surgeries,

couldn't get out of her car, she was in that much pain!

She ended up in the hospital for a few days.

She's doing better now!

See why I hate Tuesdays?

I think last Tuesday was crazy, but I need to get some things done before Mr. K wakes up.

I promise I'll tell you tomorrow.

Since this entire post was whining, why don't I share a little cuteness?

Talk soon!

Our Family is Growing!

Yes!  

We added another family member last week...

Meet Lucille!

She's an adorable black lab pup,

added to Andy and Ashley's tribe...

I think she fits right in.

Andy said that every time Teagan sees her sleeping,

She gets a blanket and covers her!

Celebrations!

On Saturday, we celebrated Locklan's fifth birthday

a week early, so everyone could be here...

We ended up with 21 relatives,

6 kids 5 and under...

two guests over 80 and lots of noise and balloons!

He's five?

How can that be?

Andy sat on the floor with Locklan to open gifts...

Of course, Teagan had to help!

People wonder why Mr K and I live in such a big house...

Technically, we have five bedrooms, plus a bunch of other rooms...

THIS is why.  I love family get togethers!

I still can't believe Locklan will be 5!

Trick or Treating!

 I've never been a fan of Halloween.

Sure, I went Trick or Treating as a kid.

A few years ago, my brother brought his daughter to Mom's house to Trick or Treat...

Since Mom still lives in the house we grew up in,

My brother and I let Mom take Katlyn from house to house.'

Dan and I ran around and knocked on the door of old timers...

When they answered, we gave them candy!

Now, that was fun!

Suddenly, Halloween was a bah-humbug kind of day...

I was content letting Mark, and then Ron, do the Trick or Treat duties...

Until this little guy came along...

Each year it got better...

And better...

Last year was such fun!

This year it was cold, very windy and rainy.

I opted out...

but not these cuties!

 Apparently Tony and Mindy got into the spirit...

Baby Shark!

 Let's just day I'm glad it's over for another year.

Summer, Don't Go!

Even though we're heading to my favorite season:

Winter and Christmas,

Days like this weekend made me realize summer is winding down

(after all, it is officially fall)...

And days like yesterday made me wish summer would last a few more months

(Like until December 24)

We headed for the river...

Teagan was first mate.  She loves to "drive" the boat!

Of course, we invited "Uncle" Cody to come along...

He can't get enough of his new jet ski!

This time, we took the floating mat.

We haven't had it out this year...

The kids loved it,

especially Teagan who was too small to play on it last year.

Andy took Locklan for a jet ski ride...

I don't think he was too happy when the ride came to an end...

Teagan got her very first jet ski ride...

Of course, Andy had to go out by himself.

Even though we all agree that the new boat was a great investment,

I think he misses those crazy jet ski days!

We had a blast!

When we got back to the dock, Andy took Ashley

 out for a jet ski ride

while Cody and I watched the kids.

No photos of that, I was too busy!

~sigh~

Now do you see why I don't want summer to end?