Home Sweet Home

 Yesterday afternoon, I made the 25 mile drive to Tony and Mindy's house...

( I really do miss having them 2 miles from me)

My job was to play with Henry while Tony went to pick up Mindy and Luca.

We didn't tell Henry where he was going.

When they came in, Henry and I were in his play room and Mindy came in to greet him while Tony got Luca out of his car seat.

Then we took Henry out to the living room.

He seemed stunned when he saw Luca.

At first, he just stared...

But before long...

My heart just melts...

~sigh~

Grandma life!

Under Arrest!

 Every Tuesday I grab Locklan, take him to kickboxing

And then we go out to eat.

Every Tuesday, same restaurant, same table, same server and we order the same food.

He loves it!

This week, Tuesday was also his sixth birthday.

I bought him a hat and badge...

Our server fussed over him.

He was having a ball.

While we were waiting for our food we played a game with coins.

We make it up as we go along.

I had my back to the restaurant when I heard a man's voice

saying, "I hear there is a birthday boy in here!"

I turned around to see four state troupers walking towards us,

cookies in hand.

One by one, they gave Locklan a cookie and then posed for a photo!

This kid was over the moon!

It was a birthday to remember!!!

~sigh~

It's been a while since I told you

I LOVE BEING A GRANDMA!

Grandma Jan Reporting In!

 Yesterday I got this text from Tony...

Yes!  Baby Luca is here and all is well.

He weighed 6 pounds 2 ounces and is doing well, Mindy too.

Grandson #4, grandkid #5.

So many other things going on...I hope to drop in and get everyone caught up.

Until then,

Granny Jan signing off!

I'm Really Trying

 I've been trying to get back to blogging, I really have.

The hard part is that I like to talk about my day, what I have been doing...

These days are filled with my mom.

Her estate, bills, insurance, condolences and questions...

Last week I spent three hours with our attorney, who also was a high school classmate.

I spent one whole day tracking down papers and records.

I spent one whole day with my brother, packing up the kitchen.

I used to call my mother every evening, chatting for an hour...

It was easy, this is not.

Moving on...if you have been here for any length of time, you know...

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year!

I love Christmas so much that I offered to send my kids to their respective in-laws

for all other holidays just so I could have my entire family together for Christmas eve.

It's been a tradition in my mom's family as long as I can remember.

We cleaned and mom and my aunts baked.  We decorated and planned...

We sang, oh did we ever sing!  We waited for the nightly news and 

the announcement that Santa was in the area!

This year, this might be the first time we won't be doing this...

So many things standing in the way...

Hit me like a ton of bricks...

I can't wrap my head around adapting...

My gifts are bought, not wrapped.

My decorations are finally down from the attic but not unpacked...

Teagan and Locklan came yesterday and decorated the tree,

Oh my, what a mess that is!

It's in the middle of the living room floor.

Only one tree...

Only ONE tree!

One tree must mean it's almost Christmas...

If you have read this far, here's a reminder that even though we're all nuts, Jesus is the reason for the season!

Back soon.

What a weekend!

I thought this would be a nice, easy weekend

Ashley was out of town, Andy had other plans...

Tony and Mindy and Henry decided to come to camp.  

Later that day, we got a text from Mark's brother, wondering if we were going to be at camp on Saturday.

They sent a few hints...

And on Saturday, they came up to take us for a ride!

What a great boat!

Henry liked that he could move around more than he could on our boat...

until he got tired...

Finally, he fell asleep on Dada's lap.

We certainly hope that Mike and Michelle invite us to go for another ride!

After Mike and Michelle left, we settled down for some 

serious Camp Manfreding, if that is a word...

Tony took Henry out on the kayak to get to the other side of the river to throw rocks and wade, 

we had a good dinner and a slow and easy boat ride!

On Sunday, by time Mr. K and I got to camp, Andy  and kids were already there, along with Tony.  Mindy and Henry would join us after Henry's nap.

Tony and Andy decided to take the kids across the river to (of course) throw rocks and wade.

Of course, Tony had to ride the kayak down the hill into the water.

It's tradition!

Teagan was ready to go!

After dinner, we decided to take a ride up river...

The guys threw in the anchor, donned life jackets and jumped in!

Teagan always wants to do what the guys do.

and she usually does!

There is a rope swing upriver from us.

It's been there since before we moved in, 11 years ago.

Of course, the guys have to take a turn or two.

Andy went first!

Then Tony...

And then Locklan wanted a turn.

Suddenly Teagan decided she wanted on!

And of course, Daddy and Uncle Tony made it happen!

Where was Henry while all this was going on?

At first he seemed interested...

Then he decided he'd rather play with Mama's phone!

Just wait until next year!

By time we got back to camp, the kids were so tired that they let Andy photograph them.

What a day!

We're so blessed that although we are staying safe, we can still spend time with family.

How about you?

Grandma Life

 I was sorting through some old photos and found two that touched my heart...

So much love between these three kids...

This one was taken the first time I baby sat all three at once...

I love being a grandma!

I just realized it's Tuesday.  I have a full day planned...

Two Day Tuesday.

Now, you might not care, but I am wondering where I've been and what I have been doing.

After all, it's been a while and to be honest, I'll have to go to my phone to see what I photographed.

On Sunday, Tony and Mindy called to say they were on the bike trail, could they stop in...

We had a great visit.  You know what happens when I'm enjoying something...

I forget to take photos.  Fortunately, Tony shared this one...

Henry loves bike rides!

Locklan came to spend the night...

 He woke me at 3AM to tell me he wasn't sleepy.

We went into the family room to cuddle.  

He went back to sleep.

I did not.

I might have been a little crabby that day.

After you sleep with the plaid blanket, 

you drag it out onto the patio to make a fort...

Grandma Jan barely recovered from that day when I invited the kids back so Locklan could help me pressure wash the patio...

He spent half the time scrubbing the patio, half the time flipping it over and squirting everyone.

After they got bored, they filled a pool, dragged the slide over and had a ball!

We have a section of the yard that we try to get grass to grow...

Completely without luck.

Tony reseeded it a few years ago, even came and watered it every morning on his way to work...

Usually it's just ugly, but with the hose running, we had a mess.

I promised Ashley years ago that I would never return her kids clean.

This was one of those days.

I was sitting on the patio, just snapping photos with my phone when I managed to snag this gem...

The day ended up with two very tired kids...

Tuesday lasted two days this week...

Every Tuesday the cleaning ladies come, 

so does the lawn care guys...

Yesterday the lawn care guys came and mulched...

I don't have a photo of the splendid job the guys did and I'm too lazy to stand up and take one!

They said they would be back this morning to mow.

We finally sat down with the guy from Bright Covers to discuss a new cover for our patio.

We currently have a sunsetter awning and I HATE  it.  If you want to know why, shoot me an email.

My brother-in-law has a Bright Cover and they love it.  

I knew that's what I wanted.

We signed on the dotted line, that's the good part...

The bad part is that they are working 12 weeks out...

And lastly, the part of  Tuesday that got carried into Wednesday...

My lawn guy!

Top that!

If I don't talk to you before then, have a safe and festive Fourth!

More of the Same...

Okay, no witty, entertaining post about life on the river.

I sat down at my computer yesterday afternoon and within minutes my mom called.

Now, since Mom and I talk every single night  if she is calling during the day is not a good thing.

She started the conversation without me.

"I think I have to go to the hospital.  My little hernia (which was the size of a golf ball) is as big as a grapefruit and I can't stop vomiting."

Now, if you have been around here for a while, you know that we know the routine.

Mom has many hernias (Hernia?).  She has had surgery for as many as four at a time and has had four separate surgeries in two years..  She has been hospitalized at least ten times in four years. She left Tony's wedding reception in an ambulance and was in surgery within two hours.

 They always hope that by poking it back in, that the situation will resolve itself.  They will only operate again if it is life threating, due to her chronic blood cancer (which they control with oral chemo) and her age (almost 89).

I'm an hour from Mom, so I told her to call the ambulance and get to the hospital.  I would get there as fast as I could.

I got there and they were glad to see me.  They needed me to sign consent to treat forms and then told me to leave the building.  No visitors and even in the waiting room, only patients are permitted.

They did give me a few phone updates last night and at 9 this morning, she called to say she was being discharged.  No non-emergency patients!

We talked this afternoon.  The hernia-guy (I'm brain dead at the moment) wants her to see a surgeon.

The last one said that with all the stuff going on with her, the only way they would operate is if she showed up with her intestines hanging down to her knees.

I just don't know what to say...

So, to end this post on an up note...

A little cuteness...

Andy took Locklan to Lowes...Locklan wouldn't go unless he could wear his ruler!

Grandma Day!

Wednesday was Grandma-Locklan day.

It's been a few months since we had time alone so this was quite a treat for both of us.

We painted rocks...

We set up the wooden train track...

And then we went outside where he set up Locklan's restaurant in the play house.

~sigh~

Did I tell you how much I love being a grandma?

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!

It's a Winner!

Since we are all shelter in place, social distancing, joining the #stay-home-team, self quarranting, I am always on the lookout for things that Ashley can do with the kids.

I found this...

twisteez wire on Amazon

I'll admit, I pulled a few strands out for myself...

I had a ball playing with it!

Today I got this message from Andy...

That brought back memories...

My father, the perpetual collector, had a collection of 
telephone wire
(remember that stuff?).  
Occasionally, he would pull out a length
and let the kids play with the multi-colored wire inside.

Locklan was pretty proud of his bracelet!

What a great memory jogger!

Stay home, stay safe, stay healthy!

Tuesdays Aren't All Bad!

I can't believe I said that!

But it seems to be rather true...

Mr. K and I realized that we might need a few more supplies because we were going to be house bound for a much longer time than we originally thought.

Since our local grocery stores were reserving an hour in the mornings strictly for senior citizens,

we made plans to go.  The hour started at 6:AM!

Mr. K NEVER gets up that early.  The last time he saw life before 8:30 AM was when he fell out of bed!

I woke at 4, took a wonderful bubble bath, posted yesterday's blog, got dressed and was reviewing my list when Mr. K rolled out of bed at 5:30.

It took him 15 minutes to get ready and we were out the door.

The parking lot was pretty busy...

I never knew that there were that many elderly early risers in out area.

I was a little intimidated.  I had been in the house for more than 10 days...

Everyone was so respectful.

They maintained social distance, and respected the store's limits on special items.

The line was sooooo long but they had extra registers open and it went quickly.

Everyone kept their distance but chatted and joked with each other.

I just wanted to dance around the store singing "We are the world..." but I can hardly walk let alone dance...and the dogs howl when I sing.

Stay home.  If you must go out, practice social distancing.   Heck, Mr. K and I, who live in a ten room house, are practicing marital distancing!

We are responsible for our fellow human's health.

We are the world...

Now...here's some sweetness...

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!