Scraps of Life...

 Just some bits of this and that from the past week...

Photos the kids shared, things I did...

Places my brain went...

First off, I'm in up to my wazoo with my mom's estate.

So many things to do, questions to ask, STUFF to deal with.

I remember that for the past ten years, each time I visited my mother  she tried to give me things out of her house.  I usually refused, saying I had more than enough STUFF at my house already.

Now I see that it would have been easier to take the contents of her house piece by piece than to deal with the whole mess at once!

I'm learning...look out kids!

It's been difficult working on the legal stuff.  I've known my attorney for for than 55 years.

He was a fuss budget in junior high and has only gotten worse.  We're both old and cranky.

I think he should have retired years ago...just kidding, Stephen!

Of course, there was my Tuesday dinner with Locklan.  Wouldn't miss it for anything.

I try to find something to play while we're waiting for our dinners.

This week it was dominoes!

He loved it and took the tiles home to play with his mom.  

He claimed he usually won but occasionally Teagan won.

Yesterday afternoon, the kids stopped by for an afternoon visit.

Within minutes, they gathered furniture from every room to set up their theater.

They took turns as master of ceremony and performing.

Teagan danced, Locklan sang.  The big problem was that when Teagan was Master of Ceremony, she would introduce herself, introduce the performers and thank everyone for coming.

That included going out and hugging everyone in the audience which included 3 bears, 2 cabbage patch dolls and a few stuffed animals.

She's amazing...

We had fun but I was beat after all that excitement!

I was happy to see Andy helping put my house back in order!

Tony sent me this...

Brothers having lunch?

Last night, he shared this...

I think they like him!

Wow!  That was a week!

Next week I get my second covoid injection, Mr. K has had both of his...

And (grandma) life goes on!

~SIGH~

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!

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!

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 Starts With a J

Yesterday morning, I was reading when my phone rang.

Caller ID said it was from Ashley, asking me to FaceTime.

I accepted and it was Locklan!

He was telling me that he was going to do a video demonstration on building things with Legos.

We chatted a bit and then Ashley came into the room and asked him what he was doing.

Apparehtly, she was in the shower

 and Locklan figured out how to FaceTime as well as connect to me.

Ashley asked him how he got me.

"I knew it started with a J."

Oh Locklan...

Grandma life!

Stay home, stay healthy, stay safe.

Oh Henry!

Actually it's Henry O. (for Oliver)

and he's quite a character!

More often than not, when they face time me,

he has something on his head...

a bucket, a box, occasionally a hat.

This was last night...

Tony took this one while we were talking...

Apparently, earlier in the day Henry found out that markers don't taste as good as they smell...

Tony found out that washable doesn't mean it comes off your kid.

What a kid!

Last night I heard him say grandma!

ahhhhhhhhhh, grandma life!

Now stay home, stay healthy and 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!

Here's What Was Next...

Aha!  You probably thought I was practicing blogging distancing...

I just got sidetracked every time I thought about blogging.

Mr.K went from a working man to a pretty retired man to a retired man who can't leave the house!

He's just there... we're adjusting and refining... we'll get it right.

I've had two crappy days,  the first one was the Tuesday after they told me the newest fridge wouldn't fit through the kitchen door.

I just got in my car and drove into town, beeped at a friend and came home.

By time  I got home, Andy had come and put my old-new fridge in it's place...

He seriously had to dismantle my kitchen, 

I had to sacrifice the above-the-fridge cabinet

(that I seriously had forgotten what was in it) and we'll have to patch, paint and primp, but at least I have through the door ice!

Bad day turned good!

My next bad day was Wednesday when the enormity of Holy Week was weighing down on me.

Not virus related, it happens every year.  By Good Friday I'm usually a sobbing mess, but you should see me on Easter! 

 Oh yeah!

I ended up driving to town and spotted Mindy and Henry on their front porch.  From actoss the side street, we visited.  

I waved to my friend, Deb, and then headed for the car wash.  That was my outing!

Seriously, we're fine.

We have tons of food, we're healthy, have money in the bank.  We are able to keep in touch with family and friends and even face time them.

Tony, Mindy and Henry face time me daily.  I even got to watch him (Henry) take a bath the other day.

Andy, Ashley and kids are always calling or sending photos or face timing, Ashley will drive up and park in the drive so we can talk (I stay on the porch). 

I don't have to wear a bra.

I talk to my mom every day, sometimes for an hour!

I have lots to do, quilt, sew, knit and read.

Ron has his TV shows and we subscribed to BritBox so we have been watching those old Brit-coms.

But to be honest, I miss those grands...their hugs and kisses.

I miss Aimee, who should have been cutting my hair last week.

Oh dear, I miss Kimmy who worls her magic on my nails (incidentally, I am down to three acrylic nails).

I miss wearing contacts and shoes...

But we are staying home to protect you and me.

Just think, when we finally can go out, how sweet it will be!

Stay home, stay healthy.  Be safe!

Here Comes the Rainbows!

Yesterday Ashley Face Timed me...

The kids were making Rainbows...

Quarantine Rainbows!

I asked Locklan if he would make me one.

He said no, that he would teach me how to make one.

That way I'd have a rainbow any time I wanted one,

I could just make my own.

Even though we face time,

Even though Mr. K is entertaining at times,

I miss those kids!

Stay safe, stay home.

The Hardest Part...

 Social distancing almost doesn't bother me...

I am pretty much a homebody.

I don't mind staying home, not going shopping.  I even almost don't mind eating at home...well, more on that another time.

What bothers me the most is social distancing when it comes to these guys...

I'm used to seeing  them often

My own kids have been so kind...

I do get to visit the grands every day via face time.

Last night I even got to watch Henry take his bath!

Almost but not quite the same, 

but I'm trusting it's all worth the sacrifice.

Oh, want to see what the kids were working on?

Ashley dropped them off on our porch!

Stay home.  Stay safe.

The World According To Locklan

Every Monday and Wednesday

Andy takes Locklan to pre-school,

Drops Teagan off at my house and heads to work.

A few hours later, I load Teagan in the car

and go to fetch Locklan.

Teagan usually falls asleep before we get to the school

so Locklan and I have time to chat.

Occasionally, we'll take the long way home so she can sleep longer.

Occasionally, we'll detour through the drive-through window at McDonalds

for coffee for me and fries for him.

Yesterday, we did that.

Locklan is sitting in his car seat munching on his fries.

Suddenly he asked if there were mashed potatoes 

inside of French fries.

I explained that both were made from potatoes.

He then said he can't eat the fries because he hates mashed potatoes.

That was that!

We started talking about lunch.

I suggested macaroni and cheese.

He said he can't eat that.

He explained he could only eat the good kind that his mother makes in a pot,

not the bad kind I make in the microwave.

Go figure!

I bought this police station/fire house off of Facebook last week.

It's so cute!

The kids played with it all afternoon.

It folds up with all the furniture and vehicles inside.

AAAAAAnd before we knew it,

Andy came to get them.

Teagan gathered up her baby and purse

And I needed a nap!

Stop the World, I Want to Get Off!

Whew!  How long has it been?

Was I really MIA since December 20?  How could that be?

We did go to the party at Mark's nephew's house and had a good time...

Considering we had kids...lots of kids!

We had 7 kids with Locklan being the oldest of them...

Yes, 7 kids under 5 and one 8 year old.

I felt grouchy and couldn't wait to go home!

I had a schedule so that all my chores and Christmas duties could be completed 

at a pace that was not too demanding.

Saturday, I felt worn out but agreed to have my little buddy spend the night.

We blew up the air mattress and slept under the Christmas tree...

On Sunday, Andy came to reinforce the gate connection to keep Teagan and the dogs from running up the stairs.

Of course, Locklan helped...

Andy is so patient with him!

I was feeling like I had been dragged through the mud so I fell slightly behind on my schedule...

Monday, I woke to find Andy and the kids, the cleaning people and Ron all needing my attention.

I went back to bed and slept 16 hours!

On Christmas eve, I was up before the chickens

and managed to have everything done by time my 

family arrived at 5.

We had 14 people here for dinner.

The only person missing was my oldest grandson, who turned 27

that week.

It was amazing, and no, I don't have a plethora of photos.

I was too busy loving it.

More later, but before I go, here's a picture of Henry, who is quite a character...

Too cute, right?

I'm off to get ready for breakfast with friends!

Feeling Festive!

I found these glasses at the dollar store and thought we could do a photo shoot wearing them...

What I didn't realize was that they were too big for Teagan...

They just wouldn't stay on her head!

Big brother to the rescue!

He's so kind and gentle with her!

He kept adjusting them...

Asking her to stay still!

Adjusting her glasses over and over...

Finally, success!

Ever see a reindeer with attitude?

What fun!

On This Day

Last week, Locklan didn't go to school...

He was coughing and sniffling...

Since Andy and Ashley both had to work...

They came to spend the day with Grandma Jan!

Before he left his house, Andy sent me this picture...

I should have known...

We were in for a wild ride!

We watched a movie...

Or at least Locklan did...

We worked on our art projects...

Locklan worked on a get well card for one of his dad's customers...

Teagan wrote on anything she could find...

And we had a break through!

Locklan learned to make a star...

(we did have a rocky start)

Then things got a little crazy and very noisy.

I told them that all of the noise was giving me a headache...

Locklan ran to the kitchen and got a towel, folded it and made me feel better...

I love it...

On the days they are here...

let's just say I sleep well!

Angels Everywhere!

Last Friday, it was life as usual.

Andy dropped the kids off and headed off to work.

At lunch time, he came and had lunch with us and then cut the grass.

He used his zero turn to push the trampoline across the yard and left it there.

It keeps the grass under it from dying.

After lunch, I was getting ready to put Teagan for a nap,

Locklan went with Pappy K to run errands.

I posted this picture on Instagram:

I commented:  According to Marie Kondo, if it sparks joy, keep it.

 Rocking my granddaughter to sleep is a keeper!

A few minutes later, she woke up just as Mr. K and Locklan were coming in.

The kids headed out to play in the back yard and this is what they saw...

This huge branch had fallen from one of the trees, 

and smashed the trampoline!

Andy later estimated it fell 20 feet.

This is where the kids always play.

Tell me there aren't angels watching over them.

(We have emergency calls out to several local tree services to come and evaluate the rest of the trees)