What I did instead of housework

I promised myself I'd run the sweeper on the stair runner...one of my least favorite chores. 

 

 

Not pressed yet...I really don't like that chore either...

 

 

Putting away laundry is my least favorite 

which is funny because I LOVE to do laundry...

 

 

Some things are just too cute...

Like this photo Andy sent me...

Insomnia and a really cute kid.

Can't sleep.  Tried, nodded off and woke again three hours later.

Lay in bed, praying, even offering to count sheep...

 

Finally, I decided to get up and look at pictures from the past few days...

 

On Tuesday, Ashley had a day off and I offered to watch Locklan so that she could

 run errands and get things done. 

 

First we went to lunch, just Locklan, Ashley and me.

 

Ashley ordered a hotdog for Locklan.

 

He ordered a pickle.

 

Every time we got out to eat, he wants a pickle.  He LOVES pickles!

 

After Ashley left, we settled down for some art work...

 

 

Locklan drew circles and declared them wheels!

 

Washable markers are the absolute best invention...

Locklan loves to draw with Pappy because Pappy can draw a 'choo-choo' that actually looks like one!

 

Next he drew lines and told us they were 'choo-choo' tracks!

 

 

He's so darn cute...and smart too!

 

Of course, every well equipped Grandma's house has a plethora

of cardboard boxes to decorate...

 

 

(Shhhh, don't tell his parents he was allowed on the dining room table!)

 

And climb into when it's all decorated...

 

 

He's so much fun!

 

He rarely stands still when I want to take a picture, but he loves the Blippi shirt

Tony and Mindy bought him for Christmas...

 

 

That kid wore me out! 

I had to take a nap after he left!

 

Speaking of naps...

 

My desk thermometer says...

It's bedtime again!

 

Catch up with you later!

 

 

Just one more bad habit:

Yes, one more bad habit, or it may be that I'm just getting lazy...

 

Instead of blogging, I have been doing this:

 

 

Yes, journaling a few lines a day with a pen and this journal...

 

It sits on a table in my bedroom.  It's easy to just jot down the highlights of the day.

 

Of course, YOU wouldn't know what's going on in my life unless you read it...

 

And you can't read it unless you are in my bedroom...

 

~creepy~

 

Yeah, just forget about it.  I'll try to remember to come here more often!

 

Love ya!

 

The Shack

 

 

 

My friend, Marge, scored two tickets to the premier of the movie for last night.

 

Her husband couldn't go, so she invited me.

 

It was a 45 minute drive to the theater...

 

We got to catch up on each other's lives.

 

I was not looking forward to the movie for several reasons...

I hate sitting still that long (2 hours, 12 minutes)

I was hungry

I read the book.  Did not like it.

Last year, on one of my treks up north, I listened to the audio book.

Didn't like it, but less.

The movie was funny, sad, thought provoking and beautifully done.

 

Although there were many scriptural references,

 you don't have to be a bible scholar to find a message.

 

 

Go see it and let me know what you think!

Veteran's Day

Going to high school during the Viet Nam war,

I probably said some things in front of my father that I should not have said, about

armed forces,

military presence,

and war.

 

But in my case, with age came enlightenment.

 

I hope he realized that.

 

My father served our country

 

With pride...

 

For his family...

 

and for the family he didn't have yet.

 

For me.

 

Although I have many friends who are veterans,

although I lost a few due to war...

 

My dad will always be my favorite!

 

I sure miss him!

 

 

I've been away...

We took a little trip!

 

More about that in a day or two (after I find my camera)...

 

But for now, we're home, we're tired and happy to see the pups...

 

 

 

I'll say it again: we're tired...

 

So, for today, we'll just rest...

 

 

Talk soon?

 

Chicago is where you find...

Mr. K had a convention in Chicago this summer.

Since I had never been there, we decided to fly in a few days early and explore the town; then I would fly home early while he stayed for his convention.

Chicago is an interesting place..

we took the Chicago River architectural tour, which was fascinating...

well worth the price of a ticket!

I had heard so much about the Navy Pier, I couldn't wait to see it.

Turns out, it was interesting, had great food too!

 

They must have known Ron was coming.

He did not have lobster but they did provide him with a lobster bib...

We really wanted to visit the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), but they told us there was

AT LEAST a 2-1/2 hour wait to get on the elevator.

They suggested we try the Hancock tower, which is about 300 feet shorter, but at over 1,000 feet,

who's counting?  The views were spectacular!

The Willis tower has the ledges where you can walk out over the city.

 

The Hancock tower has Tilt...

 

Where you lean against the window and they tilt you out over the edge!

We did not do it, and after watching person after person back away from the window,

it was just as well!

My favorite two things were walking to the Tortise Club to hear the Mark Burnell Trio.

Mark is my cousin, we hung out a lot when we were kids.

We even had the same piano teacher!

 

I think his parents got more bang for their buck!?!

We met my Cousin Jerry and his wife, daughter and son-in-law there.

Jerry was another one of my favorites but I haven't seen him in years.  He's an attorney in Chicago.

Sunday morning, Mark picked me up at the hotel for Church.

He's the pianist at Gorham United Methodist Church and afterwards, we all headed for

 

Pegasis Restaurant for some wonderful Greek food.

 

Jerry and his wife, Cathy, met us there.

 

Of course, it was time for a photo op.  As usual, we forget and hand a camera to Ron...

who hasn't taken a clear photo in his lifetime!

 

 

 That's Jerry on the left, Mark on the right.

 

I loved Chicago (had to leave the next day)...

and I loved spending time with family even more!

 

 

Pumpkin Patching...

Tony and Mindy love to take Locklan on adventures.

 

Last weekend, they were taking him to the local pumpkin patch and invited me to go too!

 

It was so exciting for him (and of course, us too)!

 

He seemed amazed at the pumpkins...

 

 

 

They had so many...but Mindy and Tony couldn't wait to take him to the corn pit!

 

They had a huge section of the barn filled about 2 feet deep with dried corn.

 

All you had to do was dive in!

 

We had a blast!

 

 

 

I tried to photograph him, but he was on a mission...

 

 

 

They had a slide set up on one end...

 

 

 

Mindy and Locklan had such fun there...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uncle Tony and Locklan loved it!

 

 

 

A few weeks ago, Locklan saw a girl doing cartwheels and he's been trying them ever since!

 

He would have stayed there all day, but then he saw the tractor ride!

 

 

He couldn't wait!

 

The tractor took us out to the pumpkin patch...

 

 

 

 

Locklan couldn't decide which pumpkin to carry around!

 

 

 

Until he found one that made a handy seat...

 

 

There were animals that needed petting...

 

 

 

 

 

And his very first pony ride...

 

 

 

 

 

He loved the displays...

 

 

 

 

And ran from one to the other...

 

 

And finally it was time to go home. 

 

I bought him a little pumpkin to hold.  He seemed to like it!

 

 

 

He was still awake when we got to my house

 but by time Tony and Mindy unloaded my huge pumpkin...

 

 

THIS is what was going on in the back seat...

 

 

Later that night, he managed to entertain everyone when we met for dinner...

 

 

 

Last week, Andy had to run some errands and of course, Locklan went with him.

They invited me!

 

Locklan loves the holiday displays (even though it's way too early),

But we did find something that was appropriate.

 

 

 

He had a ball!

 

 

What a love bug!

 

~sigh~

 

You can't imagine how much I love that little guy!