End of May - so soon!

Back from the cottage and had a wonderful, peaceful and quiet time at the cottage. It's hard to believe that Memorial Day was here at the lake. No one was around because Friday it rained all day so it kept weekenders away. Little did the people know that Saturday and Sunday were beautiful days - warm weather, sunbathing time and eating! What more could you ask for Memorial Day. Only one skier was out and very very quiet. I caught up on my reading, sewing a little bit and played Nintendo DS (backgammon and maj jong) alot! Monday was at least sunny but not as warm. We were still able to sit out and read, etc.

Dad was busy demo-ing (sp? sorry folks) the bathroom. What a great time he had with the sledge hammer - sorry Derek - you would have totally enjoyed it - Greg & Matt too! The bathroom tub is gone and most of the old wall board is gone. Plumber and electrician coming tomorrow to redo everything. We are very excited. We might not get up until the end of June, but we are excited to get the shower in and see what they have done. Even though this was a working weekend for Brian, he still got out to fish, helped neighbors put in their lift and dock and then in return they helped him move our lift out farther so we could get the boat out and of course, enjoyed talk and beer with the guys. It was fun crusin' on the lake again.

See you all next month!

Whirlwind May

I cannot believe that the end of May is here. What a whirlwind month it has been. After Amanda's and Lindsey's and Cole's visit here the beginning of May, I flew out to CA to stay with Amanda for 10 days while Matt was in the field. It was so much fun getting ready for the baby! BTW, have I told you lately, I'm going to be a "Grandma - Nana" again! If I haven't, well, I am going to be a grandma - nana again!!!!!!!!!! The end of June.

What did we do in CA? Well, we tried putting a dresser together - women power after all - so much for that - it didn't happen and Matt came home early and he had it together in an hour. We just couldn't get things flushed together on the sides so we stopped. Hence, we figured we couldn't do a bookcase either. Matt came home had the dresser done in an hour, the bookcase done, then he put together the crib. Oh well - everything is put together now and ready to go.

Amanda went to the doctors yesterday and he told her to pack her bags that the baby is in position to come out. Freaked her out I bet because she really has 6 weeks to go. Dad mailed a box back already for her with things she needed right away - like her diaper bag. He was very efficient. He also mailed Nina's gift from Amanda and myself, so now she has to mail them back to me by May 30. I might be going out and buying something else. Hopefully, I will get it by May 29.

We are babysitting Caleb today - I haven't seen him for two weeks and he was so excited when we pulled up to their home. He just kept yelling - Pappy and Nana. He loves playing outside and we took his "rocket ship car" for a ride. He likes pushing it down the hill and chases after it and it is such "hard work" pushing it back up the hill. We then went to Home Depot and Lowe's and saying "zoom zoom" in the cart. Then we went to lunch at "Zippy's" and he had a hot dog or should I say he had ketchp with a hot dog! He watched a half hour show and immediately took a nap. He was such good boy today! Did I mention how cute he is!!!!!!

We're off to the cottage for 5 days for Memorial Day weekend and do some demo work on our bathroom! We redoing the bathroom and I cannot wait to get rid of a 30 odd year bathroom. Have fun everyone on this holiday and stay safe! See you all when we get back!

Bad Grandma

Hi:  My daughter told me today that I have not been a very good blogger.  I don't know where the time goes but it's almost the end of May and it seems like the beginning of the year when I started this blogging.  Life, kids, tv, facebook, phone calls, church, etc. (not necessarily all in that order all the time) gets in the way.  I believe the last time I said I would blog about our vacation in Destin, FL with our kids, but that was back in March and this was May and a lot has happened between now and then.

We did have a fabulous time with all the family.  If you want to see pictures at this point, you may go to either Jess's picasa album or Lindsey's or stop by our home.  The kids got me a wonderful book with all the pictures of our trip to Destin for Mother's Day.  It is wonderful, and yes, I did cry.  Not to mention, it was the first time in years, we had all our kids here for a holiday.  It was so special!!!!!

Next, came Amanda's baby shower.  Lindsey and Cole flew up from Tampa, FL and Cole is oooohhhh sooooo cute!  So precious.  If you want to see pictures of Cole, please go to Lindsey's picasa album.   Amanda flew in from Oceanside, CA and we had a wonderful weekend.  There were 35 people here for the shower.  She got some awesome presents and will start with everything she needs (Matt too!)    

That evening -  Jess had Caleb's second birthday party at the Augsburgers.  Only 25 there - what a day.  Caleb is sooooo cute tooo!!!!!!!      He had so much fun when he realized that we were there for him and that all the presents were for him.  He had an Elmo Party.  His mother did a great job on her first decorated cake.   He knows what presents, cake, etc. are now.   Brian and I got him a sandbox that will be kept up at the cottage and he couldn't wait to play with it - or so he says.  Don't think he really knew what it was at that point.  Brian's Dad and sisters and cousins were there and they all got to meet Cole.  So much fun!

Sunday we had to say goodbye to Lindsey and Cole.  That was so hard.  I barely got to hold Cole - everyone wanted to hold him and I had to share.  But they left and Lindsey wasn't as nervous as she thought she was going to be.  She was very distracted by a cute little boy.  I can't believe we won't get to see him until August.  

Monday, Brian and Amanda met Derek and Caleb at Brookfield Zoo.  Caleb loves the zoo and Amanda loves Dinosaurs so they both had a great time.  I wasn't feeling well so I decided to stay home.  Boo Hoo!  I'm sure pictures will be up soon in Jess's blog.

Tuesday brought another baby shower for Amanda from her P.E.O. Chapter which was fun.  She got gift cards which will help even more with what is needed to start a family.  Wednesday brought goodbyes to Amanda, however, not for long.  Louise leaves on Monday for 10 days with her so she doesn't have to spend so much time alone since Matt is out in the field until the end of May.

This weekend brought Jess and Caleb up to our lakehouse for the weekend.  Derek was at his sisters graduation in New York and Brian was at a Men's Retreat with our church so Jess and I (& Caleb) went up Friday morning.  We had so much fun with Caleb.  He found out what a sandbox was and he loved it.   Water and sand, cars and trucks and cranes - what more could a little boy ask for.  We had such a blast.  And yes, Jess, even with those temper tantrums.  Amazing though, Pappy came up Saturday night and Caleb was as good as gold.  No tantrums at all, no time out corners.    Sunday,  Caleb helped Pappy burn sticks - he carried one in each hand to the pile but he helped.  Pappy taught him how to fish.  He held the fishing rod, shook the rod up and down and said, come fishy fishy fishy.  It lasted about two minutes but he fished.  Fish really wasn't biting for anyone though.  He was one tired little boy by the end of the weekend. 

I think this is up to date for now.  See you all at the end of June by the time I do it again.  LOL!