Holiday continuation

As a brief continuation to the story...

My grandmother (dad's mom) returned home from a walk sometime when I was using the computer. So I visited with her & had some dinner (or supper, whichever you call the evening meal, we always confuse each other on our afternoon & evening meals!). . . . When my mom was done with her kibitzing over Italian sandwiches, she came over to visit with my aunt & her family -- got to meet Sami for the first time even! Then as the evening wore on I hung out more with my dad & Marcy. Got to give him his belated birthday gift. At this point I don't recall many of the specifics (I should have gotten to this sooner so it would be fresher in my mind... That & the times that I did try I was having blogger issues (as in the site, not as an adjective describing me). So the delay wasn't entirely my fault. Anywho...)

The next day we went out for breakfast, as I mentioned. Had some really good pumpkin pancakes on the breakfast buffet. Yum! My recommendation for certain. After that, I was just waiting on my ride (my mom)... I'm not used to being without a vehicle there. Oh well. Once she was available we stopped one last time to see my grandmother (her mom). Then we were off. Sort of... We stopped at a truly Berks grocery store to get some ring bologna & a very delicious Pennsylvania Dutch soft pretzel (I'd like to know what makes them that, nevertheless, it was GOOD!). But that's not all, we also stopped (for quite some time due to my repeated circling of the store) at Ten Thousand Villages. If there is one near you, & you've never been, go. Another recommendation from me. Then we were (really) on the road back to my house.

That evening we tortured Keith with Hairspray (just long enough to eat Chinese, then he left -- guess musicals aren't his thing!). The next day we did a little shopping & started to make my rumballs for the holidays. We didn't get through it all together since she had to be back on the road to make her way back to her own house -- another 3 1/2 hours for that one! Including a few breaks here & there, it took me nearly as long as her drive to finish the rumballs! (Sure hope they taste good after all that!)

And that's the end of the story. Hope your holiday was a good one too! :)

Photo Update, Part 1

Just a few pictures with the new hopscotch...

A little bit of jumping, some napping, somersaults...

Claudia, Sami & Mommom -- such cuties!















Shake It!


Remember... Always Rock On!

So far so good

I'm sitting here with no one around... since the internet is available I thought hey, why not do a little blogging!

A recap...
We got moving bright & early yesterday, without too many delays even (our goal was 8:30 & we were out of there around 8:40 -- pretty good I'd say!). We made it to my cousin's with time to spare (first to arrive for that matter!). The small masses (dad's side of the family) arrived bit by bit for us to have our holiday meal around 1pm. After that we just hung out for quite some time. Little bit of socializing, drinking, football viewing... Sami was certainly on center stage. She's such a cutie! [I'll have to add photos later when I can either figure out my dad's computer or get home & do it there.]

I can't blame it on the turkey, so I'll have to say between the long car ride, lack of normal activity, and perhaps the turkey, I was exhausted. (Oh yeah, still not sleeping well -- that definately adds to it!) The four of us (Tami, Tim, Keith & myself) attempted to watch a movie before bedtime -- Tami & I missed some of it, but I still got the general idea. It was "The Insider" -- not one I recognized or would have thought to rent, but it was pretty good (It was all about Big Tobacco being exposed.). And since it was a long one, even with my occasional naps I could still follow the story line.

Then this morning Keith & I went to IHOP to meet my mom, grandmother & aunt (mom's side of the family) for a late breakfast before my aunt was starting her trek home. That place was crowded! It was good we got there first -- we waited a half hour outside, in the cold weather before they got there. There is no way my grandmother could have waited that long, let alone outside standing. (There was absolutely no room to wait inside -- both waiting area or between the sets of doors.) Keith's theory behind the place being so small: "If you're waiting, it has too be good. Right?" Good rationalizing dear! (Afterall, it was his pick!) And it was good. We're both fans of breakfast food. (Since I don't get to eat all the wonderful breakfast foods at breakfast (no time for all that prep work), we often have them for dinner. His sister is quite amused by that!)

Anyway... My aunt was on the road again (the tune immediately pops in my head with that phrase "on the road again...") and my mom was taking my grandmother home... so we briefly stopped in to see my dad at work. Then to my grandmother's (same one) for some kibitzing (Verb #2) and picture taking... [Again, will have pictures for this later...]

When it was time for Keith to hit the road, he dropped me off in W. Reading... with no one to say good bye to. Not at my grandmother's, dad's or aunt's... I know my dad & aunt are working, but I don't know where anyone else is. The dogs are definately over home -- they came to the door promptly when I knocked, but no one with an opposable thumb to open the door! (By the by, "over home" is simply a phrase we, the family members, have taken on to refer to my aunt's house. Which actually used to by my house too when my parents were married... so it's 'home' for us all. Geographically it is two doors down from my dad/grandmother's current house. I want to start talking about the neighborhood & structure of the row homes, but I know that would really start a ramble... So I'll cut myself off here.)

(I just think I'm getting a bit punchy. Lack of sleep. No one to talk to... Ramblings to entertain myself... sorry.)

Let's see... I was intending to use this time to do more visiting. But there's no one to visit with. Not that I really want to, but I can't even go do shopping without a car. The outlets are within walking distance, but it's cold out (& I finally feel warm). That and I prefer to shop with someone than alone. (I don't count strangers. I don't enjoy the crowd in the slightest bit.) So I guess I'll just try to keep busy until later. After dinner I know I'll get more visiting in when my mom & grandma return (they'll be off soon to visit with more family & enjoy their Italian sandwiches - part of their tradition...) to see my aunt & cousin (opposite sides of the family). So I should have more pictures then too.

Tomorrow... Sometime after breakfast with my dad & Marcy, my mom & I will follow the turnpike to colder weather at my house... Until then, behave Keith! :)

Ok, rambling time over. Hope everyone had a peaceful & all around good holiday!

Happy Turkey Day

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow morning, bright & early, we will be hitting the road to arrive just in time for a feast with my dad & family. Hopefully we'll have enough time to see & visit with everyone. I'll be returning home Saturday with my mom (she's already there) while Keith will be arriving home Friday.

For all others traveling too... be safe & enjoy the hard work of others!

Eew, gross

I was cleaning out my e-mail inbox & found a site my mom sent to me. Here's her description of the site:

You can find instructions on making all kinds of things (weird and otherwise), e.g. a toothbrush laboratory or a duct tape wallet or homemade play-doe. You never can tell what you'll find.

So I went to check it out. Not exactly what I was expecting! The first thing I saw was a mouse-mouse on the main page. I'm sure it (the main page) looked nothing like that when she saw it... With that, it may change again when you go to check it out. Here's the Mouse-Mouse direction page so you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Gross.

My visit

A day & hundreds of miles later...

Friday we had sitters & the 3 adults got to go to the movies. Two different ones in fact -- according to the ticket lady, it's the way to keep marriages going. KC & I saw "Martian Child" & Will saw "Dan In Real Life" -- thumbs up all around. Then for our late night dinner. I managed to get 4 blueberry bagels for under a buck. I guess that's the late night special! Works for us -- breakfast the next day was taken care of. (And the last day for that matter!)

Saturday KC & I managed to escape to Grove City for a little shopping. Only after we found a parking space -- that took a lot of driving to accomplish. But we did & managed to find some good buys. As well as some stores to bypass all together -- that place was crowded! (Spouses & kiddos are best at home!)

Sunday we took Mo & made our way to Ikea. We had one hour to peruse while Mo enjoyed the company of other munchkins & a pit of colorful balls. (I think she had a good time... Her grumply pants were put on with her coat when it was time to go.) KC & I were able to put our long lost techie skills to work loading the vehicle. It was a breeze! After that we were off to Max & Ermas -- thee best place for soft pretzels & cheese -- I highly recommend it!

It was a great visit. I hope the future ones aren't too far & few inbetween. :)

What A Week

It's been a crazy week. I feel like I'm all over the place -- mentally, physically, the whole kit-n-kaboodle. (What does that mean anyway?)
A few weeks ago I was planning and looking forward to a trip to visit a friend over the upcoming long weekend. Then plans were changed for my sister-in-law renewing her vows (short story version). Still could travel, just had to delay things. But hey, that's a happy reason, so I can't complain. As the work week approached there was just a mental craziness, trying to adjust my schedule to make up some hours for the short week (added on top of an atypical routine for the child I work with, thus a strange routine for myself as well...) I don't know about you, but Sunday morning rolls in & I'm already thinking about work. (Just can't ever enjoy the last day off -- why is that?!?!) Anyway, get myself settled into my "odd" week, the as I'm getting myself ready for bed Monday night, we have sad news hit... Keith's Grandmother passed away. Painlessly & with a long loving life behind her. And with many, many loved ones to cherish her in their memories -- 9 children of her own, their children and her children's children. (I think there were 26 great-grandchildren mentioned in the newspaper.)
After the large (& by that I mean HUGE) gathering of people to celebrate Leona's life I was able to continue with my travels & visit loved ones. Now I sit across the room as KC sleeps off a headache -- nothing exciting, just motherhood... that & a late night of sharing a good movie & (an attempt at) highlighting her hair.
It's been a long week.