The Winter Blahs

Nothing much new here. Just wanted to let you all know that I am still alive and kicking (well, thinking about kicking, anyway. I'm not too active in this below zero weather.)

Painted my fingernails, . . . did a couple loads of laundry . . . took Waldo out for a couple of short walks . . .still have headaches all the time . . .

I work tomorrow - teach first grade in the afternoon.

Thursday I take Waldo to the groomer. He is so matted up. He likes his sweater, but it makes a mess of his hair!

Blah . . . Blah . . . Blah . . .

Some of the people I love. Thinking of them makes me feel better. Talking to them is even better!

More Pictures

I think my tests on Mon. came out good. I go back to see the dr. next Tue. to discuss the results. Then he will generate a report and send copies to me, my lawyer, and my main dr. It took me all day yesterday to recuperate from the day. I had to pass up a teaching job yesterday because I was so exhausted. Waldo is so sweet. He lets me sleep as much as I need. He takes a nap when I do.

Here are some more pictures from Kerry. Boys working hard :) Halloween 2007. Knights from different eras

Is she a cutie or what!? :)

Note to other kids - Send me pics of ALL my beautiful grandchildren and I will post them to show all the other relatives how lucky I am!

More Holiday Fun

Waldo is checking out what Anna has in her hand. He discovered that Anna was often a good source for treats.

Molly loves Anna and lets her do anything at all to her. Anna was really upset when I wouldn't let her sit on Waldo's back like this (Anna weighs 25 lbs. and Waldo weighs 15 lbs!) She soon accepted the fact that Waldo like different kind of lovings - patting on the head and kisses (usually on Waldo's soft hair).

Anna painstakingly moved her toys, 1 by 1, from 1 laundry basket to this one, then dove in head first and squirmed her way around til she was sitting, and picked up a book to read for awhile. Of course, her blanket had to be there, too.

Anna has always liked her blanket, but became really attached to it after her ordeal in the hospital. She had that with during, and in between procedures, needles, etc., the blanket and Mom and Dad were there for comfort.

She is reading her favorite book Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed As someone reads it to her, when you come to the "bumped their head" part, she pokes herself on the head until you get close to "and the dr said" then she uses that pointer finger and shakes it like the dickens. Of course, that may only be cute to parents and grandmas, but then I'm her grandma. . .

Back in the Nest

I love visiting, especially family, but I sure do enjoy being in my own nest after a while away from home. I doesn't matter where that nest is, just so it is MY nest.

Ian and Sam looking at one of their presents, a Star Wars Book.

Here are a few pics from my vacation.

Anna is learning to dress herself!

Molly and Waldo had a great time. They became good buddies.

Welcome to 2008 !!

I am almost at the end of visit to Kerry and Travis' families. We have had a great time. I spent the first week with Travis and Erica and boys. We attended church and holiday parties at Donna's, Sonja's, and Barb's. Lots of visiting and eating! Then Travis and Erica came to Kerry and Troy's for Christmas day. Troy made a turkey and HUGE roast. So we had lots of leftovers that Troy creatively turned into good stuff. For New Years Eve Waldo and I accompanied Kerry and her family to their friend's house about 1 1/2 hours away. We had a fun evening: there were 5 adults, 1 baby, 5 boys, 5 dogs, and 2 cats! Fun was had by ALL! Friday I will again be going to Travis and Erica's. I will fly back to MN on the red-eye Friday night. It has been so good to be with the kids and the grandkids again. Travis's oldest boy, Tanner, will be 13 on Feb 2. He is as tall as Travis - 6 feet! Russell was 7 in October. He is in 2nd grade. He enjoys taking piano lessons and is doing quite well. Tanner is in Jr. Hi. and quite the teenager. He got an MP3 (or something like that) player for Christmas, so he walks around with his ears plugged in all the time. Ian is in 5th grade. They don't have the opportunity to take keyboarding in their school in that grade, so he does it at home regularily as homework as it will come in handy when he is in middle school next year. He is a voracious reader. Right now he is at the library with his mom, at his choice. Sam is watching cartoons and Anna is asleep. Sam has a good teacher and he likes him a lot, but he does not like school. It come a bit difficult for him yet, and he doesn't like to work at it. We were practicing his flash cards the other day and he was struggling. I told him he could quit when he got 5 in a row correct. ZIP! The next 5 went through, all correct! And when considering spending his Barnes and Nobles gift card ($15) on something for $11, he quickly said, "But that will only leave me with $4 left! Anna is a peach. She was 1 on Aug. 22. Her main means of communication seems to be a high pitched squeal, followed by a pitiful covering of her eyes and breaking into heart-breaking sobs. She is beginning to see that that is not really as productive as she would like it to be. I got some good pictures of everyone (on Kerry's camera), so after she e-mails them to me, I will post some. Hope you all had happy holidays and that 2008 will be full of blessings for you and your loved ones.