Pass the candy?

43 Halloweens have now passed me by...the time between each gets closer and closer. This year was especially fun with Little Mr dressed in a penguin suit for his first Halloween! He was about as impressed with it as I am with this election. Aaaggghhhh! 4 more days and it will all be over...but like the last election 4 yrs ago, it will be just the start of yet another 4 yrs of campaigning that we have been victim to by Obama and Hillary in the last 4. Oh my gosh... I feel like screaming and some hair pulling...only I don't have much hair left to pull.

This morning was an especially nice and sunny Friday morning...I met an old friend for breakfast for a short visit. She has always been like a big sister to me...I remember thinking she was just sooooo cool when I was a kid. She still is...and has always marched to her own drum which I must say I admire. Thanks Denice for lending an ear...you are a good friend whom I am glad to know!

We had the joy of two kids coming home today...first our oldest daughter Linds showed up with hogging the baby on her mind...=O) thanks for being such a wonderful aunt to that little guy Sparkie...you have grown into such an amazing young woman that dad and I are SOOOO proud of! Hoping your process of applying to medical schools goes well...you deserve it!

Brooks was our other pop in - arriving tonight about 7 and also looking first for his little nephew. Rylan - you are such a big hit with everyone! But why not??? You are one darling little boy - we are so blessed to have you in our family! Brooks will be around for the weekend to take in some hockey scrimmages tomorrow. I will be heading to GF to pick up Lacey and Rylan, who went home with Lindsey tonight to spend the night. Lindsey plans on practicing her mothering skills while taking care of the baby and giving her little sister a break...and some uninterrupted sleep!

It is time for me to hit the pillow - having been a very long day...I was up at 3am with little man and slept just a little before the alarm blasted me out of bed. It's been fun.

Goodnight

Woke up to snow!

Howling winds gusting to fifty mph and a cold draft woke me up today...opened the blinds and couldn't believe we had snow! The ground was white and with the strong winds it was somewhat like a mini blizzard. Guess we made it almost to the end of October before the snow flew this year so we can't complain. Last night the boys helped me clean up the last of the cut hydrangeas and emptied the big flower pots so at least those things are done before winter sets in for good.

It was a lazy but busy day. Because of the nasty weather we stayed home all day today so laundry and cooking were at the top of the list. Also got my bible study done early this week.

And of course as a Sunday, that means Brooks had to head back to Roseau. Of course mom looks forward to his return but it leaves the rest of us feeling sad. It is funny how each day he prepares to go, he always comes up with another 15 or 20 things he needs to do before he actually leaves. I call it stalling! I think he does too...glad he isn't in a hurry to leave us. He is such a great kid....so grown up and responsible in many ways, a good friend to so many kids of all kinds, doing great in school, loving hunting and hockey as he always has, probably wishing he could get a little fishing in though...praying he gets home safely as I always do. He and Phil should be back in Roseau any time now. He will call to let us know he made it so we can rest easy.

Rylan has had a few great days of smiles and attempts to coo....it is just soooo adorable! Thank you Lord for this very special little boy. Again, you knew what we needed at this very time. A HUGE BLESSING! Thank you thank you thank you...Thank you very Lord!

Goodnight kids...two at home, a grandson too, and two away, but always close in my heart.

Rain Rain go away...

I guess it could be worse....freezing rain would be for sure. So the light and steady rain that is falling today is actually kind of nice. The perfect day for a nap...just so happens that I got to stay home from the office today - and take a nice little nap on the couch in the sunroom which was wonderful. Upon rising from that short slumber, I made chocolate chip/m&m cookies. They are the cutest cookies with pink M&M's...taste pretty good too.

Lots of baby time today - seems like little guy has been with us for a long time, yet at the same time it is just like he was born yesterday. We are so thankful for his presence in this house as a new little life brings with it a certain HOPE. Everyone can use hope. Life can be so hard at times and without hope what would we have?

Aaron needs to sign on to get a little homework done so I will sign off now.

As usual...goodnight!

Bursting with joy for this new baby boy!

Haven't mentioned for a couple days just how wonderful it is to have a grandchild! Today I have spent lots of time with little Rylan...came home from work about 1pm and had the afternoon to hold and cuddle him. In between I put the pics we have so far into an album of his first year...but it is almost full and he is only 5 weeks old today! Oh oh...good thing we don't use regular film any longer!

The maple trees on our street are absolutely gorgeous right now ~ hoping the leaves hang on for a few more days. I think I counted 8 vibrant red trees coming down our cul-de-sac. How beautiful they will be when they are big! Hopefully we will still live here then - if not, we can always do a drive by viewing!

Lacey and I made a new Mexican dish for supper tonight...can't even remember the name right now but they were really good! I think the guys thought so too!

Soon time for Dancing with the Stars. Dishes are still waiting also. Better get busy!

Goodnight.

Home again...

Got home today after a 3 hour trip of silence...stopped in GF to see the kids, had lunch there thanks to Linds & Jesse, and got home about two. Hard to believe how many nice gifts Lacey and Rylan got yesterday at the baby shower. It looks like Christmas has hit our living room!

Had the pleasure of giving Rylan his bath tonight and getting his jammies on. He is now all tuckered out and sleeping in my arms. Just a quick update as I don't want to waste these precious moments typing on a computer. He is absolutely a joy.

So nice to be home again....

Goodnight.

I miss you little guy...=O(

Oh I forgot...I miss you little guy soooo much. For the past 3+ days you have been away visiting your daddy and his family. I don't like that much...would rather have you with us. But praying for you constantly. Love you so much Little Mr.
Grandma

Time for some sleep...zzzzzz

Today was fun. Started out with sleeping in which was a treat for me. I got up just before mom was about to come in and see if I was still alive. After some wakeup time we were off to the baby shower for Lacey and Rylan, hosted by Julie, Ben's mother. It was held at the Brickhouse and had a nice turnout, good food and many nice gifts for the little guy, which were much appreciated.

Later in the day we met my aunt Dubba and cousin Lisa and her daughter Hayley from the cities for dinner at the Roseau Diner. After more good food and lots of laughs we said our goodbyes and went back to mom's house for a quick visit with the baby. About 7 I picked up Darci and we went to the Brickhouse again...this time for a burger and fries and a nice visit. It felt good to be able to sit and visit with a good friend without the clock ticking. Just what I needed were a few more calories for the day!

Got home and decided to create a Facebook page...FINALLY after my friends and family have trying to talk me into it. I must admit it was fun! And loading up pictures was even more fun. Looking forward to keeping in touch with my cousins this way. Can we still laugh via the page? We always laugh when we see each other...good medicine for the soul. Now I am so tired I can't see straight so am off to bed. Hoping tomorrow will be a good day. It will. It always is.

Goodnight.

A Cool Crisp October Evening...

The smell of smoke in the air tonight brings back fond memories of being a kid in Roseau. The crunch of leaves under foot and the crisp bite in the air make for a good night of sleep. Sitting on the couch in the home in which I grew up feels good as I visit with my mom while watching policics on Fox News Channel. The fools that fool the fools...man are people ignorant or what. Maybe not the best idea in prelude to sleep. The need for blood pressure meds must rise dramatically in an election year. Come to think of it I forgot mine at home. But I will be home again tomorrow night so not so long to wait.

We arrived in Roseau tonight about 5pm. Lacey and Rylan came up yesterday so Lacey's best friend Katie rode along with me today. We did our best to pass time on the 3 hour trip without any radio or cd player. Not that it didn't work...it just didn't work completely. The volume was stuck. And it was loud! After visiting for the first hour or so we decided to try listening anyway. Then all the buttons quit working and it was blaring on a station that we didn't like ... at all ... trying to shut the stupid thing off didn't work either! Thank goodness after about 10 miles it finally shut off. We appreciated the peace and quiet the rest of the trip....through the ringing in our ears...or deafness.

My new grandson spent the first night away from our house since he got home from the hospital. I didn't like the quiet. We much prefer the sound of kids in our house, big or small. Or really small. Nothing quite like the sweetness of a new baby in the wee hours of the morning when they are hungry. The little baby bird movements are just too cute. I got the pleasure of an early morning feeding and snuggle the other day. The joy in my heart as I sat holding him in the dark was so wonderful. I look forward to the next time I can feed him in the wee hours =O)

Tomorrow we get the honor of attending a baby shower for Lacey and baby, hosted by Rylan's other grandma. It should be fun. Now it's time to hit the pillow for what is hoped to be a good night of sleep in my old room growing up. It is our son's room now. Hope he doesn't mind me using it for a night....he is back home in Moorhead so it is sitting empty.

Oh, I helped my friend name a puppy tonight....she asked me if I had noticed the white moon shape on it's back. I told her she should name it Sliver...like the sliver moon on her back. So she did! Holding a baby and puppy in the same day. Life is good.

Goodnight moon.

Oh what a wonderful life it is...=O)

Busy busy busy...today was a busy day. It seems that all this busi-ness is making life pass by oh so quickly, and much too fast. But tonight after all the busi-ness, holding a new baby in my arms just puts everything into perspective. One month ago today our first grandchild was welcomed into this world...the best day in a real long time! We have a grandson...a perfect little miracle...perfectly and wonderfully made by our loving Father, and just what we needed at exactly this time. I remember the day we found out about this special little baby our youngest daughter was expecting. It was a very busy Monday in January. In the middle of papers flying and watching ink dry on checks (it was payday and bill paying day) at the office, our oldest daughter called to say that our youngest daughter needed her mom. She was at her apartment with her older sister crying and crying. She wouldn't say what was wrong...so my husband told me to get going...and I jumped in the car and off I went to the rescue. The 75 mile trip was a trip indeed...all kinds of horrible thoughts racing through my mind. As I approached the exit from the interstate, I had myself so worked up it was hard to catch a breath. Just then my favorite little angel in heaven sent the song Brave to be played on the radio...just in time to remind me that I can get through this...we will get through this whatever it is. Thank you Bryce for that reminder! The song ended literally as I pulled into my parking spot..and up the stairs I went. Knocking on the door, my heart was knocking on the walls of my chest. Not sure what I would find inside, I walked in and was greeted by little Sparky...she brings cheer wherever she goes (dog). There on the couch sat my little Scrappie...(nicknamed as a little girl) now 19, a first year college student, with a red face and eyes swollen from crying, and crying and crying. She couldn't get a word out, so I asked if she would like her sister to tell me. She nodded yes - older sis gave a sigh, then said that I was going to be a grandma. I took a breath, thought "wow - at least she isn't sick...thank you God" and leaned over to give Scrappie a hug. She hugged me like she did as a little kid...kind of just clung to me, all the while still sobbing. I cried too - but said we will get through this together. And together we did. All of us. Mom, dad, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins... and of course friends, but mostly through God's grace. Nothing takes God by surprise a good friend told us, and from that day on, we awaited what was to be the greatest blessing we could have ever imagined! A beautiful little boy born Sept 16th, 2008 at 5:05pm. Oh the joy he has brought to this family already! One month has passed - and with each day he just gets more adorable! Thank you Lord for your faithfulness...for the greatest blessing we could have asked for...and just what this family needed at this time. Goodnight.