Archive for the ‘Life in General’ Category

Awesome Day

May 7, 2020

Happy Birthday to my bestest friend ever, Valery Griffiths! We have known each other since we were in the first grade. We have had our share of ups and downs but the ups and all the fun sure have outweighed the downs. So many memories come to mind when I think about us — high school, college years, marriages, babies, too many to even count. I am so lucky to have you as such a great friend! No matter how long between our talks these days, I know you are always there for me! Love you much and hope you had a fabulous day!!

Valery and I go way back as you see from above. So, of course, I thought of her as soon as I got up this morning. Hope she had a wonderful day.

Nothing too exciting through the day. Well, we did have a staff meeting! Wednesdays are fun because we get to see everyone. We all show up to the meeting wherever we might be…work, home, kitchen, living room, den…and today it was quite odd as everyone was either wearing red or had something red with them. Odd…oh wait…that’s Mr. Roberts favorite color (NOT). It has been great to still be able to have fun even if we can’t be together.

After work, I went on my daily walk. Today I talked to Julia (one of my nieces) while I walked 2.03 miles. I love being able to talk with my nieces and nephews whenever I feel like it. I have always loved being an Aunt and it is very special to me that they will take the time to still talk to me even as they grow older.

Check out the cool map Julia and I made on our walk.

Dinner was chicken alfredo made by Grace. Great job Grace! It was delicious and I even have some for lunch tomorrow.

After dinner, the girls decided I should go to the track with them. Grace was working on shot put and Olivia was going to ride her bike. I guess I’m walking. So, I called my mom and we chatted while I was walking. Had to go when Grace decided I needed to take some video of her throwing the shot-put. Oh, and then even I got a turn. My first throw of the season was NOT very good. But this old lady couldn’t even remember how I was supposed to do it!!

We then headed for home and just as I got home, I got to talk to another one of my nieces, Rowan. She called and chatted about her day, the money she is saving to buy more horses or even a cow, then she was telling me about the Mother’s Day art project she was making. She sent me a photo so I could see what she was doing. It was so cute. Then she said, “did you look at the other one?” what other one? oh I see it, there is another photo….

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…my heart melted. She is so sweet. Did I tell that I really love being an Aunt and I love my nieces and nephews? What an awesome way to finish the day.

 

Gold Stars?

May 6, 2020

Nothing too exciting today. Just another day at the quiet school. Somedays it is nice that there are no interruptions and you can actually get work done. But this is NOT how it is supposed to be.

My nephew Matt called me today. It was great to talk but had to hang up as my work phone was ringing and needed to take care of some business 🙂 But it was great and I told him I’ll call him soon – probably one evening when I’m out walking. Oh, I have to tell you that Matt is a Dr. doing his residency in Salt Lake City. We are so very proud of him! Matt is the oldest of my 17 nieces and nephews and he was definitely my first love! Him and I were such buddies while he was growing up. I’m happy that he will still take the time to talk to his old aunt 🙂

After work I went for my daily walk. Walked 1.97 miles while talking to my friend Lisa. It is always such a joy to talk with her. She’s someone  I can totally be myself with and we both just say whatever we feel like….even if it’s at the same time!!

While walking I came upon gold stars. Hmmmm…I wonder what those are from?? I decided that someone was trying to make me feel good. They wanted me to know that I deserve a “gold star” for walking so much these days.

Ya know, I really love these maps. I think I’m going to try to purposely walk in various directions so my maps don’t come out so square or rectangle. I think they should look more creative. So, perhaps in the next couple of days, I will come up with something that looks fun!

Olivia made tater tot casserole and we enjoyed dinner. When we were finished, I had a video call from Rowan. Well, she had a whole group video going. She was bored and decided that she should talk to Grandma, Aunt Teresa, Victoria, and Aunt Beth. Aunt Beth must have been busy as she never did answer. Victoria was headed outside to take Oliver for a walk. It was fun to walk around her apartment complex with her. She then went and sat in the dog park area in the middle of the complex so Oliver could get off his leash. How fun it was to watch him run around and then especially fun when some children from the apartments came out to play with him. You could tell one of them had played with Oliver before because she was not afraid of him jumping on her and she was trying to tell her friends it was ok too.

Always fun to video chat with those you love 🙂

 

Another week in quarantine begins…

May 5, 2020

 

Another Monday arriving at school knowing that there won’t be any students in the building. So sad and I miss all the kids. The school building is supposed to have children in it! Today is our weekly drop-off/pick-up of school work. It’s nice to get a chance to see a few of the families.

Today was also our spring flower delivery day. I went down and helped unload the truck and sort some of the flowers. Then, back up to help answer phone, empty and sort papers from folders. Got lots of steps in today.

Went for a walk when I got home, tried to call a couple of people but they weren’t available to talk. So, I called my phone buddy who I know is ALWAYS available to talk…my dear niece Rowan. We have all kinds of phone conversations at all times of the day. Hope she always calls me when she needs someone to talk to.

Got home from the walk just in time for a delicious dinner of stuffed peppers made by Grace. Her first attempt and they were very good. The kids and I then decided that whoever wanted to go for a walk could go and get ice cream. WAIT — who made up that rule???!! I normally jump in my car and drive to the ice cream store. Oh, ok…I guess I did? This quarantine thing is definitely getting to me….I chose to walk to the ice cream store. Wow… very odd….

 

Another beautiful day

May 3, 2020

Girls and I went out and about to run errands, cleaned up a few things in the house, and Olivia put fertilizer on the lawn. Grace then needed to finish some homework and Olivia sorted through clothes. I went outside and sat in my “home office” and did a couple things for work. It was so beautiful out there.

Later, Grace and I headed up to the track to take some more photos of her. Senior year is just such a bummer for her. We then came home and took a walk while we were waiting for dinner to be finished.

The day was relaxing but fun as well.

 

Summer??

May 2, 2020

Oh my heavens, today felt like Summer! Is it? Ok, fine, my son brings me to reality and tells me that technically it is only spring and we live in Michigan.

The girls and I worked out in the yard digging rose of sharon trees to move out in front of the house, moving some bricks, breaking back the trumpet vine, mowing the lawn, cleaning deck furniture and setting up the summer outdoor living space.

We are looking forward to Monday when the flowers arrive and we can plant some prettiness in our flower boxes, pots, and chairs.

We were then able to relax a bit outside while Noah grilled pork steaks for dinner.
I enjoyed taking pictures and videos of the kids as they were enjoying the outside as well.

The sounds of summer were great as well…Grace playing her guitar, the girls singing without a care in the world, and the sizzling of steaks on the grill.

 

What the Heck am I doing?

May 2, 2020

Ok, I don’t really know what is wrong with me….I got up and left my house at 7:45 a.m. to go for a WALK…. What?? That is not me. This quarantine is really doing something weird to me. We have to get back to normal soon!

I met up with Brenna as soon as I got to my deck. So great to catch up with her as I wandered the town. Actually I think I just wander around now to see what kind of map I can make 🙂

Have a great day! I might chat with you later – it’s supposed to be a beautiful day and we hope to get a few things done outside 🙂

 

Mapping a 5k

May 1, 2020

What in the world just happened??

It started as a casual walk with Grace and Olivia. Just to leave home, walk to the cemetery, walk around the big loop and back home just to map where I will really have to walk when I’m ready to do a 5K for time. 

We left, headed up the street, just walking, talking and enjoying the outdoors. Got to the cemetery and decided we probably just need to do the big outer loop. So we kept going. Girls had to make a pitstop so I told them I would keep walking. They have long legs, they can catch up. 

I got almost to the end of the path and called to see where they were? They were just checking stuff out and exploring. I told them I was not going to stop because I was walking at a pretty good speed. 

Got home and I had just walked a 5K in 59:00 minutes. So I’m pretty sure when I get ready to do these virtual 5Ks I can definitely do it in less than 54. 

 

 

The Gambler

March 21, 2020

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The news this morning was so sad….Kenny Rogers passed away on March 20 at the age of 81. He was such a legend. I LOVED listening to him especially when I was younger. The photo above is definitely two of my favorite singers – Kenny and Lionel.

Grace comes downstairs shortly after I had read the article. I told her I was sad because Kenny Rogers had passed away last night. She said, “Whose that?” WHAT??? How in the world does she not know who Kenny Rogers is?? I can’t believe she just said that. I told her some of the songs and she said, “Oh I know those songs.” But, I guess she had no idea who sang them.

Noah then called to tell us he was probably coming home tonight. He really wanted to stay at the fraternity but he has some concerns and thinks it’s best to come home. So, the girls and I have a lot of work to do today as we had been packing up all of the things in Victoria’s room and stacking boxes in Noah’s room. Guess we need to move things around to let Noah have his room back since he will be moving home.

While I was on the phone with Noah, I told him that I was sad because Kenny Rogers died. He said, “Who?” Really??? Whose children are these? I can’t believe these comments.

Oh, here comes Olivia….I say, “Kenny Rogers died.” She said, “Aww, that’s sad.” I looked at her and said, “Do you even know who he is?” She said, “No. It’s just sad someone died.” What is it with these people??? Well, I played Kenny Rogers music for awhile and they were like, oh we know those songs.

We worked in Victoria and Noah’s room and actually got Noah his room back. He arrived home around midnight. So, guess we are back to a family of five.

 

 

 

 

Making Bread

March 19, 2020

March 19

After searching for flour and/or bread flour for a week, my husband finally hit the jackpot and found some. He had this great idea that we needed to make bread. So, he dug out the bread maker (that I’m sure hasn’t been used in 18 years or more) and checked it out and decided to make bread. Of course he really didn’t know what he was doing but we did end up with a loaf of bread to eat with the cheddar broccoli soup Grace made for dinner.

Ok….we had to laugh at our square loaf of bread. He said, I guess I didn’t put in enough yeast. I asked how much he used, and he said the there wasn’t quite enough in the package so he decided it was good enough. I told him that as he can see, you really should use the exact amount of yeast the recipe calls for. Oh well, it was still tasty.

Quarantine Phone Fun…

March 18, 2020

March 18

One thing with this quarantine is it is giving me the opportunity to catch up with people I haven’t talked to in awhile as well as talk with Victoria more often.
When we talk to Victoria it’s fun to also talk with Oliver and watch him play. He can really make us laugh. Tonight Victoria and Henry were playing catch (keep away) with a hat and Oliver ran back and forth between and tried to get the hat. Then, as he was running for it, Henry quickly put it on his own head. It was hilarious…even though Oliver had his eyes on that hat he had absolutely now idea where it went. He looked high and low, under all the furniture, around things, he kept looking everywhere. It was so funny to watch him searching everywhere!

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No School…Homeschool…

March 16, 2020

My day began as normal, get up at 4:45 a.m. put on my workout clothes and go to the gym for the 5:30 a.m. CrossFit class. Finished the workout, felt good – feel like I’m really getting somewhere finally!

Home to shower, eat breakfast and off to work. However, I felt a bit uneasy today…knowing that I was going to school and would not see any students as well as knowing I was leaving my daughters at home to do home school. This is definitely not what any of us would have ever dreamed would happen.

Michigan’s governor has placed the state under a Stay Home order until April 6th. Ok, so we can do this for 3 weeks. One of those is to be spring break so we’ll get through.

So weird at school, hallways empty but lockers still decorated and papers hanging out the bottom of some.

At home the girls set up designated school work spaces. They have their work so hopefully they can do well on getting things done. They have a schedule of when/how their work will get done just as if they were at school.

Day 1 seemed to go ok. It’s not the same but temporarily they will be ok and this will work.

 

 

life comes to a screeching halt…

March 13, 2020

and just like that….Friday the 13th (March)… school and all of our activities are postponed.

Postponed? …how does that work? When will we begin to do things again? When will school start again (very important question when the oldest child at home is a high school Senior)? When will track season begin? (both girls at home are Varsity athletes and really looking forward to Track)

We woke up this morning to the news that our governor is closing all large events and all K-12 schools.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-5 to cancel all events over 250 people and all assemblages in shared spaces over 250 people beginning on Friday, March 13 at 5:00pm and ending on Sunday, April 5 at 5:00pm. The governor’s executive order also closes all K-12 school buildings to students from Monday, March 16 until Sunday, April 5.

What?? Today is the last day of school for three weeks?? What about the boys district final basketball game??

Headed to school knowing today was our last day for three weeks. Talking to children in the lobby before school where many were trying to figure out if this is good and fun to be gone from school or what is really going to happen? Some hadn’t heard anything and wondered if it were true? Some children asked me if I would be sure to change lunch tables when they come back and even told me what tables they wanted to sit at. I told them they would have to remind me when we returned.

Teachers constantly busy throughout the day between teaching classes, discussing current situation with students, and preparing all the materials to send home with students to be sure to cover two weeks of study at home. Thank goodness one week that we will miss was already our planned spring break.

The end of the school day seemed a bit sad as we said goodbye to students and told them we’d see them in three weeks.

My daughters were sad as they attended a track team meeting after school and were told they could not practice as a team until further notice. However, their coach gave them workouts to do on their own or if a few of them wanted to get together and do things that would be great.

How disappointed my girls were when they came home. No track until who knows when. But, they both still had attitudes of we have to keep working for when track does start.

The worldwide pandemic of the Covid-19 virus is definitely changing our world.