Dancing With The Stars has some fierce competition on the dance floor this time around! So many of the Stars could be contenders once they get their dancing legs under them. E1 is rooting for a Cheryl Burke hat trick, and E2 is rooting for Elena (don't know her last name), which amuses me; they're both rooting for the professionals and NOT the stars.
I like the changes ABC has made to Dancing this season; letting the competitors complete two dances before the elimination gives the Stars a chance to overcome any first night jitters. I personally thought Billy Ray Cyrus needed to GO after the first week - his performance was barely a smidge up from the awful first performance given by Tucker Carlson last year. However, Billy Ray redeemed himself this week and I can see how there might be some potential...if he manages to keep his hair out of his face for the rest of the dances.
I was sad to see Paulina go tonight. She had just as much of a chance as many of the others, and she already had the posture and extension stuff down pat. So poised! Paulina holds a special place in my heart because she was well admired by my college roommate. I had no idea who she was until I met Laura, and now whenever I see Paulina I flash back to Estee Lauder ads posted on the dorm room walls. Last week, when Dancing kicked off this season, I pointed her out to Rob with the intention of explaining Laura's admiration...but he cut me off with:
"Yeah, she was a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model."
Admiration from all sides.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
A New Beginning
Gage is getting his new kidney today! Please keep his family, and his kidney donor Jody's family, in your thoughts, prayers, good vibes, positive affirmations today.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Oh What A Night
Late December back in sixty-three
What a very special time for me
As I remember what a night
Hmmm, if only. Last night was humid and stuffy, and even though we had the window fan running it still wasn't as cool as I like it to be when I'm sleeping. When I finally quit reading (one of the Myron Bolitar novels by Harlan Coben) and turned out the light I tried to be as still as possible and think cool thoughts. It must have worked at some point, but then I was quickly awakened by a noise that caused my whole body to jolt. I wasn't sure what had caused my sudden waking, and I laid there with my heart pounding wondering what it was I'd just heard - if anything.
I didn't have to wait long before I heard a cough and got up to investigate. E3 was huddled on the floor on Rob's side of the bed. When I asked what she was doing she said, "I'm cwying because I have a coffee-throat." We trooped off to the kitchen for some of the prescription cough medicine she was taking last week and a drink of water, and then I tucked her back into bed. I had taken the bed rail off of her bed this past weekend, so I was able to snuggle in next to her with little effort. She didn't actually request my presence, and I probably shouldn't have started that (it could become a nightly request). However, I usually rock her for a bit when she gets up in the middle of the night while we wait for the meds to begin working - and I had also recently moved the rocking chair out of her room (she needed the space for the little table and chairs in there so she could have parties for her stuffed pals).
I found myself sucked back in time to the days when E1 first started sleeping in that bed and we would snuggle in bed with her until she fell asleep. Many nights, it was a battle to remain awake so the rest of the evening could be spent as we wished (Rob lost the battle more frequently than I - that's where my inability to just drop off to sleep came in handy), and we'd find ourselves peering at her little face in the darkness trying to determine if she was really sleeping. Had her breathing slowed? Was she still rubbing my thumb? Are her eyes open or closed? It wasn't until E2 came along that I finally braved leaving her in there while I went to 'check' on the laundry and returned to find her sleeping. New parents can be such suckers.
In under two minutes E3 had rolled away from me, and finding myself wide awake, I wandered downstairs to see the end result of an Ebay auction (I won!). As I turned to leave the office I found E2 standing in the doorway. When I asked why she was up she tearfully told me, "Because I'm itchy and my body hurts." I sat down with her on the bottom step and checked her over, immediately imagining some sort of allergic reaction and scanning her for hives. She said her body hurt all over. I rubbed some Aveeno on her as I reminded her that she'd spent the better part of the day fishing at the pond at the family farm and that she was probably itchy from playing in the tall grass and such.
Despite her skepticism about only needing lotion, E2 trudged off to bed and I was once again at loose ends. I made a short to-do list for the week -because if those thoughts are out of my head then I don't have to worry about them as I'm falling asleep - and crawled back in bed with the knowledge that I should at least attempt sleep.
Of course the alarm went off to soon this morning, but last night was enough of a reminder that we've got it pretty easy in the sleeping department these days.
What a very special time for me
As I remember what a night
Hmmm, if only. Last night was humid and stuffy, and even though we had the window fan running it still wasn't as cool as I like it to be when I'm sleeping. When I finally quit reading (one of the Myron Bolitar novels by Harlan Coben) and turned out the light I tried to be as still as possible and think cool thoughts. It must have worked at some point, but then I was quickly awakened by a noise that caused my whole body to jolt. I wasn't sure what had caused my sudden waking, and I laid there with my heart pounding wondering what it was I'd just heard - if anything.
I didn't have to wait long before I heard a cough and got up to investigate. E3 was huddled on the floor on Rob's side of the bed. When I asked what she was doing she said, "I'm cwying because I have a coffee-throat." We trooped off to the kitchen for some of the prescription cough medicine she was taking last week and a drink of water, and then I tucked her back into bed. I had taken the bed rail off of her bed this past weekend, so I was able to snuggle in next to her with little effort. She didn't actually request my presence, and I probably shouldn't have started that (it could become a nightly request). However, I usually rock her for a bit when she gets up in the middle of the night while we wait for the meds to begin working - and I had also recently moved the rocking chair out of her room (she needed the space for the little table and chairs in there so she could have parties for her stuffed pals).
I found myself sucked back in time to the days when E1 first started sleeping in that bed and we would snuggle in bed with her until she fell asleep. Many nights, it was a battle to remain awake so the rest of the evening could be spent as we wished (Rob lost the battle more frequently than I - that's where my inability to just drop off to sleep came in handy), and we'd find ourselves peering at her little face in the darkness trying to determine if she was really sleeping. Had her breathing slowed? Was she still rubbing my thumb? Are her eyes open or closed? It wasn't until E2 came along that I finally braved leaving her in there while I went to 'check' on the laundry and returned to find her sleeping. New parents can be such suckers.
In under two minutes E3 had rolled away from me, and finding myself wide awake, I wandered downstairs to see the end result of an Ebay auction (I won!). As I turned to leave the office I found E2 standing in the doorway. When I asked why she was up she tearfully told me, "Because I'm itchy and my body hurts." I sat down with her on the bottom step and checked her over, immediately imagining some sort of allergic reaction and scanning her for hives. She said her body hurt all over. I rubbed some Aveeno on her as I reminded her that she'd spent the better part of the day fishing at the pond at the family farm and that she was probably itchy from playing in the tall grass and such.
Despite her skepticism about only needing lotion, E2 trudged off to bed and I was once again at loose ends. I made a short to-do list for the week -because if those thoughts are out of my head then I don't have to worry about them as I'm falling asleep - and crawled back in bed with the knowledge that I should at least attempt sleep.
Of course the alarm went off to soon this morning, but last night was enough of a reminder that we've got it pretty easy in the sleeping department these days.
Friday, March 23, 2007
A Friday of Randomness
As promised, the mud pit photo:
That's just off our back porch. There HAD been a little puddle of water at the end of that drain tube. They were having a parade of sorts; up the steps, off the end of the porch, and back around. It took a few buckets of water to clear the porch of most of the chunks.
Earlier, I caught the end of The Today Show and saw Pink sing Bobby McGee with only the accompaniment of an acoustic guitar. Smokin' Hot, I tell ya.
Our beloved Tony LaRousa has some egg (or is that A-B product?) on his face. Someone pass him a napkin.
It's Beloved Aunt Amy's birthday today. One of the best birthday-related stories she's ever told has to be the 'you look like a monkey and you act like one too' story of her former workplace. It's the one where a birthday card was passed around the office for signatures, and you know how that goes - you don't really read the card and maybe you half-listen to who the card is for before you scratch your name on and pass it down the line. Then, another card came around to be signed and when the recipient's name was mentioned someones memory piped up and asked, "Didn't we already sign a card for him/her?" Yes, they had, but the first card had been deemed inappropriate - and until that time, the person that had been charged to purchase cards and such had no idea of the offense. You see, someone actually took the time to consider the recipient (a black person) AND read the first card that had been purchased (Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you....you look like a monkey and you act like one too!). D'oh!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
I Am The Leader!
(Scene: last night at bedtime; the girls had just returned from their weekly date with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Carol.)
E2, kindergartner, was choosing her clothing for the next day and was telling me all about this new outfit she'd wear as leader of the day. For the past six months or so, she'd worn the same outfit on the days that she was the leader. However, this week has been warmer and she was straying from her self-imposed Leader Uniform.
"Well sweetie, that's a nice outfit, but remember you're not the leader tomorrow. You're the leader on Friday."
"No, Mom. I'm..."
I gave her my best 'talk to the hand' because the past week had been rife with her disagreeing with me over this, that, and the other. I can totally see the benefit of the Children Should Be Seen And Not Heard school of thought.
"I'll bet you a quarter I'm right. Go look at the calendar on the fridge."
She skittered down the hallway and returned seconds later.
"I'll take my quarter now."
"But Mom, I'm the leader after C and she was the leader today."
And so it began, round and round, point and counterpoint with her quickly moving to I'm-so-tired-I-must-collapse-into-a-heaving-ball-of-tears. When I could once again understand what she was saying, I reminded her that A's Mom brought his new baby sister in that day for show-and-tell - because HE was the leader. She claimed he was the leader the day before - his baby sister wasn't there for show and tell - she was just there.
We went out and looked at the calendar, lining up Friday with E2's name. She begged, while sobbing, to bring a show and tell item "just in case" and SWORE she'd leave it in her backpack if she didn't need it.
"What happens when Mrs R says it's C's day to be leader? Are you going to fall to the floor crying then too? Mrs R made the calendar. If the schedule had changed she would have sent home a note. Did she give you a note?"
Eventually, I agreed to the "just in case" plan, but then she wanted to pack a lunch as well. You see, the Kg leader gets to be first in line all day...BUT, when they walk to lunch the kids who brought lunch go first and the hot lunch line up after them....SO, E2 never eats hot lunch on the days she's the leader so she doesn't have to give up her first-in-line privileges.
It was late and I was SO not packing a lunch.
Then, I came up with the brilliant plan that we'd call Mrs R about 15 minutes before we left for school the next morning. She's usually at school by that time and we could have her clarify and proclaim me the winner of a quarter. Both parties came to an agreement and the negotiations were settled for the night.
This morning dawned gloomy and rainy and E2 was up earlier than usual. At 8am, I made the call. Mrs R picked up in the teacher's lounge and I explained that we needed clarification. She admitted she wasn't sure without looking at her schedule, so she'd call us back in a bit. I advised her we had a quarter riding on the outcome.
The return call came in...
"Well, you're both kind of right."
Turns out, one student was sick earlier in the week and she'd let another child take-on the leader responsibilities. So, E2 was correct, C had been the leader the day before. And, I was correct, because E2 wasn't scheduled as the leader until Friday. She asked if E2 would be willing to wait until Friday so they could swing back to their regularly scheduled leader list. We said that would be fine.
No quarter for me.
Then E2 said her tummy hurt. I took it to be a direct result of the anxiety surrounding the leader stuff and made sympathetic noises, but mostly ignored her. I sent her off to school, figuring once she got around her friends she'd forget all about it.
It should be noted that the few times I've done that with E1 it's always resulted in her up-chucking at school. I was with Grandma Carol, who knows my unfortunate "you're fine, just go to school" history, when I got the call at 12:45 that E2 wasn't feeling well. She laughed at me.
When we got home, I plunked a sleeping E3 into her bed and then asked E2, "Now what?"
"Well...I thought I might play Barbies?"
"UMMMM, No? You're sick and you need to let your body rest. Where do you want to take a nap - the couch or your bed?"
She suggested my bed so she could watch tv, and when I shot that down, she argued that she wasn't tired. Too bad, so sad, sister. I finally offered a compromise of sorts; she was to rest in her bed until E1 returned from school (about an hour) and then she was welcome to come out and play. She slept about two hours.
She seems fine, although she still has the stuffy nose that's been hanging around the last day or two. Grandma Carol reported that she'd gotten weepy after realizing she'd misunderstood about what they were having for dinner. Maybe she just needed a mental health day. She kept down a couple of crackers after her nap, so I let her play in a mud pit before tossing her in the shower and feeding her a bowl of cereal. I took pictures, of course, because that's what good parenting is all about (photos tomorrow because I'm too lazy to hike upstairs for the camera).
Is there a moral to all this? I don't know, I'm too exhausted from all the negotiations.
E2, kindergartner, was choosing her clothing for the next day and was telling me all about this new outfit she'd wear as leader of the day. For the past six months or so, she'd worn the same outfit on the days that she was the leader. However, this week has been warmer and she was straying from her self-imposed Leader Uniform.
"Well sweetie, that's a nice outfit, but remember you're not the leader tomorrow. You're the leader on Friday."
"No, Mom. I'm..."
I gave her my best 'talk to the hand' because the past week had been rife with her disagreeing with me over this, that, and the other. I can totally see the benefit of the Children Should Be Seen And Not Heard school of thought.
"I'll bet you a quarter I'm right. Go look at the calendar on the fridge."
She skittered down the hallway and returned seconds later.
"I'll take my quarter now."
"But Mom, I'm the leader after C and she was the leader today."
And so it began, round and round, point and counterpoint with her quickly moving to I'm-so-tired-I-must-collapse-into-a-heaving-ball-of-tears. When I could once again understand what she was saying, I reminded her that A's Mom brought his new baby sister in that day for show-and-tell - because HE was the leader. She claimed he was the leader the day before - his baby sister wasn't there for show and tell - she was just there.
We went out and looked at the calendar, lining up Friday with E2's name. She begged, while sobbing, to bring a show and tell item "just in case" and SWORE she'd leave it in her backpack if she didn't need it.
"What happens when Mrs R says it's C's day to be leader? Are you going to fall to the floor crying then too? Mrs R made the calendar. If the schedule had changed she would have sent home a note. Did she give you a note?"
Eventually, I agreed to the "just in case" plan, but then she wanted to pack a lunch as well. You see, the Kg leader gets to be first in line all day...BUT, when they walk to lunch the kids who brought lunch go first and the hot lunch line up after them....SO, E2 never eats hot lunch on the days she's the leader so she doesn't have to give up her first-in-line privileges.
It was late and I was SO not packing a lunch.
Then, I came up with the brilliant plan that we'd call Mrs R about 15 minutes before we left for school the next morning. She's usually at school by that time and we could have her clarify and proclaim me the winner of a quarter. Both parties came to an agreement and the negotiations were settled for the night.
This morning dawned gloomy and rainy and E2 was up earlier than usual. At 8am, I made the call. Mrs R picked up in the teacher's lounge and I explained that we needed clarification. She admitted she wasn't sure without looking at her schedule, so she'd call us back in a bit. I advised her we had a quarter riding on the outcome.
The return call came in...
"Well, you're both kind of right."
Turns out, one student was sick earlier in the week and she'd let another child take-on the leader responsibilities. So, E2 was correct, C had been the leader the day before. And, I was correct, because E2 wasn't scheduled as the leader until Friday. She asked if E2 would be willing to wait until Friday so they could swing back to their regularly scheduled leader list. We said that would be fine.
No quarter for me.
Then E2 said her tummy hurt. I took it to be a direct result of the anxiety surrounding the leader stuff and made sympathetic noises, but mostly ignored her. I sent her off to school, figuring once she got around her friends she'd forget all about it.
It should be noted that the few times I've done that with E1 it's always resulted in her up-chucking at school. I was with Grandma Carol, who knows my unfortunate "you're fine, just go to school" history, when I got the call at 12:45 that E2 wasn't feeling well. She laughed at me.
When we got home, I plunked a sleeping E3 into her bed and then asked E2, "Now what?"
"Well...I thought I might play Barbies?"
"UMMMM, No? You're sick and you need to let your body rest. Where do you want to take a nap - the couch or your bed?"
She suggested my bed so she could watch tv, and when I shot that down, she argued that she wasn't tired. Too bad, so sad, sister. I finally offered a compromise of sorts; she was to rest in her bed until E1 returned from school (about an hour) and then she was welcome to come out and play. She slept about two hours.
She seems fine, although she still has the stuffy nose that's been hanging around the last day or two. Grandma Carol reported that she'd gotten weepy after realizing she'd misunderstood about what they were having for dinner. Maybe she just needed a mental health day. She kept down a couple of crackers after her nap, so I let her play in a mud pit before tossing her in the shower and feeding her a bowl of cereal. I took pictures, of course, because that's what good parenting is all about (photos tomorrow because I'm too lazy to hike upstairs for the camera).
Is there a moral to all this? I don't know, I'm too exhausted from all the negotiations.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Previously Untitled
Does anyone know why it's suddenly so difficult to find Arm& Hammer powder laundry detergent?
I heard a report on the radio citing some study that found that women who suffer migraines are often likely to find relief after having a modified forehead lift. Plastic surgery fixes migraines! I DO have some lines in my forehead that I could do without...think insurance would cover that?
E3's cough is mostly better...but she's now shooting out Troll Bogies every time she sneezes and it isn't pretty. I'm wondering how long I should wait and see what happens with that. Things will probably jack-up on the funk-o-meter Friday evening as soon as the Dr's offices closes for the weekend.
I've been doing some cleaning, re-arranging, de-cluttering, which is mostly why I've been absent. It's been slow-going, but I feel like I'm accomplishing some things, so we'll see how long I stick with it. The more, the better!
Our trivia team tied for third with about five other teams; We're so AVERAGE. That won't stop us from trying again at another fundraiser next month - we're geeks that way.
Updates:
Skunk smell is really only noticeable when it's humid - such as rainy days like today.
Excercise streak - not sure about Rob, but I started again yesterday...and I still need to hop on the bike tonight, so that's why this is such a crappy post.
I heard a report on the radio citing some study that found that women who suffer migraines are often likely to find relief after having a modified forehead lift. Plastic surgery fixes migraines! I DO have some lines in my forehead that I could do without...think insurance would cover that?
E3's cough is mostly better...but she's now shooting out Troll Bogies every time she sneezes and it isn't pretty. I'm wondering how long I should wait and see what happens with that. Things will probably jack-up on the funk-o-meter Friday evening as soon as the Dr's offices closes for the weekend.
I've been doing some cleaning, re-arranging, de-cluttering, which is mostly why I've been absent. It's been slow-going, but I feel like I'm accomplishing some things, so we'll see how long I stick with it. The more, the better!
Our trivia team tied for third with about five other teams; We're so AVERAGE. That won't stop us from trying again at another fundraiser next month - we're geeks that way.
Updates:
Skunk smell is really only noticeable when it's humid - such as rainy days like today.
Excercise streak - not sure about Rob, but I started again yesterday...and I still need to hop on the bike tonight, so that's why this is such a crappy post.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Another Flash-In-The-Pan Post
I know.
E3 has a gross cough. If we could only convince her to work "AFLAC!" into the last hacking-gag thing she does we'd be in the money. After a weekend of high fevers, I took her to the dr on Monday. "Close to pneumonia" was declared and we came home with three meds - none of which she wants to take. She's being a trooper, however. Tuesday afternoon she woke from her nap with a fever, and by 8pm it was at 104F. I was having trouble not going into freak-out mode when the ibuprofen barely budged those numbers; thankfully, a bath helped somewhat. She awakened yesterday fever-free and extra-sassy, so I'd say she's on the mend.
Just in time for Princesses On Ice last night. WHEE! People, I paid $4.50 per bottle of water, which is just all kinds of crazy. The E's loved it, and it was a fun girls' night out with my mom, sister, her mother-in-law, and my niece J. I wonder how much longer E1 will want to attend those things. My Mom reported that E3's favorite part was the "little fat guys" (The Seven Dwarfs). I loved the Under the Sea number. I think E1 liked the lighted carriage of Cinderella's entrance. E2 loved it all, based on her loud! exclamations! E3 spent the performance on Mom's lap: "Grandma, you get to hold me on your lap." Sassy.
Today, I get to go find t-ball socks for E2. The smallest size they had at sign-up was an adult 6-7. E2 is our freakishly small child, if you recall, and I don't think she's going to want to wear hipster socks for her first ever t-ball experience. I hope the spirits of sporting goods are with me.
It's chilly-cold here this morning, after a few days of beautiful balmy weather. We left the windows open last night. I could have easily remained hunkered down amid my flannel sheets, but I had to roust the girls for school; poor frozen babies.
This weekend - trivia! Rob and I will attempt to stretch our brains in an effort to not be last in a trivia fundraiser. There will be snacks, so a good time will be had.
Monday - DANCING WITH THE STARS! We didn't see the first season - I'm not sure we knew it existed until they spoke of it during the second season, actually; if the promo's aren't aired during baseball season or on Nick Jr I'm pretty much out of the loop. BUT! The girls and I enjoyed the second season immensely. The third season we actually VOTED! Monday is the beginning of another season - WOOT! I've only seen a handful of the 'stars' participating, but it should be interesting. Some day I need to post about the history of ballroom dancing Rob and I have.
Updates:
Schwinn streak - busted when we went to Destin. Rob's back on track, but I SO am not.
Skunk smell - another trip through the automatic car wash yesterday, but the smell still lingers. I've allowed the van back into the garage, because the smell no longer permeates the house, but I leave the garage door open during the day for ventilation purposes. Yesterday was quite humid which really amped up the smell.
E3 has a gross cough. If we could only convince her to work "AFLAC!" into the last hacking-gag thing she does we'd be in the money. After a weekend of high fevers, I took her to the dr on Monday. "Close to pneumonia" was declared and we came home with three meds - none of which she wants to take. She's being a trooper, however. Tuesday afternoon she woke from her nap with a fever, and by 8pm it was at 104F. I was having trouble not going into freak-out mode when the ibuprofen barely budged those numbers; thankfully, a bath helped somewhat. She awakened yesterday fever-free and extra-sassy, so I'd say she's on the mend.
Just in time for Princesses On Ice last night. WHEE! People, I paid $4.50 per bottle of water, which is just all kinds of crazy. The E's loved it, and it was a fun girls' night out with my mom, sister, her mother-in-law, and my niece J. I wonder how much longer E1 will want to attend those things. My Mom reported that E3's favorite part was the "little fat guys" (The Seven Dwarfs). I loved the Under the Sea number. I think E1 liked the lighted carriage of Cinderella's entrance. E2 loved it all, based on her loud! exclamations! E3 spent the performance on Mom's lap: "Grandma, you get to hold me on your lap." Sassy.
Today, I get to go find t-ball socks for E2. The smallest size they had at sign-up was an adult 6-7. E2 is our freakishly small child, if you recall, and I don't think she's going to want to wear hipster socks for her first ever t-ball experience. I hope the spirits of sporting goods are with me.
It's chilly-cold here this morning, after a few days of beautiful balmy weather. We left the windows open last night. I could have easily remained hunkered down amid my flannel sheets, but I had to roust the girls for school; poor frozen babies.
This weekend - trivia! Rob and I will attempt to stretch our brains in an effort to not be last in a trivia fundraiser. There will be snacks, so a good time will be had.
Monday - DANCING WITH THE STARS! We didn't see the first season - I'm not sure we knew it existed until they spoke of it during the second season, actually; if the promo's aren't aired during baseball season or on Nick Jr I'm pretty much out of the loop. BUT! The girls and I enjoyed the second season immensely. The third season we actually VOTED! Monday is the beginning of another season - WOOT! I've only seen a handful of the 'stars' participating, but it should be interesting. Some day I need to post about the history of ballroom dancing Rob and I have.
Updates:
Schwinn streak - busted when we went to Destin. Rob's back on track, but I SO am not.
Skunk smell - another trip through the automatic car wash yesterday, but the smell still lingers. I've allowed the van back into the garage, because the smell no longer permeates the house, but I leave the garage door open during the day for ventilation purposes. Yesterday was quite humid which really amped up the smell.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Catching Up
Destin was fun! But COLD! I seriously think that Destin should not be allowed to claim Florida as their state - it's like false advertising. They could join Alabama, maybe.
I finally got around to picking up some Space Bags for storing snow pants, jackets, coats, gloves, hats, etc. AWESOME! I'm now eyeing everything in my house wondering if I can Space Bag it. Christine, they even have travel-sized bags! I've always wondered how those worked because I assumed that most people, like me, don't travel with a vacuum cleaner. Well, now I know. You zip them closed, roll them up, and the special valve doesn't allow the air back inside. So Cool.
Yes, I'm easily amused.
It's been almost two months since Hawaii - can you believe it? Our story of Oahu may never be told here.
My van still smells like skunk and is still banished from the garage. When we returned from Florida, my Dad tried to tell me that it was the garage, not the van that still smelled. Whatever. When the van isn't in the garage, the garage doesn't smell. When I stand next to the van, I smell skunk.
Sadly, Rob's grandmother passed away while we were out of town. It wasn't unexpected, as we learned back in January that she had a brain tumor and test results showed an aggressive form of cancer, but it was sad, nonetheless.
She attended every one of the girls' Baptisms, birthdays - and school events with few exceptions. Taking a ride on Grandpa Bob's four-wheeler always included a stop at the farm for cookies and a quick visit with Great-Grandma. We saw her at every holiday, big or small.
She was a mother to six kids, grandmother to 24, great-grandmother to 19; when rounded, that comes to a large, loving family. So it was no surprise that the funeral home was busting at the seams for the entire visitation Sunday night. During the funeral mass, each of the grandchildren placed a rose on the coffin, E1 participated by bringing up some of Grandma's things at offertory, and Rob gave an eloquent eulogy. Her entire family was present, with the exception of one granddaughter, grandson-in-law, and her newest great-grandchild (born a month early and not ok'd for travel yet). We took family pictures at the luncheon, and Rob tried to enlist our Priest in helping to hi-jack the food line.
The girls are sad, but comforted by the idea that she's with Pop and Kilo (their dog) now, and by the knowledge that we have our very own Guardian Angel of Cookie Making.
Grandma will be missed.
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