Visit with my 3 grandkids

Well, I know it has been a while since I have blogged, but life just keeps getting in the way. It has been a very exciting summer with lots of activities for this old lady!!! First we started off with a visit from Michele and Lincoln and Nate. It was so awesome for Michele to come to Chicago and help with me with the final Vernon Hills Pageant - the pageant is not ending just the Bond Family contribution to it is. We went out with a bang! Michele spent many long hours on the computer and arranged a fantastic pagent. We had a 50's theme in honor of the 50th anniversity of our town. It was such a great pageant with wonderful queens this year. It was difficult to give this up, but with Michele in California and me in grad school there just isn't any time. It has been a great experience and one that brought Michele and I even closer. I will miss that. Speaking of Michele - boy does she have a cute little boy. Lincoln is growing up and just so cute. He really bonded to his grandma and loved the fact that I would get up with him early in the morning and feed him puffs. I miss him so much. Please check out her blog for pictures of the little man. We were so busy we never took any pictures and I apologize for that but Michele does such a good job of posting pictures you can get an idea of what their family looks like. Before Michele and family left, I got a call that Cort was ready to have her fancy girl. Because they have invited me to be present in the delivery room, I took the first flight out to Idaho Falls. I got to be there for the arrival of fancy girl (aka Savannah Belle Bond) and to spend time with my grandson Kyle. It was been a great experience being in their new home and watching the interaction of my kids with their kids. My daughter and daughter in law are wonderful mothers and I stand all amazed at their abilities to spend time with their children and to really enjoy it. Rich and I will be returning to Chicago (oh ya, Rich drove out after the birth to be at the blessing. It was great to see him and he says he will never drive 24 hours again by himself. He likes to have the conversation I provide) on Friday and plan on getting to home sometime Sunday afternoon. I will probably collapse for a week and then get ready to start school again.

End of School and OH NO!!!

Well another school year ended for me. I can not believe I have been teaching third grade for 10 years. You would think by now I would have learned so much more !!! Besides the school year coming to a close, I find myself in a bite of a medical crisis. Nothing too serious, just very annoying and depressing. Two weeks ago, I treated myself to an 1 1/2 hour massage. I have to admit, I am a massage junkie. I love it and while Rich was at a golf outing, I decided to treat myself to a massage and facial. It was a great day. Even had manny peddy. It was a good day. However, over the course of the next few days I noticed I was very sore in my neck area. I did not think too much about it until one day I woke up to a feeling that there was a knife in my back by my shoulder blade. Also, I was numb from my shoulder to my elbow on one of my arms. It was a little alarming, but I decided to treat it as a muscle strain and not tell Rich. AFter several days of an at home treatment and the trip for my brothers wedding quickly approaching, I decided to see the doctor. I won't bore you with lots of details, but the long and short of it is the I have herinated two disc in my neck as a result of being in a position for 1 1/2 hours during the massage. I am on several strong drugs and a pain killer (can you say loopy!!) but as of tonight, have not had a lot of results. The worst part of starting my summer vacation like this is that I was unable to travel to my brothers wedding. I had really looked forward to going - was all packed but was unable to travel. It was a major bummer and I am trying to be positive - the diagnosis could be so much worst, but I find when you are going through one of these trails, it is hard to see the positive. Tomorrow is my birthday and while Rich is being so good to me I am just sad. Wish my kids/grandkids were here, wish I was not in pain, wish I was at the wedding. I start my class on Monday and right now starting to write my thesis is the last thing on my mind. Maybe it will be good to think about something else for awhile. I will write more positively soon I know.

SISTER TRIP TO MICHIGAN

This past weekend, my sisters Susie and Marcia come to visit. On Friday, we ATTACKED the local shopping center and managed to help the local economy. Lets just say, I will not have to go shopping for summer clothes for at least two more summers. On Saturday, we left for Michigan and a visit with our cousins. We visited with Cousin Pam and her sister for dinner. We laughed so hard remembering all the things we had done as young children. Then on Sunday, we went to Cousin Yvonne's house for brunch. Again, we eat and laughed till our tummies and sides hurt. We drove around Grand Rapids on Sunday and saw where we use to live, where grandparents were buried and even where Marcia and I went to elementary school. It was such a wonderful, trip down memory lane.

SISTER TRIP TO MICHIGAN

This is my self and my two sisters. I think I am the cutest, youngest, and certainly the thinnest.












Cousins, Yvonne, Margaret, Kathy, Frannie and Jeanann. In no particular order.













Cousins, Pam, B.J. Mary, and Nancy

He loves me - he really loves me!!

Today was a hard day - things are changing around my school (teachers moving, changing teaching assignments, etc) and I do not do well with change. I also have school tonight which is always a bummer to think about all day long, especially when you just want to go home and sleep. Anyway I was eating lunch when my daughter in law Cortney called. Among other things she related the following story - and I promise Susan and Marcia it is not embellished one bit!!!
Matt and Cort were putting Kyle to bed last night when he started crying. And crying very hard, as Cort described it. When they questioned him about what was wrong he said and I quote "I miss my grandma - I want to go to her house" He is such doll and to Kyle I just want to say - "A check is in the mail - go buy yourself anything your heart desires." !!!!!

April Showers

Not much going on here in Chicago. It has been raining for what seems like days. We go from snow to rain and we will probably be in the 80's with high humidity next week. We really don't have a spring here in Chicago - just winter and road construction seasons!! Oh well, I do love it here. I am currently on the countdown. Counting down till the end of school (43 days left) counting down until my sisters arrive (14 days - can I really lost 30 pounds by then!) and we visit relatives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, counting down until Michele and Lincoln arrive (2 months - way too many days), counting down until my brother Paul's wedding (2 months - can I really lose 30 pounds by then), counting down to visiting Idaho Falls for Matt and Cort's new "fancy girl" arrival (3 months) and finally counting down (and dreading) my research class this summer (2 months). Lots going on. Wish I could be in more places, like Lindsey's wedding, but my goal for my research class is to get at least the first chapter of my thesis done and if I do it will be such a load off my mind. There is a research profession coming in for two weeks to work with us in the cohort so I am hoping his insight will be valuable and I can at least get a start on this overwhelming project. I think I have a topic - Is homework helpful for the elementary school age student?? It is a topic that interests me and from what I have seen already there is lots of helpful information out there. Will have to access when I get into it. For the first time in 8 years, I am not teaching summer school. I will miss this opportunity (and the money it brings) but the teacher who is teaching for me knows it is only for one year while I work on my masters. She will probably be glad to give it up next year!! I am trying to convince Rich that a driving vacation (out to Idaho Falls) this summer would be fun. He is not yet behind the plan, but we will see.....When Susie comes in a couple of weeks, she is going to help me practice posting pictures, so look for that.

A Day at the Races!

one of my former students owns a equestrian traning facility so today they invited us to bring Biggie in for a tour of their stables. We got to see many horses, a rooster, a cat, and two huge dogs. i do not know who had more fun, Biggie, Matt, Cort or me, but i do know i am in the market for a horse. Rich's allergies will just have to deal. Kyle took to riding the horse immediately, and is now training to be a jockey!!

Spring Break with Kyle

What a great spring break I have had. Kyle, Matt and Cort surprised me early with a visit from them. I was going to bed on Monday night when I heard the back door open the words I live for "Hi Grandma" were spoken by my Biggie Boy. They had flew in early and it was been so much fun to see them. Because my daughter in law, Cort is good at the computer, she is showing me how to post pictures. I could do this when Michele was here and will probably be able to do it while Cort is here, but rather or not I can do it when I am alone is another story....stay tuned. Here are the pictures of our adventure to Chuck -e - cheese. Grandpa even went, which caused me ever more enjoyment when I looked at his dazed and confused look at all the kids running around!!!!

SORRY DAVID

I would like to apologize to David. He did not appreciate my comment about Kelly being a jewel for agreeing to be with him for life. I did not mean anything by it - just meant he has a special place in my heart. Sorry David

GOOD NEWS

Today is a red letter day in the Bond Household!!! David proposed and Kelly accepted his marriage proposal!!! We could not be happier to have Kelly in our family. They are planning a May '09 Wedding. I knew something was up when he said their dogs - Ripley and Bear- got along so well they did not want to leave each other !!! Once the dogs connect, what are the humans to do?? I can't wait to have you all meet Kelly. She is just a joy and wanting to spend the rest of her life with David makes her a precious jewel in my eyes!!! We love them both and look forward to them not leaving us!!!

Can you Blame Me??

Well today was one of those days you wish you could go back to bed and forget ever happen. Instead I will blog about it and hopefully it will all give you a laugh. I have the day off today. I decided last night with so many events coming up this summer,(i.e, weddings, baby arrivals, pageant, etc) I really wanted to get in shape again (and again and again). Anyway, I decided to return to the gym that I love and where I have had so much success. I got up early, got dressed in my workout clothes and off I went. Now an important note in this story is that for Christmas this year I got an IPod. I love it and am attempting to learn how to use it. My son in law Nate showed me initially but had to leave before I felt really comfortable with it. Anyway, I have been attmepting to teach my self - a gatchet loser - the interworkings of my IPod. So off I went to the gym with my new IPod in tow. I got to the treadmill where I start my work out, punched in all the appropriate numbers and away I went. I also started up my IPod. Now one of the things that I have not been able to figure out is the volume control. It is really loud. But I figured that was o.k. because there is a lot of noise in the gym and they blast the music really loud. So off I go, walking and listening. Now here comes the embarassing part. On my IPod is the soundtrack from Grease. I love that soundtrack. And I can not imagine a person who would not want to sing along. Well it came to the song "Hand Jive" Now that is just about my most favorite song ever and with the volume up so loud, I guess I started to sing along in what I thought was a quiet voice. ( guess when the song ended I didn't need to throw my arms up in the air and yell "Hand Jive" but needless to say, I did.) Anyway when the song ended I heard sounds behind me and turned to see the entire gym - mostly men - staring at me and laughing at me. I just would have loved to find a big enough hole to fall into. Where is a good fainting spell or heart attack when you need it!!! Anyway, I looked them all straight in the face and said "Don't you just love that song?" I moved away to the weights in the back corner and knew that I would be looking for a new gym really soon. Please tell me someone else out there has done something as silly as that in the gym????

Wallpaper

How cute is my new Blog wallpaper!! My darling daughter Michele did this for me. Now is she could just walk me through posting pictures. I have a bunch and I know you would all like to see them. Maybe real soon. I made it through Parent Teacher conferences, cleaned my refrig, pantry, organized my closet, went to Sam's Club, the store, WalMart, balanced my check book and paid bills. The bright glow you see is for the halo that is over my head!!! I should only have this must time all the time to get all the little things done - well there really is a motive behind my "psycho cleaning" as Michele likes to call it - my two sisters are planning a visit here in April. I could not be more excited. We will go to Grand Rapids Michigan to visit with cousins. This is also a good time for me because Rich is always concerned about their saftey and confort and works hard to get all the little things done around here that I have been bugging him to do for so long!!! Big News in the Matt Bond household, but I think I will let them share it with you all - after all it is their surprise - keep checking out Cort's blog because I am sure she will be posting when she get a chance all about their exiciting news.

I'm back.....

Warm greetings from a very chilly Chicago.
I can not believe that it has been almost 5 months since my last posting. However I plan to fix that with a new update on the comings and goings of my beloved family. I wish I could post pictures, I wish I could get cute backgrounds, but alas I am in the infancy stages of my computer knowledge and at this point without Michele's help can only write on my blog. Perhaps pictures and wallpaper will come soon and then you will enjoy a visual along with written update.
Speaking of Michele....perhaps this is the reason for my blogging again. As you all probably know by now, Michele, Nate and my dear Lincoln moved to California in late January. Now I know there are greater sorrows in the world, but to be honest, I am having trouble imagining anything more painful than having them leave. This blog will be good for me as I will be able to get out my feelings and express my joy over how well they are doing. Interestingly the hardest thing for me was going to church. I have to admit, I stayed away for 3 weeks something I have not done ever except when I was sick or had a new baby. But going to church where I looked forward to seeing Michele and Lincoln (and Nate too)was just too much for me. It really did not help to stay home from church, but the time I went, I embarassed my self so much by crying that I decided most people would probably want me to stay away until I could get it together. Now I know what everyone must be thinking - they are not that far away, all is well with them, yada, yada, yada, but when you are in a depression, you really can not see the forest for the trees. However, I am doing much better. I actually went to church on Sunday - all three hours and did just fine. I have been devouring the scriptures of late and perhaps that plus being very busy with school and my classess (more on that later)have gotten me out of my funk. Whatever, I am better and so happy to report that Michele is doing great. She has taken Lincoln on several walks outside and this makes me smile. We are still experiencing one of the worst Chicago winter on record and the fact that Michele and Lincoln get to experience 80 degree weather does make me smile. That and the fact that she will be here soon to help me with this years Miss Vernon Hills Pageant - our last one - makes me have hope. As I told someone at church yesterday, there may be a time in the not too distant future when I may talk to my son-in law again, but I don't think he show count on it!! (only kidding Nate)We bought a web camera and I get to talk with and look at my Bubbie on a daily basis - that is a great invention and I highly recommend it for anyone who has loved ones in different parts of the country. I get to talk with my other grandson, Kyle who loves to look into the camera and say "Hi Grandma Deb Deb" They are coming to visit for my spring break and I could not be more excited to see them.
Matt and Cort are doing great. Matt is enjoying his new job as a paramedic firefighter, and Cort is finally getting over the first trimester of pregnancy and feeling better. Can not wait to have them here to spoil them and Kyle. David and his sweet Kelly continue to see each other. We hope and pray they will continue to plan a life together.
Again about me .....AFter the first of the year Rich and I decided that it was time for me to pursue my master degree in teaching and leadership. It is something I had been thinking about for awhile and the time seemed right. I got into a great program and 2 other teaches from my district are also in the cohort. I will have classes for the next two years on Wednesday night, and will have one very long and intense class this summer. I will not be able to teacher summer school which I have done for the past 6 years, but next year no classes during the summer so I have been promised my old job back. I love going to school, love learning, but struggle with the homework and papers. It is a lot to do with teaching full time, and then switching to being a student again. Luckly for me right now I have a student teacher and she is in her solo teaching weeks so I have some time to work on some assignments for my school. Things always seems to work out for me and I feel the Lord's blessings and support in all I do. I love you all and will try to work on learning how to post pictures and changing my wallpaper.

Lincoln's Blessing/Matt's graduation

What a fun filled weekend we had!!! (I will post pictures as soon as Michele can tell me how to do it) Nate's family arrived (well actually his mother arrived earlier to help Michele) and we spent a very busy weekend with them, eating, talking, laughing and especially holding the newest member of the Devlin/Bond family. Lincoln was blessed on Sunday amid a circle filled with love. We had Friday night dinner at Portollo's, Saturday night at Lou Malnati's and Sunday night at our home. It was an eating weekend, but so much fun. Nate's sister even stayed with Michele and Nate and took the baby for one whole night, allowing Michele to sleep for the whole night for the first time since Lincoln has been born. Brenna is a real treasure for doing that. Lincoln seemed very unimpressed that whole weekend event was the result of his birth. He was held most of the time by his aunts, grandma's, grandpa's and new uncles. He is such a lucky little boy. I will let Michele update you on Lincoln's new activities, but he is a precious little doll.
This weekend also saw Matthew graduate from the fire academy. He worked very hard to get the job with Idaho Falls, but that was nothing compared to the work he had to do once he actually was in the academy. He worked his first shift on Sunday and was greeted by a bucket of water thrown from a second story window! Fireman can be such little boys at times!! Cortney reported that during the formal ceremony to pin Matt, Kyle stood on a chair a yelled, "That's my dad!" We, like Kyle are very proud of his accomplishment. Cortney also reported that Kyle was in the primary program this past Sunday. He was to say," Jesus loves the little children." He got out the Jesus part, but then decided to just blow into the microphone for the rest of his sentence. If only we had been there to see it, I know I would convinced everyone that his talk was a conference level talk!!!
All is well here. Rich and I continue to plug along. I am seeing a new doctor and for once am getting some relief with my back pain. I do not know who is happier - Rich or I - that I am not complaining about my aching back. I will post some pictures of Halloween. As a teacher, this is a third grade students highlight in their lives. As for teachers, its another story.!!

I've Been Tagged!

1. Where did I meet my husband?
I met Rich through Aunt Marcia's boyfriend when Rich hired him to work in his architechtural firm. Marcia and her boyfriend brought me to a Christmas party that Rich was at. According to him, I sat next to him all night long and talked nonstop...

2. What was the first thing you said to your husband?
Do you have a girlfriend??

3. Where was your first date?
I waited for one month after the party. When Rich didn't call, I called him
and invited him over for a lasagna dinner at my parent's home. I didn't know how to make lasagna but I knew someone who could do it for me...

4. Where was your first kiss?
That night after dinner, we were in the kitchen and I just stood there waiting. Finally, he got the hint that I wanted him to kiss me and he did.

5. Did you have a long or short courtship/engagement?
We were engaged on November 11, 1975 and we were married on May 15, 1976 so I guess you could say it was short. However, Rich was older and I could see no reason to wait. Besides, the club was available that day so we went for it.

6. Where did you get engaged?
In my parent's living room. At 11 minutes after 11 on November 11th. Rich has a thing about the number 11.

7. Where did you get married?
We were initially married in Franklin, Michigan at the Franklin Community Church. We were sealed six years later in the Los Angeles Temple with our three children.

8. How did the reception go?
It was wonderful. Everything I always wanted, a big country club reception with all the trimmings.

9. How was the Honeymoon?
Interesting... we took a train to Toronto, Canada. It sounded romantic but train travel is not as romantic as one would think. We did a lot of sight seeing and shopping and I brought two outfits for each day. I did a lot of changing of clothes and Rich did a lot of carrying bags. To this day, whenever we go anyplace he reminds me of all the luggage I took on our honeymoon!

OK, I tag...
my daughter-in-law Cortney

Now scroll down for my updated pictures...

New Pictures

This is a picture at Whitney's wedding this summer. It has been a very long time since all of my brothers and sisters and my mom have been together. I believe it warranted a picture. As you can see, I continue to be the most beautiful, intelligent, and gifted member of my family.

This is a picture of mine and Rich's little vacation this summer. We went away for a romantic weekend to Galena, Illinois. It was beautiful and so much fun to get away. We like to go away prior to my starting another school year.

This is me in my new "fancy", stylish, hip outfit. Michele helped me pick it out at Target (Nordstrom :) I think I look at least 20 years younger.

The End Is Here

Well it had to happen, although I always wish it wouldn't!! After a wonderful fun filled summer, school starts this Friday. I really am excited in a wierd sort a way. The class is all ready - new locker tags in place, all the pencils are sharpened and the bullentin boards are done. Michele has been a big help in getting it all ready - what will I ever do without her. David moved this weekend to Arlington Heights which is about 7 minutes from our house. We get to see him on a much more frequent basis which I love. Also with his job, he might be gone for an extended period of time which means I will have to go over and take care of his "woggie" Bear. I love that dog, but love him so much more when all the fur stays at David's place. This Thursday is Michele's 25th Birthday. I love that my sister Susan has started the tradition of posting things we like about the person who is celebrating a birthday. I have been making a mental list of things to put on Michele's B.Day list. Here they go in no particular order:
THINGS OF LOVE ABOUT MY DAUGHTER MICHELE:
1. She is always kind to everyone and as far as I know never been mean to anyone (even her brothers who often made her life a living Hell!!)
2. The way she gets all teary eyed when she goes into Sam's Club and sees the old people giving out samples. She thinks they should not have to work - we tell her they probably enjoy it.
3. That she brought Nathan into our lives - he truly loves her and respects her and that makes us so happy.
4. What an amazing teacher she is. I sometimes listen to her listens in Young Womans and I wonder who this child is and how did she get to know so much.
5. How she loves to read. She always has and if she has a book, you will find her with her nose in it.
6. How organized she is. I though I could always make Martha Stewart look like a slacker, but Michele can organize circles around me.
7. How she loves watching stupid kid movies and television. I know she would not want everyone to know but she loves Nick at Nite and watches it when she thinks no one else is watching her.
8. What a righteous young woman she it. She makes going to the temple a priority in her life and always strives to do the right thing. She will have a Christ centered home.
9. HOw she loves sports - especially football. She knows more about the players than most men. She wanted to be part of the male part of our family and knew this was the way - so she reads everything she can so she is informed and knowledgeable about the sport.
10. How she loves politics like her father. She is also very well informed and she will have lively dicussions with her father about world and current events.
11, She has promised to come and visit me each June and help with the pageant.
Finally, she will make a wonderful mother. She has read a lot about mothering. However, she has so much love in her to give to Lincoln and other children that they are going to be very lucky children to come to the Devlin Family
THINGS I DO NOT LIKE ABOUT MICHELE
1. She turns off her cell phone. I have NEVER in my life done that, even at church it is on vibrate.
2. She is leaving to follow her husband to grad school. While I am happy for this decision they have made, it also makes me so sad to lose my best friend. I think I'll get a dog to replace her!!!

With tears in my eyes....

AS I write this blog, there are tears in my eyes. A piece of my heart left yesterday to return to Idaho. Matt, Cort and Kyle were here for 2 weeks and we had a great time with them. Matt is doing good, working at the Rexburg Fire Dept and has stated a little business :Matt's Mowing" while he is not working. Cort recently graduated from College and has choosen to be a stay at home mom - I am proud of her for taking on the hardest job know to man. Having them all leaving was not so much fun. Today I have cleaned my house, had a massage, helped Michele move, and done some shopping. None of these activities has helped my mood. I decided to share my thoughts with you all, so you could also feel my pain - !!! I have titled my blog entry THING I LOVE ABOUT KYLE. Here they are:
1. all dogs are "DODGES" after Marcia's dog Dodger
2. he could swim all day and I mean all day and not get tired of it.
3. he likes to dance when I sing the Poop Poop in the Potty Song.
4. the way he picks up certain rocks on our morning walks - and throws them back the next day
5. how he loves to swing on Grandma's swings, but wants me to swing next to him.
6. how he loves, loves, loves pudding, just like his grandma
7. how he smells after his bath and a massage from grandma
8. how he loves to fall asleep in the car - we drove him around several times to experience this first hand
9. how he goes to Nursery at church even when he is tired and stays the whole two hours and plays non stop
10. how he tells everyone where to sit and then is pleased when we all move according to his seating arrangements.
11. how he waters grandma's flowers. He loves anything to do with water and especially if it is coming out of a hose. A future firefighter perhaps!
12. how he has to feed himself and does a pretty good job of it.
13. how he loves to go to resturants, especially if they have balloons.
14. how he loves his blanket, even when no one else in the house can stand the smell.
15. how he learned, little pea, penny roo, rudy whistle, mary hosial, big ol gobble, gobble on his toes and especially liked it when Grandma did it.
THINGS I DO NOT LIKE ABOUT KYLE
1. He is not hear!!!!
All you grandmothers out there can relate. They take a piece of your heart when they leave. I am counting the days (3 months) until he will return for Michele and Nate's baby blessing.

Family Gathering

This Sunday was a red letter day for the Bond's! I had all three of my darling children and spouses/significant others over for a family Sunday dinner. It was so much fun. As you can see by the attached pictures, Kyle, age 21 months, was the star of our show. Matt, Cort and Kyle are visiting from Idaho for a few weeks. I am having so much fun with him. My daily walks now consist of walking to the park to play on the playground equipment. He is such a boy and enjoys being outside when ever possible. Michele, as you can tell, is now in her seventh month and growing appropriately. She is a very cute pregnant lady, but does not feel very cute most of the time. David and Kelly also joined us and they are both busy with their jobs and careers. He started a new job this week with Gift of Hope and is now involved in the organ donation part of life. He has so far found the work to be very good and as usual he is learning a lot and growing as a professional. I love Summer - can I just say that!!!

4th of July

Happy Fourth of July! It has been a very eventful day for all of us here in Chicago. We started early with the parade. I managed to wave and embarasse our family name for the entire 2 mile parade route. I have posted a picture of my colorful, American celebration outfits including my toes!!! We then went to watch the queens throw out the first pitch at the all star game, a picnic with our ward and finally the fireworks tonight. Busy day and Michele looks a little tired, but we are hanging in there. After all - 4th of July in Vernon Hills is Americana at its best!!!