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.