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