Two steps forward Thursday....

[lucylee]

(((Indiana))) (((More hugs))) We need you back with us! Physically good AND mentally good! Hang in there! (((BIG HUGS)))
Saying a prayer for healing in every way needed.
You, too, (((Lilac)))

Thank you all for the good wishes... and I do ask for your continued prayers that ddil will have a good pregnancy and all will go well... and a healthy dgs will be here before we know it! Five months...
Hmmm... just wondering how in the world they are going to manage baby AND dog in that tiny little house...

I'm getting excited for Kathryn's trip! Can't wait to hear all about it!

I did not see American Idol, Nancy, but wow -- that sounds very frightening! Hope she's okay.

Peanut brittle dust in cookies sounds sooo good, MT!!!

You are so supportive of your friends, helia. That was wonderful that you and dh could be there for her last night.
What is your book club reading?

Glad to hear Mr. Sunny [/b]is doing well! Hope your tummy feels better soon, too, Sunny!

Dfil is not doing well -- probably stomach virus, according to home health nurse -- but he also has lots of coughing & congestion in his chest. That can't be good, either, in his condition. Caregivers and dmil are constantly in disagreement, and caregivers are generally in the right -- but dmil can't quite admit it... constant power struggle of sorts going on over there. I picked up & delivered rx, then sent dh to deal with the personality conflicts. Caregivers are good. Dmil is very difficult to work for. I couldn't do it; that is for certain.

One of our instructions in last faculty meeting was "no sleeping in class." We sorta LOLed about whether principal meant us or the students! (Pretty difficult -- and pretty dangerous -- to try to sleep in a room full of teenagers! I don't think I could do it, and I can pretty much sleep anywhere!!!)

WTG, Elizabeth, on meeting new people @ church supper!

Also, WTG, Harriet's dd!!! For the perfect score, and the likely wise-judgment re: dance. Too bad that's the reward. IMHO, schools begin these dance things waaay too soon!!! When ds was in middle school -- 4th grade -- they had Homecoming dances, etc. He went to one or two, but I just really think it is ridiculous. Isn't there time for all that in high school?
* sheesh *
(((Harriet))) re: ddad.
Waving to ALL!!!

[Nancy]

Dgd helped me in the kitchen with some baking prep. she liked pushing the blender button loud things do not scare here! The later she fell asleep beside me on the couch watching toons this afternoon while I was reading. H. said something about going to the RV show not sure if I'm in to it or not some times I go some times not. I guess I"ll see how tomorrow goes and how I'm feeling.

I need a plan for dinner.

[bittersweet]

Vacuuming the living room took much longer than I thought it would so by the time it was done, there was only time to do the upstairs critter care before heading off to pick up DD and the munchkins. DGS had an awesome time showing out-of-the-loop Grandma how to play Lego Harry Potter. Now they're safely back home, DH has gone to work, and DS is downstairs playing WoW. I think I'll turn off the TV, turn on my audio book, and do some sewing for a while.

Congratulations on the new DGS-to-be, lucylee!!!

[Lynlee]

Its time to take some steps forward here.
Its friday too soon.

Safe and enjoyable travels - My wish for Kathryn and Ken. And may all your cases travel with you.

(((Indiana))) prayers for whatever you need.

Congratulations to Lucylee's family cooking up something special.

k. need move myself.

[Harmony]

I so enjoy reading what everyone is up to every day.

(Indiana) The struggle must be hard to recover and stay recovered. We miss you here, hoping you feel better in all ways very soon.

(Lilac) family problems have a way of knocking the wind out of us, don't they?

Hi Lynlee. It's hard for me to picture you in hot summer right now. We're having a cold snap ourselves. It was in the 70's today.

If Kathryn comes by and sees this, she will be amused that I've had travel anxiety all day. I've been thinking about packing for that many days, the long travel, even watched the weather channel for snow. I couldn't do it. I'm anxious about it, and it's not even me!

I did a big cleanup in kitchen. Made big pot of beef stew. I make it with twice as many veggies as meat. Healthier that way, cheaper too. Been sewing on & off all day. I did bring in the laundry and I need to get that all put away.

[Emptynester]

Well, we had a successful party. They stayed from 4 until 6:30 and we were loud and laughing!!!

You know the Gieco (sp?) commercial? Where the piggy is going WHEEEE! The group has adopted that and were doing that every time someone said something sounded like fun.

No one even came in the house - we all stayed out doors. LOTS of food. My cookies were a hit. I'm going to take the rest to church for after service coffee. I have too much sweet stuff here now.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Harmony, our drive was horrible. Bright sunshine the whole way and above freezing temps! (I'm kidding about the horrible part!)

The sunshine was a bit hard as we were driving into it and the car got lousy gas mileage for a Prius because there was a strong headwind. But it took a total of 4.5 hours from door to door including a stop to pick up my lunch (I ate in the car) and a stop for gas. We paid the extra to take the toll road across Toronto because we arrived at rush hour.

Dh was really hungry when we arrived so we checked in but didn't unload the car. We headed off right away to his favourite chicken restaurant and now we are back in the hotel. The car is parked on the 4th level which is level with the second floor of the hotel and our room is right by the entrance from the garage so it is noisy. Plus the planes literally take off and land right over the hotel. Oh, and the heat isn't working in the bedroom (but the bathroom is toasty warm.) There is a space heater in here for us so it isn't unbearable, in fact it is only a little cooler than home.

I finished reading/skimming the book I was reading from the church library. I wasn't going to bring in on the trip because I was over half done and I couldn't carry it onto the plane (the word Jihad is in the title and others have been hassled for less.) Then I realized I could use the time in the car to finish it off. I'm glad that's done, it was one of the books I had hoped to finish in November.

Dh's suitcase is right at his limit, my two are well under. We are switching things around a little to even that out more. I did decide to bring my study bible. It is 3 lbs so that is a lot of extra weight but since my bag was under, I decided I'd bring it.

I'm trying to finish up the data entry although I'm not sure I will because I'm typing at a weird angle here.

I've checked us into the flights and dh just arrived back with the boarding passes printed off. So that is all done.

I'm much less hysterical than I was earlier today. So far, the only thing I know I've forgotten is the gel hand cleaner. The house looks tidy and I remembered to mail all the March birthday cards.

[helia]

Popping in. Dinner has been eaten and cleaned up. Dfriend R came over for dinner, which was fun. He is a guy, but that doesn't feel weird at all. He is like a brother. The kids really like him, and he actually talks with them. Not all of our adult friends also talk to our kids.

I'm SO happy for dd13, Harriet!! I'll tell dd16. Actually, the contest coordinator never got back to her, so her project is a no-go. That makes me doubly glad that the general idea worked for someone else!!

I'm feeling excited for Kathryn and Ken. I hope you have great flights tomorrow.

MT, your party sounds like a blast! You sure are a smart cookie using the peanut brittle dust that way.

((Indiana))

((Lilac))

lucylee, our book club is reading A Prayer for Owen Meanie this coming month. I have a copy on hold at the library, and I need to pick it up tomorrow. Last month's book was Death Comes to Pemberley, which was OK - not Jane Austen but a decent read.

I need to go to Walgreens to pick up dd16's script, which I forgot to do yesterday. I also need to gas the van.

[lucylee]

Hello again!

I've heard of both those books, helia, but can't remember what they're about. I'm going to look them up after I post this. Not that I need anything else to read. My goodness... I've got such a stack beside the bed right now... and I can't even manage to read the paper every day! PLUS the school papers I have to wade through pretty regularly. But I do love books... * sigh * So many books, so little time. Maybe when I retire I will have time to read!

Glad to hear you're settled in, Kathryn, with clear skies for travel.

Harmony, you KNOW I'd be having travel anxiety if it were me! * whew * I don't know if I could even manage a trip like Kathryn's at all!!! I'm having a little wee bit of anxiety myself, anyway, on behalf of ds & ddil this weekend. They will be traveling to her hometown, and there IS snow predicted tomorrow in that direction... but dh said they'd be on the interstate all the way, and especially during the daytime, the interstates would be clear.

I love that little pig, MT! LOL... I like the gekko better, but I always have to laugh at the pig. (I'm a sucker for a British accent. That's why I love the gekko, I guess.)

Summertime, Lynlee... I'm already wishing for summertime, and we've only had two nights in the 30s I think since Christmas. Brrrr it's cold out there right now. 34 when dh & I came in just now... 21, I think, predicted for Sunday night. It crossed my mind to stay home Monday just so I wouldn't have to go out in the cold temps Monday morning. But I can't do that -- got waaay, waaay too much going on at school right now.

Editing to say, now I think I really would like to read Owen Meany. * sigh * So many books, so little time.

[Lilac]

lucylee, I love to read and agree, so little time. I keep thinking that over the years I should have been reading instead of shopping and bringing things home. Because of all the things, it takes longer to clean and that steals reading time from me. Plus I have no one to blame but myself. When dh gives me a hard time about all my stuff, I tell him it his fault. If our income was what he made years ago, I would still not be able to afford extras. Shuts him up, every time.

Kathryn, I was glad to hear that you are in your hotel and ready for the next leg of your journey. I am looking forward to your trip and hearing about your adventures.

Harmony, beef stew sounds yummy. I hope I can remember that when I make out a grocery list. Yes, Harmony, I have really had the wind knocked out of me this time.

I was so glad to hear from dd2 tonight that she was able to leave the little girls with their dad and go grocery shopping tonight. The boys come home tomorrow and she likes to be stocked up on groceries before they get there.

Tomorrow night dh and I are meeting dd1 and her dh at church for the Sweetheart Dinner. Dgs17 sold us tickets. He will be dressed up and serving. It is their annual fundraiser for Bible Bowl. The nationals are in Orlando this summer.