Back to School/Routine?

 The past 2 weeks have been even more than I imagined, but before I give you a life update I need to share a book.

I have read a good many books this year and haven't shared, but this one is worth sharing. It is the best book I have read in a long time. I started out reading it slow and not because it wasn't good, but so good that I wanted to savor it. I had to give in and read the last third much quicker because it had a surprise ending. It is a beautiful story of age and loss and community and observing nature and people.

I loved everything!

The author grew up in Columbus, Georgia. It was not hard for me to see that he based the town of Golden on Columbus. I have lived there twice in my life and it holds special memories for me. I could see through his eyes the setting...the historic district, the college, the homes, the river and river walk. 

It is definitely worth your time. It is a bit of a newer release and I don't think it has gotten nearly the press it deserves. 

I have been in a stitching slump. I finished one of the fall things that I was stitching for a second time.

I now have this and Valerie's ornament to finish up into their final forms. 

I have started nothing new in 2 full weeks. I haven't had time to read or stitch for that matter, but I miss my needle. I just am in a slump over what to stitch next. I need some time to think and be inspired. It has been a long time -well almost 10 years that I haven't stitched almost daily. I have perused all my patterns and just feel nothing. I hope that changes soon!!!

I have been very busy as I said I would be in my last post and have learned a lesson as well as thinking through some things. Let me break that down for you.

I kept all 4 grandchildren 2 weeks ago. I had all 4 only 2.5 days but had some form of them the others. I learned a BIG lesson. I am too old for that. I really wanted to do it. I wanted to give the boys some special time together and a break before school started. I am here to tell you though I bit off more that I could chew well. Poor Jeff was recuperating and of little help. He is the enforcer and only has to say one time to quieten down where is I am the pushover. He did enforce, but it was still a lot. The energy and the noise and all of it let me know I will never do that again for a week. A teacher workday scattered here or there, yes, but never a week.

Next summer, I will spread out some special days with each one separately.

A caveat I didn't expect was little Valerie REFUSED the bottle from Mimi. It surprised and stressed me and her mommy. That made my first days with her very HARD and had her mommy worrying. I am pretty sure no bottle is ever going to be used. I am working on a sippy cup routine. It is getting better with each day. She will 7 months tomorrow. Who knew? I fed her milk with a spoon one day, but she is taking a cup much better now.

In all of that, Jeff got a painting company to come and do some things needed and then we added to that with things wanted and that amounted to a week of chaos. Just what we needed. I had gotten past the week with all the kids and then I have workers in the house for a week.

The bathroom that I hated the wall color got painted as something wanted.

It is the color that is one half the house and looks so much better and calmer. 

We got a refresh on all the painted trim and doors in the house which is mostly downstairs and in one room upstairs. They look amazing. The fishing room which I have shared before got a new paint job. It hadn't been touched in 41 years.

However, the garage which was the need is still going. It turned in to a BIG JOB and will hopefully be finished this week, but at least the workers are not inside the house anymore. The color on the fishing room and garage is Sherwin Williams Popular Gray. 

The workers got to hear Valerie cry if I put her down at all. The most I can get out of her is to occasionally sit her at my feet to play. SO once again, this past week was a lot! I have sat a lot with her which means I am physically ok, but the crying wore me out mentally and coupled with trying to get her to eat and drink from a cup. Of course, after she wins the battle with the cup or being picked up she gives me a big ole grin.

Meanwhile, her parents are having a rougher time with Miles. You may remember Miles didn't make it to daycare last August due to the crying and repeating over and over ---"Is DaDa going to pick me up?" or some version of that.

This year has been no better. He went 4 days and has cried most of it and all evening as well. Paul Allen ended up staying home with him Friday. It is the worst case of separation anxiety I have ever seen. No clue what they are going to do. I had Paul Allen get him over here Friday about noon and got Miles to nap here and sent Paul Allen down to sleep in his old room. 

I questioned whether I would even log this into the old blog, but it is the main focus at this point in time.

Lots of things are being tossed about as solutions and I am glad I am not the parent and only the grandma who is praying like crazy.

Tucker and Palmer went to their respective places just fine. Thank goodness.

1st day outfits.

Tucker is in 1st grade and Palmer is in VPK. You will hear me say Palmer is in VPK next year too. His birthday is late July and the plan is to start him to school a year late. That has put him in church with Miles. I think that is the only reason Paul Allen and Katie have been able to take him to church is that he is with Palmer for that.

Lots to figure out.

Lots to figure out.

I am doing remarkably well despite all of it and add Jeff's knee and Mom and all her issues. 

Which led me to a thing I finally worked out in my head. 

I have taught some age group since I was 25 at church. I know that serving is important. I have taught young ones for so long, but I have realized I just don't want to anymore. My joy is gone for it. I decided this week to put in my 2 week notice and call it quits. I should have done it in May, but I just kept feeling responsibility more than anything else. I don't have the patience needed to do it. When I finally made the decision and let them know so much peace came over me.

I still open my home to a small group Bible study each week and Jeff and I lead Starting Point at church for people who are seeking. I have shared about that too here. 

But, kids ---no more after tomorrow and one more. Like I said, I have peace. 

That is my 2 weeks in a nutshell. Hoping to get in to a better routine this week. Or course, I have no clue what will happen with Miles, but we will work it out.

Not exactly the most fun post, but such is life sometimes.

Gus said it all after each of these 2 weeks by going to his kennel when the noises of the day quieted.

Stay tuned for more fun things like a new chair and hopefully a freshly painted garage and ceiling repairs....

Sandy

Life Lately: Busy and HOT

Yet another 2 plus weeks have flown by too quick for me. This has turned out to be a VERY busy summer and all my thoughts of relaxing on the beach or even on my back deck have gotten away from me. Of course, it has been August heat for all of  July so you would have to be sitting with your toes in the water or inside with the most wonderful invention ever...central air. I honestly don't know how we lived without A/C. We did though! In school as well.  

Hank Heron hiding in the grasses.

Jeff is a week and a half past the knee replacement. Other than the initial first few hours, I would say he is doing exceptionally well. Apparently, the nerve block they give you these days did little, so waking up to the pain was a lot for him. I have been through many surgeries with Jeff including a hip replacement and a revision. The knee was exponentially worse.  I do think he is recovering well, and he seems to be on the good side of a recovery timeline.  I will take that win.

I took Mother for another round of nerve ablations in her back. I thought they might help. That is to be determined. As of now, she is complaining a bit more. I think the side they did them on feels better, but the other side hurts worse. I am hoping it is just due to the way she was lying and with a few more days she will feel better too. 

We have celebrated 2 birthdays over here since my last post. Pre knee replacement we did Palmer's party. Palmer didn't have the usual party with friends since they had just gone on a cruise with the other grandparents. Lindsay and Tyler  talked him into a day of him getting to choose things like where to eat and where to go for fun on his day. We had the family over here for hotdogs and hamburgers on the day before his birthday. He wanted hotdogs. I did a quick decorate for it with a Pluto/Mickey Mouse theme.

I made the usual cupcakes but this time I put the fudge icing that Mama always makes for a 7 layer cake on the cupcakes. Not as pretty but overwhelmingly everyone agreed tasted much better. 

Tucker and Palmer before everyone else arrived.

Palmer was very pleased with his presents. One present was such a hit that while I didn't get a picture of the fun that took place after this picture, you will see it down below. I ordered it again for Miles.

If you have a grandson aged 3-8, stay tuned for a perfect gift.

Also notice Battleship was out. Tucker had stayed with me that day. I can't even remember why now, but I taught him to play Battleship that day. 

Before we move on to Miles's birthday, I loved this picture. So many things are going on here.

First, is the storm cloud. They can pop up after heat laden days. The past 2 weeks we have had upper 90's with at least 2 at 100. That is not the bad part. It is the humidity which has had the real feel near 120 for far more days than I would like. 

I love summer. I make no bones about it. I love the long days full of fun and adventure, but also a slower pace. Although mine has not been slower paced this year. This summer has taken me to the max though with that kind of heat. Gus thinks he wants to go out to walk, but we go just a bit and his tongue is hanging out and I am drenched. I am not ready to call and end to summer, but will gladly take some low 90's for sure.

Back to the picture. We keep binoculars handy for nature sightings on the water whether that is the occasional alligator or just birds. Paul Allen grabbed the good ones out of reach of little ones and headed out to look for what he thought was an alligator. Of course, he didn't say that to the little ones. They don't generally hang out in our bayou because it is a little too salty for them, but they can and have been. Usually word travels when one is out there.

I keep 2 pairs of old binoculars for the kids to use handy to do the same. Little Palmer saw Paul Allen (who he adores grab and go), so he did the same. I thought this was just the cutest picture.

Post surgery, we celebrated Miles in the same manner as Palmer. He got his usual party for all of the family on both sides the next day, but with Jeff and Mama being down we didn't try to go and celebrate. 

Same cupcakes but with Star Wars. Yes, Paul Allen has introduced Miles to Star Wars. Paul Allen is an encyclopedia when it comes to SW and Miles is on board.

The food Miles chose--- chicken pot pie. He loves them especially the peas. I don't know if all the adults were on board, but it actually turned out pretty good. 

I only had a video of Miles with his cupcake, so I had to do a screen shot.

Now for the present that was a hit- Lindsay has to get credit for thinking of it. She had told me to order it for Palmer. That blue thing 

rolled up is a race track for hot wheels. It is a winner with parents in that it takes up a small amount of space, but a hit with the boys in that it really makes the cars go fast.

You can place it anywhere. It has suction cups to attach it to a window. Lindsay had it attached to their front door and the boys were rolling them down their long hallway. Here it is just on the coffee table and rolling into our kitchen. You can make hills with the box which they did. Something is slick about it because they will roll down and over a hill and keep going.

Every grandma out there knows nothing makes us happier than our families together having fun. 

Most of the month since my last post has been just taking care of people, trying to keep up with my chores, and staying cool. Not much to share. I am coming back soon though---said the ambitious person.

Jeff got a cute t-shirt from a friend yesterday, so I had to take a picture to send them.

I have probably bitten off more than I can chew, but I am keeping lots of kiddos next week. It is the week before school and I just felt like Tucker especially could use a break before school starts the following week. Katie is headed back for preplanning so I have Miles and Valerie too. 

It should be a hip hopping roaring place over here. We are calling it Camp Mimi. I have made stations downstairs in the big room. I have got all kinds of activities planned and Jeff will be able to help me with Valerie.  I think Wednesday is the only day I will have all 4 for the whole day. There are some other things going on during the week that will take one or some away, but yes, I know I am nuts.

Nuts like the nut grass in my flower bed is making me. My flower beds look bad for me, but dang it is hot out there. I almost passed out one day trying to work in them.

I have so many things on my to do list that I wanted to get done pre start of school. Just didn't happen. Jeff has a painter coming Monday to look at some things that need painting inside. Things I normally do, but you know what? I am no spring chicken and have lots going on, so I am going to let someone else do it. It has been hard to let some things go like yard maintenance. Wish you could find someone to pull weeds...those don't exist. No one does those things as well as you would like, but I am learning that I have to give up on some of my perfection and get help. Like I have said before, we are't world travelers. Our home and backyard are our playgrounds so I am going to let someone paint and scratch those things off my list.

I am trying to make a list of all the things I want to blog about...the new book I just read that was so good, stitching and just random things of life...like things come and go. I hope to be back blogging soon, but I have at least another week and probably one after that to recover. I have seen so many blogs closing. I feel like most are giving up and I have seriously thought about it, but I am hanging in there because I am not the best at social media. The blog is much more my thing.

Little Valerie is growing so fast. Mimi is looking forward to having her here everyday.

Until next time,

Sandy