Grandparent's Gift:

 

Lizzy and Nathan came over yesterday evening to help me buy Easter food and eggs.  When we pulled in the driveway, Lizzy (of course, she notices everything) started yelling there's a package on your porch.  Out the car door she went.  More excited talking as she said it says, "World's Best Grandma" on it.  I knew immediately it was from Bette Jo.
It is a rag quilt in soft flannel.  It's for my house if it's a boy and April's house if it's a girl.  I so appreciate Dwayne's extended family and the love they have shown me.

Bette also sent a card to us the day she found out we were getting a grandchild.  My cousin, Martha sent one this week.  I meant to take of picture of Martha's card last night but forgot to.  Martha is always so thoughtful at sending cards.  We may not see each other much but we keep in touch and we know we can count on the other if we have any problems in life.

I am so grateful for the greetings of gladness we've received from so many people upon hearing we're to be grandparents.

Wordless Wednesday:

 

 

2005:

Zach and Ashlyne were over last night for Zach to finish typing up his report.  My printer ran out of ink, so we were going to save it to a disc for him to take to school and print out.  I thought I found an empty disc and to our surprise it was old pictures April had saved.  I think this was 2005.  Zach and Ashlyne laughed at how they looked then.  I thought they looked cute.

Dwayne, (a few pounds lighter....) stringing the lights.

April and Ashlyne

(quite the fashion statment with that short sweater on)

Zach, Ashlyne and April

 

Zach with April in the background.

Monster Zach

Ashlyne hiding from the monster.

We found more Christmas pictures from that year I'll post later.  I have my blog printed into a journal, so it helps me to keep pictures without downloading and printing out.  It's a nice way to preserve memories.

I am grateful for these two kids in my life.  We've watched Ashlyne since she was three weeks old and I was present for Zach's birth.

Weekend:

Friday:
Dwayne and I went to Mike and Susan's to visit and to also see Carrie, Ryan and their three kids, Avery, Evan and Ellie.  Kay and Kassie were there too.  We always enjoy seeing the kids and how much they have changed between visits.  They refer Dwayne as the cowboy and I'm the cowboys' wife.  lol
Saturday:
April came by for breakfast and then we headed out to Springfield to do some shopping.  I think all the neighboring towns were in Springfield.  I've never seen the traffic that congested, even around Christmas.  We were pleasantly surprised to see Kara and Parker at the mall.  I was glancing at the cute baby in the stroller and then looked again as it was Kara and Parker!  Quite a coincedence in that big of a mall and as crowded as it was.

    Parker Bradley

 

We bought a few items but overall not much.  At least we saved money.  lol

Dwayne called on our way home and was heading over to Sput's for a fish fry.  We decided to go over on our way home and visit.  Kristin was there with Ashlyne, Kaden and Kaleb.  Kaden was soooo excited to see "His April" and told her he had missed her so much and he loved her very much.  He hasn't really seen her that often but she has picked him up from Kristin and brought him out to the house a few times.  I guess in his eyes that is alot.  My nephew, Michael was  there with his little boy Gavin who is almost six.  He told Chad when April sat by him he had found a real hottie.  I don't know why little kids talk that way.  It was cute, but I still think inappropriate for a little boy to be talking that way.  Kaleb wouldn't have anything to do with anyone except Uncle Dwayne.  He cried when he had to leave.  We visited awhile with Dwayne, Chad and a few other friends there and then headed over to Mom and Dad's.  They were super excited to see April.  Dad told her he was going to spoil this baby and would teach him/her to jig dance in no time.  Mom is doing okay but getting very tired of just sitting and not being able to get around.

Sunday:

Dwayne and I headed over to April and Mike's.  We got quite a bit of snow during the night but the roads were okay until we got to Highway 52 and then it was another story.  They received so much more snow over that way and more was coming down.  It looked like a blizzard.

Dwayne and Mike painted the nursery while April and I played lazy all afternoon watching movies.

I think the kids missed us being home as Lizzy called wanting to come over and then Ashlyne called with the same request.  Zach and Ashlyne walked over in the snow after we got home.  We spent the evening watching TV and Zach typing up a report.  Needless to say, I did not let them walk home at nine o'clock in the snow and freezing weather.  After driving that short distance I was dreading driving to work this morning.  The highway was clear but Highway A was snow and ice covered.  Luckily, I didn't slide any.  Nice Spring weather!!  lol

I am grateful for the weekend spent with family and friends.

 

Thought for the day:

Wordless Wednesday:

Weekend:

Friday:
Dwayne started working out of town this week and leaves around three a.m. on Monday morning and got home last night around nine p.m. Long week away from home for him. (and me) This shouldn't last too long. He is to start working in Fort Leonard Wood as soon as the weather clears up for the job to start. Driving under forty miles one way to work will seem like a vacation to Dwayne as he's been driving over a hundred miles one way for the past several years. Dwayne came by work and we ran a few errands.
After work, we went to Mom and Dad's and to see if they needed any groceries picked up.  Mom seemed to be in quite a bit of pain and the boot they put on her that day was more for the foot and didn't support the ankle at all.
We ate at Maid-Rites and then to Wal-Mart to buy groceries.  Stopped by and dropped off Mom and Dad's items and then home to an early bedtime.  I was still tired from the events from Mom and Dwayne had a rough work week and was exhausted.
Saturday:

We went to Rolla to watch the St. Pat's Parade.  I was wondering why Dwayne wanted to go watch Chad ride in the parade as we see him riding the horse all the time and then he told me Chad was going to ride his mule and be leading the parade.  We were disappointed that this was canceled at the last minute as the group he was to lead decided it was too cold and with the chance of rain decided not to come.  We did get to see Chad ride but it was the back of the parade reserved for horses.

Dwayne held Kaleb throughout the parade.  I don't know what Kaleb likes most, Uncle Dwayne or Uncle Dwayne's hat.

  

Kaleb's attention was drawn by the camels.  Don't ever remember seeing camels in our area before.

The wind came up and it kept getting colder and colder out. But that didn't stop Kaleb from getting as short ride on Chad's horse.

 We found some good Kabobs at one of the street stands.  We then went to Lowe's to pick up a hand rail for the basement steps as Dwayne fell down them last Saturday.  Between the two of us falling twice down the stairs now, our kids think we need a one story house.  I think the reason Dwayne has fell is his socks have nylon in them and make him slip.  May have to invest in just all cotton socks.
We spent the afternoon cleaning in the basement and installing the hand rail.  I then went to Mom and Dad's to help out for awhile.  Mom had decided the loose fitting boot wasn't helping at all so she had Judy take it off and she soaked her foot/ankle in ice water for awhile and then they made their own splint and then wrapped her foot with an ace bandage.  This helped also as it kept Mom's foot mobile.  She was feeling much better than the day before.
Sunday:
I once again missed church.  Not a good habit to get into.
April, Mike, Chad and Todd all came for a huge Sunday dinner of roast beef, corned beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, cabbage and of course corn for Mike.  I never have a dinner for him without his corn.
My oatmeal cake with a burnt sugar icing was just exactly that, burnt!!  I had it under the broiler and when I checked it it only needed about a minute more.  I got busy visiting with the kids sitting at the kitchen counter and forgot about it until I smelled it burning!  It was just the topping so I scraped that off.
We had a good afternoon of watching TV and just visiting.  Of course, we talked about the baby to be here in October.  Uncle Chad and Uncle Todd are just about as excited as Dwayne and I.  Chad is already picking out a horse for the baby.  lol
After the kids left, Dwayne spent the remainder of the afternoon packing up his truck and going to check on Mom and Dad.
I went to two different visitations for two high school friends whose mothers had passed away.  There was a nice showing of support at both visitations from family and friends even with the rain and sleet we were having.
An evening finished by watching Army Wives and the end to a fast weekend.

I am grateful for my family and friends.