Happy Hallmark Holiday!

I'm sure the person who started Mother's Day did so with the best of intentions, Take a day to honor your mother, tell/show her how much she means to you. Then Hallmark got hold of the idea, and boom! Commercialization! On the radio Friday they were having a big debate as to whether men should spend the day with their wives or mothers. One wise reader suggested spending the day with both. 

Another one is Grandparents Day, which Hallmark invented several years ago- I refuse to acknowledge that one. Or maybe I should buy Hallmark stock and be a cheerleader for all the Hallmark Holidays! 

And maybe some families do need the nudge of a holiday to spend time with moms. My family never has- I talk to my mom almost every day, and Ralph sees his mom at least twice a week. My girls either call me or I call them at least once a week, and Manda and Steph email me almost every day. So I'm blessed that way. 

Manda, Ben and Kitten, along with Becca, are all moved in and making good headway with unpacking boxes. Kitten is managing the steps just fine, which was a worry for Manda. And Ben cut his very own lawn for the first time! 

No word from ortho about aetna, so I guess they're still not playing well with Kennedy Hospital. 

Ralph put in a new thermostat last fall, and it worked fine all winter. Friday he was downstairs and heard a hissing from the heater, never a good thing, and smelled a smell. He turned off the heater (along with the hot water!) and we called Dan M. the heater guy. He and Ralph decided the thermostat has most likely fried a control on the heater, and he'll be out of Wednesday to fix it. That means showering at Mom's for a few days- good thing we only live 2 blocks from her! 

I'm still hooked on that stupid Candy Crush Saga game, along with half the world. But I have cut back on the time I waste on it. 

Sly and Tina are settled in well. Sly loves the porch, and the window in our bedroom. Tina loves the basement, and sitting on Ralph's lap. Sly will come up and head butt you til you pet him. I still miss Miss Millie and Cliffie so badly that thinking about them makes me want to cry. 

And so it goes!
Holly      

It's May!

The weather has been gorgeous- 60's and 70's during the day, chilly at night. A few nights we were able to sleep with the windows open, which makes the cats very happy. The weather in the midwest was terrible, with May snow. We were afraid Manda and Ben would be caught in the snow, but they lucked out and didn't see any. 

It's been a quiet weekend- my favorite kind. We went to Bob Evans for breakfast yesterday, and they have new thing- 4 servings of several items to go for $5. We got chicken salad, broccoli cheddar soup, and cole slaw to go. For once we thought ahead and took a cooler with us, and Ralph was able to buy hoagies supporting some organization. We went from breakfast to Office Max and got a new desk chair- the other one was leaning to one side. 

On Thursday I took a half day off work and went to the Memorial Service for Roseann's father. The service was short and very nicely done. We got to see her grandchildren at the funeral luncheon, which was also very nicely done. 

Niece Brittany has a new baby boy, and I just finished making him my usual baby gift- an afghan, a few oversized receiving blankets, and some burp clothes. 

I've gotten hooked on this dumb facebook game of Candy Crush, and I'm wasting entirely too much time on it. I'm trying to cut down, as of today. 

I'm between crocheting projects. I got out a baby afghan that I started years ago, and I have to sit and figure out how to follow the pattern. 

Baby Girl is a spaghetti squash this week. Tomorrow Manda will be 31 weeks- not real long to go! 

No word from ortho, but I didn't expect anything. I'm resigned to waiting til August at least. Knock wood, the knee pain is constant but only about a 1-2 on a scale of ten. 

I went into Joann's Fabric to buy a specific magazine Friday, and only bought it! I was most proud of myself. I looked around a little, then pictured my shelves and checked out and left. 

And the beat goes on!         

Disappointment

I saw ortho Friday. I was already to book my other knee replacement surgery. I had talked to Aetna, and they said a waiver was possible. But Mrs. Parker, the surgical scheduler, told me the rest of the story. A waiver is possible, if I had out of network benefits, which I don't. And I'd be stuck with a several thousand dollar balance! And Dr. M. only usually operates out of Kennedy. Mrs. P said she keeps hearing rumors, and they all have the date of May 31, so maybe something will change. 

So it looks like no new knee before the arrival of Baby Girl. The other possibility is having it done when I get back from WA, and missing the beginning of the school year. If Aetna and Kennedy have made up. The xrays look awful, bone on bone, and don't reflect the pain that I'm having right now. So I'm in a waiting pattern, and Mrs. P will call me when she hears something concrete. 

Barbara was down yesterday afternoon, and she quilted this year's Farm Fair Raffle Quilt. So that's two baby quilts and a full sized quilt that went up on the HQ this month! I'm getting more comfortable using the big machine.

Today I'm making crockpot lasagna, which will also serve us tomorrow. Manda told me how to make pulled pork in the crockpot, so I got the shoulder roast and that can cook all day Tuesday. Yesterday Ralph made hot dogs on the new grill, and we had potato and macaroni salad with them. 

I talked to my friend Pat on the phone yesterday. We hadn't talked in a while, but we always pick up liked we'd talked to each other 5 minutes before. 

Mom Florence has fallen twice this week, with (knock wood) no injury. She said she had a good time at the shower last week, but we can tell that she can't tell which of her granddaughters is which, with the possible exception of Manda. 

Manda and Ben had settlement on their house! From the pictures, it looks really nice, and will be a great place for Baby Girl to arrive. Next weekend they go to Nebraska to a midwestern baby shower, then Manda's flying days are over for a bit. 

April is almost over. I've read 12 books this month, only 2 on the kindle. The rest were from the library. I put together and quilted the two baby quilts, and I made six oversized receiving blankets for Baby Girl. 

Sly and Tina are settled in. It'll be six weeks tomorrow since they came to live here. They love the basement and the porch, and Tina jumps on Ralph the minute he sits down. Sly is starting to sleep with us occasionally. Marco emailed Ralph that Tina never sat on his lap! I'm sorry Marco had to give up his cats, but they sure got the better of the deal! 

And the beat goes on!
Holly  
    

Sigh

It was such a nice weekend, and it went by entirely too fast. Friday evening Ben and Manda arrived at Philly Airport. Steph and Dan picked them up and whisked them off to look at a wedding venue that is being considered. I was talking to Mom on the phone when I heard giggling in the kitchen, so I knew they arrived. We called John, who was also up for a long weekend, so he could come see them. 

We stayed up late talking and visiting. Manda is almost 29 weeks pregnant, and looks adorable. The reason they came to Jersey was for the baby shower we were giving them. 

Saturday morning Ralph and I went to get the cake, and then Ralph went to get his mom. I drove the cake, Ben and Manda to the shower. It was at Masso's Red Pine Inn in Glassboro. Heather and Steph had done some decorating, and arranged some games. 

After everyone got there, the buffet was opened up. The food never disappoints at Masso's. After we ate, one game was played, and the gifts started being opened. Everyone had been asked to give a book instead of a card, and they got a wonderful selection of books. They got beautiful gifts, and a lot of gift cards. Our family and friends are practical, and anything large was either shipped to them, or they were given a picture of it and a gift card or check. 

Halfway thru the gifts they took a break, and the cake was cut. The rest of the gifts were opened and admired, and another game was played. More visiting and table hopping, and then it was over!

Steph and Dan, Heather and Julianna, and Mom and John came back to our house to eat leftover shower food and admire the gifts. A lot of the gifts were able to be packed in Manda's suitcase and the Vera Bradley diaper bag that Pat sent her. 

After everyone else left, Ben, Manda and I stayed up til after midnight. Manda is very concerned about Kitten, who is 18 and in declining health, and we talked about that., and about the house they are buying. 

This morning more leftovers were eaten, and Ralph brought Mom Florence over for meatballs. Then Dan and Steph picked up the parents to be and they went for a walk at Paintworks and then got lunch. Manda was in need of a panzarotti, and the rest got sandwiches. All too soon it was time for them to pack up and head out. They are in the air right now on the way back to Sea-Tac Airport. 

It's been a long while since I cried when they've left, but I did today. Mill Creek is all the way across the country, and today I feel the distance. I'm so happy that they are buying a house, both have jobs, and Baby Girl will be arriving in July. I just miss them. Part of it is that we have no idea when they will be back. Baby Girl will be so little at Christmas that it's real doubtful that they'll want to travel with her. Plus a new house comes with a new mortgage, and flights aren't cheap. 

I'll be going out to pamper Manda after Baby Girl is born, so I'll see them in late July or early August. In the meantime I'll have plenty to keep me busy. 

And, sigh, tomorrow is Monday again.   

The party's over

Spring break is over, and I went back to work today. Every day I say I'm going to do a post with pix, but Ralph's never around when I want to post. Tonight he's around, but he's got a lap full of Tina cat. 

It's 3 weeks today that Sly and Tina came to live with us. They are settling in very nicely. Sly loves to look out the window, and he sleeps under our bed- and he snores! Tina hides out in the fabric closet, and has gotten over her shyness with us- as soon as Ralph sits down, she's right there! 

Last week was Easter, and we had a great time at Mike and Donna's. I got to give Baby Joey his bottle and hold him for a while. We had so much food! Ham, lasagna, ziti and meatballs, and the things I made. Donna made a fabulous sangria, and I had 2 half glasses before switching to iced tea. 

It was wonderful being off for a week. I got the two baby quilts for Baby Girl up on the HQ and quilted them. I'm very happy with how they came out- now I need to bind them. I also have flannel to make receiving blankets and burp clothes from. I also took a nap several days, read a little, and cooked a little. Friday I took my mom to her eye doc appt- two hours of my life I'll never get back. Her appt was 10.20, they took her and several others to the back, where she said they sat for an hour til the eye doc saw her. The patients were all old, and they must find waiting that long acceptable- I sure don't. All the people waiting, me included, were complaining to the receptionist. I told Mom if she ever has to go back, I'm making the appt and making it clear that there is a limit to how long we will sit. 

And I really am going to get pictures up!

The cats are here!

Our ten year old pre-owned cats arrived Monday. As the previous owner, Marco, was carrying them up our steps the handle came off the carrier and they rolled a couple of steps. Not a great beginning. When the carrier was opened and Ralph left the room, they went into hiding and stayed hidden til the middle of the night. 

Sylvester, the boy, is huge! He's at least 20 pounds! His sister Satina, "Tina", is smaller but still hefty. We thought she might be invisible for the first few days, because we never saw her. The last few nights she's been sociable at 4 a.m. They're still exploring their new house. 

Eventually they'll stand still long enough for me to get pictures. 

We're going to Mike and Donna's tomorrow for Easter dinner. I made Joseph's Trifle, banana split dessert, and cream cheese/tomato dip tonight. Tomorrow morning I'll make pineapple stuffing, brussels sprouts, and crescent hot dogs. We're taking Mom Florence with us. She enjoys going to Mike and Donna's- as soon as she sits down, Mike hands her a glass of wine. 

Tomorrow is also Big Mike's birthday- he'll be 57. 

We're off from work all week. Monday my car is going in the shop to get the oil changed, brakes checked, and the window motor checked. Friday Mom has an eye doc appt. This is the 3rd one she's had- she has a habit of cancelling if snow is forecast, without waiting to see if it actually snows. 

My goal for the week is to make Baby Girl's quilts for the shower, which is coming up fast. She's the size of an ear of corn this week. I just finished her afghan. 

And another week is over!
Holly

Palm Sunday

It's spring! On paper, anyway. We're supposed to get snow tomorrow, but the last several times snow has been predicted, it's been only a dusting. We'll see. 

Steph and Dan will be home this afternoon, so the dogs will go home. They've been really good all week, we only had to go out in the middle of the night once. It'll be nice to go back to our no-dog routine. And the cats are coming tomorrow! Ralph keeps forgetting to ask their names. He's excited that they are coming to live with us. 

Baby Girl was a large mango for the past week. We're giving a baby shower for them on April 20, which should be fun. I've gotten some small, cute gifts for her. And Manda and Ben bought a house for Baby Girl! They have settlement right after the shower. The house is in Mill Creek, their preferred town. It looks beautiful in the pictures. 

We have a short work week- half day Thursday, off Friday and the whole next week! I'm ready for a break. I used 4 sick days in September when I had bronchitis, and one personal day in October, for Dave and Juliette's wedding, and I've been at work every other day. I have 31 sick days built up, and I'm hoarding them. I learned when I was so sick in 2010 and used 70 sick days in a row, to not waste them, because you never know what is going to happen. 

I plan to use the week off to construct two crib sized quilts for Baby Girl. I was in Joann's Fabrics, and took pix of the baby panels with my phone. Ralph emailed them to Manda for me, and she picked the ones she liked. I also have flannel for some receiving blankets and for burp cloths. 

Julianna was named a STAR at school! And Eddie went to the Meteor race with Ed, and took his bike, and he was taking scores back and forth. 

Today would have been my grandmother Alice's birthday. Next Sunday is Big Mike's birthday. Mom has been teasing that he's now the patriarch of the family, since he's a grandfather. But she adds that she's still the matriarch, which trumps patriarch. 

Ralph is off on his Sunday morning visit with his mom. She's continuing to decline, and he's so sad. 

And the roofer guy finally came, and diagnosed a leak by the skylight. It needs flashing, wood, and shingles, but will cost a lot less than I was afraid of!
Happy Spring!