Fixing Up the Garden

Thursday/Friday, May 11/12, 2017

I've let the space by the electric boxes and water pipes go to pot this whole season - been just lazy about doing anything with it short of look at it and say I'll get to that later.  Well, later finally came.

Ken and I went over to Lowe's and picked up some of the scalloped brick edging and some chips and I went to work.  The dirt in the center of the area is higher than on the sides so every time I've tried watering the dirt has slid down onto the sidewalk - thus the edging pieces.  

I grabbed a huge bucket we keep stored in the shed and started ripping out some of the weeds -- many needed help from not only a trowel but a shovel because they were so thick.  Ken helped me out by checking each of the edging pieces as I planted them being sure that I kept them level - that is something I wouldn't have even thought about which is why we made a good team.

Once all the scalloped edging pieces were in place, I worked hard at removing all of the rest of those nasty weeks as well as some plants I "found" amongst them which I then replanted in various spots making for a much nicer looking little garden.  I had some weed cloth that I cut and used in some of the open spots to try and keep down some of the weeds, then covered everything with the wood chips.  Just before putting down the chips I sprinkled the remainder of fertilizer "seeds" that I had left in the shed.  Then after putting down the chips I sprinkled them with weed granules to try and keep them from coming back up.

WOW!  It sure looks a whole lot nicer and now gives me pleasure everytime I go out to the backyard to hang my wet clothes from swimming or get my bike out of the shed.

Friday afternoon I enjoyed several hours of playing hand and foot with Emma Jean and Orrie.  We tried a different version that required that we complete 8 red and 8 black "books".  That meant each round took a very long time.  So we only completed to hands worth but it sure was fun just relaxing together!

Back in the Groove

Wednesday, May 10, 2017
What a joy to be able to get up, read the paper, have breakfast, and go to the pool - we're back into the routine once again.  Now I will admit there was a bit of a difference in that I had to run to the hair dressers for a haircut at 9:00 before going to the pool.  But then it did feel good to have it trimmed once again.

Harriett Hinton met me at the pool at 10:00 and we chatted till 10:55 while we ran in place, did twisting jumps and jumping jacks, kicks to the front, side and back, and kept the arms constantly pushing the water in a variety of ways so that we got a good workout while catching up with each other.  It was already pushing 90 degrees but the water kept us cool.  Exercise in the pool is the best cause you don't sweat!!

I also enjoy taking the bike ride around the park (a 2 mile trip) a couple of different times during the day.  There is a nice breeze and very little humidity so the ride was no problem despite the heat. Hardly anyone is here so it was super quiet on the roads too.

I spent a fair amount of time on the computer trying to get notes out to all our email addresses making the change to our new gmail address.  We are finally trying to break away from PeoplePc though I expect it will take quite awhile to accomplish the change.  The price for our email just kept climbing and it seems silly not to change when gmail is free.  Just tough

Ruby Tuesday was offering a one day special of buy one get one free so I contacted Frank and Bette and we made arrangements to go with them at 3:00 for "linner"  It was great having loads of time to relax and enjoy the meal with them without people eager to take the table.  It really is a good time to go for a meal and does cut back on what we eat when only have 2 meals a day.

This evening while out riding the bike I stopped to visit with Dale and Emma Jean for a short time. I'd hoped they could join us for "linner" tomorrow at Sergios but Dale has a full day of work so can't stop to do that.  But we will go with the Hintons.  Should be fun. They have never gone so we will be introducing them to the pizza there.

And while I write this Ken is busy watching Jeopardy.  Soon it will be time for Wheel of Fortune so must close so I can go enjoy that with him.

Home Again, Home Again

Monday-Tuesday, May 8-9, 2017
Ken and I were up early enough to be all packed, have breakfast and still be able to get Dagny out to her school bus stop at 7:35 and then take Anders to school at 8:00.  It was our final chance to have time with them before we set off for home.

Meanwhile Janet and Jack had breakfast and got Karsten ready for school and had a little playtime with him so we could enjoy a last few minutes of wonderful memories with all three of them.

But then it was time to climb into the car for the long drive home.  Traffic wasn't bad and we did take time to make a couple of rest stops and have lunch at a Wendy's before checking into the Quality Inn again in Hattiesburg and then going over to the Cracker Barrel for dinner.  In fact, there was still even some daylight so I could take a little walk before we settled down for the night.

We were both up quite early the next morning so back on the road shortly after 7:00 am knowing we'd be going through a time change - a leap forward as we were going from Central to Eastern time. Also, Ken wanted to drive to the post office in Crestview (so we could pick up the mail that had been accumulating the past few weeks) when we passed through that area of the Panhandle on our way back home.

Again we did take time to stop for lunch as well as some stretches and of course gas stops.

But we still were able to get back to Zephyrhills before dark stopping first at Panera for a meal and then Publix to get some food for breakfast tomorrow morning.

By the time we'd unpacked and thrown a load in the washer and watched a couple of Jeopardy shows we had taped, we were ready to call it a night.  It felt good to be back in our own beds.

Soccer, Soccer and More Soccer

Friday-Sunday, May 5-7, 2017
Well, we really did do more than watch soccer these three days, but Anders sure spent a fair amount of time out on the soccer field as his team, Evolution, was in a tournament during that period of time. That meant we were off to the field on Friday very shortly after he got home from school.  Actually Jack took him as he had to be there early and the rest of us followed shortly thereafter.  Since his game was early 5:15, we decided to wait till afterwards to enjoy dinner. Sadly his team did not win but we sure got to see him in action as the left back as he played the entire game making some excellent plays.

Here he is in the green shirt stopping the forward movement of the ball and sending it back to the players on his team.

Since this was Cinco de Mayo we decided a Mexican dinner would be appropriate and a favorite Mexican restaurant of theirs, Mercado Juarez Cafe, was just a few blocks from the field.  There we enjoyed a great meal and family time.

Anders second game was Saturday at the same time as Karsten had gymnastics so I elected to stay back and watch his session while Jack took Anders to the game that his team won and Dagny stayed home with Ken.  It was fun seeing all the things they do with three year olds at the gym.  He was working on forward and backward somersaults on a mat shaped like a hill, learning to do a flip on the bars as well as hang and swing his feet sideways to work on his core, balance on a moveable board, walk on the balance beam (that sat on the floor), and jumping on the trampoline learning to sit and then stand again.  It was hard to catch pictures of him but I did take a few attempts.

As soon as Jack and Anders returned home, Jack quickly loaded all of the camping equipment, food and clothing he and Dagny needed for an Indian Princess campout and they were off for that event.  Here she is with her special vest with her Indian Princess name on it.

On Sunday we sent Janet off to teach her Sunday School class at 9:30 giving Anders and Karsten more relaxed time at home to dress and eat their breakfast and then the four of us walked to the church where we met her after her class ended and then she took them to their classes and attended the contemporary service while we attended the traditional service.

Karsten was so tired by the time that we returned that he couldn't even concentrate on eating lunch so he took a long nap.  Luckily Jack came back in the early afternoon in time to get Anders to his last game of the tournament.  He had set up a shelter for us to sit under as it was quite hot especially out in the full sun.  Janet and I then drove out to watch the game while Ken stayed home so Karsten could continue his nap and Dagny could rest since she had not gotten much sleep in her tent. (hard to settle down in that atmosphere).  Again Anders played the entire game and their team won 7-2.

During odd moments of the day, Janet and I worked on cleaning the toy area and clothes closets searching for items that could be given to a large family that has just arrived from the Sudan and was in great need of toys and clothing.

Janet had a great recipe for beef and broccoli that was made in the crock pot so we were able to enjoy that as a family when it came time for dinner.

Before we knew it, it was time for the kids to settle down in bed for the night.  Janet and Jack usually go to bed after that is done since their days start early (especially Janet's who goes to Camp Gladiator for exercise at 5:00 in the morning).  We followed soon after ourselves knowing we were facing a long drive in the morning.

A Busy Week

Monday-Friday, May 2-5, 2017
What a whirl wind each morning is with three kids getting ready for school, having breakfast, gathering all the stuff they need to take with them, and simply getting ready on time!!  Dagny catches a 7:35 am school bus to get to her 2nd grade classes, while Anders and Karsten need a ride to their schools which are both on the same street several miles from here.  Anders goes early so he can do some work before his 6th grade classes begin - arriving around 8:00 am - and Karsten then goes to preschool arriving shortly thereafter.

Then our day would be free for doing things we wanted to do - often just enjoying quiet and relaxation, Ken going for walks and me riding my bike.  We did do several shopping trips including a stop at COSTCO which is only a couple of miles from here and a great adventure at the Central Market - a unique grocery store with shelves and shelves of very unusual items as well as all the usual stuff.  The day we went, we enjoyed lunch there taking advantage of the small cafe on the premises as well as all the wonderful offerings of prepared foods.  This place even has bagged meals that say dinner for 2 on the outside.  Intriguing.

Janet worked all day in her office sometimes popping out for a minute or two to get something or make a comment and then back to work.  But on Friday she actually was able to take off for an hour and a half with us to enjoy lunch at Brio - a nice restaurant at the Town Center.  It was delightful having her all to ourselves for a short period of time

Starting at 3:15 the busyness began again.  First Dagny came home on the bus eager to get her homework done - 20 minutes of reading and 10 minutes of math facts plus work on the spelling words for the week.  Of course, she also wanted a snack.  Before she would be done, Anders would come in (around 4:00) from his bus drop off point and also want a snack and spend time hitting the books.  He always has over an hour of homework to complete plus a need to practice his trumpet.

Then we were off to Karsten's preschool to pick him up and bring him home in time for supper.

After supper was the race to get to the activities of the day.  Monday all three had activities at the same place: Karsten a swim lesson, Dagny gymnastics, and Anders Brain Synx.  Tuesday was soccer practice for Anders.  Wednesday Anders had Brain Synx again.  Then Thursday was gymnastics for Dagny and Soccer for Anders.  Friday was a soccer game.  Since the kids can't be left home alone, this often meant that everyone had to be loaded into their car seats and taken whether they had an activity or not.

I really enjoyed watching the gymnastic sessions that Dagny had (Monday it lasted 2 hours).  She is in a pre team class which means the last one before actually preparing to be in a class that competes. She is mastering all kinds of skills on the beam, bars, trampoline and floor.  The only thing I didn't see was any kind of vaulting.

By the time the activity was done it was time for the craziness of getting everyone washed up, changed into pjs, and settled into bed after story time -- each in their own room with different books and conversation. Most of the nights I was able to read  with Dagny while mom and dad each took on one of the other kids.  But truly all of us were pooped by the time they settled.  In fact, Janet often fell asleep in one of the kids rooms after laying down with them to read and say prayers.

Finally it was Friday -- after the usual after school craziness, we were off to Dallas for the first game of Anders soccer tournament.  While his team lost it was fun to watch the interaction and how well Anders played.  This is his first year with this team and this coach.  The kids are still trying to master the basics of ball handling and team work.  But a great game on a beautiful night - low 70s and no humidity or bugs.

Afterwards, we drove to the nearby Mexican restaurant, Mercado Jaurez Cafe, for a great dinner and our celebration of Cinco de Mayo.  What a great ending to a very active week.

We Are In Charge

Sunday/Monday, April 30/May 1, 2017
Janet and Jack were off for the special time together at a bed and breakfast in the Austin area fairly early on Sunday morning.  They sent a couple of pictures of the infinity pool and lake at the place

along with one of Janet posing on their balcony just before they went off for dinner.

Meanwhile, Ken and I were in charge for the time they were gone.  We got the kids up, dressed and, and fed before setting off for our walk to the church.  It was fairly chill with a very strong wind so we hunted up clothing to keep us warm for that trip.  The sun then finally came out and began to warm things up for the remainder of the day.

The kids love getting to church and having a treat in the fellowship hall where they sell donuts and little sausages in a roll.  Fruit drinks are also available so they had a supplemental breakfast there before heading to their Sunday School classes and we to church.

Afterwards, Anders went with his 5th/6th grade group for a few hours of pizza and trampoline jumping.  Dagny had a birthday party in the afternoon so she too was off for several hours.  Ken was able to drive her to that and then go back to the church to get Anders.  Meanwhile I stayed home with Karsten playing in the yard for a while and then putting him down for a nap.

Ken did get Karsten to the store to purchase some Pokemon cards he wanted and also picked up a Tri-Ominos game so we could play that.  He had loved doing it when visiting with us and really wanted to play again.  We also showed Dagny how to play so she too could participate.

In the evening, we had supper together, played for a bit and then split the duties of getting them all settled down in bed for the night.  It becomes quite a process by the time everyone gets books read to them in their individual rooms.

Monday morning we were up early so as to get everyone up and off to school.  Dagny needs to be to her bus by 7;35 and Anders likes to be off in the car by 7:45 so he can get to school early and do some of his work before school starts.  Since his school is on the same street as Karstens preschool, they both go at the same time.

Since we'd already had practice with after school activities, we were in pretty good shape handling things when they came home and were close to ready to leave for all three activities in the evening, when Janet and Jack returned and took over.  This was to be Karsten's first swim lesson and she wanted to be there and I had the fun of watching him as well as Janet in her gymnastics class since they are right across from each other.  Anders was in a room across the hall for his brain styx session that includes time with a tutor working not only on class work but other brain inhancing activities.

Our First Weekend of Fun

Friday-Saturday/April 28-39, 2017
After all the kids were home from school we drove over to the town center for the art festival which was just getting started.  The first thing Dagny wanted to do was get her face painted so we stayed with her while the boys enjoyed so of the more active things.

Then we enjoyed a bbq meal actually finding a table where we could sit to eat.  Anders found a friend to hang out with and enjoyed some freedom of moving around on his own and at one point actually winning a folding chair which of course he brought to us to hall around.  Janet and Jack found many different friends to interact with and Ken and I simply enjoyed wandering around checking out all the art items that were for sale in the huge quantity of booths.

Saturday, Jack made pancakes for the kids along with loads of bacon and omlets for each of us for breakfast.  Then we went to the gym for Karstens mini olympics which was more or less an opportunity for the parents of all the very young kids to see what they had been working on for the season.  They actually had us moving to various locations to see them in action and then at the end presented each of the children with a certificate and medal giving them their own time on a special platform.

Needless to say, Karsten was thrilled with the attention and his special awards.  Look at that smile!!

Jack  picked up individual pizzas for everyone that they then enjoyed in the afternoon before spending time just playing outside.