Trenten meltdown

Trent and Miss Addy stayed overnight last night. Miss Addy was perfect as usual. Trent was very tired by the time I tried to put him to bed so I am partially to blame for his meltdown. Nothing was right. If I said white, he said black. He wanted another cookie and I said no. He started crying and whining and then I said he couldn't have one because he was crying. He said not to say no to him. That no is not a nice word. He told me a cookie would make him happy. I told him to brush his teeth and he said no. I said fine just go to bed and he said no he wanted to brush his teeth. All the while crying and screaming "There's something wrong with me." I agreed. He was not being a very nice boy. I finally just took him and rocked him and he fell asleep in about 2 minutes. Note to self, put kids to bed BEFORE they are tired.

Tomorrow is Abigail's 30th birthday! I can still remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. It does not seem like 30 years. My, those years went by so fast. We had plans to go out to eat for New Year's Eve that day but I ended up in the hospital so Jon went out to eat without me. How's that for a new father. Food has always been very important to Jon. lol

Our new year's eve plans this year include babysitting. And going to bed early. Sleep has always been very important to me and it's getting more important the older I get. Especially if I have Trent and Addy to get up with the next morning. On that note, goodnight.

Christmas Come and Gone

Slow down!!!! Where is my Christmas vacation going? It seems like just yesterday we got out of school for Christmas break and here it is Dec. 27th already. Last Wed. and Thurs. were spent babysitting Trent and Addy and praying that Adam and Joelle made it back safely to Iowa. Friday was spent cooking and cleaning and praying that Adam and Joelle would make it back safely to Monticello and Cascade since they spent the night in IC with Lanie and friends. Friday was our snow storm day. We must have gotten about 8 inches. Of course Adam and Joelle were in no hurry to leave IC , so they didn't start out until about noon. Why do young people not pay attention to the weather? They finally made it to Joelle's grandma's in Springville and were heading to Monti and here when they went in the ditch near Springville. Luckily they and the jeep were fine. Joelle's uncle pulled them out and they made it to Joelle's mom and dad's where they decided to spend the night. I think they had their fill of winter driving that day. Luckily they only had to travel 60 miles on Fri compared to the 800 they drove on Thursday. At least Joelle's family got to see her on Friday. Adam finally made it here on Sat. (Christmas) morning. It took him 2 days to get home which seemed like an eternity to me. I knew I wasn't going to see him on Thurs but that was ok but thought for sure I would see him on Fri. I told him it was worse not being able to see him when I knew he was in Iowa than when he was in CO. I knew he was so close but I still couldn't see him or hug him. We were able to visit and catch up Sat. morning before heading up to Grandma Grace's for the Gotto Christmas at noon. Abby and Tory also showed up right before we left, so Adam was able to ride up and back with them. That gave them time catch up and visit. The Gotto Christmas was good. Joe and Sherry were in charge and they had a soup cookoff. The brothers and sisters had to bring a pot of soup. I took veg/beef. Karen's cabbage and ham won. They were all great. But you know Joe and Sherry. Everyone was a winner. They had prizes for everyone. Joe also dressed up as Santa. He is so good. The kids were so cute. They weren't afraid of him like they were last year. Everyone had a great time and lots to eat. Adam and the Toppings left mom's about 2:00 to come home to do the dog chores (Tory) and sleep (Trent, Addy and Abby). Jon and I helped clean up and return items to Joe and Sherry's. (a truck load) Then it was back home for our family Christmas. It was low key but after a Gotto Christmas, low key is good. I was just so happy to have everyone here. Even Ashley was able to be here. Joelle came over too. We ate, did dishes and then opened gifts. Trent was so cute. He was all business passing out gifts and opening his gifts. Adam and Joelle gave him a train set which he loved. There was no peace until we set it up and he was able to play with it. He had his conductor's hat on and was calling "All aboard" and punching tickets and having a great time. He also got a corn planter, grain cart, flashlight and a 4020 tractor that he has to share with Papa. Addy just sat and watched the whole process. Jon got Netflix again and this time we got a wireless router so he can watch DVD's, on the computer or on the TV with the Wii. You know what Jon will be doing the next 3 months. Now Christmas 2010 is over. Adam and Joelle are back in Colorado :( and now we are looking forward to Abby's birthday on Fri and New Year's eve and day. Happy New Year!!!!

Easing into Christmas vacation

I shouldn't say this but this is my kind of teaching. Early dismissal yesterday, late arrival today, early dismissal tomorrow and then Christmas vacation officially starts! Thank you God cause they all count and we don't have to make any of them up!! It is definitely going to be a white Christmas. Just continue to pray for all holiday travelers, esp. Adam and Joelle. Not sure yet when they plan on making the trek. I don't want to pester them, but I think I will call or text today to see what they are thinking. Just a few more items and groceries to get before Christmas. It is so nice having the grocery store in town to get most of my groceries. Not the big deal it has always been.

Tory is bringing Trent and Addy over @ 8:30 so I can watch them and take them to daycare @ 10:00 so I better get going so I am all ready when they get here. Jon left me the truck so I have to take them all by myself today. Glad I don't have to do this every day any more. Once in a while is ok. I will do just about anything for my kiddos and grandkids. Love them all. Can't wait to be all together on Christmas. Please, God.

Prayers answered

I almost forgot to mention that all my prayers were answered. Yaaaaaaay! I got my stitches out and it looks great. Almost no scarring!! My lower eyelid went back up. Dr. Scott said my eyelid looked great and even if it didn't he said he could have fixed it. :) And most importantly, they got it all. So this basal cell is gone for good. Just have to keep watching and praying that's all. What are my chances? Thank you, God!

Let it snow

We had a delay today but it almost could have been a cancellation. Our road was not plowed at 9:30 so Jon came home to get us(me, Trent and Miss Addy) to take us to school illegally in the truck. I was not going to drive my van on our road. Jon also brought us home at 3:30 when it was STILL snowing. It is a pretty white fluffy snow but I am kind of getting tired of snow and it is only the 16th of December. We still have a long way to go before we can even think of warmer temps and no snow. Oh well. It could be worse and probably will get worse. And actually the days will start getting longer next week. I always say you can put up with anything if you know it is temporary.
Our kids Christmas program was tonight. They did a great job. It might have been the best children's Christmas program I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of them.
Heading to bed now. TGIF tomorrow. Busy weekend getting ready for next weekend.

Snow Day

Our first snow day of the 2010-2011 school year. Boy am I glad I didn't go up to school yesterday to get ready for my sub. I get my stitches out today so I wasn't going to school today anyway. I had a few more things to do for my sub and now I don't have to do anything. I just HATE making up snow days though. Everyone thinks it is so great when teachers get a snow day but it really isn't. You can't go anywhere cause the weather and the roads are bad. And if you do go somewhere, people just give you grief cause you have the day off. I would rather just have the delay and go. Then we don't have to make it up. I still have to go to Dbq to get my stitches out. Jon is going with me cause we are going to give blood later today too. And finish all our Christmas shopping.

Finished the book The Hunger Games. Great weekend for reading cause of the snow and cold. I was right about the book. I had to keep reading to find out what happened. I definitely recommend it. Not sure if I will regift it to Adam or Tory. Now I have to get another book right away while I am in the reading mood and the weather forecast for the next 3 months is winter in Iowa.

Now what to do so I have something to show for a day at home. Couple of Christmas gifts to work on and wrap. Finalize my Christmas list. Then maybe do some cleaning. Basement, fridge and garage definitely need attention. Then if time allows, the shops uptown. Only 2 weeks left for Hickory Hill and Cranberry Hollow. I will miss them. I love just walking through them and finding cool things. And they were always great for last minute gifts. Hope Cascade gets some more shops. Thank God we still have Annie's, my favorite.

Blizzard 2010

Well, winter is here with a vengeance. Rain yesterday, turning to snow, 20-40 mile an hour winds and temps in the single digits. Blizzard warning until noon today. Guess we will be staying home today. Not that we were going anywhere anyway. I do have to go up to school to get ready for my sub tomorrow but I don't want to do it if we have a delay or school is cancelled. I will probably wait until late this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Jon is outside clearing bunks and shoveling snow for Ricky. What a nice brother. Do you think Marc will come out to help his Dad? Only if it involves riding in a tractor! That's not very nice of me but still true. Jon is going down to see if Ricky needs help with the chores now. What did I tell you? He's too nice.

Finished reading Feathers yesterday and started The Hunger Games last night. Feathers was an easy read and an ok book. Not sure if I will like The Hunger Games. It might be one of those books where I don't like what's happening but I have to keep reading to find out what happens. So I hope you are happy Mrs. Yamoah! I am finally reading. I just don't like being told I have to read.

It's Friday

It was a slippery ride home from school yesterday afternoon. It started to sleet/freezing rain just about the time we got out of school. I had Trent but no Addy and we headed home. Jon called and said it was icy so be careful. I asked if he wanted to drive us home but he said to just drive slow. I was doing just that when going past Bill Trumm's the van started to slide and pretty soon we were half in and half out of the ditch on the other side of the road. Trent was pretty good about it. He just asked what I was doing and what was happening. I immediately called Jon to come and get us, said a prayer that no one would come around the corner and slam into us, and began to try to get off the road. I did manage to get off on the shoulder of the road heading back to town. I hate ice. Jon and Dempsey eventually came and we headed back to town with the truck and van and left the van in town. We were lucky no one was coming and we stopped where we did.

Little Miss Addy and Trenten are spending the night at Mama's and Papa's tonight. I better get to bed cause I have a feeling I will be up several times tonight cause Addy is not feeling the best yet. Trent is sleeping in a sleeping bag in our room. We will see how that goes.

Only 2 weeks til Christmas. Yikes! Not quite done shopping and haven't even started thinking about the cooking and baking. Oh well it will come and go too fast like always. Slow down, Mr. Time!

sick grandkids

What a night. I went to pick up Addy and Trent today after school and found BOTH of them not feeling well. I went into Addy's room first cause her door was open. Whitney said Addy was running a temp and wasn't herself all day. Took her and went upstairs to get Trent and Lindsay came with Trent and said he wasn't feeling the best either. I could tell that by just looking at him. He definitely was not the Trent I know. I had to dress him while holding Addy and then he wanted to be carried to the van. Wasn't sure how I was going to do that. Finally got Trent dressed and had him walk downstairs, gave Addy to Angela, carried Trent to the van and came back to get Addy. I did take a bucket along cause Trent said he felt like he had to throw up. We finally got home, in the house and undressed. Trent laid on the couch and fell asleep and Addy fell asleep in my arms. Jon came home and helped out. Tory came over to see the kids and brought some children's Tylenol for Trent. Gave Trent some Tylenol, he slept and seemed better when he woke up. Miss Addy slept for about an hour on Jon. Hopefully they will both be feeling better tomorrow. Nothing worse than having sick babies. I would rather be sick myself.

still another Trenten story

Trenten and Papa were going to go plow snow at AIS today so Jon was changing into his work clothes in the bedroom. Trent came in when Jon had his pants off and Trent saw him and said Papa was nakedy. Not sure where he gets his words. Trent was also playing in the living room when I told him to be careful to not knock the tree over. He stopped, put his finger up by his head and said "What is my brain telling me to do?" I told him to tell his brain to tell his foot to be careful and not knock the tree over. So of course, he proceeds to talk to his foot. Too funny. Little Miss Addy was perfect all day. She is such a happy baby. Doesn't particularly like baby food right now and there is no making her eat it if she doesn't want it. She is definitely not suffering though. Abby and Ash came back for supper tonight. Abby wanted to get a Christmas picture with the kids, which I thought would never happen so late at night, but I was surprised. Addy and Trent and Ash all cooperated beautifully. That Addy is a natural. Can't wait to see the card.

Snow and Christmas shopping

Well, we got our first official snowfall of the season. And it is white out now. We must have gotten 8-10 inches. It sure is pretty. I hope it stays like this now until Christmas. I hate the melting dirty snow. Since it was still snowing this morning I talked Jon into going to Dbq with me to do some Christmas shopping. He said he would go IF we got it all done and were back home by 4. I took him up on it. I can't stand shopping much longer than that anyway. The busiest place was Theisen's. I think that was because everyone who shops at Theisen's drives a 4-wheel drive pick-up and those were the vehicles of choice this morning because of the roads. We got everything we needed there and then headed to the mall. Found what we needed there and then stopped at Best Buy. The only place we didn't find what we wanted. Went to Target and Wal-Mart and we home by 3:45. I actually am almost done shopping now. Just a few gift cards and good old cash left to get. Unless I think of something or someone else. I always have to go over what we gave everyone to keep it kind of even. And then there's Abby's and Adam's birthdays right after Christmas, so I always have to keep something back to give them for their birthdays. I even have most of the presents wrapped. It must have been not going to St. Louis this year for Thanksgiving that helped me this far ahead of other years. I missed being with the Reinbergs this year but those 4 extra days home really made a difference. Talked to Adam this morning and sounds like he is really looking forward to doing a lot of skiing this winter. I told him to be careful, he's not as young as he used to be and he has to be able to climb those smokestacks for his job. Can't wait to see him again. Only 19 days. Please,God, let the weather be nice for traveling.

What did you do to your eye?

Went back to school today. Everyone either just stared or asked what happened to my eye. My first graders said I should wear my sunglasses so they didn't have to look at my eye. Linda Stoll thought it looked great. So it must be healing the right way. It did hurt this afternoon. That may have been the 5th grade effect. My head always hurts after teaching 5th grade math.
Adam did call Tues. night. It was good to talk to him. Dad told him I was mad at him because he didn't call on Thanksgiving. He said he thought we were going to call him. Misscommunication. It sounds like he and Joelle had a great Thanksgiving and didn't miss Iowa at all. That is good and bad. I really am happy that they have so many friends and so much to do out there. We just miss him here. Only 3 weeks and Adam will be home for Christmas. Am praying for good traveling weather already. Suppertime now. It is just Jon and me tonight. Which is kind of nice. Abby picked up Trent and Addy to go to Ronda's. It's Thursday night! TGIF tomorrow. And I only worked 3 days this week!

WOW!

Well, I had my "surgery" on my lower left eyelid to remove the cancer spot this morning. I am not complaining but it was a bit more involved than I thought it would be and it HURTS. I now have
about a 1 inch incision below my eye with about 8-10 stitches. So much for the "couple stitches" the Dr. originally said he would have to do. He also remarked when he was finished that he hoped he got it all. He damn well better have got it all after all this. At this point all I can do is pray. Haven't done a lot of that cause I didn't think it was a big deal. LOTS of people have much worse. But I think God will understand if I ask for the cancer to be gone, my lower eyelid to go back to where it is supposed to be and for the stitches to not leave too much of a scar. I am not vain and I really don't care what I look like(eg. gray hair at my age) but I think sunglasses are in order for the next couple weeks and I think I am going to take tomorrow off too. The stitches won't come out til the 13th. And I really don't want to keep explaining "What happened" when people see me. Well, I am off to bed @1:25 p.m. to ice and rest. I still plan on getting Trent and Addy this afternoon so I better rest now.

another funny Trenten story

Jon and I went down to Alan's sister's wake with Tory, Abby, Ashley, Trent and Addy tonight. Took Trent into the bathroom with me to comb my hair. Trent decided he had to go. He went into the stall, locked the door and proceeded to do his business. Another lady came in, went into the other stall and proceeded to go to the bathroom. Trent heard her and said, very loudly, "Is that you Mama?" I said no, another lady had come in to use the restroom as dignified as I could. The lady then blew her nose and I will admit rather loudly and then Trent said just as loudly, "Wow, what was that?" By this time, even the lady was laughing too. Too funny. Moral of the story: Don't go to the bathroom or blow your nose when there is a kid in the bathroom with you. They will call you on it every time.
Heading to bed soon. Have to be in Dbq at 6:15 tomorrow morning. Hopefully I will get some of my Christmas shopping done after my procedure.
Rainy day today. But still warm for November.
Oh yeah. I did call mom yesterday and ended up going up to see her. While there we put out her Christmas decorations. Good thing too. Sherry and Joe decided to have the Gotto Christmas on Christmas day at mom's. It was a good afternoon. Mom actually had a lot of company. Chad stopped in to see her. Dan and Tyler also stopped in. Sherry showed up to visit and help. And mom's cousin just popped in to say hi cause he was in the neighborhood. I am glad that mom has people stopping in all the time. I don't want her to be alone or lonely. Maybe I should worry more about myself. Mom seems to have a very active social life. I think that's the key to her staying young and active.

Sons

Still have not heard from Adam. He could have at least text Happy Thanksgiving. Are all sons like this? What is it about the male species that makes them leave home, which is totally cool, then never communicate with their mothers again unless they need something? I really feel sorry for the mothers who have only boys. Do sons ever realize it's not that hard to just call mom and say how you doing? Is there still hope or is this just the way it will always be? I guess I just miss Adam and am feeling sorry for myself. I am happy that he is happy. Keep saying roots and wings. Roots and wings. Those are the only lasting things we can give our children. But I am so glad I have a daughter. I think I am going to call my mom and see how she is doing.

overnight guests

Trenten and Adelyn stayed overnight at Mama and Papa's last night. They were as good as gold til their mom and dad came, then Trent had a couple of meltdowns. Typical! Trent helped me make cinnamon rolls last night. He got to roll the dough and actually he did a pretty good job. I just have to teach him how to do it all and then he can make them for his daddy:) He also got to help Papa make popcorn. Another of his favorites. Little miss Addy didn't want to sleep in the afternoon, so she went to bed early and slept til 5, had a bottle and then went back to sleep til 7:45. So did Mama. That is why God made women have their babies when they are still young. These 50 and 60 year-old women who have babies are CRAZY! Don't believe them when they say it's fine. There is no way they are not totally exhausted. Love my grand babies but I also love sending them home with their mommy and daddy so I can rest up for their next visit.
Beautiful day out today. So was yesterday. Went down to help Tory and Abby do wood. Hopefully they have enough now to last the winter. Maybe we will have a mild winter. We are due after the last couple.
Oh, yeah, almost forgot. Chuck Pierce said I am the proud new owner of a Farmal 560 and no longer the owner of a Gator. Not sure how that happened but Jon is on his way home with said tractor right now. Jon traded the Gator, which we never saw because Tory was always using it, for Chuck's 560. Then Tory is going to buy the Gator from Chuck Tory said I could borrow the Gator whenever I wanted. It is here right now so Jon can work on it. Might have to keep it awhile. Make sure it is working right. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Bye -bye turkey day

Thanksgiving 2010 has come and gone. Food was great. Leftovers are better. All the same food with none of the work. Heat and eat. Doesn't get any better than that. Went to Dyersville to RC2 with Abby and Addy to shop for Trent. Found 3 items he wants, a new 6-row planter, a grain cart and a 4020 tractor set with different items included in the package. When I showed Jon what I bought and he saw the 4020 and he said he wanted it. Imagine that. Oh well, wasn't sure what to buy Jon and Trent is easy so I guess I have to go shopping for Trent one more time. Not sure what we are getting Addy yet.
I am going back to the Dr. on Tuesday to have my spot removed 1 more time. Have to be in Dbq @ 6:15 a.m. I hope to get most of my Christmas shopping done that day. As long as I'm taking the day off I may as well make the most of it.

Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Thanksgiving! What a relaxing day. Abby, Tory, Ashley, Trent and little miss Addy are coming for dinner tonight. Jon and I(mostly I) got so much done today. We got to sleep in.(Nice) Then proceeded to cook, clean and decorate the day away. AHHHH. Normally we would be in Missouri with the Reinbergs but this is ok. I am pretty much ready for dinner so we broke out the wine about 4 o'clock. Haven't heard from Adam and Joelle so I'm not sure what they are doing today for Thanksgiving. Miss them both. Wish they weren't so far away. But am happy that they are happy where they are. Will call them later if they don't call. Not sure if I am going shopping tomorrow or not. Maybe I will go uptown and do the shops. Much more relaxing than going to Dbq or CR. Jon has to work tomorrow and we are babysitting tomorrow night I think. The weekend will be gone before you know it. Thank you, God, for all my blessings. I truly am blessed with so much and so many.

Trenten was full of energy tonight. Kept singing and dancing while little miss Addy played the tin foil pan. Trenten said she was the musicer! Too cute. Wish I had half his energy. I have another Dr. appt tomorrow a.m. for the spot on my face. Just hope he does it and then I will have it over with and I won't have to go anywhere for 5 days. It was cold today. And I know it is only going to get colder. Must be getting old cause I don't particularly care for winter anymore. Night. Going to wake Jon up so he can go to bed.

Massages are great!

Got a massage tonight from Amber. Thanks Abby and Tory. Also got to see baby Addy smiling a lot more tonight. She is feeling better but still has a cough. Trent, Addy and Abby went along in to Dbq with me. They did errands while I got my massage. I got a few groceries at Hy-Vee then it was back home. Trent got McDonalds because he was a good boy for his mommy while shopping at Wal-Mart. He also got some M&Ms that he was going to share with his daddy but they were gone before he got home. Got most of my groceries for Thanksgiving. It is going to be a quiet one but that's ok. We are not going to the Reinberg's this year for the first time since about 1991 or 92. Adam will also not be home for Thanksgiving this year. Can't wait to see him at Christmas. Praying for good traveling weather so he and Joelle make it home and I don't have to worry about them traveling. Got a lot of my Xmas decorations up yesterday but still have lots to do. Hopefully I will be able to finish on Wed. That's the earliest I have ever had them up. I am heading off to bed. Must be the massage that is making me tired.

Melanie and Jeremy are married

Yesterday, November 20, 2010, was Melanie and Jeremy's wedding. It was a very nice wedding. The hall looked great. The bride was beautiful. The music was wonderful. Jeremy was very handsome. Nathan and Keaton were adorable. Perfect day all around. Congratulations and best wishes to the Junks. Now the work begins. Getting married is EASY. Staying married, not so easy. But definitely worth it. Hope that Melanie and Jeremy are as happy after 35 years of married life as Jon and I are. Not sure if I should speak for Jon, but I think he is happy. Keaton was so cute dancing out on the dance floor. You could tell it wasn't his first time on the dance floor. He also does not like his mom in a wedding dress. Must prefer her in her work clothes. Funny. Diane looked very nice in her dress. We met her new friend, Daryl, AKA, Loyd, and his daughter, Cassie.
We also celebrated Marty and Linda's 30th anniversary on Friday night. Also a very nice party. Their children actually pulled it off. It was nice but I would rather take a family vacation to celebrate. I better get planning if it is ever going to happen. I did try one time before but something else came up. Will keep trying and saving.
I am going to start putting up Christmas decorations so I better get going. Not sure why, but I don't get as excited about it like I used to. Yes, I do know why, I am getting older, not old, just older, and I know now that having my family all home together is the most important thing about Christmas, not the decor! Gotta go now!

Trenten's 3 year old preschool program was last night. Talk about funny. It was so cute. You didn't know who or where to watch. I don't think any parents could be embarrassed because all the kids were all funny and spontaneous. I am a teacher and I don't think I could ever try to corral that many 3 year olds. Trenten was actually pretty good for Trenten. He listened and followed along fairly well. He must get his acting ability from his father and godfather. Too cute! Then it was on to Melanie and Jeremy's rehearsal supper in Farley. Food was great and eveyone was fed with food to spare. We need to learn to scale back. We are getting more like Sherry. Busy weekend ahead. Cold outside. Feels like winter is maybe finally here. But we can't complain because we had a great fall so far. One more Trentenism. Yesterday, I was talking to Cole, one of my students about his trip to Colorado next week and Trent was listening. When Trenten heard Colorado, he immediately said that's where Adam and Joelle are. I am always astonished at how much Trent remembers. Wish I did as well.

Went to DBQ tonight with Jon, Abby, Trent and Miss Addy. I talked Jon into going telling him we would be home by 7:30. Didn't quite make that but we got everything done we absolutely had to. Dropped decorations off at Farley first. Then on to Dbq. Abby went to US Cellular first to have her phone fixed. Then on to Culver's to eat while Abby made a quick trip to Kohl's. Then my favorite store, Wal-Mart. (not) Trent was with Papa and me and he thought we needed to find the toys. We started one way and didn't find them. Trent thought we should turn around because in his words, "I was wrong". Papa and Trent went to the toys while I ran around like a mad woman, looking for what I needed so we could get home. Actually Trent and Addy and Papa were very good considering how late it did get. I hate shopping! Especially at night when everyone is tired. Made one dessert for Melanie and Jeremie's rehearsal tomorrow night. Should be making my second one but I am tired. Heading to bed.

Monday Monday

Busy day as usual. My 5th grade math is going to drive me nuts this year. I refuse to let them get the best of me though. They will learn if it kills me. Went to Stone Hollow tonight after school and got to see Trent and Addy. That was good. Went to leave without picking Addy up and she let me know that was not OK. She started to cry so I had to hold her for a little while. Trent was Trent. Active and vocal. I am going to look for some more math sites for my 5th graders so I gotta go.

It was a great day for mom and the Gotto clan. Everyone made it except for Mike, Katie and Olivia, Jacque, Adam and Tory. My how our family has grown. Hopefully we can celebrate many more happy, healthy birthdays with Mom. Took picture of great grandchildren on the stairs. 32 of them. Precious! I am going to learn how to download pictures to my post next.

Not sure about this!

Not sure how well I will do with this blogging but what the hey! We are celebrating mom's 85th birthday today at Mike and Lois'. Her birthday was Friday, Nov. 12. Just the kids and some spouses went to Schroeder's Fri. night to celebrate. It was great that we could all be together. That doesn't happen to often. I am soooo lucky to have had my mom for a role model all these years. She truly is an incredible woman. When Dad died 34 years ago she continued to farm, support her family and finished raising her family on her own. We were very unlucky to have lost our dad so young but we were blessed with a wonderful, strong, independent, wise and loving mother who has always been here for us. She has the respect, admiration and love of all her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. Happy birthday Mom and God bless. We love you.

Had a good day yesterday helping Abby, Tory, Trent and Addy splitting and stacking wood. Trent was a very good helper. Of course he talked and was very entertaining the whole while too.

It feels like November out there now. We have been spoiled with great weather so far. Sure like our GeoThermal :) It will be so nice to come home to a warm house this winter.