I tried!

Actually, Jon and I both tried to give blood on Monday but neither one of us could because our iron levels were too low. That was the first time Jon couldn't give but it has happened to me before. I've been trying to lower my cholesterol but seem to be lowering my iron with it. I think we're going to have steak and spinach for dinner tonight. That should raise my iron and my cholesterol. You can't win. This getting older stuff is hard. I better go watch Oprah now to find out what the 4 power foods are.

Easter come and gone

It was a nice low key Easter. The weather actually turned out not so bad. You know it's been crummy when not so bad is good. Mom made it down around 4. She went to 9:30 mass at Epworth. Then went to Karen and Mac's for dinner. She said everyone was home there and they played a few hands of Euchre. That's always a treat for mom. Then she came to our house from there. So she had a full day. She left here around 7. Abby left Addy off around 3 so she could take a nap here. Never happened though. She just wouldn't go down. I know, I know, just let her cry a little. It's just so hard. I like rocking and holding her. Won't be long and she will be running around like her big bro. Trent had his Easter egg hunt. I hid them inside cause it was just easier and then Grandma Grace could watch. I had 4 eggs with clues in them for him to find their gifts along with the candy filled eggs. He liked the clue eggs. He got a fat bat and ball and he and Tory had to go out and try it out before they left. Addy got a little outfit, Ashley got a Subway card and Tory and Abby got soda and a basket. Abby and Tory's clue said Trenten had to look where Mama and Papa park their van and truck and Tory shouted, "We get a new car!" So he might have been a little disappointed with just Mt. Dew and Root Beer. Funny!
I actually started my report cards last night after everyone was gone and I was done cleaning up. I am going to have them done by May 1. Not much will change from now til the end of the year so I'm going for it.
Well I better get going and enjoy the rest of my Easter vacation. I am giving blood today uptown and I might stop at school and do a few things.
We also talked to Adam yesterday. Sounds like he and Joelle were having a very quiet Easter. He said he was flying out at 6 yesterday to go to Salt Lake City for work this week. He has his ticket bought to fly home at the end of May. He and Joelle are both flying home, just not together. He flies into Madison and she will fly into Des Moines. Not sure what time he will get here on the 27th. Hopefully he will make Addy's birthday party that night.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!(Which is the Toppings cause Abby is the only one who knows about my blog.) We went to Peosta for Holy Saturday services last night. Got there at about 7:10 and were walking out of the church at 9:15. Yeah, 2 hours. But it was so great. The music was awesome. It was so up-lifting. Jon and I both said we were glad we went. Looking forward to a relaxing Easter day. The Toppings(minus Ashley) and Mom are coming for supper tonight. So it's just a regular meal with an Easter egg hunt for Trent and Addy. I might even work in the yard this afternoon if I have time. Jon might go into work to spray if it is dry enough which is fine with me. They are calling for rain the next two days and since it's just him and me today, I say go for it. Hopefully we get to talk to Adam today some time. I missed his call yesterday. So technically he did call. Just haven't connected yet.

Lost and found and lost and found again!

I'm starting to get a little worried about my mind. I have lost my wedding ring not once but TWICE in the past year. The first time I knew that I took it off and laid it somewhere with my watch but could not for the life of me remember where. I looked in every possible location in the house where I thought I could have put it to no avail. I finally just gave up looking and eventually found it in a crock in the living room. Don't ask me why I put it in there. This time though I had NO idea where it might be because I still had my watch on and I always take them off together and put my ring on my watch. I took my watch off and no ring. I had no idea where to even look cause I couldn't remember if I put it on or took it off. I was sure it was gone for good this time. Jon said he would buy me a new one but I couldn't let him do that cause I would probably lose that too. Then the other night Jon said to close my eyes and put out my hand and he would give me a surprise. Of course I did and he put my ring in my hand. Yay!! He said he found it on the garage floor by the drain on my side of the garage when he came home at noon that day. How it got there I'll never know. And how he ever saw it is amazing too. I am trying to be more careful now. I just need to always put it in the same place when I take it off. That will definitely save me a lot of stress.

Trent decided he did not want to go to Taekwondo tonight. He said he was too sick. Not. Then he told Ashley his tummy was saying to feed it. I think he just wanted to go and play with Tanner.

Four whole days off for Easter vacation:) I know it will go way too fast. Tory, Abby, the kids and Mom are coming for Easter supper. Adam and Joelle won't be home. They are coming home the end of May. Can't wait to see them. Hopefully we will be able to see more of Adam than we did at Christmas. I know he will be surprised when he sees how much Trent and Addy have grown. I am amazed and I see them all the time. Addy is going to be a year old next month. Wow. Slow down!

Crazy weather

Rain, cold, sleet, snow, wind. Lovely Iowa spring weather. Shouldn't complain cause it could and probably will be worse. Just would like a little sun :)

Went to see the Lemon Sisters last night at Farley. They are a group of 6 Burkle sisters, 5 Deutmeyer sisters and 3 friends that sing together. They were so enjoyable to watch and listen to. Great oldie songs and skits to go along with the songs. They looked like they were having fun.It was a feel good show. Lois called yesterday morning suggesting all the girls go. Karen, Lois, Judy, Mom and I made it. I was so glad Lois called. I wish I would have taken Jon along too. He would have enjoyed the music. Next time.

Farming family

Trenten and little Miss Adelyn got to farm with Papa today. Jon wanted to haul away the hay/manure pile down at Jim's pond so we all had to help. Trenten and Papa went down to Marc's to get the tractors and manure spreader. I offered to drive them down but Trent said he wanted to walk cause he didn't get any exercise yet today. Then we all headed down to Jim's. Addy and I in the loader tractor and Trent and Papa in the other tractor. Addy thought it was really cool. She was looking around and smiling. She was really good considering Jon said there would only be 1 load to haul and it ended up being 3. Papa said Trent asks a thousand questions. Which I believe. He can talk non-stop. Addy came home and took another nap after her big excursion in the tractor. Farming is hard work. Trent helped Papa do a few more things outside and then came in and said he had work to do in here. I think they were both tired when it was time for them to go home. Mama is too. Night. Tomorrow is Monday already. Ugh!

Retirements (not mine)

Julie, Colette and Bert are all retiring this year. Good for them. Between them they have almost 120 years of teaching. Wow. I hope they have wonderful, healthy retirements. They deserve it. It will be so strange next year for me without Julie. I have taught with her for 34 years. She and I complimented each other in so many ways. I will have to be more organized and take more pictures. I told her I was going to hire her to do my Aquin web page. Among other things. I am so fortunate that I was able to teach with both Julie and Colette. They are both inspirations to me. I have always tried to be like them both personally and professionally. Happy Retirement!

Born in a Barn

Went to the first ever Born in a Barn event hosted by Judy Donovan and Tammy Kramer. Abby and I went with Judy and Sherry. It was really cute the way they had everything organized and displayed but it was so COLD. It was actually snowing. They said it was colder yesterday because of the wind which I can't even imagine. I felt so bad for them cause it would have been so much nicer if the weather had cooperated. There were still lots of people, I think we are called die-hards or idiots for going shopping in such crummy conditions. Abby is working tomorrow. Hopefully they have a good turnout and make some money so they will do it again.

Trent and Addy stayed overnight on Wed. night when Abby and Tory had puppy preschool. Jon had a very busy week at work so he was not here to help me that night or the next morning getting ready for school and daycare. Wow! I did it and I wonder how I ever did it every night and morning when Abby and Adam were little. Must be that youth thing. I was so tired Thurs. night I didn't even hear Jon come home or if I did I didn't care. Still trying to talk Addy into crawling. I swear she is going to fly before she crawls or walks. She gets her arms and legs going so fast that she is apt to take off. She also lunges for anything she sees that she wants. So you better hold on tight. She will be so happy when she finally does become mobile. Trent is Trent. He didn't want to go to the Grandparent's mass with Ronda and me on Friday. I would have left him at school if it weren't for Ronda. She took the afternoon off from work so I would have felt bad if Trent wouldn't go. I did get him to agree to go but he said he wanted to go back to school as soon as mass was over. We walked him back after mass and he saw it was quiet time so he agreed to go in the gym for a cookie. Funny! Ronda finally took him back to the room and he was happy.