Bits and Pieces

* Met my newest grandbaby and snuggled her brothers on Sunday afternoon. Oh, so wonderful, and a little like being at work. LOL! I have the best job ever!

* I went the the third of my current pottery classes on Tuesday evening. Not quite back in the groove, but maybe I'll get there by the time it ends. 

* I got my hair cut on Wednesday. It's not drastically different, just a little shorter and freshened up.

* I worked an hour late tonight, came home and ate, did my laundry and broke the washing machine. Ha ha! (It doesn't want to spin...) Dropped my car off at the shop for repairs, withdrew some cash from the credit union, popped into target with Hannah, and came home to wring out my clothes and bail out the washer. Then I packed a few clothes in a bag.

*If all goes according to plan, I will be gone away for the weekend. I've taken both Friday (tomorrow) and Monday off work. My friend Gail and I are going east, to the coast, and a Sea Glass Expo. North Hampton, New Hampshire. We're going on an adventure!

Happy Birthday, Number Ten!

 My little grandson Wesley turned three on the first of January.  Tonight was his birthday party.

Tiny Number Twelve. I got to snuggle him. So nice!

Can you believe these two are only a little over two months apart in age? 

One is tiny and the other is tall.

 A few cousins enjoying the moment.

 Ha ha!

The toys were temporarily forgotten in favor of funny party favors.
We are so much like children...

Snippets

Friday, August 31

 I had enough time to snuggle an under the weather toddler late this morning so the assistant toddler teacher could get lunch on the table for the others. That won't happen every day. I must remember to appreciate these special moments. ( I also snuggled an ailing baby this afternoon. He was the only one in the room so I let him sleep in my arms for 20 minutes before I put him in his crib.)

 Saturday, September 1

 I made a Lowes run for contractor's bags and a door knob this morning. On the way out of the store was a small child and his father. I did a double take and then called out, "Evan!" He turned around and I said to the daddy, "Is that Evan?" He said 'yes' but was looking very suspicious. (I wouldn't get very far trying to grab a four year old and running off with him... 😄) The daddy wanted to know how I knew Evan, and I said, "From daycare." So he looked at Evan and asked him if he knew me? Ha ha! The child affirmed our relationship, smiled at me, and gave me the biggest, longest hug ever! :D And then I saw them again in the store along with Mommy and big brother. (I love hugs!)
 
These little people fill my heart and my days. Work is good for me.


And this weekend there were grandchildren. Just a few. They fill my heart too.

So Far

It's been a busy week, both at work and out of it. I started going to a new group on Monday evening, a step study with Celebrate Recovery. Still looking to be healthy emotionally and spiritually It was a good sized group of women. There were two I knew from outside of CR and it felt very comfortable. Going to this group will mean not attending CoDA, or at least not attending regularly. Perhaps it is time to move on...

I met a friend at Panera this evening. She had a dessert and since I'd not eaten dinner, I had a salad. It was a good visit. Tomorrow evening I have a date with a different friend. We're going to Chipotle because neither of us has been there before. Next week I will meet my sister for breakfast one morning before work.

The school year is over and our daycare numbers are dwindling. Teacher's kids have the summer off. One of our little guys won't be back next year because he's moving a few towns over. It will be sad to say goodbye and I will miss his little arms around my neck each afternoon. This is the way of childcare. Our job is to love them while we have the opportunity and to remember the days are fleeting.

Tonight I caught a few minutes with a few grandsons because Seven and Ten came to play with Nine. How fun is that?

Making Some Connections

It is a strange and unusual phenomenon to have sunshine and 65 degree weather mid February in upstate NY, but I woke up yesterday morning to bright, sunny skies and promising temperatures. My mind and body are in mid winter mode, but the sunshine called louder than the sofa, and I laced up my walking shoes and called my sister. We took another 3 mile walk, this time in shirtsleeves. No scarves or mittens this week.

The walk was wonderful, aside from my aching toes (they aren't used to walking anymore), but a paralyzing fatigue set in following our after-the-walk visit to Panera Bread, and as soon as I returned home, I collapsed on the couch. I later learned she had done the same, along with several other friends who'd taken in the day's beautiful fresh air and sunshine.

We had a little "party" last night. Invited a couple of our kid families over, and cooked up a batch of buckwheat pancakes (with real maple syrup) and a bunch of scrambled eggs. I did not take pictures, but I did get to snuggle my newest grandbaby, love on the next youngest, and hug the big brother who is still just a little guy himself. It was a somewhat quiet and controlled party, unless one counts baby cries and childhood giggles as noisy.

I have "stolen" some grankid photos to brighten up this post and make you smile. Thank you to my kids for taking them and posting them where I could grab a copy.

Nine and Ten!

A first picture together. Ha ha! Aren't those little cousins adorable?

Nine looks huge next to tiny little Ten. I'd asked Hannah how much Idris weighs and she said he was 12 something at his last appointment (He's probably 14 pounds by now...) and Wesley weighed in at 4# 8 oz at birth (he's 12 days old here so we'll give him 5 pounds maybe...) . What a size difference! I'm thinking Wes will probably catch up and one day be taller than his cousin, but only time will tell.

They're just too cute.
:0)

Starting the Year Right

Happy Birthday, Josiah! (yesterday)

Yesterday my Almost-Christmas-Baby turned 29. I had to work until supper time and so found myself incredibly grateful for my super hero daughter in law who not only got supper on the table, but baked a beautiful cookie cake as well. (Sometimes even moms appreciate a little help pulling the day together.)

Did I tell you I went to work this week? I'd already planned to take my weekend off while my son is in town, and then I missed last Wednesday as well for the funeral service for my cousin's son. I decided perhaps a few dollars in my checking account might be helpful during this holiday season...

It's been a busy few weeks. Not so busy physically as mentally and emotionally. I'm finding myself tired and probably in need of a long walk. The Christmas goodies are catching up with me and I'm not very happy with the bathroom scale today. Another good reason for regular long walks. In another few days I'll have a chance to take a good look at my day to day schedule and begin to work on adding/removing plans and activities. I am looking forward to setting goals and making progress in 2017.

 PS. Our littlest grandson was able to go home on Tuesday evening. His big brother has decided he is wonderful and wants to keep him.

Welcome Number 10!

My phone, likely in a New Year's glitch, started delivering multiple identical messages last night. ("Have you been drinking?" and "Hey") I finally gave up on getting one from Nate, turned the pesky thing off, and went to bed. We found this beautiful message this morning...

"While you all were celebrating just another ordinary stroke of midnight, Wesley Robert Teal was making his grand entry. 

This latest tiny addition to the Teal family was baby #1 at Strong this year, and we are waiting to find out if he is baby #1 in Rochester altogether. Labor had to be induced 2 weeks early because he is so small, but he is healthy and has his momma's stout heart. 

4 lbs, 8.7 oz
1:51 am"

And so we have ten.
:0)

Minnesota Arrives

There were micro pellets covering the ground when I went to let the chickens out today. Tiny snowballs of varying sizes covering the ground and rolling about in the wind.

I cleaned somewhat frantically this morning. Somewhat... But Minnesota didn't come to see if my house was spotless. They came because they love us and want to spend a little bit of the holiday with their family.

Austin fell asleep watching a movie in the recliner with his daddy this evening. He woke up just enough to decide he didn't want to pick up the Matchbox cars and he really didn't want to stay here overnight. He wanted to go home. But "home" is seventeen hours away. Poor child. His grandpa says by the end of the week he won't want to go home. Aside from the tears before bed, it was a good day.

And in other news, Number 10 will make his arrival very soon. He is a tiny guy so there is some concern for his safety. Our sweet daughter in law is being induced due to his being so small. Prayers would be appreciated.

Number Ten

We planted plenty of seeds and are now reaping the rewards. Grandbaby Number Ten is on its way. Nate and Sabrina are expecting their second little one just two or three months after Grandbaby Number Nine makes his appearance.

Speaking of Number Nine, I was invited to go along for an ultrasound examination this afternoon. How cool is that? Little hands and feet, tiny face... Hannah is in love.Yeah, so am I.