Busy!!!

I haven't written for a long time. Busy doesn't describe things here. We went out to Indiana to get Emily, Andy and Carly on Sept.17th. They have been here since. Next Friday they will close on a cute house in Waterville. Emily has been choir director for CVLHS two days a week and I watch Carly. The shop is finished, so that kept me busy and now I can do things in it and am busy with that. The exchange students are active in school and we are kept busy with them. Alair is liking kindergarten and we are busy with that. This weekend we had a blizzard and about 18 inches of powdery snow. Very nasty! Worst storm since the Halloween Blizzard of '91. I hopefully will be able to write more often after New Years. Maybe things will settle down a little. We can only hope.

New School Year

The exchange students arrived and seem to be doing ok. They and Alair started school yesterday. After the very nice opening program, Alair was clingy and didn't want me to leave. When I went to pick her up, she was very excited and said she would go back. Boy, was I relieved!!!. Nina and HyeIn are totally opposites. Nina is opinionated and out spoken. Good when I want to know what she thinks about things. She understands English better and gets concepts like sarcasm better than HyeIn. HyeIn is quieter and more respectful. Happy to do anything. They are both nice girls,just different. I hope they continue to get along.
I'm trying to get the house ready for Emily and Andy. Not going well as I also have clothes to alter. Maybe tomorrow.

birthday pain

we celebrated Alair's birthday this last weekend and it was awful! We knew she had reservations about turning 5 but never thought it would go so far. Aubrey, Claire and Natalie, Chris, Allison and Evelyn, Louise, Erik and April were here. We all went swimming and then ate lunch. Alair ate her version of a burrito, but would not open gifts or say thankyou and left when everyone sang. I was very angry and embarrassed with her behavior. While there is no excuse for her acting that way, I guess her life is changing alot. She will start school, her sister, brother in law and neice will be moving here, and two exchange students are coming next week. She has never liked being the center of attention so I guess we shouldn't wonder that she acted like that. She still cannot be rude to people. Need to work on that.

I'm trying to get the house ready for the foreigners arrival. We get to go to the airport two days in a row. Oh well.We will be busy and have fun this school year.

HOT!!!!

This has got to be the hottest summer I can remember. The heat and humidity mixed with hot flashes just doesn't work.I am so glad we have a swimming pool.

We are gradually getting everything ready for Emily and Andy's return and the two foreign girls. Shop thie week, I hope.

Summer

I have been doing day care for Claire and Natalie for two weeks now. It's going ok. I have just next week left. Aubrey found a wonderful woman to watch the girls. She comes highly recommended and lives about two miles down the road. Aubrey got the ok to work more hours so this will be good.
It has been so hot and humid here lately. The girls go out to play early and then come in early. The heat makes them pretty crabby.
I have a lot of cleaning to do this weekend. With the girls here every morning, I don't get hardly anything done during the week.
Aubrey wants to get some fabric for me to make a couple casual dresses for her to wear to work. The last secretary wore very casual clothes, but Aubrey likes to wear skirts and dresses. Not dress up, just nice. I'll get at that when I'm done with day care.

New Job

Aubrey started her new job on Tuesday. She is secretary at Cannon Valley Lutheran High School in Morristown. She is so excited. There is a lot of responsibility and she and Andrew Boll are both very anal and should do a very good job. The girls are staying with me for now. Aubrey is looking for permanent daycare. Andrew already asked her if she wants to work more hours. Alec doesn't want me to do the daycare. It's personal. What ever.

We took Claire and Alair to see Toy Story 3 last Saturday. It was very good. Claire didn't wear the glasses though, so she missed the 3D effect. It was her first movie in a theatre. Alair thought it was really cool!

July 4th

So Terry James called me yesterday to order cookies for their annual 4th of July party. Kim started donating my cookies as advertising several years ago, and it's grown every year since. This year I am to bake 65 dozen assorted cookies. Last year I just baked 40 dozen. I've got to get to Sams and get ingredients. Kay Cram, the teacher at North Morristown, asked if we would be willing to walk in the parade on the 4th and hand out flyers. We are. I want kids to go there so bad! I get really frustrated when people are afraid to try new things. If there isn't much increase in registration within a week or so after that will be it. Alair will go to the public school.

Goings On

Bullhead Days is over for another year. The pagaent on Friday went well. I was button pusher for the talent portion and did alright. Just got in the way a couple of times. I was also the major gopher. Which is fine. We babysat Claire and Natalie on Saturday as Aubrey got together with high school friends at a winery in New Ulm. Allison and Chris and Evelyn were here for the weekend also. Chris and Kim were supposed to work outside on either firewood or the fire pit. Due to rain, neither got done. We went to the parade on Sunday. It didn't rain but was overcast and cool. Still nice. Erik moved home last night. Alair was so happy! I hope to get my sewing stuff sorted now as I can't get a ceiling yet. hopefully soon.

Quiet

Aubrey is all moved into her house in Elysian. It is very quiet here now. Good and bad. I plan on doing daycare here when Aubrey gets a job. I think it will be easier with the girls not living here. I won't lose my patience so fast.
I made 24 pagaent sashes this week. Elysian ordered 20 and 4 are for Waterville.Now I have two pillows to make, one pillow to fix, a dress to shorten and a purse to make. Still no ceiling. Kim's business is slow and his commission check will be pretty short for the next few months. Oh well.
Alair is doing great in her own room up stairs by herself. I'm really surprised! I thought I would hear all kinds of excuses not to stay up there after Claire left. Although last night, or should I say this morning, 3:30, she came down in tears. Her blankie fell behind her bed and she wanted me to reach it. I did, and she went to sleep again without a peep.

Moving

Aubrey is in the process of moving to the house in Elysian. She wants to spend the first night there Next Monday. She has gradually taken things over there and then put them away right away. It's nice to be able to do it that way. Hopefully this weekend Erik and friends will be able to help her with the heavy stuff. She still hasn't got a job and the divorce isn't final yet, but things are moving along.
Alair and Claire moved into the other bed room upstairs. It will be Alair's room after Claire moves out. They are doing great up there. I haven't had time to do much decorating but that will come when I finish other projects.

Changes

I was contacted by our exchange student,Hye In recently. My computer is really old, so I had to download a Korean language translator. My phone translates automatically. Most of the email was in English, but her address couldn't be read. We are also friends on face book.
Aubrey looked at a house in Elysian yesterday. It's in her price range and close to Louise and Al. She wants it,but everything isn't final yet and she doesn't have a job. She has a lot of calls to make Monday.I hope it all works out for her.
The kids are all coming home next weekend for Alair's dance recital.I have a lot to clean and get ready.
We will be very busy in the weeks to come!

Exchange Student

Yes, we are going to host for the ninth time! We are getting a girl from South Korea. Her name is HyeIn. This is the first time WEM has had someonr from there. Rosie came over Friday for an interview and took pictures. We should be able to contact her sometime this week.
It's a beautiful day out today. Kim and Alair are cleaning brush and hopefully we can plant some garden today. We went to Greenwalds yesterday and bought quite a bit.
I hope this week I can buy the ceiling for my shop and Kim can start it. I want to get it done so I can finish doing things in the house.

Easter

Well we all got up at 5:00. I got up at 4:30 though. Went to church and then ate pancakes. I cookes dinner but there were just us and Erik. We had brisket, potato salad, cheesy creamed corn, fruit, beer bread, and for dessert,lime cheese cake. It was very good. Everyone napped well this afternoon. Me too.

Maundy Thursday

Alair woke up with a fever and threw up this morning. We were supposed to go to the nursery to get sed potatoes. We didn't. The dogs are to get hair cuts today, so we are going there. Alair said she would stay home with Aubrey. I also have to get food for Sunday. Kim elders tonight and I had hoped to go, but won't with Alair sick.
Beautiful weather though--upper 70's today again.

Spring!

It's supposed to get up to 72 today and 77 tomorrow. It's wonderful!!! The girls have a daddy visit on Friday, so we will decorate Easter Eggs on Saturday. I hope to go to church on Thursday and Friday. Since no one is coming for Easter, I'm not sure what to cook. Erik will be here and Aubrey and the girls, but that's it. Allison and Chris and Evelyn, and Andy and Christine and Louise and Al are coming the next weekend. I'm cooking Julia Child for them.
I'm hoping to get spring cleaning done in the next two weeks. Maud puked on the sofa last night and now I have to shampoo that. Of course the rugs need shampooing. It just seems that I shampoo and the dogs think "Oh a clean canvas! Let's pee on it!"
We hope to plant potatoes this weekend. Erik tilled up the garden Sunday in anticipation. He moved out Sunday night. All he needed was his clothes, so it wasn't a big job. Pretty sure he'll be back for some meals. Also to help with the garden.

Frustration

The girls had a visit with their father today. He was supposed to bring all the things he still hadn't gotten to Aubrey. He texted her to bring the ring as he had everything for her. She said she would bring it to the evening pickup so that she could look through everything and make sure it was all there. There was back and forth.He said his Mom wanted to start wearing the ring. Aubrey knew she didn't wear rings and called her. She knew nothing about it. Aubrey took the ring, gave it to him and he still has things to get to her!!! Now he lies to her also. He is also living with the "helper". Such a good example for the girls!!! Attorney won't call Aubrey back either. What did she pay him 5575.00 for?! Kim was smoking this morning! I shrank Erik's new Jason Aldean shirt! Didn't know it was in the wash. Alair is whining for a pop tart. I have had it!!!!!!

Fog

We have been waking up to fog for over a week now! The temps. don't go below freezing at night. The snow is going down fast and there are dangers of flooding in many areas. I want spring, but not so fast. There is a lot of mud for the dogs to track in the house also.I want the sun!!!
Aubrey and the girls and i got sick too. We are doing better now and hope it's over for a while. The coughing hangs on though.
Erik turned 21 yesterday. We had hamburgers on the grill, potato salad, baked beans, and death by chocolate. Tasted like summer!!I think he's moving out this week. He will be renting a house that belongs to a co worker of his. Rent is cheap!
I am working on Alair's Easter dress, then a fleece jacket for Claire, then a nighty for Alair. I really like sewing clothes for the girls. Also bought patterns for the other granddaughters for some summer clothes. I have lots of fabric, just need to decide which for who.

Runny Noses

Alair came down with a cold last Sunday... bad cough, stuffy, then runny nose, then hacky cough. No school or dance. Natalie got sick Saturday. We went up to Foley any way and moved stuff. Claire got sick yesterday. Long incubation period.
Temps inthe upper 40s to 50 this week!! Maybe most of the snow will melt. Only 3 1/2 weeks till Good Friday.(planting potatoes)
Aubry has been organizing the things we brought here Saturday. A lot of stuff!!! Still Voldemort forgot things...or just didn't feel like doing what was involved to get the things to Aubrey. If he wants to get rid of Aubrey, he needs to get off his butt and get going!

Moving Day

This Saturday, we go up to Aubrey's neighbor's house and get the rest of her stuff. I hope we can get all of it and not go again. I also hope we have room for it all. Aubrey and the girls have been here 6 weeks now and she is getting restless. She will start transcription now and hopes to work at Barnes and Noble part time also. The girls seem to have adjusted well and seem comfortable here.
Alair has a bad cough and sounds just awful. No dance or ecfe this week.
The temps are warming up. Near 40 most of this week. It feels so good just don't like the slush and mud. As it gets warmer I'll be able to finish my shop though. Kim is building me a brick oven outside this summer. I hope. He's really excited to get started. I told him the shop comes first.

Time Goes On

Aubrey and the girls have been here for just over a month now. It's going pretty well. We still don't have all her stuff down here and we don't have the basement done yet, but it will come. Alair and Claire play quite well considering.
The kids were all home for the Super Bowl. WE were supposed to watch the Vikings and the Colts. The Saints won and since the Vikings were better than the Saints, the Colts would have lost either way! Or so I told Kratzer as he cried into his beer. The weekend was a lot of fun. Saturday was really nice and Alair, Claire, and Carly were outside with Sleds and Erik. I think he likes this as much as the little girls.
This last weekend Erik was in the all male play in Morristowm. He makes such a lovely girl.
I'm finally in the mood to bake and cook again. I think it was because my life got turned upside down with Aubrey moving home. And winter is getting awfully long this year. Oh well, it's almost March. Spring will be here soon?

New Normal

A week ago this last Monday, Alec asked Aubrey for a divorce. She and the girls came down here that day as she didn't want to stay up there. The next day Alec said no couples therapy and that he had found some one else to help him through this. We moved Aubrey and the girls and Freya home the next day. Alec had changed the locks on the house before we got there. Illegal! He cut off Aubrey totally financially. Illegal! We hired an attorney. Filed in Le Sueur County and hopefully this gets over soon. Aubrey and the girls will be with us indefinitely. She needs to find a job and then a place to live.

Andy and Christine lost their baby last week end. She was about 12 weeks along. Last night she was admitted to Methodist hospital in Rochester. Not everything had come out and she was getting very sick. Now waiting for an update.

Some times life just doesn't seem fair. We go on with faith that there is a reason for all of this and we will be fine.

getting old

I know I'm not really that old, but the process of getting there stinks! I looked up symptoms of menopause and found out I have most of them. Everyone knows about hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings which I have, but no one tells you about itching, confusion, crashing fatigue and others. I start out the day with lots of ambition and energy. By 11:00am I'm ready for a nap and basically done for the day. I've read that this can last for 3 to 10 years. Great!!!

Aubrey started counseling yesterday. She found a Christian counselor who is not impressed with how the VA handles PTSD. I have thought some of the things myself, but figured they knew what they were talking about. Hmmmm. I hope it goes well for her. This just wasn't supposed to happen.

Fog today, but warm later. I think I also have SAD. I really am in great shape.

Now down to clean in the basement. It's only 8:30. Should get something done?!

Responsibility

I have realized in the past few days what a responsibility it is to give advise to people. Aubrey is in a place where she doesn't know what to do next, so she asks me. I don't know either as we have never been in this position before. She and Alec both like Alec's therapist. I asked her if she was a christian therapist and Aubrey didn't know. My thinking was a christian therapist would be more likely to encourage Alec to work on the marriage eventually. Right now he needs to just work on himself. Aubrey found a therapist for herself that is a christian therapist and specializes in ptsd. She said she hadn't thought about that until I brought it up. I have to be really careful about what I say.

Emily started her new job yesterday. She can work 15 hours at the church and 15 hours at home. That will really help with day care.

We're supposed to get more snow today. We really need that!

"Happy New Year?"

I probably will not enter the holiday season with the same enthusiasm in future years. At least not for some. In a totally unforeseen act; Alec left Aubrey on New Year's Day. With his diagnosis of PTSD, it's hard to be angry with him. I am frustrated that he left her with two little girls, four dogs and no wood in the house for heat, though. Kim, Alair and I went up on Saturday and helped throw in wood. He has an appointment with his counselor today so hopefully we know more today.

Christmas other than that was great. very quiet. Most of the kids made it home at some time. Louise and Al left for Arizona on the 29th. They will be gone about three months.
Alair lost her first tooth yesterday. She let me pull it out. The tooth fairy came and she was upset that she didn't get to see her.

Today I hope to get Christmas stuff put away and the house back to normal.We'll see what happens.