Spring Break

The Frosts are in Omaha enjoying the sights and a visit with the Yaws.  From the pictures I've received, I' d say they're having a blast! How could they not?- the Yaws' are some of the most fun people we know!  On their way out, they dropped Emma off in Ogallala to spend time with her friends, and will pick her up on their way home tomorrow,
Early Saturday morning, Curt called and asked if we'd like to go to Colorado Springs with his family for the weekend and having made no plans, of course we agreed to go.  The weather was gorgeous so we went to Cave of the Winds Saturday afternoon, arriving around 3:30, with a closing time of 5.  As we waited for our tour to begin, Rory and Sophie wanted to do the ropes course. (I should have remembered that Sophie and Gabi wouldn't do the one at Corbin's birthday party....)Anyway, they got all "geared" up for it, where Sophie made it up the stairs to the beginning, then back down!

 

It WAS super high! 

 Still awaiting our cave tour, Sophie and Rory got in line for the Zip line and made the last ride before we departed on our tour.  Sophie said it was the "funnest ride" she's ever been on.

 In true "Griswold family style" the cave adventure was quite something else.  I'd forgotten how off balance Brad was the last time we were there, with it even worse this time. At the beginning, we were tempted to go back when he was so wobbly, but we wanted to keep going. Then, a few minutes into the tour, I stopped to get a photo, not realizing that we were at a "fork" in the cave, thus taking a wrong turn and separating ourselves from the kids. We caught up with the group, only it wasn't OUR group...Curt had a moment of panic, but we backtracked and eventually found them, and emerged from the tour with everyone together and having learned all we needed to know about stalagmites an stalactites!

 Afterwards, we went into Colorado Springs for some dinner, then back to our "HOO-Tel" (as Grayson called it, for a swim (a luxurious 12x12 unheated pool).  Sunday morning, we drove to Manitou and had coffee at Good Karma (bummer that Pam was in Tennessee at the time) and then let the kids play in the Arcade.  Grayson was in heaven!  After a quick drive through Garden of the Gods,  it was on to the Zoo.

 

 

 It was the usual giraffe feeding, followed by a dip-n-dots break with some antic by Grayson.

Happy Spring!

You Say It's Your Birthday....

It's infrequent to get up and write my post on my actual birthday. but it's also a pleasure to do so.
I'm reflecting this morning on the positive things about this particular birthday.  Not only am I ABLE to get up and to write, but I then have the opportunity to go to work at a job that I not only like, but that is my saving grace!  I have an amazing family!.....  Three wonderful children and their mates and their children who make my life complete, despite a few "holes" in my home life. I am grateful!!!! I'm also fortunate to have good health thus far and to have made it to have Medicare....hooray!

This has been a tough week, beginning with coming down with whatever swell virus that has been circulating the country, and being sick enough to miss going to the Garth Brooks Concert on Wednesday.  You know I had to be stinkin sick to miss THAT.  People ask if I couldn't have just rallied for a few hours to attend- oh heck no!- I couldn't even gather up enough energy to get dressed!  I am happy that Carrie, Meredith and Amie could attend and take notes (and pictures).  Ok, I will stop with the pity party.....
Friday morning, as Brad and I got ready for our weekend, he comes out of the bathroom having shaved off all of his facial hair!  If this doesn't sound news worthy, none of his children (and obviously the grandkids) and only a very young me had ever seen that face and frankly, it looked horrible that day.  It has since improved, but I still don't care for the look. He said he just wanted something different. (Hey, how about a tatoo?)  Just minutes after that disaster, Gramma comes wheeling out of her room and asks if she had done or said anything strange the night before. (Hmmm, compared to what?) She then stated that she had absolutely no memory of the events following dinner. We don't know if it was a mini-stroke or what, but she sure spent  a lot of time sleeping over the weekend!  Everyone keeps saying, "Well she IS 95"....

 We attended Gabi's 2nd grade concert held at the church in Eaton. Good show! All three girls, Emma, Sophie and Gabi love to sing (sure they got that from me).  I got to go with Gabi Friday afternoon to her voice lesson.  I guess THAT'S why I can't sing- never had singing lessons.....
She's getting ready for her tryout to be in "Annie".

 Saturday, Brad wanted to go play bridge in Ft. Collins, so after dropping Gramma off for her perm we stopped by Curt an Amie's to see Heather and Keva- who has grown so much since we last saw her last.  Sophie was working on a big project for school to be presented today.

 Anyway, we were off to play bridge and did okay until near the end, when Brad was playing a hand and had a seizure mid-play.  He later shared with me that he looked at the table and didn't recognize what was on it, just some "things".  He subsequently had a headache, was dizzy, lightheaded and suffered from tunnel vision.  The visual problems are still with him, although he says it is getting better....  We will see another neurologist in Denver in a few days.  Saturday night Amie, Carrie and I took the "littles" to Disney on Ice.  Although it was a repeat performance for the 3 older kids, it was Grayson's first.

 

 The Toy Story segment was  my favorite!  Grayson loved the cars.  They were all fans of the cotton candy and $18 snowcones!
Yesterday for my birthday celebration, the adults went to Bonefish for dinner.  We had a yummy dinner and I enjoyed a big A$$ glass of wine....my first in a month.  Guess I'll have to stick to drinking only on special occasions....other than Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays!  It sure hit the spot, though............

The Big Apple(bee's) Extravaganza

I had asked Gramma a couple of weeks ago what did she want to do for her 95th birthday.  Her initial response (besides "Huh?") was just to stay home and have some tacos (her favorite).  I suggested that we go out someplace and have dinner and she jumped at that option and chose Applebee's.......

They need some serious help with their cooking skills!  Anyway, I invited a few of her friends (unbeknownst to her) to come and join us, so we had a table for 25. Brad and I got her a new outfit for her birthday and she looked very pretty for her big day!

 She was surprised to see everyone!  (And we were all surprised when Doug actually showed up on time!After dinner, the family gathered back at our house. Doug took Gramma to "run an errand" , so eventually everyone left when his errand ran quite long.  When they got back, they "visited" until sometime after 10:00.  (I had to go to bed...5:00 comes early!)  The kids got her a new table and lamp for her room- a table that serves as a book cabinet, and a lamp that gives her a lot more reading light.  She was sure proud of them!  I was sure happy that her day turned out well, as she hadn't had the best of weeks.  She started coughing early in the week, so we took her to the Dr. Wednesday evening and then back on Friday for a chest x-ray (negative).  So, after a round of antibiotics, she's feeling much better, but of course, other family members now have that same junk (me included).
On Saturday, (while Brad was playing bridge with his "coffee" friends), Carrie and Amie and I took Gabi, Sophie and Corbin to see Cinderella.  I enjoyed it a lot...Sophie said afterwards, that she liked the movie "Mc Farland" better than Cinderella since she's "not really into princesses anymore"! I guess I still like them! When I got home I made Gramma her birthday taco dinner....

 Saturday morning, Amie ran a race (St Patty's Day) and came in first place for the women and 4th overall!  Congratulations!  Of course, it was the one race where she had no family spectators cheering her on and no awards upon completion..
Friday morning, Brad and I went shopping for a new washer/dryer which they delivered that afternoon and I've made good use of over the weekend.  We previously had Carrie and Spencer's "hand-me-ups"  (that's what I call my kids' old stuff given to us!) and they were shot.  This set, hopefully, will be the last one I purchase (my birthday gift to me!)

Yesterday, by the way, we reached a record high of 82 degrees!  What a beautiful day.  Brad and I went for a long walk (another one of those things he never would've done in his old state of health) which was good for both of us.  Wishing you a great Monday!